Commercially Processed Egg Salad 2003
Oregon State epidemiologist noted an increase in reports of Salmonella Typhimurium during the month of September. Some of the Salmonella isolates matched by PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis). An epidemiologic investigation implicated kits for making egg salad. These had been purchased through a supermarket chain that had, in turn, purchased them from a commercial vendor. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated, but was unable to determine how the product became contaminated. This was the first reported Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak associated with a commercially processed, widely distributed, hard-boiled egg product. The vendor had supplied its egg salad kits to the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, however cases were only identified in Oregon and Washington. Four patients in Arizona had a matching PFGE pattern. However, three of these could not be located, and the fourth did not recall eating egg salad. Although the isolates from Arizona suggested that there was more widespread distribution of a contaminated product, at the time of the initial investigation, all patients appeared to have eaten egg salad sold through a single supermarket distribution center in Oregon. Subsequently the egg salad vendor discontinued production of this product.
- Outbreak began:
- September 2003
- Affected Country:
- US
- Affected States/Territories:
- Oregon
- Organism(s):
-
- Salmonella
- Vehicle(s):
- Eggs, Commercially Processed Egg Product
- Molecular Results Available:
- Yes
- Test Results:
- Unknown
- Location(s):
- Grocery Store
- Brand Name(s):
- Product Subject to Recall:
- Unknown
-
- Recall Links:
- None
- Total ill:
- 18
- Number ill by Case Definition Known:
- Yes
- Number Laboratory Confirmed Cases:
- 18
- Number Probable Cases:
- 0
- Number Possible Cases:
- 0
- Anyone Hospitalized:
- Yes
- Number Hospitalized:
- 2
- Any Deaths:
- Unknown
- Number Dead:
- Unknown
- Any References:
- Yes