Health Law

DeFusco's Salmonella outbreak: where the bad stuff is

By Marler Clark

According to Rhode Island health officials, at least 19 people have become ill with confirmed Salmonella infections in a Salmonella outbreak linked to pastries made by DeFusco's Bakery.  A recall of zeppoles and all other baked goods made by DeFusco's was issued March 25, 2011.

The locations at which DeFusco's zeppoles were sold include all five Crugnale Bakery locations in Providence, East Providence, North Providence, Cranston and Cumberland, Calvitto's Pizza & Bakery in Narragansett, Sal's Bakery in Providence, and Focaccia World in Johnston. The zeppole were also distributed by American Bakery Supplies in West Warwick and health officials were working Saturday night to identify American Bakery's customers.

The CDC estimates that, for every confirmed case of Salmonella in an outbreak, there may be as many as 38 more unconfirmed illnesses.  The DeFusco's salmonella strain looks like it is quite virulent, however, as evidenced by the fact that 13 of 19 confirmed cases have required hospitalization for treatment.  Thus, more DeFusco's victims may be identified and counted as confirmed cases in this outbreak.  Nevertheless, there are certainly many more than 19 victims in the DeFusco's Salmonella outbreak. 

Full post as published by Food Poison Blog on March 27, 2011 (boomark / email).