Salmonella outbreaks: A busy half-year

The year is now a little more than half over, and if you have been paying attention to the headlines, you will no doubt have noticed that it has been a busy year for Salmonella outbreaks.

Here is a quick look back at three of the more eye-opening Salmonella outbreaks from the past six months:

It has been a busy six months for Salmonella outbreaks, thanks to contaminated pre-cut melon, Kellog’s Honey Smacks, and eggs.

Salmonella outbreaks: pre-cut melon

On June 19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its most recent update on the pre-cut melon outbreak sickening people with Salmonella, increasing the numbers to 70 ill and 34 hospitalized in seven states.

People sickened in the pre-cut melon outbreak ranged in age from less than 1 year to 97, with a median age of 67. Sixty-seven percent were female. No deaths were reported.

The CDC’s last update came one day after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the list of states potentially affected by the outbreak to 22: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The pre-cut melon products were made by Caito Foods in Indianapolis and shipped in clear, plastic containers. The products were sold by numerous retail outlets: Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Pay Less Super Markets, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart and Whole Foods/Amazon. (The complete list of stores can be found here.)

The packages have a “best used by” date of June 16, which makes it highly unlikely that any remain in the hands of consumers.

It has been a busy six months for Salmonella outbreaks, thanks to contaminated pre-cut melon, Kellog’s Honey Smacks, and eggs.

Salmonella outbreaks: Honey Smacks

Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal was the subject of a nationwide recall announced June 14 after the CDC linked the cereal to a Salmonella outbreak in which 73 people were sickened in 31 states. In addition, 24 people were hospitalized.

The CDC reported that ill people ranged in age from less than 1 year old to 87 years old, and the median age was 58. Sixty-five percent of those sickened were female. No deaths were reported.

The FDA reported June 14 that the Kellogg Company voluntarily recalled 15.3-ounce and 23-ounce packages of Honey Smacks with a “best if used by” date from June 14, 2018, through June 14, 2019.

The recalled 15.3-ounce boxes of Kellogg’s Honey Smacks have a UPC code of 38000 39103. The recalled 23-ounce boxes have a UPC code of 38000 14810. The UPC code is on the bottom of the box.

Two days after the FDA recall was announced, the CDC urged consumers to avoid Honey Smacks altogether. “Do not eat Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal in any size package,” the CDC said. “Check your home for it and throw it away, or return it to the place of purchase for a refund.”

It has been a busy six months for Salmonella outbreaks, thanks to contaminated pre-cut melon, Kellog’s Honey Smacks, and eggs.

Salmonella outbreaks: eggs

On June 14, the CDC declared a Salmonella outbreak from contaminated eggs as being over. At that time, the case count was 45 people in 10 states, with 11 people hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 16, 2017, to May 13, 2018. Ill people ranged in age from 1 to 90, with a median age of 60. Fifty-six percent were female.

According to the CDC, all evidence – epidemiological, laboratory, and traceback – indicated that the eggs were produced by Rose Acre Farms’ production facility in Hyde County, NC. In mid-April, the FDA announced that Rose Acre Farms had voluntarily recalled more than 200 million eggs that had the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella outbreaks: disease info

More than 1 million Americans are sickened by Salmonella yearly, according to the CDC. About 23,000 victims will require hospitalization, and about 450 will die.

Salmonella produce an illness called salmonellosis, which affects the intestinal tract. Salmonellosis can develop anywhere from 12 hours to 72 hours after eating contaminated food.

As with most types of foodborne illnesses, symptoms – which can last up to a week – can include:

• diarrhea, which often can be bloody
• abdominal pain
• vomiting
• fever and chills.

Most people recover without needing to see a doctor, but in some cases, the diarrhea can become so severe that hospitalization is required.

People most at risk for complications are young children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems.