A current Salmonella outbreak linked to restaurant sushi has sickened 33 people, hospitalizing 13 of them. The illnesses, linked to fish distributed by Mariscos Bahia Inc. of Pico Rivera, CA, are the latest in a string of sushi Salmonella outbreaks since 2012.
Sushi Salmonella Outbreaks are Fairly Common
Since 2012, there have been four multistate Salmonella outbreaks have been linked to fish used to prepare sushi and other raw fish foods such as sashimi and poke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Together, these outbreaks have sickened 538 people, hospitalizing 81 of them.
The three prior sushi outbreaks were linked to contaminated frozen tuna. The current outbreak is linked to tainted salmon. However, because the outbreak strain of Salmonella was found in the facility that processed that salmon, other fish processed there may also be contaminated. That could mean halibut, Chilean seabass, tuna, and swordfish, processed by Mariscos Bahia may also be contaminated. The company told the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it has contacted its restaurant customers and told them not to use fish processed after June 14, 2002.
The CDC and FDA are working with state health departments in Arizona and California, the two states that have reported illnesses, to investigate the outbreak. None of these organizations has released the names of restaurants where outbreak patients ate.
Frozen Raw Tuna 2019
A 2019 sushi Salmonella outbreak linked to tuna produced by Jensen Tuna of Houma, Louisiana sickened 15 people hospitalizing two of them. Illnesses were reported among restaurant customers from eight states.
Frozen Raw Tuna 2015
A 2015 Salmonella outbreak linked to frozen raw tuna used to prepare sushi ended after sickening 65 people in 11 states. Eleven people were hospitalized.
Health officials identified two outbreak strains, Salmonella Weltevreden and Salmonella Newport, in the frozen ground tuna products imported from Indonesia by Osamu Corporation. The company issues a recall on May 27, 2015.
Frozen Raw Tuna 2012
A 2012 sushi Salmonella outbreak sickened 425 people hospitalizing 55 of them. The implicated frozen, raw yellowfin tuna product, also known as Nakaochi Scrape, was distributed by Moon Marine Corp.
The tuna, imported from India, was contaminated with two bacterial strains Salmonella Bareilly and Salmonella Nchanga.
Salmonella Lawyers with Experience
If you or a family member has been sickened by sushi, sashimi, and poke that was contaminated with Salmonella and you would like a free consultation with a Salmonella lawyer, please contact the Pritzker Hageman Salmonella Legal Team. Our attorneys have represented clients in every major Salmonella outbreak in the U.S. You can reach us by calling 1-888-377-8900, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or completing the form below. There is no obligation and we don’t get paid unless we win