Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 8/2/11

The Centers for Disease Control says at least one person reportedly has died from an outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg that’s believed to be linked to ground turkey purchased and consumed after March 9, 2011.

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a public health alert involving 77 illnesses in 26 states. The agency said it will investigate the source of the outbreak, which it told Meatingplace was unrelated to turkey recalls earlier this year 

Now, the CDC says the ages of the affected individuals range from less than 1 year to 88 years old, with the highest concentration – 10 each – living in Michigan and Ohio. Texas (9), Illinois (7), California (6) and Pennsylvania (5) reported the next highest number of cases. The Atlanta-based agency is working with the FSIS and public health departments in the 26 states to determine the source of the affected product.

Cultures of four ground turkey samples purchased from four retail locations between March and June 27 as part of a routine sampling program yielded Salmonella Heidelberg contamination linked with the outbreak strain. The CDC says preliminary data indicates that three of the products originated from a common turkey processor that the agency has declined to identify so far. The fourth sample is still under investigation and the agency says it will update the public as information becomes available.

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