New Jersey Included in Salmonella Outbreak Traced to Ground Beef
More than a dozen people in the U.S. are reportedly suffering from symptoms related to salmonella poisoning after a recent outbreak.
Just talking about salmonella makes my stomach churn. So, it pains me to inform you there's been an outbreak reportedly link to ground beef that includes consumers who've gotten sick here in New Jersey.
What are Salmonella Poisoning Symptoms?
According for Centers for Disease Control, salmonella exposure in the human body can take anywhere from six hours to six days to present, and bring on fever, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. Most people recover quickly without the intervention of medical attention.
However, six people affected by this latest salmonella outbreak have needed to be hospitalized, 6abc.com reports.
Is the Meat I Bought Contaminated?
Sicknesses have been reported as far back as April 27th and as recently as June 16th.
The salmonella appears to be linked to 80 percent lean ground beef purchased at ShopRite stores in New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut, however no recall has been issued.
How Worried Should I Be?
Wakefern Food Corp., ShopRite's parent company tells ABC News, ground beef currently being sold at ShopRite is safe to eat, and "is likely not impacted based on current epidemiological data". A statement from Wakefern also says, "The purpose of the CDC announcement was to ensure that customers who may have purchased ground beef product in or around the April 27 to June 16 time frame and may still have product in their freezers are aware of the situation. The CDC announcement also emphasized the importance of safe food handling and proper cooking of ground beef products."
How Can I Avoid Salmonella?
The CDC recommends storing ground beef in the fridge or freezer in an airtight bag or container, and always cooking it to an internal temperature of 160 degrees to help thwart salmonella.
