2021 Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Ground Turkey – Investigation Details
Posted May 18, 2021
This outbreak is over. Always handle and cook ground turkey safely to help prevent foodborne illness.
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) collected different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Hadar infections.
Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data showed that ground turkey made people sick.
As of May 17, 2021, this outbreak is over.
Epidemiologic Data
As of May 17, 2021, a total of 33 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Hadar were reported from 14 states (see map). Illnesses started on dates ranging from December 28, 2020, to April 22, 2021 (see timeline).
Sick people ranged in age from less than 1 to 92 years, with a median age of 49 years. Sixty-six percent of people were female. Of 22 people with information available, four were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.
State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 13 people interviewed, eight (62%) reported eating ground turkey. This percentage was significantly higher than results from a 2018-2019 survey of healthy people in which 13% of respondents reported eating ground turkey in the week before they were interviewed. This suggested that people in this outbreak got sick from eating ground turkey.
Laboratory and Traceback Data
Public health investigators used the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that were part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples were closely related genetically. This means that people in this outbreak likely got sick from the same food.
USDA-FSIS collected an unopened package of ground turkey from a sick person’s freezer for testing. Testing results showed that the ground turkey contained the outbreak strain of Salmonella. The traceback investigation found that the ground turkey purchased by the sick person was produced by Plainville Brands, LLC.
Not all illnesses were linked to ground turkey produced by Plainville Brands, LLC. Sick people reported buying many different brands of ground turkey from multiple stores, and USDA-FSIS’s traceback investigation identified several turkey processing facilities. The outbreak strain was also identified in routine turkey samples, from multiple companies, collected by USDA-FSIS and state officials from 13 establishments.
WGS predicted that Salmonella bacteria from 33 people’s samples and 19 turkey samples were resistant to one or both of the antibiotics streptomycin and tetracycline. Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if an antibiotic is needed for an infection related to this outbreak, this resistance likely will not affect the choice of antibiotic used to treat most people.
Public Health Actions
On April 10, USDA-FSIS issued a public health alert for approximately 211,406 pounds of raw ground turkey products produced by Plainville Brands, LLC. These products had the establishment number “P-244” inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mark of inspection. They were made from December 18-29, 2020 and were sold nationwide. CDC and FSIS also shared information about this outbreak with members of the National Turkey Federation.
CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Hadar infections linked to raw ground turkey. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that ground turkey has been making people sick.
Epidemiologic Data
As of April 12, 2021, 28 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Hadar have been reported from 12 states (see map). Illnesses started on dates ranging from December 28, 2020, to March 4, 2021 (see timeline).
Sick people range in age from less than 1 to 92 years, with a median age of 49, and 68% are female. Of 19 people with information available, 2 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 2 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 10 people interviewed, 6 (60%) reported eating ground turkey. This percentage was significantly higher than results from a survey of healthy people in which 13% of respondents reported eating ground turkey in the week before they were interviewed. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from eating ground turkey.
Laboratory and Traceback Data
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. This means that people in this outbreak likely got sick from the same food.
USDA-FSIS collected an unopened package of ground turkey from a sick person’s freezer for testing. Testing results showed that the ground turkey contained the outbreak strain of Salmonella. The traceback investigation found that the ground turkey purchased by the sick person was produced by Plainville Brands, LLC.
Not all illnesses can be linked to ground turkey produced by Plainville Brands, LLC. Sick people reported buying many different brands of ground turkey from multiple stores, and USDA-FSIS’s traceback investigation identified several turkey processing facilities. The outbreak strain was also identified in samples of several turkey products collected by state and regulatory officials for routine testing.
WGS predicted that Salmonella bacteria from 26 people’s samples and 16 turkey samples are resistant to one or both of the antibiotics streptomycin and tetracycline. CDC’s National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) laboratory is currently conducting standard antibiotic resistance testing. Most people with Salmonella illness recover without antibiotics. However, if antibiotics are needed for people with severe illnesses, this resistance likely will not affect the choice of antibiotic used to treat most people.
Public Health Actions
On April 10, USDA-FSIS issued a public health alert for approximately 211,406 pounds of raw ground turkey products produced by Plainville Brands, LLC. On April 12, CDC issued a Food Safety Alert, advising people not to eat, sell, or serve ground turkey products that are linked to illnesses.
USDA-FSIS is working to determine if additional turkey products are linked to illnesses. CDC advises people to always follow the four food safety steps when handling raw turkey.
