2 Sick In NJ Due To Salmonella Illness Outbreak

NEW JERSEY – Twenty-eight people in 12 states – including New Jersey – have gotten sick with salmonella illness after eating ground turkey, according to federal officials.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a public health alert for approximately 211,406 pounds of raw ground turkey products, produced by Plainville Brands of Pennsylvania due to concerns the products may have caused salmonella illnesses.

FSIS and its public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public health and regulatory officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of 28 salmonella illnesses in 12 states with onset dates ranging from Dec. 28, 2020 through March 4, 2021.

Two people have been hospitalized and two people have gotten sick in New Jersey, according to the CDC.

A recall was not requested because it is believed that the products are no longer available for consumers to purchase, federal officials say.

FSIS is concerned that some products may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase, officials said.

Retail locations that may receive the returned product from consumers should destroy this product immediately, officials say.

The raw ground turkey products were produced on Dec. 18th through 29th, 2020. The following products are subject to the public health alert:

• 1-pound packages of Nature’s Promise Free from 94 percent LEAN | 6 percent FAT Ground Turkey with Use by/freeze/sell by date of 1/1/21, 1/3/21,1/4/21, 1/8/21 and 1/10/21 on the front of the package.
• 1-pound packages of Wegman 94 percent LEAN | 6 percent FAT Ground Turkey with Use by/freeze/sell by date of 1/3/21, 1/4/21, 1/8/21 and 1/10/21 on the front of the package.
• 3-pound packages of Wegman 94 percent LEAN | 6 percent FAT Ground Turkey with Use by/freeze/sell by date of 1/3/21, 1/4/21, 1/8/21 and 1/10/21 on the front of the package.
• 1-pound packages of Plainville Farms Ground White Turkey 93 percent | 7 percent Fat with Use by/freeze/sell by date of 1/10/21 on the front of the package.

The products bear establishment number EST. P-244 inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations nationwide.

Consumption of food contaminated with Sslmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 6 hours to 6 days after eating the contaminated product.

The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized.

Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume raw ground turkey that has been cooked to a temperature of 165 degrees. The only way to confirm the poultry item is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.