JBS Tolleson ground beef Salmonella outbreak more than doubles

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the Salmonella outbreak from contaminated JBS Tolleson ground beef has now claimed 120 victims in 22 states.

The latest update from the CDC added 63 people to the roll, more than doubling the total. Thirty-three victims have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported, the CDC said.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from Aug. 5 to Sept. 28. People who became sick range in age from less than one year to 88, and the median age is 42. Fifty-nine percent of the victims are male.

JBS Tolleson ground beef: huge recall

On Oct. 4, JBS Tolleson Inc. of Tolleson, Arizona, recalled almost 7 million pounds of ground beef products after the CDC reported on the first 57 illnesses. Those occurred in 16 states between Aug. 5 and Sept. 6.

The recalled products have the establishment number “EST. 267” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The complete list can be found here.

The products were packaged between July 26 and Sept. 7 and sold under brand names Walmart, Cedar River Farms Natural Beef, Showcase, Showcase/Walmart, and JBS Generic.

Information from eight patients in the initial group of illnesses helped investigators identify the outbreak’s source.

The CDC announced that the nationwide Salmonella outbreak from contaminated JBS Tolleson ground beef has increased to 120 victims in 22 states.

JBS Tolleson ground beef: not first recall 

On Sept. 19, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published an updated list of retailers that had received Cargill ground beef products potentially contaminated with E. coli. That list included Target stores across the country, as well as Aldi stores in the Midwest.

Other chains involved in the Cargill recall included: FoodMaxx, Meijer, Pak N Save, Publix, Safeway/Albertson’s, Sam’s Club, and Vons. The list can be found here.

The Cargill recall was issued after both the CDC and the USDA pinpointed Cargill ground beef as the likely source of a nationwide E. coli outbreak in which one person died and 17 others were sickened. All 18 cases occurred in July across four states: Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, and Tennessee.

JBS Tolleson ground beef: FSIS warning

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) arm of the USDA issued this warning to consumers:

“FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160°F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, http://1.usa.gov/1cDxcDQ. Consumers should take proper precautions when handling raw meat products. Proper hand washing after handling raw meat, poultry and eggs can greatly reduce the risk of bacterial cross-contamination to other foods and kitchen surfaces. It is important to prevent cross-contamination by washing counter tops and sinks with hot, soapy water.”

JBS Tolleson ground beef: Salmonella info

People who become infected with Salmonella bacteria develop an illness called salmonellosis. The illness begins with diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps between 12 hours and three days after the bacteria is ingested.

Most people recover within about a week and don’t need to see a health-care professional. Diarrhea, however, can become so severe that hospitalization is required. For those patients, the infection might spread to the blood. When this occurs, Salmonella can result in severe consequences unless the patient is treated immediately.

The very young, the very old, and people with compromised immune systems – especially pregnant women – are at the greatest risk of developing complications.

JBS Tolleson ground beef: pregnancies at risk

Salmonellosis can lead to numerous complications during pregnancy, such as:

• bacteria in the blood (bacteremia), which can lead to meningitis, an infection that results in swelling in the brain and spinal cord.
• reactive arthritis, which is also known as Reiter’s syndrome; this produces swelling or pain in the joints (knees, ankles, toes).

A woman who is pregnant can pass the Salmonella bacteria to her baby. If this occurs and the baby is born with salmonellosis, the baby can suffer from diarrhea and fever, and might even develop meningitis.