Buncombe County Salmonella Paratyphi B Outbreak, 2012
Buncombe County Health Department reported an outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B among county residents and visitors. As of May 1, 2012 there were 37 case patients. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture confirmed the bacteria in a sample of Smiling Hara Tempeh. The company issued a recall of 12-ounce packages of unpasteurized soybean tempeh manufactured between January 11 and April 11, 2012. the containers are marked with a best-by date of 7/11/2012 through 10/25/2012. The tempeh is sold in 30 local stores and restaurants including Earth Fare supermarket and the Laughing Seed Restaurant in Asheville. The North Carolina Department of Public Health Laboratory confirmed that an unopened bag of culture used in making the tempeh tested positive for S. paratyphi B and that it was a PFGE match to the strain found in patients. The FDA is conducting a traceback to determine where the culture was from and how contamination occurred.
- Outbreak began:
- February 2012
- Affected Country:
- US
- Affected States/Territories:
- New York, South Carolina
- Organism(s):
-
- Salmonella
- Vehicle(s):
- Tempeh
- Molecular Results Available:
- Unknown
- Test Results:
- None
- Location(s):
- Restaurants, Home
- Brand Name(s):
- Smiling Hara of Asheville, North Carolina
- Product Subject to Recall:
- Yes
-
- Recall Links:
- http://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/release/2012/4-12tem
- Total ill:
- 87
- Number ill by Case Definition Known:
- Unknown
- Number Laboratory Confirmed Cases:
- N/A
- Number Probable Cases:
- N/A
- Number Possible Cases:
- N/A
- Anyone Hospitalized:
- Yes
- Number Hospitalized:
- 7
- Any Deaths:
- Unknown
- Number Dead:
- Unknown
- Any References:
- Yes
-
- References:
- http://buncombecounty.org/News_Detail.aspx?newsID=
- Asheville Citizen Times article, April 29, 2012
- NC Dept. of Ag & Consumer Services Recall Notice, 4/30/2012
- Asheville Citizen Times article, May 1, 2012
- Buncombe County Health Dept. Press Release, May 4, 2012
- Buncombe County Health Dept. Press Release, May 10, 2012
- NC DHHS Final Outbreak Report