1 Death Reported, Hundreds Of Others Ill In Salmonella Outbreak

DES MOINES, IOWA — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued a warning of a salmonella outbreak that's been linked to one death in Iowa and numerous cases across the state and Midwestern United States. The outbreak stems from chicken salad produced in February by Triple T Specialty Meats in Iowa.

The company has already recalled all chicken salad produced from Jan. 2 to Feb. 7. The chicken salad was sold in containers of various weights in the deli at Fareway grocery stores in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota. In addition to the one death in Iowa, 239 others in Iowa have become ill, the CDC reported.

Across eight states, 94 people have been hospitalized and a total of 265 people reportedly became ill from the chicken salad. The first illnesses from the chicken salad were reported on Jan. 8 and occurred through March 20, the CDC reported. The youngest person was less than 1 year old and the oldest was 89 years old.

In addition to the illnesses reported in Iowa, 10 people became ill in Illinois, five in Nebraska, four in Minnesota, three in South Dakota, and one in Indiana, Wisconsin and Mississippi.

After the initial reports of the illness were reported in February, Fareway issued a statement that it had pulled all of the chicken salad from its shelves and was cooperating with authorities.

"This product has not been sold at any Fareway location since Feb. 9, 2018, and will not be sold again at any Fareway until we are certain the problem has unquestionably been resolved," Fareway said in the statement. The company has more than 118 stores across the Midwest.

CDC recommends people do not eat any remaining recalled chicken salad sold at Fareway grocery stores, including any that has been frozen. Throw it away or return it to the place of purchase. The CDC offered these tips for consumers who purchased the product:

• Even if some of the chicken salad was eaten or served and no one got sick, throw the rest away, including any chicken salad in your freezer. Put it in a sealed bag in the trash so that children, pets or other animals cannot eat it.
• Wash and sanitize countertops as well as drawers or shelves in refrigerators or freezers where recalled chicken salad was stored.
• If you don't remember the date when you purchased chicken salad from Fareway, do not eat it. Throw it away or return it to the place of purchase.

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