Health Feature Articles
Salmonella Strikes
Janet Hackert, Regional Nutrition and Health Education Specialist
Updated by Jessica Kovarik, RD, LD, Extension Associate, University of Missouri Extension
When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
reported on a Salmonella outbreak in the fall of 2007,
they CDC discovered that the most likely cause of this
illness was Banquet brand pot pies made by ConAgra Foods
by investigating what was eaten by those who got sick
compared with what was eaten by those who did not.
As a result, the CDC advised consumers to not eat Banquet pot pies or pot pies made by ConAgra Foods that “have a printed code beginning in ‘5009’ and ending in ‘P9’ or ‘Est 1059.’” Even if the pot pie does not have the Banquet brand, but is one of the store brands made by ConAgra, such as Great Value brand sold at Wal-Mart or Kirkwood sold at Aldi, the printed code will still end in ‘P9’ or ‘Est 1059.’
The CDC is advising consumers to check packages before
purchasing. They also recommend that, “If you have any
of these products at home, the safest thing to do is to
discard them.”
Being infected with Salmonella can feel like what people
often refer to as a nasty flu. Symptoms include
diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, as well as chills,
headache, nausea and vomiting. These show up 12-72 hours
after being infected. The illness lasts 4-7 days. As
with other illnesses, infants, the elderly, and those
with compromised immune systems, such as those with
HIV/AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy, may be more
severely affected. In this outbreak, persons who became
ill ranged in age from less than 1 to 87 years of age.
Salmonella, if left untreated, can often be overcome by
a person’s natural immune system. It can also become
severe, causing hospitalization (as in 30 of the recent
cases) or even death. Salmonella can be diagnosed,
though, and treated with antibiotics.
To prevent Salmonella, wash hands in warm, soapy water
for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw
meat, poultry, and egg products. Also wash cutting
boards, utensils and other dishes that have come in
contact with raw meat and poultry, or their juices, or
egg products. And clean up spills right away. Cook raw
meat and poultry to proper internal temperatures before
eating. This includes easy-to-prepare foods, like pot
pies, that are NOT ‘ready-to-eat.’ The safe internal
temperature for beef is 145 degrees Fahrenheit, pork is
160 degrees Fahrenheit and for poultry it is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ground poultry should be cooked to 165 degrees
Fahrenheit and all other ground meat to a minimum
internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat
thermometer to determine this temperature.
If you think you or someone you know has become ill with
Salmonella, contact your health care provider. For
questions about the recall, you can also contact ConAgra
Foods toll free at 1-866-484-8671.
Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website:
http://media.conagrafoods.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=202310&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1062133&highlight=
Cook to Safe Temperatures. Retrieved May 16, 2008 from http://www.fightbac.org/images/pdfs/cook.pdf
ConAgra Foods website: http://cdc.gov/salmonella/4512eyeminus.html
Discussion with Carolyn Queen, Harrison County Health
Department Public Nurse
Last Updated 05/05/2009
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