All News / Outbreaks /

PA Ag Department Announces Positive Test in Salmonella Investigation

Press Release

Monday July 19

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Dennis Wolff today announced that the state Department of Agriculture has confirmed a positive test for salmonella in Roma tomatoes distributed by Coronet Foods of West Virginia.

"This morning, the laboratory division of the Bureau of Food Safety confirmed a positive salmonella test result in a unopened bag of Roma tomatoes taken from a Sheetz store in Greencastle," said Wolff. "The tomatoes were distributed by Coronet Foods of West Virginia. We will continue testing other samples collected to help ensure that the outbreak is not linked to other sources."

Wolff added that Sheetz voluntarily pulled all products in question immediately upon notification of a potential problem. The Department of Health will now test the sample to type the strain.

"This test result brings us one step closer to understanding this outbreak," said Joel Hersh, Director of Epidemiology at the Department of Health. "Government agencies can now begin the process of finding out how the tomatoes became infected."

Salmonella is a bacterial infection that usually affects the intestinal tract, causing diarrhea and the threat of dehydration.

Symptoms can include fever, mild or severe diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramping and occasional vomiting. Infections can be partially serious among the elderly, the frail or the very young and sometimes can be fatal. Salmonella is a common cause of gastroenteritis, with about 2,000 cases reported each year in Pennsylvania.

CONTACT: Kristina L. Watson, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, +1-717-787-5085; or Richard McGarvey, Pennsylvania Department of Health, +1-717-787-1783.

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