According to a June 5 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 41 cases of Salmonella Typhimurium since November 2013 have been linked to exposure to various clinical and college and university teaching microbiology laboratories. Of those who became ill, 62 were 21 years old or younger, and 36 percent were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. These same strains of Salmonella Typhimurium have been associated with outbreaks linked to microbiology laboratory exposure in the past, the CDC said. Those exposed to bacteria used in laboratory settings can spread the bacteria to others with whom they come into contact outside the lab, including young children who may be especially vulnerable. CDC has produced an educational flyer entitled, “What You Work With Can Make You Sick,” to remind those who work in laboratory settings of the potential risk of carrying pathogens outside the lab. The agency also recommends that laboratories use non-pathogenic or attenuated bacterial strains when possible. Public health investigators used the CDC’s PulseNet system to recognize the outbreak. PulseNet, the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories, obtains DNA “fingerprints” of Salmonella bacteria through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE. The strains in this outbreak are the same ones known to be commercially available for teaching laboratories and have been used at the laboratories associated with this outbreak. At least 109 people in 2011 were sickened with one of these same strains of Salmonella Typhimurium via exposure at clinical and teaching microbiology laboratories.
The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.
The number of Listeria infections reached a new high in 2025 in Norway but Salmonella cases fell sharply.
An annual report from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) shows
The number of suspected frauds reported by countries in Europe has passed 200 for the first time this year.
Six alerts mentioned the United States in March including an unauthorized
Canada has announced support for a program designed to strengthen food safety and plant and animal health.
Funding of CAD $500,000 (U.S. $366,000) to the Standards and
Spring & Mulberry is expanding its previously announced recall of select chocolate bars because of contamination with Salmonella.
The expansion follows a comprehensive root cause investigation conducted by the company’
As part of its enforcement activities, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sends warning letters to entities under its jurisdiction. Some letters are not posted for public view until
JCB Flavors LLC of Watertown, WI, is voluntarily recalling select topical seasoning products because of the potential presence of Salmonella.
This recall is being initiated because the affected products were
My Wife’s Slaw is voluntarily recalling its Original and Jalapeno Heat flavored coleslaw sold in 8-ounce and 16-ounce glass mason jars. The products included in this recall are adulterated
