Salmonella poisoning in 70 people around the country has been linked to dry dog food.  According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is the first time a Salmonella outbreak has been linked to dry dog food.

Last August, Mars Petcare US, Inc. recalled its Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula and  Krasdale Gravy Dry Dog Food because of  Salmonella contamination.  The Salmonella was traced back to the company’s Pennsylvania factory.  Now the CDC is blaming the dry dog food for a Salmonella outbreak that spanned several states.  Most of the cases occurred in Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio.  There were also reported cases in Alabama, California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia.   (more…)

The number of confirmed Salmonella victims at Princeton University has risen to 28, and the number could go higher as officials say more than 70 people have reported symptoms typical of Salmonella. The university is still awaiting lab tests that will confirm whether or not those illnesses are, in fact, Salmonella.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Salmonella bacteria sicken 40,000 people every year. Although the true number could be much higher, because it is estimated that for every case of Salmonella poisoning reported, two others are unreported. Salmonella causes fever, abdominal pain, nausea, gas and bloody diarrhea. Symptoms appear within 36 hours of exposure, and usually last four to seven days. In very severe cases, Salmonella can lead to kidney failure and other complications. Salmonella can be particularly dangerous for children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. In rare cases, Salmonella can cause a disease called Reiter’s Syndrome, a difficult- to- treat condition that causes severe joint pain, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination. (more…)

The number of confirmed Salmonella poisoning cases at Princeton University has quadrupled in only a week.  At least 22 people - including 20 students and two staff - have tested positive for the food borne illness.  Health officials at the Ivy League school are trying to confirm if as many as 70 other cases of stomach ailments are related to the Princeton Salmonella outbreak.

The first case of Salmonella at Princeton was confirmed on April 29 through lab tests. The cases all appear to be the same strain of Salmonella, and officials are trying to pin down the origin of the outbreak. Investigators have taken and will continue to take stool samples from individuals reporting stomach problems. They are also interviewing victims to obtain their complete food histories. Results of lab tests are expected to start coming in soon. (more…)

A man who claims he fell violently ill with Salmonella poisoning after eating at Casa Fiesta in late April is suing the restaurant. Kody Dewitt, who is seeking over $25,000 in damages for the hospital bills and hardships he claims he suffered from eating Salmonella-tainted food at Casa Fiesta, filed the lawsuit in Huron County Common Pleas Court this week. The lawsuit follows an Ohio Department of Health investigation into 26 confirmed cases of Salmonella food poisoning wherein all of the patients ate at Casa Fiesta at 196 Milan Avenue, according to Tim Hollinger, Huron County health commissioner.

The lawsuit contends that soon after Dewitt ate at Casa Fiesta on April 25, he fell terribly ill, requiring hospitalization; he lost wages because of the Salmonella poisoning; and he sustained bodily injury and permanent damage that will forever limit his earning capability. Local news agencies report that other people who claim they were sickened by Salmonella-tainted food at Casa Fiesta plan to sue. (more…)

The number of confirmed Salmonella infections at Princeton has risen to 16, including 15 students and one staff member. The source of the Salmonella remains unknown, and the Princeton Regional Health Department (PRHD) has been working with New Jersey state officials to conduct preliminary food history surveys with both infected and healthy students. The data collected so far points to the Frist Gallery as being a possible source of infection, PRHD health officer David Henry said. Health officials have been investigating the Princeton Salmonella outbreak since last week, when six cases of the food-borne illness were first confirmed. They are working to determine if more than 70 other cases of stomach illnesses there are related to the outbreak.

