Personal Injury Law

Salmonella outbreaks traced to tomatoes

By Marler Clark LLP

Vindy.com today reported on the resolution of one of the last Sheetz Salmonella cases that stemmed from the 2004 Salmonella outbreak traced to contaminated tomatoes.  According to the newspaper report:

Anslinger's case was notable because it was the vehicle for the complicated discovery process — the pretrial exchange of evidence — used to determine where the tomatoes originated, said Anslinger's attorney, William Marler.

The settlement terms are confidential, according to Sheetz attorney Gary Zimmerman and Marler, who represented more than 130 of the sickened customers.

In August, Blair County Judge Jolene Kopriva concluded that Altoona-based Sheetz and its vegetable wholesaler, Coronet Foods, could not pinpoint where the tainted tomatoes originated. So, Kopriva dismissed claims brought by Anslinger and other customers against two tomato suppliers and six farms or other businesses that may have grown the tomatoes.

The Sheetz Salmonella outbreak was not the only one traced back to contaminated tomatoes, as evidenced by the recent outbreak at Quizno's that was caused by consumption of tomatoes.   In addition:

• In 1990, a reported 174 Salmonella javiana illnesses, as part of a four state outbreak, were linked to raw tomatoes.
  
• In 1993, 84 reported cases of Salmonella Montevideo were part of a three state outbreak that was linked to raw tomatoes.
  
• In January 1999, Salmonella Baildon was recovered from 86 infected persons in eight states.
  
• In July 2002, an outbreak of Salmonella javiana occurred associated with attendance at the 2002 U.S. Transplant Games held in Orlando, Florida during late June of that year. Ultimately, the outbreak investigation identified 141 ill persons in 32 states who attended the games.
• During August and September 2002, a Salmonella Newport outbreak affected the East Coast. Ultimately, over 404 confirmed cases were identified, in over 22 states. Epidemiological analysis indicated that tomatoes were the most likely vehicle, and were traced back to the same tomato packing facility in the mid-Atlantic region. 
• In early July 2004, as many as 564 confirmed cases of salmonellosis associated with consumption of contaminated tomatoes purchased at Sheetz Convenience Store were reported in five states, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia. Seventy percent were associated with tomatoes in food prepared at Sheetz convenience stores. 
• In 2006 two outbreaks of Salmonella-tainted tomatoes where reported by the FDA. According to Ms. Murphy, the Food & Drug Administration is now investigating two tomato-related outbreaks, with the latest blamed for nearly 100 illnesses in 19 states. FDA was already tracing tomatoes involved in another outbreak involving 183 people in 21 states. Federal authorities said that fresh tomatoes contaminated with Salmonella typhimurium served in restaurants were the likely cause of that outbreak.

Full post as published by Salmonella Blog on November 28, 2007 (boomark / email).