Two Minnesota residents recently sickened with Salmonella infections have had their illnesses linked to frozen raw tuna, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) announced Tuesday. The ill Minnesotans are adults in their 30s from the metro area who became ill on June 21 and June 30. Neither was hospitalized. These cases, which the Minnesota health officials indicated are part of a larger national outbreak, were linked to spicy tuna rolls purchased at a grocery store and a workplace cafeteria. The outbreak strain of Salmonella bacteria was found in sealed bags of frozen raw tuna from the lot used to make the spicy tuna rolls eaten by one of the sickened individuals, the department stated. The tuna product is packaged in frozen, vacuum-sealed bags without a brand or other name. The contaminated lot of tuna can be identified from labels on the tuna bags and product information on the enclosing box that bear the lot number 68568 and country of origin of Indonesia. The tuna was distributed by Osamu Corporation of Gardena, CA. Retail stores should not sell and consumers should not eat tuna from this lot, Minnesota state officials said. Grocery stores and other retail outlets should check their raw tuna supply for bags or boxes labeled with Lot 68568 from Indonesia (check with supplier or shipping receipts/invoices if individual bags are not labeled). Tuna from this lot may be contaminated and should be discarded and not sold or served, according to the announcement. Consumers concerned that they may have purchased sushi made with this tuna should contact the place where it was purchased. The investigation in Minnesota and nationally is ongoing. Symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps and fever. Symptoms usually begin within 12 to 72 hours after exposure, but can begin up to a week after exposure. Salmonella infections usually resolve in 5 to 7 days, but approximately 28 percent of laboratory-confirmed cases require hospitalization. Invasive infections (e.g., bloodstream infections, meningitis) can occasionally occur. In rare cases, Salmonella infection can lead to death, particularly in the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. Approximately 700 cases of salmonellosis are reported each year in Minnesota. More information on Salmonella and how to prevent it can be found here.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)