Sweetwater Farms Alfalfa Salmonella Muenchen Outbreak
After a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Muenchen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Kansas Department of Agriculture, and Oklahoma Department of Health, began an investigation of alfalfa sprouts produced by Sweetwater Farms LLC that may be the source of the outbreak.
Sweetwater Farms Alfalfa Salmonella Muenchen Outbreak Details
According to the CDC, twenty-six people were infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Muenchen, all reported having ate alfalfa sprouts. The infected were found in twelve states:Kansas (5), Maryland (2), Missouri (3), New Jersey (2), New York (2), North Carolina (1), North Dakota (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (3), Pennsylvania (3), Virginia (2), and Washington (1). Eight of those sickened have been hospitalized. The people infected reported illness onset from December 1, 2015 through January 21, 2016. Of 12 interviews, one person reported that the contaminated sprouts were purchased at a grocery store. The rest of those infected reported having been served the sprouts at a restaurant. According to the outbreak announcement from the CDC, Sweetwater Farms of Inman, Kansas supplied the sprouts to five restaurant locations where the sick people had eaten.
Food Poisoning Lawsuits and Salmonella Lawsuit Help
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with Salmonella food poisoning in connection to the Sweetwater Farms Alfalfa Salmonella Muenchen Outbreak, are awaiting medical confirmation of infection, or have a question regarding your legal rights, you can request a free legal case evaluation by calling the personal injury lawyers at The Weinberg Law Firm toll free at 1-877-934-6274.
Alfalfa Salmonella Outbreak Recall
On February 19, 2016, after having been alerted of the Salmonella Muenchen outbreak connected to their product by the FDA and other federal, state, and local agencies, Sweetwater Farms LLC recalled alfalfa sprouts from lot 042016. By February 26, 2016, Sweetwater Farms recalled all of their sprout products from the market.
To see more details of the Sweetwater Farms Alfalfa Sprout Recall, visit FDA Recall Press Release.
CDC Sweetwater Farms Alfalfa Salmonella Muenchen Outbreak Information
The CDC March 4, 2016 Sweetwater Farms Alfalfa Salmonella Outbreak Report provided the following information:
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State and local health and regulatory officials performed traceback investigations from five different restaurant locations where ill people ate sprouts. These investigations indicated that Sweetwater Farms supplied alfalfa sprouts to all five locations.
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Laboratory testing isolated Salmonella from samples of irrigation water and alfalfa sprouts collected during a recent inspection at Sweetwater Farms. Further testing is ongoing to determine the type and DNA fingerprint of Salmonella isolated in these samples.
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The information available to date indicates that sprouts produced by Sweetwater Farms may be contaminated with Salmonella and are not safe to eat.
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On February 19, 2016, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a press release warning consumers not to eat sprouts from Sweetwater Farms.
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FDA and CDC recommend that consumers do not eat and restaurants and other retailers do not sell or serve any sprouts produced by Sweetwater Farms at this time.
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This outbreak does not appear to be related to the ongoing multistate outbreak of E. coli O157 infections linked to alfalfa sprouts produced by Jack & The Green Sprouts of River Falls, Wisconsin.
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This investigation is ongoing, and we will update the public when more information becomes available.
Salmonella Symptoms and Complications
Symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning (salmonellosis) may include diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, and joint pain. Symptoms may appear within 6 to 72 hours after eating a Salmonella contaminated food.
Most people recover within 4-7 days; however, severe diarrhea and/or vomiting may lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance requiring rehydration with intravenous fluids. In the most severe cases, the bacteria may spread from the intestines to the blood stream (septicemia) and other body sites. This can result in death, unless the person receives immediate antibiotic therapy. The elderly, infants and young children, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to suffer the severe effects of salmonellosis.
Diagnosis of Salmonella Food Poisoning
If you suspect that you have contracted Salmonella, or are experiencing Salmonella food poisoning symptoms, contact your healthcare professional. He or she can order a stool culture to confirm Salmonella infection. Let your doctor know if you have consumed a product known or suspected to be contaminated with Salmonella. A blood or tissue sample may be required if doctors suspect that the infection has entered the blood stream.
