read this newsgroup msg on reports of salmonella from Schwan's ice cream:
Outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis Associated
with Nationally Distributed Ice Cream Products --
Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, 1994
From September 19 through October 10, 1994, a total of 80
confirmed cases of Salmonella enteritidis (SE) infection were
reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH); in
comparison, 96 cases were reported statewide during all of 1993.
Cases were characterized by diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever.
Recent increases in SE cases also were reported from South Dakota
(14 cases during September 6-October 7, compared with 20 cases
during all of 1993) and Wisconsin (48 cases during September 6-
October 7, compared with 187 during all of 1993). This report
summarizes preliminary findings from the outbreak investigation.
On October 5 and 6, to assess potential risk factors for
infection, the MDH conducted a case-control study of 15 cases and
15 age- and neighborhood-matched controls. A case was defined as
culture-confirmed SE in a person with onset of illness during
September. Eleven case-patients (73%) and two controls (13%)
reported consumption of Schwan's ice cream within 5 days of illness
onset for case-patients and a similar period for controls (odds
ratio=10.0; 95% confidence interval=1.4-434.0).
On October 7 and 9, the MDH issued press releases informing
the public of this problem and advising persons who had been ill
since September 1 and who had consumed Schwan's ice cream to
contact the health department. During October 8-11, a total of 2014
persons who had consumed suspected products and had been ill with
diarrhea contacted the MDH by telephone. Samples of ice cream from
households of ill persons grew SE.
Ill persons reported eating all types and flavors of ice cream
products produced at the Schwan's plant in Marshall, Minnesota,
including ice cream, sherbet, frozen yogurt, and ice cream
sandwiches and cones; these products had production dates in August
and September. The implicated products are distributed nationwide,
primarily by direct delivery to homes, and are sold only under the
Schwan's label. Investigations to examine the extent and causes of
the outbreak are under way.
On October 7, the company voluntarily stopped distribution and
production at the Marshall plant pending further findings from
these investigations.
Reported by: Acute Disease Epidemiology Section, Minnesota Dept of
Health. South Dakota Dept of Health. Wisconsin Dept of Health and
Social Svcs. Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and
Drug Administration. Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases Br, Div of
Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious
Diseases, CDC.
Editorial Note: Gastroenteritis caused by Salmonella is
characterized by abdominal cramps and diarrhea, vomiting, fever,
and headache. Antimicrobial therapy is not indicated in
uncomplicated gastroenteritis, which typically resolves within 1
week. Persons at increased risk for infection or more severe
disease include infants; the elderly; persons with achlorhydria;
those receiving immunosuppressive therapy; persons who may have
received antimicrobials for another illness; and those persons with
sickle-cell anemia, cancer, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(1). Complications include meningitis, septicemia, Reiter syndrome,
and death (1).
Salmonella sp. are second only to Campylobacter as a cause of
bacterial diarrheal illness in the United States, causing an
estimated 2 million illnesses annually (2). Among the more than
2000 Salmonella serotypes, SE has ranked first or second in
frequency of isolation from humans since 1988 and accounted for 21%
of reported isolates in 1993. Each year, an average of 55 outbreaks
of SE infections are reported to CDC; approximately 11% of patients
are hospitalized, and 0.3% die (3).
Preliminary findings from this outbreak indicate that the
number of persons exposed to contaminated products may be
substantial. Approximately 400,000 gallons of the implicated
products are produced weekly and are distributed throughout the
contiguous United States. Previous investigations have established
the potential for large-scale outbreaks of foodborne salmonellosis;
for example, in 1985, pasteurized milk produced at one dairy plant
caused up to 197,000 Salmonella infections (4).
Consumers should discard or return any Schwan's ice cream
products. Persons who have become ill since September 1 with
diarrhea and who have consumed Schwan's ice cream products are
urged to contact their state health departments.
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