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Published Date: 2013-05-23 22:52:16
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Salmonellosis - USA (09): sesame seed paste, alert, recall
Archive Number: 20130523.1731892

SALMONELLOSIS - USA (09): SESAME SEED PASTE, ALERT, RECALL
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Date: Wed 22 May 2013
Source: CDC [edited]
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/montevideo-tahini-05-13/index.html


CDC is collaborating with public health officials in several states and the USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Montevideo and _Salmonella [enterica_ serotype] Mbandaka infections. Results from this ongoing investigation indicate that tahini sesame paste distributed by Krinos Foods, LLC of Long Island City, NY is the likely source of this outbreak. [Tahini is a paste made from ground, hulled sesame seeds used in North African, Greek, Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine. (Wikipedia) - Mod,JW].

Public health investigators are using DNA "fingerprints" of bacteria obtained through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE, to identify cases of illness that may be part of this outbreak. They are using data from PulseNet, the national subtyping network made up of state and local public health laboratories and federal food regulatory laboratories that performs molecular surveillance of foodborne infections. These strains of _S._ Montevideo and _S._ Mbandaka have very rarely been seen before in PulseNet. Before this outbreak, these strains had been reported only 29 and 4 times, respectively.

A total of 8 ill persons infected with the outbreak strains of _S._ Montevideo (2 persons) or _S._ Mbandaka (6 persons) have been reported from 6 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: California (1), Minnesota (2), New York (1), North Dakota (1), Texas (2), and Wisconsin (1). Among persons for whom information is available, illness onset dates range from 4 Mar 2013 to 30 Apr 2013. Ill persons range in age from less than one year to 75 years, with a median age of 24 years. 50 percent of ill persons are female. Among 4 ill persons with available information, none reported being hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Investigation of the Outbreak
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During routine product testing at a retail store, the Michigan Department of Agriculture isolated _S._ Montevideo from Krinos brand tahini sesame paste. Additional testing by the FDA isolated _S._ Mbandaka from imported tahini sesame paste collected from shipments arriving in the USA for distribution by Krinos Foods.

On 28 Apr 2013, Krinos Foods, LLC of Long Island City, NY, recalled its tahini sesame paste. On 9 May 2013, Krinos Foods expanded its recall to include additional expiration dates. The recalled lots have expiration dates from 1 Jan 2014 to 8 Jun 2014 and from 16 Oct 2014 to 15 Mar 2015.

A search of the PulseNet database identified ill persons with the same strains of _S._ Montevideo and _S._ Mbandaka. In interviews, ill persons answered questions about foods eaten and other exposures during the week before becoming ill. Four (100 percent) of 4 ill persons interviewed (2 infected with _S._ Montevideo and 2 with _S._ Mbandaka) reported eating homemade hummus made with Krinos brand tahini sesame paste.

CDC and state and local public health partners are continuing laboratory surveillance through PulseNet to identify additional ill persons and to interview ill persons about foods eaten before becoming ill. FDA is continuing to work closely with CDC and state partners in this investigation.

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ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
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[This CDC post includes the 2 Minnesota cases previously posted on ProMED. - Mod.LL]

[Label of Krinos brand tahini sesame paste
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/files/2013/05/KrinosTahini.jpg
- Mod.JW]

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail map can be accessed at: http://healthmap.org/r/1hiS.]

See Also

Salmonellosis - USA (08): (NC) hotel restaurant, increasing cases 20130521.1728087
Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium - USA (05): (MN) unpasteurized cheese 20130521.1726476
Salmonellosis, st. Saintpaul - USA (02): cucumbers ex Mexico 20130520.1715560
Salmonellosis - USA (07): (MN) sesame seed paste, alert, recall 20130518.1721490
Salmonellosis - USA (06): (NC) hotel restaurant 20130518.1717220
Salmonellosis - USA (05): (NV) restaurant 20130515.1714218
Salmonellosis - USA (04): (NV) restaurant 20130503.1687744
Salmonellosis - USA (03): multiple serotypes, live poultry contact 20130428.1678626
Salmonellosis - USA (02): (NM), live poultry contact 20130427.1676459
Salmonellosis, st. Saintpaul - USA: cucumbers ex Mexico 20130425.1672779
Salmonellosis, st Typhimurium - USA (04): (MN) unpasteurized cheese 20130425.1671514
Salmonellosis, st Infantis - USA: (MN, CO) live poultry contact 20130424.1669381
Salmonellosis - USA: (SD) live chick contact 20130421.1662050
Salmonellosis, serotype Typhimurium - USA (03): hedgehog 20130419.1657069
Salmonellosis, serotype Heidelberg - USA: chicken 20130217.1546450
Salmonellosis, serotype Typhimurium - USA (02): hedgehog, alert 20130206.1531
Salmonellosis, serotype Typhimurium - USA: ground beef 20130126.1515904
Salmonellosis, serotype Uganda - USA: (LA) head cheese, recall 20130126.1514857
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