CDC collaborated with public health officials in several states and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to eating ground beef purchased from Hannaford Supermarkets. A total of 20 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium were reported from 7 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state was as follows: HI (1), KY (1), MA (1), ME (4), NH (6), NY (6), and VT (1). Among persons for whom information was available, illnesses began on or after October 8, 2011. Ill persons ranged in age from 1 year to 79 years old, with a median age of 45 years old. Fifty percent were male. Among the 17 ill persons with available information, 8 (47%) were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory investigations conducted by officials in local, state, and federal public health, agriculture, and regulatory agencies linked this outbreak to eating ground beef purchased from Hannaford stores. Based on an examination of Hannaford’s limited records, FSIS was unable to determine responsible suppliers. FSIS recently identified this problem at the retail level and is pursuing rulemaking to address the concern.