Jennie-O Recall Impacts 164K Pounds of Salmonella Tainted Ground Turkey

Following more than 200 reported cases of food poisoning nationwide, federal health officials indicate that a recent Jennie-O recall has been expanded, now including another 164,000 pounds of raw ground turkey products that may be contaminated with salmonella. 

The Jennie-O ground turkey recall expansion was announced by the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on December 21, following an additional 52 reported salmonella food poisoning cases involving consumers who reported eating ground turkey products.

The initial ground turkey recall was issued on November 15, when Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales of Barron, Wisconsin recognized approximately 147,000 pounds of their ground turkey products could be contaminated with the multi-drug resistant bacteria, Salmonella Reading.

At the time of the initial recall, the outbreak had caused at least 164 food poisoning cases in 35 different states, with more than half of those sickened requiring hospitalization. Since then, Jennie-O and FSIS officials indicate that a total of 216 reported Salmonella illnesses have now been reported across 38 states, resulting in 84 hospitalizations and at least one death.

An ongoing investigation discovered an additional 164,210 pounds of raw ground turkey products may also be contaminated with the same strain of Salmonella Reading, prompting officials to expand the recall.

The recall includes raw ground Turkey items that were produced on October 22, 2018 and October 23, 2018 and bear the establishment number “EST. P-579” or “P-190” inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the side of the trays. For a full list of the recalled products please visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Investigation Notice.

Officials warn that the recalled ground turkey products should not be on stores shelves any longer. However, customers should check their freezers for any ground turkey products included in the recall and dispose of them immediately. According to FSIS officials, the outbreak is still ongoing, with lab tests confirming salmonella cases in ground turkey, turkey patties, and live turkeys at farms and in pet food.

Products subject to the recall were shipped to Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin.

Salmonella infections can cause mild to severe health consequences depending upon the individual. The bacteria may cause a healthy person to experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain whereas the young or elderly with weakened immune systems may face more severe consequences, including fatal infections.

Among pregnant women, salmonella poisoning may cause still births and miscarriages. Occasionally, salmonella infections may travel through the bloodstream and produce illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis, which can cause severe to potentially life threatening health consequences.