Multistate Salmonella Outbreak Declared Over
CDC says infections linked to the consumption of Jule’s Cashew Brie, a vegan, or plant-based cheese alternative, was linked to the cashews used in the ingredients.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a Salmonella outbreak is over. The declaration, made yesterday, was part of an ongoing investigation that stemmed from a voluntary recall of Jule’s Foods products made in April by Jule’s Foods of Carlsbad, California.
The likely source of the outbreak was believed to have stemmed from the consumption of the cashews in the Jule’s Cashew Brie, a vegan, or plant-based cheese alternative.
The CDC, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state, and local officials investigated the outbreak.
There were 20 total illnesses including 5 hospitalizations and no deaths reported.
And while distribution of the product was across multiple states, the infections were found in only 4 states, including California, Florida, Tennessee, and Maryland. The product was confirmed to be distributed across the following states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Texas. The CDC, however, pointed out the product could have reached additional states that were not confirmed.
"Two strains of Salmonella, Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Chester, have been linked to this outbreak. The illnesses of Salmonella Chester have the same genetic fingerprint as Salmonella found in a sample of Jule’s Cashew Brie collected by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH)," The FDA wrote on its website. "In addition. illnesses of Salmonella Duisburg and Salmonella Urbana have been previously reported and are linked to this outbreak. Other strains of Salmonella have been identified in raw and finished product samples and environmental samples but have not been linked to illnesses."
With the FDA fast tracking its investigation to identify the cashews as the likely source, the agency worked with the cashew supplier to ensure that potentially contaminated product was removed from the market and that the supplier implemented corrective actions.
"Today, @CDCgov announced that the multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to the consumption of Jule’s Cashew Brie products including vegan or plant-based cheese alternatives is over and these products are no longer available for consumers," FDA Deputy Commissioner, Food Policy & Response, Frank Yiannas tweeted yesterday.
