All News / Outbreaks /

Ground Turkey Outbreak Toll Climbs

Food Safety News

Mary Rothschild

September 16, 2011

At least 119 people in 32 states have been stricken with Salmonella Heidelberg infections linked to Cargill ground turkey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in its latest outbreak update. One person has died.

Cargill recalled nearly 136 million pounds of ground turkey products on August 3 from its Springdale, AR plant. Cargill expanded the recall by another 185,000 pounds on September 11, after tests revealed further contamination with the outbreak strain.

Salmonella Heidelberg is resistant to several commonly prescribed antibiotics; the CDC said this antibiotic resistance may be associated with an increased risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals.

The number of ill persons identified in each state: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (3), California (6), Colorado (4), Georgia (2), Illinois (15), Indiana (1), Iowa (2), Kansas (2), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (12), Minnesota (2), Mississippi (1), Missouri (5), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New York (2), North Carolina (3), Ohio (11), Oklahoma (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (6), South Dakota (3), Tennessee (2), Texas (16), Utah (1), and Wisconsin (4).

Get Help

Affected by an outbreak or recall?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

Get a free consultation
Related Resources
Salmonella Food Poisoning

What is Salmonella and how does it cause food poisoning? The term Salmonella refers to a specific group of gram-negative bacteria with the potential to cause gastrointestinal distress and other...

The Incidence of Salmonella Infections

Typhoidal Salmonella Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhi, Sendai, and Paratyphi A, B, or C are found exclusively in humans. These serotypes, collectively referred to as typhoidal Salmonella, cause enteric fever (also...

The Prevalence of Salmonella in Food and Elsewhere

Most Salmonella infections are caused by eating contaminated food. One study found that 87% of all confirmed cases of Salmonella are foodborne. Foods of animal origin, including meat, poultry, eggs...

Transmission of Salmonella Bacteria

In the past two decades, consumption of produce, especially sprouts, tomatoes, fruits, leafy greens, nuts, and nut butters, has been associated with Salmonella illnesses. The surface of fruits and vegetables...

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include painful abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever. Salmonella infections can have a broad range of illness, from no symptoms to severe illness. The most common clinical...

Outbreak Database

Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

View Outbreak Database