The Public Health Agency of Canada has reported that, as of June 20, 2014, four strains of Salmonella-causing illness have been associated with this outbreak: Salmonella Newport, Salmonella Hartford, Salmonella Oranienburg and Salmonella Saintpaul. In total, 52 cases have been reported in British Columbia (13), Alberta (10), Ontario (26) and Quebec (3). Six cases have been hospitalized; five cases have been discharged and have recovered or are recovering. The status of one case was not provided to the agency. No deaths have been reported. The investigation is ongoing, but currently, 37 of 39 cases who have been interviewed have reported consumption of sprouted chia seeds or sprouted chia seed powder. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that, as of June 9, 2014, a total of 21 ill persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Newport (13 persons), Salmonella Hartford (6 persons), or Salmonella Oranienburg (2 persons) have been reported from 12 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Arizona (1), California (3), Colorado (1), Connecticut (3), Florida (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), New York (4), Ohio (1), Utah (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (3). Two ill persons infected with a strain of Salmonella Oranienburg have been identified in two U.S. states. Through product testing and interviews with ill people, these illnesses have been combined with the Salmonella Newport and Salmonella Hartford infections previously identified as part of this investigation. As a part of this investigation, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have issued food recall warnings for various products containing sprouted chia seeds and sprouted chia seed powder.
