All News / Outbreaks /

KFC Salmonella Outbreak

On January 17, 2002, the Boulder County Health Department (“BCHD”) received two reports of stool cultures that had tested positive for the bacteria Salmonella. Both cases were children, ages one and two. The children were not from the same home, nor did they attend a common school or daycare; however, BCHD learned that each infected child had eaten at the KFC located at 255 South Boulder Road in Lafayette, Colorado, 24-hours before the onset of symptoms.

BCHD inspected the suspect KFC, and found two counts of potential cross-contamination: water used to wet chicken pieces before battering, and the flour mixture used to batter chicken. Additionally, BCHD investigators cited the KFC for poor employee hygiene and “failure to maintain food at proper holding temperatures-hot hold at 140-degrees F.”

Tests conducted on the stool isolates from both infected children by the Colorado Department of Public Heath and Environment (“CDPHE”) confirmed that they were infected with the same strain of the bacteria: Salmonella Newport from the same source. As the initial investigation found, the only source that both children had in common was the food they ate that was prepared at the KFC.

Get Help

Affected by an outbreak or recall?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

Get a free consultation
Related Resources
Salmonella Food Poisoning

What is Salmonella and how does it cause food poisoning? The term Salmonella refers to a specific group of gram-negative bacteria with the potential to cause gastrointestinal distress and other...

The Incidence of Salmonella Infections

Typhoidal Salmonella Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhi, Sendai, and Paratyphi A, B, or C are found exclusively in humans. These serotypes, collectively referred to as typhoidal Salmonella, cause enteric fever (also...

The Prevalence of Salmonella in Food and Elsewhere

Most Salmonella infections are caused by eating contaminated food. One study found that 87% of all confirmed cases of Salmonella are foodborne. Foods of animal origin, including meat, poultry, eggs...

Transmission of Salmonella Bacteria

In the past two decades, consumption of produce, especially sprouts, tomatoes, fruits, leafy greens, nuts, and nut butters, has been associated with Salmonella illnesses. The surface of fruits and vegetables...

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include painful abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever. Salmonella infections can have a broad range of illness, from no symptoms to severe illness. The most common clinical...

Outbreak Database

Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

View Outbreak Database