16 People Sickened in California from Jennie-O Turkey, Recall Issued
16 People Sickened in California from Jennie-O Turkey, Recall Issued
At least 16 people were reported ill in California with at least one death – all linked to possible salmonella contamination in raw, Jennie-O ground turkey. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, more than 164,000 pounds of the ground turkey have been recalled. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 52 new cases of illness associated with the outbreak bringing the total number of illnesses to 216 people across 38 states since the outbreak began in November 2017.
Recall Details
The turkey meat was sold at a variety of stores in California including Albertsons, Food 4 Less, State Bros., Superior Super Warehouse and Ralphs. So far, 84 people have been hospitalized and one death has been reported. The recalled ground turkey products were produced at Jennie-O’s Faribault, Minn. Facility on Oct. 22-23. The recalled packages are marked on the side with establishment number P-579 and were sold in 1-pound, 2.5-pound and 3-pound packages.
According to media reports, health regulators are also investigating products from other companies. The strain of salmonella in this outbreak was also found in the manufacturing plants of 19 companies. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not yet named these other companies, because it has not been able to tie their specific products to confirmed illnesses.
The Dangers of Salmonella
CDC estimates that salmonella causes about 1.2 million illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths in the United States every year. Food is the source of about one million of these illnesses. A vast majority of those infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment. However, in some people, the diarrhea might be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.
If you or a loved one has been sickened by Jennie-O raw turkey products or any other type of defective or contaminated food products, it is important that you get prompt medical attention, treatment and care for your damages and losses. Victims of food poisoning can seek compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, pain and suffering and emotional distress. An experienced California food poisoning lawyer will be able to help victims evaluate their legal rights and options.
