Frozen tuna used in restaurant sushi has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 13 people in seven states. Two people have been hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is the third such outbreak in seven years.
In this outbreak, health officials used Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to identify the genetic “fingerprint” of the Salmonella Newport outbreak strain. The 13 case-patients, who range in age from 29 to 85 years old, said they became ill after eating sushi form restaurants. They reported the onset of illness from January 8, 2019, and March 20, 2019. Investigators from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) interviewed and collected information from the restaurants and traced back the source of the contaminated fish to Jensen Tuna of Houma, Louisiana.
Jensen has issued a recall for imported, frozen ground tuna for possible Salmonella contamination. The product was packaged in 1-pound, clear plastic bags, 20 to a box. The boxes were marked with lot numbers z266, z271, and z272. No other Jensen Tuna products are included in the recall.
The recalled tuna was sold to wholesalers in Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota, New York, and Washington who distributed it to restaurants and retail locations. All of the states where the product was distributed have reported illnesses.
If you have been sickened by tuna sushi associated with this outbreak and would like a consultation with our experienced team, call 1 (888) 377-8900, send a text to 612-261-0856. Or, complete the form below. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.