Rise In Sacramento County Salmonella Case Data Linked To Statewide Egg Outbreak

Salmonella cases rose above normal levels in Sacramento County this fall due to an outbreak linked to contaminated eggs from Vega Farms, Inc., a Dixon, CA based company. Case counts are anticipated to decrease following the voluntary recall by Vega Farms, Inc.

“We urge residents and businesses to check for recalled eggs and follow recall guidance to protect themselves and help prevent additional illnesses,” said Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Sacramento County Public Health Officer.

What You Need to Know

Sacramento County Public Health (SCPH) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are warning residents and local businesses not to eat, sell or serve recalled in-shell eggs distributed by Vega Farms, Inc. Consumers should throw recalled eggs away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund, and businesses must not sell or serve recalled eggs.

Sacramento County Public Health Update

SCPH is providing data to the CDPH and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to support the ongoing investigation of a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to contaminated eggs and to ensure recalled products are removed from local stores and restaurants.

CPDH has confirmed 66 cases linked to the outbreak statewide, 49 of which are reported cases from Sacramento County. There have been 13 hospitalizations and no deaths. The high number of outbreak cases in Sacramento County aligns with the distribution area of Vega Farms eggs (Davis and Sacramento). 

Sacramento County recorded 39 total Salmonella cases in September, 48 total cases in October and 36 total cases in November. These case counts were all above the three-year average for each month, with the increase directly tied to the outbreak.

What You Can Do  

• Consumers should not eat recalled eggs and should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for a refund. 
• Businesses should not sell or serve any of the recalled eggs. 
• Consumers and busine​sses should wash and sanitize items and surfaces that may have come into contact with the recalled eggs using hot soapy water or a dishwasher. 
• Anyone finding these products for sale should call the CDPH Complaint Hotline at (800) 495-3232 or submit an electronic report ​to CDPH’s Food and Drug Branch.  

Consumers who become sick after eating the recalled eggs should call their health care provider. Salmonella infection symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after exposure and include diarrhea​, fever and stomach cramps. Illness typically lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without medical treatment. But for some people, the symptoms may be so severe that treatment or hospitalization is needed. Children younger than 5 years of age, adults 65 and older and people with weakened immune systems are more likely than others to get very sick. 

CDPH has provided sample package photos in their press release to help residents and business owners identify recalled products that aren’t safe for human consumption.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.