A deadly Salmonella outbreak linked to ground turkey products has sickened 216 people in 38 states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eighty-four people have been hospitalized and one person has died.
Contact a Pritzker Hageman Salmonella Lawyer
Case-patients sickened in this outbreak said they ate turkey that they prepared at home in the week before they became ill. During interviews with health officials, they reported purchasing multiple brands of turkey products from multiple stores. But, at this time, only one company, Jennie-O, has recalled any raw turkey products that may be associated with illnesses reported in this outbreak. Fred Pritzker says that if the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) won’t name the other names, the companies should name themselves.
Jennie-O Expands Salmonella Recall of Ground Turkey Products
November 15, 2018, Jennie-O turkey recall is one of the key events in the timeline of this outbreak. The company issued the recall after Arizona health officials found the outbreak strain in an unopened package of Jennie-O brand ground turkey collected from an ill person’s home. The four products included in the recall all bear the establishment number “P-190” inside the USDA mark of inspection. They are:
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 93% LEAN | 7% FAT” with “Use by” dates of 10/01/2018 and 10/02/2018.
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O TACO SEASONED GROUND TURKEY” with a “Use by” date of 10/02/2018.
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 85% LEAN | 15% FAT” with a “Use by” date of 10/02/2018.
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O ITALIAN SEASONED GROUND TURKEY” with a “Use by” date of 10/02/2018.
On December 21, 2018, Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales, Inc. of Faribault, MN issued a recall for 164,210 pounds of raw ground turkey products. The company issued the recall after it was informed that federal and state health officials in Michigan found the outbreak strain in an unopened package of Jennie-O ground turkey collected from the home of a case-patient.
These products have “EST. P-579” inside the USDA mark of inspection and “Use or freeze by” dates of 11/12/18 and 11/13/18 or on the side of the tray. They were distributed to retail stores nationwide. They are:
- 3-lb. packages of “Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 93% LEAN | 7% FAT
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 93% LEAN | 7% FAT
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O TACO SEASONED GROUND TURKEY
- 1-lb. packages of “Jennie-O ITALIAN SEASONED GROUND TURKEY
- 3-lb. packages of “Jennie-O Ground Turkey 85% LEAN | 15% FAT
- 2.5-lb. packages of “Jennie-O Ground Turkey 93% LEAN | 7% FAT
- 3-lb. packages of “STATER BROS. 85% LEAN | 15% FAT ALL NATURAL Ground Turkey
Turkey Salmonella Outbreak
As of December 21, 2018, 216 people in 38 states and the District of Columbia have been sickened. Eighty-four of them got so sick they needed to be hospitalized. One person has died.
In addition to reporting multiple brand names of turkey products purchased from multiple stores, case-patients also reported becoming ill after handling raw turkey pet food, working with live turkeys or living with someone who handled live turkeys.
States that have reported cases are as follows:
Alabama 4, Alaska 2, Arizona 3, Arkansas 1, California 16, Colorado 6, Connecticut 3, Delaware 1, District of Columbia 2, Florida 8, Georgia 2, Hawaii 1, Idaho 2, Iowa 4, Illinois 21, Indiana 5, Kansas 1, Kentucky 1
Maryland 5, Massachusetts 3, Michigan 8, Minnesota 18, Missouri 3, Nebraska 1, New Jersey 9, New York 15, North Carolina 8, North Dakota 2, Ohio 8, Oklahoma 2, Oregon 2, Pennsylvania 10, South Carolina 1, South Dakota 2, Tennessee 2, Texas 17, Utah 1, Virginia 9 and Wisconsin 7.
