A Decade with Salmonella and Eggs

In September 2024, CDC announced a multistate outbreak investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis infections associated with eggs. As of October 17, 2024, a total of 93 people infected with the outbreak strain had been reported from 12 states. Illness onset dates ranged from May 23, 2024 to September 13, 2024. Of 87 people with information available, 34 were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection traced the source of eggs supplied to restaurants where ill people ate before they got sick. Records show that Milo’s Poultry Farms supplied eggs to those restaurants.

FDA conducted an inspection at Milo’s Poultry Farms and collected samples. FDA’s analysis showed the outbreak strain of Salmonella was found in the packing facility and the hen egg laying house.

On September 6, 2024, Milo’s Poultry Farms recalled eggs.

WGS analysis of bacteria from 83 people’s samples and 72 environmental samples were predicted to be not susceptible to ciprofloxacin and were related to a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis that was also isolated from chicken.

The outbreak was declared over on October 18, 2024.

In June 2023, California public health officials investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections associated with eggs served at a restaurant. Fifteen people were ill. Three people were hospitalized. No one died.

In July 2023, public health officials at the Alaska Department of Health investigated an outbreak of SalmonellaEnteritidis infections associated with a sit-down dining restaurant. Twenty-four people were ill. One person was hospitalized. No one died.

Menu items made with eggs were the implicated vehicles of transmission.

In March 2019 the Nevada Division of Public Health investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to the Grille at Gold Dust West in Elko, Nevada. Thirty-eight cases were identified. Of these, 29 were laboratory confirmed. Two of these were restaurant employees but they were not implicated as the source of the outbreak. Illnesses occurred between February 27, 2019 and March 16, 2019. Eggs were the suspected contaminated vehicle.

In September 2018 Forty-four people were infected with an indistinguishable strain of Salmonella Enteritidis associated with consuming eggs from Gravel Ridge Farms. Illnesses were reported from 11 states. Illness onsets ranged from May 17, 2018 to August 26, 2018. Twelve people were hospitalized. No one died

On September 8, 2018, Gravel Ridge Farms recalled cage free large eggs because they might be contaminated with Salmonella. Recalled eggs had a “best if used by” dates of July 25, 2018 through October 3, 2018.

In April 2018 the FDA announced a voluntary recall of shell eggs because of the potential for contamination with Salmonella Braenderup. As of April 16, 2018 there were 35 illnesses reported by 9 states: Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Eleven people had been hospitalized. No deaths were reported. Illness onset dates ranged from November 16, 2017 to April 14, 2018.

The affected eggs were from plant number P-1065 with the Julian date range of 011 through date of 102 printed on either the side portion or the principal side of the carton or package, or plant number P-1359D and Julian date 048A or 049A with Best By dates of APR 02 and APR 03.

In February 2017 public health officials in Oklahoma investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis among residents at a long-term care facility located in Oklahoma City. Nine people reported symptoms. Six were laboratory confirmed with Salmonella Enteritidis. Two people were hospitalized. One person died. The suspected source of illness was soft, cooked eggs.

In early October 2016 the CDC, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and Department of Agriculture, several states and the FDA announced an outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections linked to consumption of shell eggs distributed by Good Earth Egg Company of Bonne Terre, Missouri as the likely source of infections in the outbreak. As of October 3, 2016 there were 8 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Oranienburg. Two people were hospitalized. There were no deaths. The first outbreak associated case experienced onset in April 2016. Cases resided in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas.

Good Earth Egg Company recalled all of its shell eggs because of the potential contamination. Recalled eggs were distributed throughout the Midwest.

Twenty-two people were sickened with Salmonella Enteritidis from raw eggs used in Father’s Day brunch dishes served at Tallulah’s Restaurant in Seattle. One person was hospitalized. No one died. The infections were traced to crab and ham eggs Benedict dishes.

In May 2016 state and local public health officials in Ohio investigated a foodborne illness outbreak among customers of Oak Grove Eatery, a restaurant located in Wooster. A total of 29 ill cases were identified. Seventeen cases were laboratory confirmed with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. One person who was culture positive for Salmonella acquired their infection secondarily through contact with an ill Oak Grove Eatery patron. Two of the ill cases were employees of the restaurant. Seven patients were hospitalized. No one died. A case control study was conducted. Statistical analysis of foods consumed strongly implicated hollandaise sauce as the contaminated food item, (Relative risk 9.47; 95% confidence interval 1.4-4.61, p-value 0.0000095).

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.

Source: https://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/a-decade-with-salmonella-and-eggs/