At least 25 Minnesotans have been sickened with
salmonellosis linked to eating a raw Mexican-style cheese, queso fresco, state
health officials said. The outbreak illustrates the dangers of consuming
unpasteurized dairy products.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Minnesota Department of
Agriculture (MDA) and the City of Minneapolis have been investigating the outbreak and the source of the
raw milk used to make the cheese since the first cases were detected in late
April.
MDH confirmed 18 cases of infection with the same
strain of Salmonella. An additional seven cases of illness occurred
among family members or other contacts of confirmed cases, but no laboratory
specimens were available. The individuals became ill between March 28 and April
24. Of the 25 cases, 15 were hospitalized. All have recovered. Many cases
reported eating unpasteurized queso fresco purchased or received from an
individual who made the product in a private home. Investigators have
determined that the individual made home deliveries and also may have sold the
product on a street corner near the East Lake Street area of Minneapolis.
Anyone who may have purchased or received this
product recently should not eat it but should throw it away.
Samples of unpasteurized queso fresco collected
from the cheese maker were found to contain the same strain of Salmonella
as the illnesses. Investigators determined that the milk used to make the
cheese was purchased by the cheese maker from a Dakota County farm. Unpasteurized milk samples collected at the farm
were also found to match the outbreak strain.
Dr. Heidi Kassenborg, director of MDA's
Dairy and Food Inspection Division, said the outbreak underscores the dangers of
consuming unpasteurized dairy products. "It only takes a few bacteria to
cause illness. Milking a cow is not a sterile process and even the cleanest
dairy farms can have milk that is contaminated. That's why pasteurization - or
the heat treatment of milk to kill the harmful pathogens - is so
important," said Kassenborg.
Minnesota law allows consumers to purchase raw milk directly from
the farm for their own consumption, but it may not be further distributed or
sold. Additionally, cheese production facilities need to follow proper food
safety laws and regulations, including licensure.
Dr. Carlota Medus said the outbreak may be over,
as there are no suspect cases pending. However, it may still be possible to see
additional cases that have not been reported yet from people who consumed
cheese prior to health officials' interventions, which occurred April 23-26.
While this particular outbreak may be over, MDA and
MDH officials are concerned that this may not be an isolated incident: that
there may be other instances of people buying foods like unpasteurized queso
fresco prepared by neighbors, friends or family. "It's important for
people to be aware of the inherent risk of consuming any raw dairy product from
any source," Medus said. "We encourage people to think carefully
about those risks and know that the risks are especially high for young
children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with weakened immune
systems."
Salmonella bacteria can cause
serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in high risk groups. Healthy
people infected with
Salmonella often
experience diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Symptoms often begin 12-72
hours after consumption of contaminated food but can begin up to a week or more
later. Anyone who believes they may have become ill with
Salmonella should contact their health care
provider.
