Health Law

Sprouts salmonella outbreak: California has most ill people . . . particularly Butte County?

By Drew Falkenstein

Sprouts from Caldwell Fresh Foods, of Maywood, California, have caused approximately 22 illnesses in multiple states, including 11 in its home state of California.  The outbreak strain of Salmonella is Salmonella Newport, and the implicated sprouts, which were widely distributed to retailers nationally, have been recalled. 

Notably, Caldwell should know the recall drill.  On March 3, 2008, the San Francisco Chornicle reported that multiple Contra Costa County and San Francisco residents had been sickened by Salmonella after consuming sprouts manufactured by JH Caldwell and Son's, Inc.  Caldwell subsequently recalled its product in that outbreak too. 

Also, are any of the sprout illnesses in the Caldwell Fresh Foods sprouts outbreak in Butte County, California?  This release was issued by Butte County on Thursday, May 20:

Butte County Public Health Department has recently seen an increase in the number of reported Salmonella cases. The cause of the increase has yet to be determined, and an ongoing investigation is taking place. 'Although we usually see an increase in foodborne illnesses this time of year, the recent increase in Salmonella cases is higher than expected,' stated Mark Lundberg, M.D., Health Officer at Butte County Public Health Department. 'We want the public to be aware of the risk, and to take preventative steps to protect themselves from foodborne illness.'

Butte County is north of Sacramento, and has over 200,000 residents.  There has been no official word whether the increase in Salmonella cases is as a result of the national sprouts outbreak.  Suspicious timing though. 

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on May 22, 2010 (boomark / email).