International outbreak of multiple Salmonella serotype infections linked to sprouted chia seed powder - USA and Canada, 2013-2014.
Salmonella is a leading cause of bacterial foodborne illness. We report the collaborative investigative efforts of US and Canadian public health officials during the 2013-2014 international outbreak of multiple Salmonella serotype infections linked to sprouted chia seed powder. The investigation included open-ended interviews of ill persons, traceback, product testing, facility inspections, and trace forward. Ninety-four persons infected with outbreak strains from 16 states and four provinces were identified; 21% were hospitalized and none died. Fifty-four (96%) of 56 persons who consumed chia seed powder, reported 13 different brands that traced back to a single Canadian firm, distributed by four US and eight Canadian companies. Laboratory testing yielded outbreak strains from leftover and intact product. Contaminated product was recalled. Although chia seed powder is a novel outbreak vehicle, sprouted seeds are recognized as an important cause of foodborne illness; firms should follow available guidance to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination during sprouting.
Epidemic Intelligence Service,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta, Georgia,USA.
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Harvey
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta, Georgia,USA.
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Heiman Marshall
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta, Georgia,USA.
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Burnworth
Public Health Agency of Canada,Ottawa, Ontario,Canada.
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Hamel
Public Health Agency of Canada,Ottawa, Ontario,Canada.
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Tataryn
Public Health Agency of Canada,Ottawa, Ontario,Canada.
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Cutler
Public Health Agency of Canada,Ottawa, Ontario,Canada.
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Meghnath
US Food and Drug Administration, CollegePark, Maryland,USA.
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Wellman
US Food and Drug Administration, CollegePark, Maryland,USA.
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Irvin
Canadian Food Inspection Agency,Ottawa, Ontario,Canada.
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Isaac
Canadian Food Inspection Agency,Ottawa, Ontario,Canada.
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Chau
Canadian Food Inspection Agency,Ottawa, Ontario,Canada.
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Locas
Wisconsin Division of Public Health,Madison, Wisconsin,USA.
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Kohl
New York State Department of Health,Albany, New York,USA.
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Huth
New York State Department of Health,Albany, New York,USA.
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Nicholas
Massachusetts Department of Public Health,Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts,USA.
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Traphagen
Connecticut Department of Public Health,Hartford, Connecticut,USA.
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Soto
Connecticut Department of Public Health,Hartford, Connecticut,USA.
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Mank
Connecticut Department of Public Health,Hartford, Connecticut,USA.
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Holmes-Talbot
California Department of Public Health,Richmond, California,USA.
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Needham
California Department of Public Health,Richmond, California,USA.
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Barnes
California Department of Public Health,Richmond, California,USA.
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Adcock
Alberta Health Services,Edmonton, Alberta,Canada.
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Honish
Alberta Health Services,Edmonton, Alberta,Canada.
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Chui
British Columbia Centre for Disease Control,Vancouver, British Columbia,Canada.
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Taylor
Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux,Québec, Québec,Canada.
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Gaulin
Laboratoire de Santé Publique du Québec,Québec, Québec,Canada.
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Bekal
Public Health Ontario,Toronto, Ontario,Canada.
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Warshawsky
Public Health Ontario,Toronto, Ontario,Canada.
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Hobbs
Public Health Agency of Canada,Winnipeg, Manitoba,Canada.
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Tschetter
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta, Georgia,USA.
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Surin
US Food and Drug Administration, CollegePark, Maryland,USA.
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Lance
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta, Georgia,USA.
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Wise
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta, Georgia,USA.
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Williams
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,Atlanta, Georgia,USA.
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Gieraltowski
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012475:Salmonella / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D027544:Salvia / Q000382:microbiology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000382:microbiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult

               Salmonella enterica
            ; Disease outbreak; foodborne infections