Raw Turkey Products the Focus of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infections in the U.S. and Canada

In February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published updated information about an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella infections. The outbreak has already sickened hundreds of people in the United States and Canada.

According to the CDC’s Investigative Notice as of February 13^th, 279 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been identified from 41 states and the District of Columbia. Of those, 107 people have been hospitalized and 1 death has been reported. The Public Health Agency of Canada has also identified ill people infected with Salmonella with the same DNA fingerprint. At least 72 cases are under investigation in Canada as of late January.

The CDC reports that the outbreak strain has been found in samples taken from raw turkey pet food, raw turkey products and live turkeys. While there have been several turkey products recalled from the market, the agency reports that a single, common supplier of raw turkey products or of live turkeys has not been identified that could account for the whole outbreak.

Preventing foods contaminated with Salmonella from reaching consumers is essential as the CDC estimates that in the U.S. alone, infections from the bacteria cause 450 deaths, 23,000 hospitalizations and 1.2 million illnesses annually. The scientists at MPL Laboratories can analyze food for pathogens that can help industry professionals, distributors, retails and importers identity and avoid potential recalls. Their experts offer advanced testing to identify a wide range of microbial pathogens from raw materials, finished products and production surfaces. Proactive testing not only protects the public from exposure risks, it’s also vital to prevent costly product recalls, damaging public relations and the expensive legal fees that are frequently associated with these types of events. If an outbreak has already occurred, testing can be instrumental for pinpointing the source of the outbreak.

To learn more about this or other food, supplement, cosmetic, personal care product or pharmaceutical testing services provided by MPL Laboratories, please visit www.MPLLaboratories.com, call (800) 548-1874 or email  info@mpllaboratories.com .


About MPL Laboratories
MPL Laboratories (formerly Marypaul Laboratories) was founded in 1985 as a full service microbiology laboratory. We are ISO/IEC 17025 accredited by PJLA, FDA and DEA registered, and NJDEP certified. Our staff includes a M.S. and B.S. degreed microbiologists.  MPL Laboratories is a privately held microbiology testing laboratory serving the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, personal care and food industries. We aim to provide our clients with high quality, reliable test data in a timely manner. We offer competitive prices and experienced consultation.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

MPL Laboratories

(1) 856-303-2503

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