As of July 16, 2021, nine people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from two states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from June 10, 2021, to June 15, 2021.
Sick people range in age from 19 to 61 years, with a median age of 44, and 56% are female. One person was hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
The true number of sick people in an outbreak is likely much higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because many people recover without medical care and are not tested for Salmonella. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.
Officials from Illinois and Wisconsin interviewed people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick and collected shopper card records to determine what products they bought.
All nine people reported eating leafy greens, and seven (78%) people reported eating prepackaged salads. The percentage of people in this outbreak who ate prepackaged salads was significantly higher than the 38% of respondents from the FoodNet Population Survey who reported eating prepackaged salads in the prior week. This comparison suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from eating prepackaged salads.
Interview data and shopper card records show that six people ate or bought a variety of BrightFarms packaged salad greens before they got sick, including Sunny Crunch, 50/50 Spring & Spinach, Harvest Crunch, and Butter Crisp. FDA conducted a traceback investigation and identified BrightFarms greenhouse farm in Rochelle, IL, as the likely source of packaged salad greens bought by sick people.
On July 15, 2021, BrightFarms recalledexternal icon their packaged salad greens produced in the Rochelle, IL, greenhouse farm.
CDC advises people not to eat, sell, or serve any recalled BrightFarms packaged salad greens.