Jennie-O Turkey Store Sales, which operates out of Barron, Wisconsin, is recalling approximately 91,388 pounds of raw ground turkey products that may be associated with an illness outbreak of Salmonella. The announcement was made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The products in question are one-pound packages of seasoned and regular turkey marked 85 and 93 percent lean. They were produced on September 11, 2018, and have been associated with a single production line.
FSIS, and its public health partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Arizona Department of Health Services, have been conducting traceback activities for a sample of Jennie-O brand ground turkey in an intact, unopened package from a case-patient’s home. The patient tested positive for Salmonella Reading and the sample from the ground turkey matches the outbreak strain.
These groups have also been working with state and local health authorities on an illness cluster involving 164 patients in 35 states associated with turkey-related Salmonella. These cases involve multiple turkey brands purchased from many different stores, In a statement from Jennie-O President, Steve Lykken, he stated that, "The turkey industry has been working together for many years to reduce Salmonella. Despite these efforts, this particular Salmonella strain can be found in 29 different manufacturing plants from 19 different companies, according to government agencies.
"We know the issue of Salmonella isn't specific to Jennie-O, and to that end, we plan on continuing our leadership role in the effort to reduce Salmonella and educate consumers on how to safely handle and prepare raw turkey."
The Jennie-O products in question were shipped to customers in 23 states.
