Salmonella outbreak traced to eggs; recall initiated

An ongoing outbreak of infections from Salmonella Enteritidis has been traced to eggs from a Wisconsin poultry farm.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating the outbreak, which has already sickened 65 people from nine states. The sick people range in age from 2 years old to 88 years old. Of 63 patients with complete information available, 24 have been hospitalized.

Laboratory evidence shows the outbreak strain of Salmonella matches Salmonella found at Milo’s Poultry Farm in Bonduel, WI. The company has issued a recall of all of its eggs sold under the Milo’s brand and the Tony’s Fresh Market brand. The recall includes eggs packaged for consumer sales as well as eggs sent to restaurants. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has identified four illness clusters among patrons at restaurants where eggs were served. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection traced the source of eggs supplied to restaurants where ill people ate before they got sick. Records show that Milo’s Poultry Farms supplied eggs to those restaurants.

The Food and Drug Administration conducted an inspection at Milo’s Poultry Farms and collected samples. FDA’s analysis showed the outbreak strain of Salmonella was found in the packing facility and the hen egg laying house. The FDA is continuing tits investigation at the farm.

The outbreak is long running with the first patient to become ill reporting symptom onset on May 23. The most recent patient to be confirmed became ill on Aug. 10. It usually takes three to four weeks for patients to be identified and confirmed before they are reported to federal authorities, so more patients are expected to be added to the count.

The CDC reports that Salmonella outbreaks are usually much larger than reported because many people do not seek medical attention and others are not specifically tested for Salmonella infection. Up to 22 patients go unidentified for every confirmed patient in a Salmonella outbreak.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News,click here)