Tuna Linked To Salmonella Outbreak, Moon Marine USA Corp Recalls 58,828 Pounds

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Main Category: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet
Article Date: 16 Apr 2012 - 13:00 PST


58,828 pounds' worth of frozen raw yellowfin tuna products have been recalled by MMi (Moon Marina USA Corporation), Cupertino, California, USA, because of a link to Samonella Bareilly infections in several US states. The tuna products are labeled as Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA - a type of tuna backmeat which is scrapped off from the fish's bones and looks like ground fish.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), there have been at least 116 reported cases of salmonellosis linked to MMI tuna.

The following states have reported cases of tuna-linked salmonellosis:

• New York - 24
• Wisconsin - 12
• Maryland - 11
• Illinois - 10
• Massachusetts - 8
• New Jersey - 7
• Connecticut - 5
• Georgia - 5
• Pennsylvania - 5
• Rhode Island - 5
• Virginia - 5
• South Carolina - 3
• Texas - 3
• Alabama - 2
• District of Columbia - 2
• Louisiana - 2
• Missouri - 2
• North Carolina - 2
• Arkansas - 1
• Florida - 1
• Mississippi - 1

So far, twelve people have had to be hospitalized. Nobody has died from the current outbreak, says the FDA.

Affected tuna products may not have their lot numbers marked on them, the FDA informs, because they sometimes pass through several different distributors before reaching a retail outlet or restaurant. End users and distributors should check with their suppliers to find out whether any Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA might be involved in the current recall.

What are the signs and symptoms of salmonellosis?

An individual who becomes ill with salmonellosis (Salmonella infection) has diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps - symptoms typically appear between 12 and 72 hours after infection.

The illness usually resolves within four to seven days. The majority of affected people recover without needing any treatment. In certain cases, however, patients become so ill that they need to be admitted to hospital, especially if the infection gets into the bloodstream, and from there to other body sites. In severe cases salmonellosis complications can cause death.

Elderly individuals, infants, pregnant mothers and those with weakened immune systems are susceptible to complications and severe illness. They should not eat partially cooked fish or shellfish.

If you are a product seller

If you are a restaurant or distributor, you should check with your supplier to find out whether the Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA that you have came from MMI (Moon marina USA Corporation). Your product may no longer have any labeling data or lot numbers.

The FDA wrote online:

"MMI distributed the Nakaochi Scrape AA and AAA to several distributors that may have broken the shipments into smaller lots for further distribution. The frozen raw yellowfin tuna product was originally packaged in white boxes with black writing naming the importer as Moon Marine USA Corporation (also known as MMI) and identifying the contents as either Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA. The boxes contain several vacuum-wrapped packages with no further labeling. "

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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