The people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Montevideo are from Illinois (two), Minnesota (one) and Wisconsin (five).
CDC said raw sprouts served at multiple Jimmy John’s restaurants are a likely source of the multistate outbreak.
Seven (88%) of eight people interviewed reported eating at multiple Jimmy John’s restaurant locations. All clinical isolates have the same DNA fingerprint of S. Montevideo.
All of them ate raw sprouts on a sandwich from Jimmy John’s in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Jimmy John’s told all locations chain-wide to temporarily stop serving sprouts while it investigates.
The contaminated sprouts could have been purchased from two growers in Minnesota.
Agencies advise consumers to avoid sprouts
The FDA and CDC advised people dining at Jimmy John’s in Illinois and Wisconsin to avoid sprouts.
Traceback is ongoing from the six Jimmy John’s locations where ill people ate raw sprouts.
Investigations are looking at where the sprouts were distributed and the potential route of contamination.
Illness dates range from 20 December to 3 January. Ill people range in age from 26 to 50 and all are female. Illness usually develops within six to 72 hours after being exposed to Salmonella bacteria but can be up to 10 days.
No hospitalizations or deaths have been reported.
Removal from menus
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has requested Jimmy John’s locations in Wisconsin remove sprouts from their menu until the investigation is completed.
The five ill people in Wisconsin ate sprouts at a restaurant location around the state during mid-to-late December.
Warm and humid conditions used for sprouting are ideal for the growth of bacteria which can multiply dramatically during the sprouting process. Washing sprouts may reduce but will not eliminate risk.
Sprouts are a known source of foodborne illness and to reduce the risk of getting sick they should be cooked before consumption.
People in Illinois reported becoming ill on 20 and 26 December.
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) also requested that all Jimmy John’s restaurants in Illinois remove sprouts from menus until the investigation is finished.
UK pork recall
Meanwhile, James Hall has recalled BBQ Pulled Pork in the UK because it may contain Salmonella.
Spar BBQ Pulled Pork 2 for £3.50 110g with date up to and including 25 January 2018 and code 413151 and Woodland BBQ Pulled Pork 2 for £3.50 110g with date up to and including 25 January 2018 and code 561092 are affected.
“Routine testing has identified the possible presence of Salmonella in a small number of packs of the above products.
“As a precautionary measure, we are asking all customers who have bought this product not to use it, and to return it to their nearest Spar store, where they will receive a full refund.”