USDA-FSIS Reviews Investigation of Salmonella Infantis Outbreak, First Strain Deemed “Persistent”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS) has published an after-action review of a foodborne illness outbreak that was linked to chicken products involving a multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella Infantis strain. The outbreak, which occurred from May 2018 to February 2019, was the first time that FSIS identified a strain as “persistent,” and made evident the importance of increased, early communication between regulatory agencies and industry.
The outbreak discussed in the review caused 129 cases of salmonellosis across 32 states, resulting in 25 hospitalizations and one death. Although FSIS and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated the outbreak, no product recalls were issued as the agencies were unable to identify any FSIS-regulated establishment as the source of the outbreak. Traceback efforts were unsuccessful due to a lack of available exposure and shopper purchase information.