Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Ground Beef Kills 1

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a multi-state salmonella outbreak linked to ground beef that has killed one person in California.

According to the agency, a single common supplier of ground beef has not been identified. So far, federal health officials are not advising consumers to stop eating ground beef and have not told retailers to stop selling the product.

The agency is reminding people on how to safely handle and cook ground beef to prevent food poisoning.

Officials said 10 people in six states became infected with salmonella. At least eight of those people had to be hospitalized and one person died in the outbreak. The particular strain of salmonella in this outbreak, salmonella Dublin, causes more severe infections that can infect the blood, according to the agency.

The illnesses were reported in California, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa.

The people interviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported eating different types and brands of ground beef from many different locations.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 8 to September 22.

Below are the CDC's instructions on handling and cooking ground beef:

• Don’t eat raw or undercooked ground beef.
• Cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F. Use a food thermometer external icon to make sure the meat has reached this safe internal temperature. You can’t tell whether meat is safely cooked by looking at it.
  • For hamburgers, insert thermometer through the side of the patty until it reaches the middle.
  • Place the thermometer in the thickest part of the meat for other items.
• Ask that ground beef hamburgers and mixtures be cooked to 160°F internal temperature when ordering at a restaurant.
• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after touching raw meat. Wash items that came into contact with raw ground beef, such as countertops, utensils, dishes, and cutting boards, with hot, soapy water or in a dishwasher.

Read more about the outbreak and safety instructions on how to handle ground beef.