Jennie-O Recalls Turkey Burgers with Drug-Resistant Salmonella
On behalf of Brown & Crouppen, P.C. posted in Defective Products on Monday, April 11, 2011
The strain of salmonella discovered in packages of recalled frozen turkey burgers appears to be drug-resistant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So far, 12 consumers in 10 states have been sickened by eating the infected burgers, including one case in Missouri.
No deaths have been reported, but three people have been hospitalized, according to the CDC. Affected patients range in age from 1 to 86. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced the recall of Jennie-O frozen turkey burgers on April 2. The tainted burgers came in 4-pound boxes labeled “All Natural Turkey Burgers with seasonings Lean White Meat” that were packaged on November 23. The burgers have a use-by date of December 23 and identifying lot codes 32710 through 32780. Each package contains 12 burgers.
According to CBS News, physicians have reported that the strain of salmonella is resisting treatment from drugs commonly used against the bacteria, including ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, tetracycline and cephalothin. Researchers from the USDA are investigating whether other Jennie-O products were contaminated, and the recall could be expanded later.
The turkey burgers were sold nationwide at Sam’s Club Stores, though illness has only been reported in 10 states as of April 1. The states are Missouri, Wisconsin, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio and Washington. Wisconsin has had the most individual cases with three. Only three patients have confirmed eating a Jennie-O turkey burger before becoming ill, though the CDC suspected a connection between the contaminated burgers and the other nine cases.
The manufacturer, Jennie-O Turkey Store, said that consumers should return the burgers to their local Sam’s Club for a refund.
Source: CBS News, “CDC: Turkey burger salmonella drug-resistant,” April 5, 2011