State officials have linked Raw Meal Organic Shake & Meal powdered mixes to a multi-state Salmonella outbreak and Garden of Life LLC has recalled multiple products. Officials with the Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., company said in a news release today they are “voluntarily withdrawing a limited quantity of Raw Meal Organic Shake & Meal in the flavors chocolate, original, vanilla and vanilla Chai” because it may be contaminated with the pathogen Salmonella Virchow. Also today, the Minnesota Department of Health announced it is working with health and agriculture officials in other states on an investigation of a Salmonella outbreak linked to the supplement mixes. “Two cases of Salmonella Virchow infection with the same DNA fingerprint pattern have been reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) since Jan. 11.,” according to the MDH outbreak announcement. “One case was a child andone was an adult in his 30s. Neither was hospitalized, and both have recovered.” Several people with matching Salmonella Virchow strains in other states have reported eating this product, which is a powdered nutritional supplement and meal replacement. Those states include:

Wisconsin;

Tennessee;

Oregon;

New Jersey;

New Mexico; and

Utah.

The Minnesota officials report most of the other states have reported single cases. “One of the Minnesota cases ate vanilla flavored product and one ate chocolate flavored product.,” the MDH reported “Cases in other states reported eating the vanilla flavor or the chocolate flavor. This type of food product is often purchased at nutrition stores and food cooperatives. The two cases in Minnesota purchased the items at separate places.” Minnesota officials reported the extent of the product contamination is unknown. Based on the information collected as of Jan. 29, health officials recommend not eating any flavor of the product if it was purchased on or after Nov. 1, 2015. Additionally, product with a “Best Used by: 09/2017” date or later should not be consumed. Investigators from MDH, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and other states are working on testing products for contamination. If customers have purchased recalled product, they can return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Minnesota health officials said symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. Symptoms usually begin within 12 to 72 hours after exposure, but they can begin up to a week after exposure. Salmonella infections usually resolve in 5 to 7 days, but about 28 percent of laboratory-confirmed cases require hospitalization. Invasive infections including blood stream infections and meningitis occasionally occur. In rare cases, Salmonella infection can lead to death, particularly in the elderly or those with weakened immune systems. Many Salmonella infections in otherwise healthy people do not require medical treatment. For those who do seek health care, most do not need to be treated with antibiotics. However, antibiotic treatment for certain categories of people and for more severe infections is warranted. More information on Salmonella and how to prevent it can be found on the MDH website at Salmonellosis. Since many people with Salmonella infections do not seek health care and therefore are not tested, the number of ill people that are part of this outbreak is likely to be larger than the identified cases, according to the MDH outbreak announcement. “Consequently, health officials want to bring this outbreak to the attention of people who have become ill with symptoms of salmonellosis but who have not yet consulted a health care provider. These people should mention this outbreak to their health care provider should they consult one,” according to the MDH. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)