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Salmonella Linked to Pickles in Illinois

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

Officials at the Cook County Department of Public Health are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Newport linked to the Assi Market, an Asian foods market in Niles, Illinois.

There are currently six lab-confirmed cases, five of which required hospitalization. All persons linked to the outbreak have reported eating a pickle purchased from the Assi Market. The pickles were made at the market and were sold in plastic bags in the deli. The batch of pickles was available for purchase July 25 through July 27 with a sell by date of Aug. 24, 2010.

The Illinois Department of Public Health tested a pickle sample obtained from a family linked to the outbreak; the sample tested positive for Salmonella.

"We are asking for anyone who purchased these pickles to contact our agency," said Stephen A. Martin, Jr., at in a press release. "Salmonella is a serious disease and we want to make sure we've spoken with anyone who may have become ill after eating these pickles. In addition, we are interested in conducting additional testing on any remaining pickles from this batch."

Anyone who has consumed pickles from Assi Market, sold during the suspected window, and is experiencing diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps, should contact the Cook County Department of Public Health Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Unit at (708) 492-2150.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on August 20, 2010 (boomark / email).