Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Illinois Farm
A multistate Salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 59 Illinois residents has been linked to alfalfa sprouts grown by Tiney Farms in Urbana. The organic farm distributed contaminated sprouts to Jimmy John’s restaurant outlets throughout the Midwest.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 89 people in several states suffered salmonella infections from Nov. 1 to Dec. 21. More than half were infected in Illinois, where almost all ate sandwiches containing alfalfa at a Jimmy John’s restaurant chain. In response, the sandwich chain voluntarily stopped serving alfalfa sprouts at all Illinois locations and replaced them with clover sprouts, which are easier to sanitize.
Although no deaths have been reported, the infections were severe enough to hospitalize at least 24 percent of those sickened. The FDA says that the investigation is ongoing and the agency is still searching for a cause.
Signs of a salmonella infection include fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea between 12-72 hours after becoming infected. Although most people can recover without treatment, elderly people and those with weak immune systems can become fatally ill.