62 Hospitalized From Salmonella Outbreak

 Posted on March 11, 2018 in Food poisoning attorney

According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) filed in early March 2018, 170 people became ill after consuming chicken salad that was contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium. Of these victims, 62 were hospitalized for their symptoms.

The food poisoning cases related to this outbreak occurred in seven states - Texas, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Indiana, and South Dakota. The outbreak was linked to chicken salad produced by Triple T Specialty Meats, which was sold in Fareway supermarkets. Of the people who became ill, 66% were female. Victims ranged in age from 7 to 89 years old with a median age of 59. No deaths were reported in conjunction to this outbreak.

Product Recalled Amid Safety Concerns

The chicken salad linked to the illnesses was produced between January 2, 2018 and February 7, 2018. After reports of illnesses were linked to the product, Triple T Specialty Meats voluntarily recalled all remaining packages of the chicken salad from store shelves.

The CDC recommends that anybody who purchased the product while it was available from January 4 to February 9 not eat any remaining portion of it. Instead, consumers are advised to return any remaining portions to the stores where they were purchased or throw them in the garbage regardless of whether they or others became ill from eating it. Individuals who ate the chicken salad and became ill are encouraged to report the details of their illnesses to their local health departments.

Individuals who had the contaminated product in their homes are also advised to sterilize all refrigerator shelves and counter tops where the container of chicken salad sat. Foods that share shelves and counters with contaminated products can become contaminated through a process known as cross contamination, which occurs when uncontaminated food comes into direct contact with contaminated food.

Reporting Lags Linked with Victim Increase

105 of the victims included in the CDC report became ill after Triple T Specialty Meats recalled the chicken salad on February 22, 2018. These individuals likely purchased the chicken salad shortly before the recall.

On average, two to four weeks pass between an individual becoming ill with Salmonella and him or her reporting it to health authorities. This time lag slows down the investigation process for local health officials and the CDC. Salmonella symptoms do not take long to appear after consuming contaminated food. On average, symptoms like diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps arise 12 to 72 hours after consumption.

Work with an Experienced Chicago Food Poisoning Attorney

If you suffered financial damages because of a case of food poisoning caused by another party's negligence, you have the right to pursue compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. To learn more about your rights and options, contact our team of experienced food poisoning lawyers at Newland & Newland, LLP today to set up your initial consultation with us. We serve clients in the Arlington Heights, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Libertyville, Mundelein, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Elk Grove, and Itasca areas.

(image courtesy of Alison Marras)