40 People in Eight States Infected in Salmonella Outbreak

Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that ground beef produced by Cargill Meat Solutions at a single production facility is the likely source of this outbreak. On July 22, 2012, Cargill Meat Solutions recalled 29,339 pounds of fresh ground beef products.

 

The products subject to recall bears the establishment number "EST. 9400" inside the USDA mark of inspection. While the use-by date has passed and these products are no longer available for retail sale, FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen in consumers' freezers. These products were produced on May 25, 2012; shipped to distribution centers in Connecticut, Maine and New York for further distribution; and were repackaged into consumer-size packages and sold under different retail brand names.

 

Among 40 persons for whom information is available, illness onset dates range from June 6, 2012 to July 9, 2012. Ill persons range in age from 3 years to 101 years, with a median age of 50 years; 53% are female. Among 33 persons with available information, 11 (33%) reported being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

 

Illnesses that occurred after July 10, 2012 might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported. Results of antibiotic susceptibility testing indicate that this strain of Salmonella is susceptible to commonly prescribed antibiotics. CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill persons.

 

More information is available from the CDC.