Salmonella Lawyer & Attorney : Marler Clark : Salmonella Blog

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As of early this week, Alamosa has reported 389 cases of Salmonella, 107 of which have been confirmed by laboratory testing. Sixteen people have been hospitalized. It now appears that there may be a death related to the consumption of Salmonella-tainted water.  Here is the story from the local Alamosa paper.

The CDC estimates that 1.4 million cases occur annually (CDC, 2005, October 13). Approximately 600 deaths are caused by Salmonella infections in the U.S. every year, accounting for 31 percent of all food-related deaths (CDC, 2005, October 13; MMWR Weekly, 2001). The reported incidence of Salmonella illnesses is about 14 cases per each 100,000 persons (MMWR Weekly, 2006), amounting to approximately 30,000 confirmed cases of salmonellosis yearly in the U.S. (CDC, 2005, October 13). In 2005, just over 36,000 cases were reported from public health laboratories across the nation, representing a 12 percent decrease compared with the previous decade, but a 1.5 percent increase over 2004 (CDC, 2007). As only about 3 percent of Salmonella cases are officially reported nationwide, and many milder cases are never diagnosed, the true incidence is undoubtedly much higher (Mead, 1999).

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Salmonella is one of the most common enteric (intestinal) infections in the United States. Salmonellosis (the disease caused by Salmonella) is the second most common foodborne illness after Campylobacter infection. It is estimated that 1.4 million cases of salmonellosis occur each year in the U.S.; 95% of those cases are foodborne-related. Approximately 220 of each 1000 cases result in hospitalization and eight of every 1000 cases result in death. About 500 to 1,000 or 31% of all food-related deaths are caused by Salmonella infections each year. Salmonellosis is more common in the warmer months of the year.

Salmonella infection occurs when the bacteria are ingested, typically from food derived from infected food-animals, but it can also occur by ingesting the feces of an infected animal or person. Food sources include raw or undercooked eggs/egg products, raw milk or raw milk products, contaminated water, meat and meat products, and poultry. Raw fruits and vegetables contaminated during slicing have been implicated in several foodborne outbreaks.

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The Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota reports revised numbers in the Malt-O-Meal salmonella outbreak.   The Food & Drug Administration originally said the outbreak involved 23 cases in 14 states.  Yesterday (4/15), FDA said the correct numbers were 21 cases in 13 states.

CIDRAP News reports the outbreak involves the same uncommon strain, Salmonella enterica serotype Agona, that caused an outbreak 10 years ago that was linked to toasted oats cereal produced at Malt-O-Meal's Northfield, Minn., plant.

The recall includes unsweetened puffed rice and puffed wheat cereals that were distributed nationally under the Malt-O-Meal label, as well as several other private-label brands such as Acme, America's Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewell, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw's, ShopRite, Tops, and Weis Quality. The products have "best if used by" dates that range from Apr 8, 2008, to Mar 18, 2009.

Malt-O-Meal said in an Apr 11 press release that routine sampling revealed Salmonella on a product that was produced on Mar 24, and a follow-up investigation determined additional products may have been exposed to the pathogen.

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Add Massachusetts to the list of states with confirmed cases of salmonella linked to the Malt-O-Meal recall.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health says a 73-year old woman and 18-month old toddler are among the 23 people in 14 states stricken with salmonella. Both the elderly woman and the child are said to be recovering.

Maine, Minnesota, and Illinois have also reported confirmed cases of salmonella related to the April 5th recall of Malt-O-Meal unsweetened puffed rice and wheat products sold under a long list of brand names.
What continues to go unreported is what the same plant that produced the same PFGE (genetic fingerprint) Salmonella Agona in 1998 has been doing since 1998? Also, have Salmonella Agona illnesses been linked to cereal consumption over the last ten years?
Craig Hedberg, PhD, a foodborne disease expert and associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in Minneapolis, told CIDRAP News that there may an environmental source of S Agona at the plant, despite the steps that Malt-O-Meal reportedly took in response to the previous outbreak in 1998.
"My guess is that the bug may have been in the plant the whole time, but that to have enough contamination to cause an outbreak also required an amplifying event," he said.
Hedberg said that if this is, in fact, the same strain that caused the previous outbreak, it would be interesting to review PulseNet data see if health officials have missed other cases involving the outbreak strain over the past 10 years.

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The talking heads are really chatting up the big Malt-O-Meal recall because they cannot understand how dry wheat or dry rice out of a bag can give somebody salmonella.
Bill Marler, the managing partner of the law firm that sponsors this site, is not surprised about that. He is, however, experiencing a sense of déjà vu as the Malt-O-Meal recall is due to the same strain, same genetic fingerprint of salmonella coming from the same plant that hundreds sick ten years ago.
In 1998, Malt-O-Meal cereals were linked to the same Salmonella Agona serotype that as of today has made another 23 people in 14 states sick.
At least three victims have been hospitalized.
Marler, who represented victims in the 1998 Malt-O-Meal outbreak, had this comment: “It makes me wonder how long the contamination has been present.”
The Minneapolis-based Malt-O-Meal, a privately held company that is nation’s fifth largest cereal manufacturer in U.S., recalled unsweetened Puffed Rice and Puffed Wheat cereals with “Best If Used By” dates beginning April 8, 2008 and continuing through March 18, 2009.
The products are sold nationally under both Malt-O-Meal labels and a list of brands that includes: Acme, American Choice, Food Club, Giant, Hannaford, Jewel, Laura Lynn, Pathmark, Shaw’s, ShopRite, Tops and Weis Quality.
The recall is being investigated by the impacted states and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

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It's safe to again drink tap water in Alamosa, Colorado.

The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment officially lifted the "boil water" order at 2:30 pm, Friday, April 11, 2008.  It was in effect for 23 days.

The water will not taste the same as it is now treated with chlorine. 

The order was lifted after tests confirmed no salmonella in the water  plus there was no longer any  giardia or cryptosporidium either.

The state's rescission order did not come without strings attached.  Specifically, Alamosa is required to remove its Ross Tower from service and complete sanitary repairs.  It must remove debris from the tank before putting the tower back in service.  The City must submit plans and schedule for both the Craft and Ross towers by April 17th.

The state's letter with its conditions and the history of the work already done can be found here.

State and city officials have won special loans for businesses in the town of 8,500 that lost money during the three week emergency.   No one, however, has said anything about helping the 389 people made sick by the tainted water system.  Sixteen of those people, mostly children, required hospitalization.  There have been at least 107 culture confirmed cases of salmonella.

 

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Taylor Fresh Foods has added its name and brands to the big recall of Honduran cantaloupes.  Here's what the Salinas, CA grower said via a press release issued through the FDA yesterday (04/03/08):

Taylor Fresh Foods, of Salinas, California is voluntarily recalling selected fresh cut fruit products which may contain cantaloupe from the Honduran grower Agropecuaria Montelibano identified by FDA to have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, Taylor Fresh Foods had previously begun to recover this product on March 22, based on a notice published by the U.S. FDA.

The products being recalled include cut cantaloupe and mix cut fruit in bowls and trays of all sizes distributed by Taylor Fresh Foods. Retail and convenience store products involved were removed from sale prior to Monday, March 24. Foodservice distributors, who sell their own brand, have been notified.

Labels include the following: Taylor Farms Gourmet Fruit Tray featuring Creamy Yogurt Dip, Taylor Fresh Melon Mix, Taylor Fresh Fruit Mix, Fresh Fruit Tray with Creamy Strawberry Dip, with Best if Used By Dates before March 30, 2008. Any dates after this are not affected.

The complete statement can be found here.

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