Pennsylvania Dairy Plant Milk Contaminated After Pasteurization 2000
Pasteurized milk was implicated in an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The pasteurization process employed by the dairy during the outbreak appeared to be adequate, however there were thirteen instances on record when in-house microbial testing showed evidence of bacterial contamination. There were violations of sanitary standards that likely resulted in contamination of products after pasteurization. High humidity and condensation likely produced droplets that fell into open containers of pasteurized milk. Several machines leaked raw milk; raw skim milk was kept at a temperature that promoted bacterial growth. Multiple strains of Salmonella Typhimurium were isolated from case-patients, but Salmonella Typhimurium was never isolated from the milk. It seemed likely that the milk was the source of the illnesses as these strains of Salmonella Typhimurium were known to be present in Pennsylvania dairy herds.
- Outbreak began:
- March 2000
- Affected Country:
- US
- Affected States/Territories:
- Pennsylvania, New Jersey
- Organism(s):
-
- Salmonella
- Vehicle(s):
- Dairy, Milk Pasteurized
- Molecular Results Available:
- Unknown
- Test Results:
- None
- Location(s):
- Unknown
- Brand Name(s):
- Product Subject to Recall:
- Unknown
-
- Recall Links:
- None
- Total ill:
- 93
- 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:
- 6
- Any Deaths:
- Unknown
- Number Dead:
- Unknown
- Any References:
- Yes