CDC: Salmonella Responsible For Turkey Burger Recall Is Drug-Resistant
DETROIT (WWJ) - Remember the massive Jennie-O Turkey Burger recall from last weekend? Now, the Centers for Disease Control is reporting the outbreak strain of Salmonella Hadar responsible for the contamination is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics, which can increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.
Jennie-O Turkey has recalled nearly 55,000 pounds of turkey burgers sold exclusively at Sam's Club Stores nationwide. The products subject to recall include 4-pound boxes of "Jennie-O Turkey Store: All Natural Turkey Burgers with seasonings Lean White Meat." Each box contains 12 1/3-pound individually wrapped burgers.
The CDC reports as of April 1, 2011, 12 people in 10 states have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Hadar: Arizona (1 case), California (1 case), Colorado (1 case), Georgia (1 case), Illinois (1 case), Missouri (1 case), Mississippi (1 case), Ohio (1 case), Washington (1 case), and Wisconsin (3 cases). Dates of the infection range from December 27, 2010 to March 24, 2011. Ill persons range in age from 1 year to 86 years old, with a median age of 29 years old. Sixty-three percent are female. Among the 12 ill persons with available information, three have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
According to the CDC, samples of Jennie-O ground turkey burgers were collected by public health agencies from the homes of case-patients in Colorado and Wisconsin who tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Hadar. Both turkey burger samples were positive for the outbreak strain. States have reported antibiotic resistance of the outbreak strain to several clinically useful drugs including ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, cephalothin, and tetracycline.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service, consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses.
Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.
The most common manifestations of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within six to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may be chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.
To prevent salmonellosis and other foodborne illnesses, wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry, and cook poultry—including ground turkey burgers—to 165° F, as determined with a food thermometer.
The recalled product contained a use by date of "DEC 23 2011" and an identifying lot code of "32710" through "32780" are inkjetted on the side panel of each box, just above the opening tear strip. Establishment number "P-7760" is located within the USDA mark of inspection on the front of each box. The products were packaged on Nov. 23, 2010 and were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.
Consumers who have purchased "Jennie-O Turkey Store: All Natural Lean White Meat Turkey Burgers" from Sam's Club stores with a USE BY date of DEC 23 2011 should not consume it. Instead, the company is asking that consumers return this product to a Sam's Club store for a full refund.
