---
title: Sun Orchard Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuits - Multistate (1999)
date: 1999-07-01T18:51:00-07:00
author: admin
canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/sun-orchard-salmonella-outbreak-multistate"
section: News
---
[All News](/news_events) / [Outbreaks](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) /

# Sun Orchard Salmonella Outbreak Lawsuits - Multistate (1999)

 

 

 In June of 1999, the Washington State Department of Health (WDOH) and the Oregon Health Division (OHD) independently investigated clusters of Salmonella serotype Muenchen infections among state residents. By July 13, fifteen states and two Canadian provinces had reported 207 confirmed cases of Salmonella Muenchen associated with this outbreak; 91 additional cases had been reported and were still under investigation.

Epidemiological investigations by WDOH, ODH, and other state health departments, in cooperation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), identified unpasteurized orange juice products produced by Sun Orchard, Inc., an Arizona based company, as the source of the outbreak. A genetically indistinguishable strain of Salmonella Muenchen was isolated from Sun Orchard unpasteurized orange juice products, blenders where smoothies were made with the orange juice, and from victims’ stool, thereby confirming the link.

Sun Orchard recalled all of its unpasteurized orange juice products, which had been distributed in a variety of forms to retail stores, restaurants, and other food service institutions, on June 25, 1999. On July 10, 1999, the Food and Drug Administration issued a nationwide warning to consumers against drinking unpasteurized orange juice products distributed under a variety of brand names by Sun Orchard, Inc. due to the continuing reports of illness related to the product.

During the outbreak investigation health officials learned that Sun Orchard had blend unpasteurized orange juice produced in its own plant, that had gone through its own sanitation system process, with containers of unpasteurized orange juice that the company had purchased from a supplier in Mexico. The blended juice from Mexico was eventually identified as the source of the Salmonella infection. A number of shipments of Mexican juice tested positive. The FDA border inspection of the orange juice did not include a test for Salmonella before this outbreak. Sun Orchard testing of the Mexican orange juice prior to the blending process had also failed to reveal the presence of the Salmonella bacteria.

Ironically, Sun Orchard again recalled thousands of gallons of orange juice believed contaminated with Salmonella in November 1999. It was the second recall of contaminated juice in five months.

Marler Clark represented 55 of 80 people who became ill with Salmonella infections in claims against Sun Orchard. The claims were resolved in 2002.

  

### Other Salmonella Lawsuits

 [64 with Salmonella tied to Oysters](https://marlerclark.com/64-with-salmonella-tied-to-oysters)

 [Vega Farms Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 63](https://marlerclark.com/vega-farms-salmonella-outbreak-sickens-63)

 [Green Supplement causes Salmonella Outbreak](https://marlerclark.com/green-supplement-causes-salmonella-outbreak)

 [Salmonella Outbreak tied to Metabolic Meals](https://marlerclark.com/salmonella-outbreak-tied-to-metabolic-meals)

 [Kentucky Salmonella outbreak linked to Ramsey’s Diners and Missy’s Pies](https://marlerclark.com/kentucky-salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-ramseys-diners-and-missys-pies)

 [Salmonella Egg Outbreak sickens 63 in California](https://marlerclark.com/salmonella-egg-outbreak-sickens-63-in-california)

 [Cucumbers with Salmonella - Again](https://marlerclark.com/cucumbers-with-salmonella-again)

 [Aladdin Mediterranean Restaurant Linked to Salmonella Outbreak in San Diego - 89 Sick](https://marlerclark.com/aladdin-mediterranean-restaurant-linked-to-salmonella-outbreak-in-san-diego)

 [Italian Pastries tied to illnesses in the US and Canada](https://marlerclark.com/italian-pastries-tied-to-illnesses-in-the-us-and-canada)

 [Cucumbers sicken 100 in 23 States with Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/cucumbers-sicken-68-in-19-states-with-salmonella)

 [Madre’s Oaxacan Restaurant linked to Salmonella Outbreak - 44 Sick](https://marlerclark.com/madres-oaxacan-restaurant-linked-to-salmonella-outbreak)

 [Salmonella Outbreak linked to Cucumbers sickens 551 in 31 States](https://marlerclark.com/salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-cucumbers-sickens-162-in-25-states)

 

 

 

### Lawsuit updates about foodborne illnesses

 [Reactive Arthritis Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=reactive-arthritis&year=all)

 [E. coli Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=e-coli&year=all)

 [Guillain-Barre Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=guillain-barre-syndrome&year=all)

 [Salmonella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=salmonella&year=all)

 [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hemolytic-uremic-syndrome&year=all)

 [Listeria Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=listeria&year=all)

 [Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=irritable-bowel-syndrome&year=all)

 [Hepatitis A Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=hepatitis-a&year=all)

 [Norovirus Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=norovirus&year=all)

 [Botulism Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=botulism&year=all)

 [Campylobacter Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=campylobacter&year=all)

 [Shigella Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=shigella&year=all)

 [Cyclospora Lawsuit Updates](/news_events/case-news?illness=cyclospora&year=all)

 

 

### Lawsuits updates by year

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1998](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1998)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 1999](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=1999)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2000](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2000)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2001](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2001)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2002](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2002)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2003](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2003)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2004](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2004)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2005](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2005)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2006](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2006)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2007](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2007)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2008](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2008)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2009](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2009)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2010](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2010)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2011](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2011)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2012](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2012)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2013](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2013)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2014](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2014)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2015](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2015)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2016](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2016)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2017](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2017)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2018](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2018)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2019](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2019)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2020](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2020)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2021](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2021)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2022](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2022)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2023](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2023)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2024](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2024)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2025](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2025)

 [Foodborne Illness Lawsuits in 2026](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/case-news?illness=all&year=2026)

 

 

 

##### 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 ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) 

##### Related Resources

   

 

######  [Salmonella Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/about-salmonella) 

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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/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](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/salmonella-symptoms-risks) 

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

  ](https://outbreakdatabase.com)
