The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially concluded an outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul infections that left 18 individuals affected. The source of the outbreak was identified as ground beef sold at ShopRite stores in the Northeastern United States, according to a notice from the CDC.
Among the 18 individuals affected, seven were severely ill, necessitating hospitalization. The outbreak spanned across four states—New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland—and fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
The CDC’s report indicated that Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis displayed a genetic resemblance between the bacteria found in the samples from the affected individuals. This genetic similarity strongly suggested a common food source responsible for the outbreak.
The outbreak strain was detected in a routine ground beef surveillance sample collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) in March 2023.
Throughout the investigation, state and local public health officials conducted interviews with the patients, focusing on their dietary habits in the week leading up to their illness. Among the 16 individuals interviewed, 10 disclosed consumption of ground beef. Nine of these cases were linked to ground beef purchases from various ShopRite outlets in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. Of particular note, seven individuals specified that they had bought 80 percent lean ground beef products. Additionally, two individuals reported purchasing ground beef from ShopRite but were unable to recall the specific type.
As of August 23, a total of 18 cases of Salmonella Saintpaul infections related to the outbreak strain were reported. The illnesses manifested between April 27 and July 6.
The conclusion of this outbreak underscores the significance of thorough food safety practices and ongoing vigilance in the food supply chain to prevent such occurrences in the future.
