According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Salmonella has been confirmed in one person in Wisconsin likely associated with recalled Garden of Life RAW Meal. DATCP is collaborating with Wisconsin Department of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate the latest illness, including tracing the source of the contaminated product. The product, an organic shake and meal replacement, was recalled earlier this year by the company, but consumers have acquired recalled product from internet retailers such as eBay and Amazon. Contaminated product may still be for sale from eBay, Amazon and other internet retailers.
Earlier, the CDC had announced the outbreak over after a total of 33 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow were reported from 23 states. Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicated that RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal products made by Garden of Life, LLC were the likely source of this outbreak.
On January 29, 2016, Garden of Life, LLC voluntarily recalled a limited quantity of its RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal products available in chocolate, original, vanilla, and vanilla chai because they had the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Virchow. The recalled products were available for purchase nationwide in many retail stores and online.
The Utah Public Health Laboratory and Oklahoma Public Health Laboratory isolated the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow from open containers of Garden of Life RAW Meal collected from ill people’s homes in Utah and Oklahoma. Both products that were tested were from lots covered under the recalls announced by Garden of Life, LLC.
FDA sampling confirmed the presence of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Virchow in Organic Moringa Leaf powder used in RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal Replacement products. On February 12, 2016, Garden of Life, LLC issued an expanded recall of its RAW Meal Organic Shake & Meal products available in chocolate, original, vanilla, and vanilla chai to include additional lots that contained the contaminated Organic Moringa Leaf powder.