Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Fruit Sickens 1 In Illinois

ILLINOIS — A salmonella outbreak linked to fruit has sickened 96 people, including one in Illinois, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday. A New Jersey company has been identified as a likely source of the outbreak, which could impact schools, officials said.

The salmonella strain has hit 11 states, and 27 people have been hospitalized as a result of the outbreak, the CDC said. No deaths have been reported.

The Food and Drug Administration and CDC linked the outbreak to a fruit mix with cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple and grapes from Tailor Cut Produce of North Brunswick, New Jersey.

Federal health officials said the fruit was not sold directly to consumers in grocery stores. Instead, the products were sold to food service establishments such as restaurants, banquet facilities, hotels, schools and long-term care facilities.

The fruit was distributed between Nov. 15 and Dec. 1; the company recalled the products Dec. 7.

The FDA says nursing homes, schools, hospitals and other facilities that cater to vulnerable populations should not sell or serve the products. Those facilities are urged to consult with their distributors to confirm the source of the fruit mix and cut fruit used in their operation.

Delaware has the highest amount of cases with 39, followed by Pennsylvania with 34 and New Jersey with 12, according to the CDC.

Sicknesses have been reported in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.

Take action if you have symptoms of a salmonella infection. Here's what to do:

• Talk to your health care provider.
• Write down what you ate during the week before you started to get sick.
• Report your illness to your local health department.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after changing diapers and using the toilet, and before and after preparing food to lower the chance of infecting others

About salmonella:

• Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps 12-72 hours after eating contaminated food.
• The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment.
• See your health care provider if you are concerned about symptoms, such as a high fever (temperature over 102 degrees), blood in your feces, diarrhea or frequent vomiting that prevents keeping liquid down.
• More information can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/features/salmonella-food/index.html.

By Tom Davis, Patch Staff