2 Salmonella cases in Minnesota linked to raw tuna, part of national outbreak

Two Minnesota residents sickened recently with salmonellosis are linked to frozen raw tuna, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced Tuesday.  The two are part of a larger national outbreak linked to spicy tuna rolls purchased at grocery stores and workplace cafeterias.

The two Minnesotans, both in their 30’s, are from the metro area and became ill on June 21 and June 30.

The MDH said retail stores should not sell and consumers should not eat tuna from a specific contaminated lot distributed by Osamu Corporation in Gardena, Calif.  The tuna product is packaged in frozen, vacuum-sealed bags without a brand or other name. The contaminated lot of tuna can be identified from labels on the tuna bags, such as this:

Product information on the enclosing box bears the lot number 68568 and country of origin is Indonesia.

Grocery stores and other retail outlets should check their raw tuna supply for bags or boxes labeled with Lot 68568 from Indonesia (check with your supplier or shipping receipts/invoices if individual bags are not labeled). Tuna from this lot may be contaminated and should be discarded and not sold or served.

“Consumers concerned that they may have purchased sushi made with this tuna should contact the place where it was purchased,” the MDH said.  “The investigation in Minnesota and nationally is ongoing.”

Symptoms

Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps and fever. Symptoms usually begin within 12 to 72 hours after exposure, but can begin up to a week after exposure.  Salmonella infections usually resolve in 5 to 7 days, but approximately 28 percent of laboratory-confirmed cases require hospitalization.

Invasive infections (e.g., blood stream infections, meningitis) occasionally occur. In rare cases, Salmonella infection can lead to death, particularly in the elderly or those with weakened immune systems.

More information on Salmonella and how to prevent it can be found here.

Information provided by the Minnesota Department of Health