The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared that a Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak traced to pistachio cream is over.
The CDC identified four patients in the outbreak, one in Minnesota and three in New Jersey. One of the patients required hospitalization. The last illness onset was May 19.
There were likely many more sick people in the outbreak because the CDC reports that for every documented patient in Salmonella outbreaks, 29 go undetected. This is because some people do not seek medical attention and others are not specifically tested for Salmonella infection.
The outbreak involved Emek Pistachio Cream manufactured by Emek Dogal Saglik Urunleri Iklim Gida Insaat San Tic Ltd Sti in Turkey. The company recalled the product on July 19. Whole genome sequencing of the product returned positive results for Salmonella. The recalled product should no longer be available for sale, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
There is concern that consumers may have unopened jars of the recalled product because it’s expiration date is not until Oct. 19, 2026.
In addition to the testing and subsequent recall by the manufacturer, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Maryland Department of Health collected samples of other Emek-brand products containing pistachio cream that were available for sale at World Market retail locations. The samples tested positive for Salmonella. In response, World Market initiated a recall of 9.7- oz Emek Spread Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif. This product was sold in 9.7- oz glass jars with BATCH NO: 250401, UPC number 8 69652 10130 1, and a best-before date of April 1, 2027.
In addition to sampling conducted by state partners, the Food and Drug Administration collected import samples of Emek-brand products containing pistachio cream. Salmonella was detected in Emek Spread Pistachio Cacao Cream with Kadayif as well as Emek Pistachio Cream.
Products from Emek Dogal Saglik Urunleri Iklim Gida Insaat San Tic Ltd Sti have been placed on Import Alert 99-43, and the FDA and state partners are conducting follow up activities with the firm and their importers to address this issue.
About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.
Anyone who has eaten any of the recalled pistachio cream and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.
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