The survey results are not yet conclusive because a large percentage of the student population eats at the Gallery on a regular basis, Henry noted. Meanwhile, Princeton has taken several precautionary measures to minimize students’ risk of exposure, according to University spokeswoman Cass Cliatt ’96. “The University is taking steps … to prevent further infection,” Cliatt said, explaining that Dining Services has “stopped serving some of the types of food that are commonly connected to salmonella infections.” No new cases have been reported since the precautionary measures were put in place. “As of this point, the last date of onset of symptoms from the confirmed cases was April 30,” Cliatt said. “This was before the University took precautionary steps to remove some food items from service and to close some food stations at Frist.” Cliatt added that lab results on stool samples collected from 59 other suspect cases are pending. (more…)

Salmonella cases at Princeton University now number at least 10, and as many as 73 other people are showing symptoms of the food-borne illness. So far, investigators have not been able to link the Salmonella to any one source, but they continue interviewing victims with both confirmed and suspected cases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Salmonella bacteria sicken 40,000 people every year. Although the true number could be much higher, because it is estimated that for every case of Salmonella poisoning reported, two others are unreported. Salmonella causes fever, abdominal pain, nausea, gas and bloody diarrhea. Symptoms appear within 36 hours of exposure, and usually last four to seven days. In very severe cases, Salmonella can lead to kidney failure and other complications. Salmonella can be particularly dangerous for children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems. In rare cases, Salmonella can cause a disease called Reiter’s Syndrome, a difficult- to- treat condition that causes severe joint pain, irritation of the eyes, and painful urination. (more…)

New Jersey state health officials are investigating six confirmed cases of salmonella at Princeton University to determine if they are related to 70 other cases of stomach illnesses there.  Donna Leusner, spokeswoman for the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, said health officials would interview those patients reporting a stomach illness since last week.  Cass Cliatt, Princeton spokeswoman, confirmed that the patients who tested positive for the salmonella bacteria had more severe symptoms than the others, who possibly caught an unrelated virus.

University doctors started testing for salmonella last Friday when they noticed an unusual number of students reporting stomach problems, Cliatt said.  At that time, doctors began recording patients’ recent eating histories.  The first findings of salmonella came back Tuesday.  A common source to explain the illness has not been determined. (more…)

While federal food-safety officials consider if labels on some frozen chicken products adequately inform consumers that the chicken is raw, be warned that some stuffed chicken entrees made by Serenade are linked to salmonella outbreaks.  The chicken entrees appear to be cooked because they have been breaded and pre-browned, but the meat is raw and, when not cooked thoroughly, is sickening consumers.

In addition to five salmonella outbreaks, 71 people have been sickened since 1998 according to Minnesota health officials who say that for every illness detected, more go unreported.  The latest outbreak, in Minnesota last month, occurred despite even though the products’ labels were updated over a year ago to more clearly state the chicken is uncooked.  “We’ve done everything we think is appropriate, but if consumer behavior hasn’t changed, we have to deal with that,” said David Goldman, assistant administrator for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).  The March outbreak was linked to chicken cordon bleu and chicken breast stuffed with cheese from Serenade Foods.  In 2006, Serenade recalled 75,800 pounds of similar products after a salmonella outbreak.  No recall was conducted following the March outbreak. (more…)

Salmonella tainted cereal has sickened nearly two dozen people in 14 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)  The outbreak has been linked to recalled cereal made by the Malt-O-Meal Company.

Salmonella bacteria cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 72 hours of exposure. Children, the elderly or people with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable to complications from salmonella poisoning. In rare cases, extreme instances of Salmonella poisoning can lead to a disease called Reiter’s Syndrome, which is associated with chronic arthritis. According to the CDC, Salmonella bacteria sicken 40,000 people every year. Although the true number could be much higher, because it is estimated that for every case of Salmonella poisoning reported, two others are unreported. (more…)

Last month, the water supply in Alamosa, Colorado became tainted with salmonella and other bacteria rendering the water there unfit to drink, and for a time, use for showering, for 24 days.  Now, the first death related to the salmonella outbreak has been confirmed.

Since March 19th, Alamosa residents were unable to use tap water for brushing teeth, washing dishes, drinking, and cooking.  At one point, there was not much residents could do other than flush their toilets.  Schools and restaurants were closed and the National Guard was handing out bottled water.  To resolve the problem, crews flushed Alamosa’s water supply with chlorine and, because of the initially high concentrations of chlorine used in the weeks-long flushing process, the residents of Alamosa were also unable to shower for a time. (more…)