Chicken Salad sold at Fareway grocery stores in Iowa, as well as Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.  Marler Clark filed 2 Federal Lawsuits today in Iowa – Complaint 1 and Complaint 2.

According to the Iowa Department of Health:

37 sick – Confirmed Case Definition:

Persons with Salmonella Typhimurium (confirmed or visual match to Pattern JPXX01.0275) with illness onset since January 1, 2018 reporting consumption of chicken salad from Fareway (any store) in the 7 days prior to illness onset.

78 sick – Probable Case Definition:

Persons that are epi linked to a confirmed case (all confirmed cases are laboratory confirmed), or Persons who test positive by CIDT or culture (with serotype and PFGE pending) with illness onset since January 1, 2018 reporting consumption of chicken salad from Fareway (any store) in the 7 days prior to illness onset.

It is reported that 2 are ill in South Dakota.

The Minnesota Department of Health has one case associated with this outbreak so far, in a Martin County resident.

The Nebraska Department of Health reported 1 illness.

It is reported that there is 1 ill in Illinois.

Last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert out of an abundance of caution due to concerns about illnesses reported in the state of Iowa that may be caused by Salmonella associated with a chicken salad product. This product was sold at all Fareway grocery stores in Iowa, as well as Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota.

The chicken salad item for this public health alert was produced between Dec. 15, 2017 and Feb. 13, 2018. The following product is subject to the public health alert:

  • Varying weights of “Fareway Chicken Salad” sold in plastic deli containers with a Fareway store deli label.

This product was shipped to all Fareway grocery stores in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota and sold directly to consumers who shopped at Fareway.  The problem was discovered following reports of illness in Iowa.

On Feb. 9, 2018, the Iowa Department of Public Health notified FSIS of an investigation of Salmonella related illnesses, within the state of Iowa.  FSIS continues to work with public health partners at the Iowa Department of Public Health and Department of Inspections and Appeals on this investigation. Updated information will be provided as it becomes available.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them.

Some past outbreaks linked to chicken salad:

2015 Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad, Multistate

The CDC, FDA, USDA and health officials in several states investigated a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157 linked to Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad. The outbreak was concentrated mostly in the western United States. Nineteen outbreak associated case patients were reported from seven states. Five were hospitalized. Two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. No deaths were reported. Among people for whom information was available, illnesses started on dates ranging from October 6, 2015 to November 3, 2015. Epidemiologic evidence collected during the investigation suggested that rotisserie chicken salad made and sold in Costco Wholesale stores in several states was the likely source of this outbreak. On November 20, 2015 Costco voluntarily removed all remaining rotisserie chicken salad from all stores in the US. On November 26, 2016 Taylor Farms Pacific Inc., voluntarily recalled the celery onion diced blend used in the Costco chicken salad. The FDA conducted a traceback investigation of the FDA regulated ingredients used in the chicken salad to try to determine which ingredient was linked to illness. However, the traceback investigation did not identify a common source of contamination. The outbreak was assigned CDC Cluster ID number 1511MTEXH-1.

2016 Outbreak of Salmonella Linked to Costco Chicken Salad, Lynnwood, Washington

In September 2016, local, state, and federal agencies investigated an outbreak of Salmonella linked to consumption of rotisserie chicken salad purchased at the Costco Warehouse located at 18109 33rd Avenue West in Lynnwood, Washington. Among Washington residents, 3 persons were laboratory confirmed with Salmonella serotype I, 4, 5, 12:1-. A fourth ill person was a family member epidemiologically linked to illness in his/her spouse. Purchase dates ranged from August 26 to September 9. Onset of illness ranged from September 2 to September 6.

Salmonella:  Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Salmonella outbreaks. The Salmonella lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Salmonella and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $600 million for clients.  Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our Salmonella lawyers have litigated Salmonella cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as cantaloupe, tomatoes, ground turkey, salami, sprouts, cereal, peanut butter, and food served in restaurants.  The law firm has brought Salmonella lawsuits against such companies as Cargill, ConAgra, Peanut Corporation of America, Sheetz, Taco Bell, Subway and Wal-Mart.

If you or a family member became ill with a Salmonella infection, including Reactive Arthritis or Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Salmonella attorneys for a free case evaluation.