Kapowsin Meats suspends operations as Salmonella outbreak grows
The firm recalled 523,380 pounds of pork possibly contaminated with Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS).
FSIS sampling revealed positive results for Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- on Whole Hogs for Barbeque, associated pork products and throughout the plant despite Kapowsin Meats taking steps to address sanitary conditions after the original recall on August 13.
The agency said sanitary improvement efforts made were insufficient and the recall has been expanded to include all products associated with contaminated source material.
Whole hogs and associated items were produced between April 18 and August 26.
Product subject to recall has establishment number “Est. 1628” inside the USDA mark of inspection and was shipped to various individuals, retail locations, institutions, and distributors in Alaska, Oregon and Washington.
The Washington State Department of Health notified FSIS of an investigation of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- illnesses in mid-July.
Traceback investigation identified 36 case-patients who ate whole hogs for barbeque or pork from the company prior to illness onset.
Based on epidemiological evidence, 152 case-patients have been identified in Washington with illness onset dates from April 25 to August 12 and 24 people have been hospitalised.
“FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers' freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them, and should throw them away or return the products to the place of purchase,” said the agency.
CDC's National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) laboratory found all 10 isolates were multidrug resistant. This included resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, and tetracycline.
