Updated March 15 with additional cases. Health officials are investigating a new Salmonella Hartford outbreak that has sickened at least 47 people. They haven’t released any further information about the outbreak, but because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the CDC’s partner in the investigation, we know the food source is not raw meat or poultry, as those are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS). So, can previous outbreaks shed light on this one and just how often does this serotype cause outbreaks?
How Common are Salmonella Hartford Outbreaks?
Since 1971, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started tracking outbreak information, food contaminated with Salmonella Hartford has caused several outbreaks. Food sources were identified as lettuce, salad, roast beef, refried beans, salsa, tomatoes, unpasteurized orange juice, and chia seed powder.
Did You Get a Salmonella Infection?
Disney World Orange Juice, 1995
One of the earliest multistate Salmonella Hartford outbreaks occurred at Disney World in 1995 when visitors to the theme park in Orlando fell ill after consuming unpasteurized orange juice produced by Florida’s Own in Winter Haven. Eight people were hospitalized. Until that outbreak, acidic foods like orange juice were not perceived as likely sources of foodborne illness.
Taco Bell, 2010 (Lettuce, Tomatoes Suspected)
In 2010, Taco Bell was linked to two simultaneous Salmonella outbreaks caused by two different serotypes, Hartford and Baildon which, at that time, were both considered rare. The Salmonella Hartford outbreak sickened 75 people in 15 states, the Salmonella Baildon outbreak sickened 80 people in 15 states. Some states were affected by both outbreaks. Health officials suspected lettuce, tomatoes, or both but were never able to establish a definitive link.
Chia Seeds, 2014
In 2014, chia seeds were the source of a 16-state Salmonella outbreak that sickened 31 people in the U.S. In Canada, another 63 cases were reported. The chia seeds were contaminated with three Salmonella serotypes – Salmonella Newport (20 cases), Salmonella Hartford (7 cases), and Salmonella Oranienburg (4 cases.) Five people were hospitalized. No fatalities were reported.
Experienced Salmonella Lawyers
If you or a family member has been sickened by food contaminated with Salmonella and you would like a free consultation with a Salmonella lawyer, please contact the Pritzker Hageman Salmonella Legal Team. Our attorneys have represented clients in every major Salmonella outbreak in the U.S. You can reach us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or completing the form below. There is no obligation and we don’t get paid unless we win.