36 Million Lbs. of Turkey Recalled After Salmonella Strikes 26 States

76 people became ill and one person has died from eating ground turkey tainted with salmonella. Cargill processors recalled 36 million pounds of fresh and frozen turkey, including Honeysuckle White, Kroger, Spartan and other major brands. The U.S.Department of Agriculture and Centers for Disease Control have issued health alerts also.

Salmonella Heidelberg, or salmonellosis, is the strain of bacteria associated with this outbreak. Salmonella Heidelberg is a virulent strain that has proved resistant to antibiotics. The CDC is using the PulseNet tracking system to identify which cases are related to this outbreak, which began around March 9, 2011. Those who reported illness after July 5 may not be included in the data yet. So far, people from age 1 to 88 have taken sick. The median age is 23. 22 percent of the cases were hospitalized.

Salmonella symptoms include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps, with onset occurring 12-72 hours after infection. Those hospitalized usually experience extreme dysentery-like diarrhea and are at risk for dehydration. As with most food-borne infections, those most at risk are children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.

A total of 77 people across 26 states have become ill from eating salmonella-tainted ground turkey products. Michigan and Ohio lead the outbreak, with 10 reported cases each of salmonella. Other states with a high incidence are: Texas with nine cases, Illinois with seven, California with six and Pennsylvania with five cases reported. Other states reporting at least one case include: Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, New York and Massachusetts.

Cargill, a Minnesota company, has closed the Springdale, Ark., plant where the tainted turkey originated. All fresh and frozen turkey products sold from Feb. 20 through Aug. 2 are being recalled. Cargill products include fresh and frozen chubs in one, 5 and 10 pound packages, 19.2 and 20 ounce trays and turkey patties. The recall includes flavored ground turkey, lean, 85 percent and 93 percent varieties.

Affected brands and store varieties include: Honeysuckle White, Shady Brook Farms, Riverside, HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Giant Eagle, Safeway, Tom Thumb and Randall's. The critical code to look for is P-963.

Remember the four-part rule for food safety: cook to proper internal temperature (165 degrees for turkey), wash hands and food preparation surfaces between steps to avoid cross-contamination, use hot water and bleach for sanitation and refrigerate food promptly. Visit FoodSafety.gov for more tips. If you have purchased any of the listed Cargill products, place them in a sealed container and return them to the store of purchase for a refund. Contact the USDA's Ask Karen website with questions.

Marilisa Kinney Sachteleben writes about people, places, issues and events in the Great Lakes State.