Tainted Turkey Outbreak Linked to Northern California Man’s Death

By Kelly Balamuth on August 10, 2011

On August 3, meat industry titan Cargill Inc, voluntarily recalled 36 million pounds of ground turkey in result of a nationwide outbreak of Salmonella. The wave of infection has sickened seventy-seven people in 26 states, and has been linked to the death of one Northern California man.

The death was one of two cases of the illness accounted for in Sacramento County, said a California Department of Public Health spokesman. San Francisco, Riverside, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties each reported one incidence of the infection. Thus far, sickness from the contamination has occurred between March 1 and August 1 — according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — while California, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and Pennsylvania have reported the most cases.

Cargill ground turkey products that have been recalled all include the code “Est. P-963” on the label, according to Cargill, and the full list can be found on the United States Department of Agriculture release page.

The majority of individuals who become infected with Salmonella bacteria develop abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever 12 to 72 hours after ingesting, according to the CDC. The sickness typically lasts four days to one week after exposure and many people recuperate without treatment. In some instances, individuals develop extreme symptoms and need hospitalization (those with weakened immune systems are particularly susceptible to complications), in which prompt and proper treatment with antibiotics is critical.

The CDC estimates that Foodborne illness is blamed for approximately 3,000 deaths in the nation annually, and that about one in six people in the United States becomes sick from consuming contaminated food each year. If you’ve suffered illness as a result of food contamination and/or food manufacturer negligence, contact the Northern California defective products lawyers at Balamuth Harrington. Call 1-888-254-1234 for a free consultation today.