Tailor Cut Produce Salmonella Outbreak in Pennsylvania: Related to Pre-Cut Fresh Fruit: 31 Cases in 4 Different States
The Pennsylvania Health Department is investigating a salmonella outbreak in southeast Pennsylvania. The health department believes the source of the salmonella outbreak is from pre-cut fresh fruit such as cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple and grapes from the food delivery company “Tailor Cut Produce.” Secretary of Health, Dr. Rachel Levine, cautions businesses that receive produced from Tailor Cut Produce to not sell or distribute any of the pre-cut fresh fruit. Tailor Cut Produce is located in North Brunswick, NJ, and is a produce corporation that delivers fresh-cut produce daily to various food service establishments such as restaurants, hotels, schools, and hospitals.
Dr. Levine provided this warning in a statement:
“We recommend that any facility who uses Tailor Cut Produce pre-cut fruit to immediately stop and throw it away. The cases have been seen in facilities that provide care to some of our most vulnerable patients. Tailor Cut Produce is working with health officials and will be issuing a voluntarily recall. All of the healthcare facilities involved in this outbreak have removed this product from their kitchens and are working with us to determine the source of the contamination.”
There have been 31 confirmed cases of salmonella at four different healthcare facilities in the area all linked to the pre-cut fresh fruit. Salmonella food poisoning causes diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramping and low-grade fever. These symptoms usually present about 12-72 hours after consuming the contaminated food. Most patients are able to recover fully on their own, however those with a compromised immune system, children, and the elderly are at a higher risk for severe complications. It is imperative that anyone who has become ill after eating the Tailor Cut Produce’s pre-cut fruit, contact their local health care professional for applicable testing and treatment.
