Raw Turkey Sickens Hundreds

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports hundreds of people have been made sick by contamination from raw turkey.

In all 216 people have been sickened in 38 states.

From the CDC:

• Since the last update on November 8, 2018, 52 ill people from 26 states and the District of Columbia have been added to this investigation.
• As of December 18, 2018, 216 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Reading have been reported from 38 states and the District of Columbia.
  • 84 people have been hospitalized, and one death has been reported from California.
• Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicates that raw turkey products from a variety of sources are contaminated with Salmonella Reading and are making people sick.
• In interviews, ill people report eating different types and brands of turkey products purchased from many different locations. Three ill people lived in households where raw turkey pet food was fed to pets.
• The outbreak strain has been identified in samples taken from raw turkey pet food, raw turkey products, and live turkeys.
  • On November 15, 2018, Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales in Barron, Wisconsin recalled approximately 91,388 pounds of raw ground turkey products.
  • On December 21, 2018, Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales, LLC, in Faribault, Minnesota recalled approximately 164,210 pounds of raw ground turkey products.
  • A single, common supplier of raw turkey products or of live turkeys has not been identified that could account for the whole outbreak.
• The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified ill people infected with the same DNA fingerprint of Salmonella Reading bacteria in Canada.
• The outbreak strain of Salmonella Reading is present in live turkeys and in many types of raw turkey products, indicating it might be widespread in the turkey industry. CDC and USDA-FSIS have shared this information with representatives from the turkey industry and asked about steps that they may be taking to reduce Salmonella contamination.