Salmonella outbreak linked to frozen raw tuna, says CDC

(FOX 7 Austin) - The Centers for Disease Control has issued an alert warning restaurants and retailers not to sell or serve recalled frozen ground tuna due to reports of salmonella.

Houma, La.-based Jensen Tuna issued a voluntary recall of their frozen ground tuna imported from JK Fish of Vietnam April 15 after 13 people reported salmonella infections in seven states. Two have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.

The product was individually packaged in one-pound bags and sold in 20-pound boxes to distributors in Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota and Washington, but additional product may have been redistributed elsewhere according to the CDC.

CDC advises restaurants and retailers to call their distributor and if in doubt, to not sell or serve the tuna. Consumers are also advised to ask restaurants or grocery stores if the tuna in their order is from Jensen Tuna.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises consumers to contact their local health department if they develop symptoms of a salmonella infection and then wash and sanitize any surfaces or utensils that may have come into contact with the contaminated tuna. Restaurants and retailers are asked to contact their local health department and communicate to their customers about the possible exposure if they find they have handled the recalled tuna and wash and sanitize any surfaces, display cases, or utensils that may have come into contact.

Most infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps within 12 to 72 hours of being exposed and the illness usually lasts between four and seven days with most recovering without treatment.

Children younger than five, pregnant woman, adults older than 65 and people with weakened immune systems are likely to have a severe illness which could result in hospitalization.

The investigation is ongoing.