258 now sick in salmonella sushi outbreak

CDC

Tainted tuna scraped from the backbone of the fish has been implicated in salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 200 people in 21 states and Washington, D.C.

At least 258 people in 24 states and Washington, D.C., now have been sickened by raw scraped tuna contaminated with not one but two rare strains of salmonella, government health officials reported Thursday.

Tainted tuna scraped from the backbone of the fish has been linked not only to the salmonella Bareilly strain, but also to salmonella Nchanga infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The two genetic fingerprint patterns of the strains have been grouped into a single outbreak strain, CDC officials said.

At least 247 people have been confirmed with salmonella Bareilly infections, and another 11 have been infected with salmonella Nchanga. Thirty-two victims have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.

A frozen yellowfin tun product, known as Nakaochi Scrape, produced by Moon Marine USA Corp. is the likely source of the outbreak.

In April, Moon Marine recalled 58,828 pounds of the frozen tuna product. It wasn't for sale to individual customers, but may have been used to make sushi, sashimi, ceviche and similar dishes in restaurants and grocery stores.

The outbreak could continue to grow. Illnesses that occured after March 27 might not be reported yet because of the time frame between when a person becomes ill and when it's reported to authorities.

At least two people have filed lawsuits against Moon Marine, a Cupertino, Calif., firm. The women, both from Wisconsin, said they became ill after eating tainted seafood.

The CDC's most recent estimates suggest that for every salmonella infection detected, perhaps 29.3 go unreported. Using that multiplier, 7,559 people may have been affected so far by the tainted tuna outbreak.

Related story:

First lawsuit filed in salmonella sushi outbreak

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That's the risk one runs when they eat anything raw. The risk of parasites is also higher when raw meat of any kind is consumed.

  • 7 votes
#1 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:40 PM EDT

Glad I didn't get the tuna rolls last week....

  • 1 vote
#1.1 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:42 PM EDT

I agree gene. You can't eat raw fish then be surprised that you're sick.

  • 6 votes
#1.2 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:45 PM EDT

Sushi and Sashimi are made from carefully prepared individual slices of lean fish.

I don't know what you make from meat scraped from the backbones of fish. Profit?

  • 8 votes
#1.3 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:48 PM EDT

That stuff is used in the Spicy Tuna type rolls!

  • 2 votes
#1.4 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:50 PM EDT

ALOT more people got sick from this sushi than all the people combined who enjoy raw milk (that the government is trying to ban!! But you don't see the Feds trying to ban sushi! I think raw milk is more beneficial for most people anyway, our ancestors lived on it for thousands of years! It's what we had on the farm and it's the best! Just gotta make sure the cows are CLEAN! :)

  • 2 votes
#1.5 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:29 PM EDT

Gene - true, but it's hard now days to know every single thing you are supposed to know...near impossible actually. I'd be willing to bet that even the things we "know" are buried deep within us to the point where we wont always connect the dots when we need to.

That doesn't excuse anything, but to presume that every human being on this planet should just INSTINCTIVELY KNOW that raw fish could carry salmonella, is a bit dishonest.

I'd be more than willing to bet, that this food was prepped in a contaminated area...and as such, that fault does belong on the producer - regardless of what risks come with eating raw meat.

We arent talking about something naturally found in tuna, that you are just risking your life everytime you eat it. We are talking about a factory prerparing food in unsanitary conditions - and thats just WRONG.

  • 4 votes
#1.6 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:34 PM EDT

are you an infant? if not why are you even drinking cows milk? what other animal species drinks another animal species milk in nature?

  • 4 votes
#1.7 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:45 PM EDT

well Uncle Henry there are Ants and aphids have a mutualistic relationship. Ants feed on the honeydew excreted by the aphids, and in exchange, they protect the aphids. Some animals drink other's blood, such as leeches and types of bats and more but enough education for today.

  • 3 votes
#1.8 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:59 PM EDT

Salmonella in Washington DC they say....I wonder if we can get every member of congress to eat some?

  • 2 votes
#1.9 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:03 PM EDT

Sushi itself has no raw fish or anything else. It is only rice and flavored vinegar (usually Nakano.) It is made in little rice balls and sometimes wrapped in dried seaweed. It is a favorite in kids' lunches.

Raw fish is a different matter. In the Far East, these are eaten ONLY with pickled ginger and wasabi. Good ginger acts as a pretty potent anti-bacterial and real wasabi is an extremely potent anti-microbial and one of the best anti-parasitics known. Unfortunately wasabi is extremely difficult to grow and consquently very expensive. Also real wasabi must be freshly grated because it loses its flavor entirely after about 15 minutes exposure to air. Many Japanese carry wasabi in toothpaste-type tubes because this preserves the flavor and potency.

But American (and even some Japanese restaurants) do not use real wasabi. They use a mixture of horseradish, dry Chinese mustard and green coloring. This fake wasabi has none of the anti-microbial or anti-parasitic properties of real wasabi. (And doesn't even taste much like the real thing.) But it is cheap and easily fools Americans. The replacement of real wasabi with the fake stuff has "significant public health implications" according to the FDA, but since the fake is not, of and in iteslf harmful, it is not banned in this country.

If you really like sushimi or that spicy tuna roll, I would strongly suggest that you go to an online Japanese food store and order a tube of it to carry with you to your favorite "Japanese" (usually run by Chinese folks) restaurant. It could save your life or prevent some pretty impressive vomiting. But be prepared --- it is EXPENSIVE!

But remember that th popularity of "sushi" in Japan is pretty new. Most Japanese do not like the idea of eating raw fish because of the risk of catching something. They are more squeamish than Americans when it comes to knowing what they put in their mouths.

  • 4 votes
#1.10 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:15 PM EDT

Chris-749391

Real wasabi is an extremely potent anti-microbial and one of the best anti-parasitics known.

Exactly! Japanese don't just put it on for flavor.

So if you HATE wasabi, but you like sushi... You're inadvertently risking food poisoning!!!

  • 3 votes
#1.11 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:33 PM EDT

Yes, there are inherent risks in eating raw food. I have been eating(carefully) Sushi/Sashimi for over 50 years. While I will continue to be cautious, I have absolutely NO intention of stopping now!

Raw fish has been eaten for 1,000's of years.

  • 1 vote
#1.12 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:08 PM EDT

"Raw fish has been eaten for 1,000's of years." - before the invention of fire. Now eating raw meat, fowl or fish is an accident waiting to happen. Good luck.

  • 1 vote
#1.13 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:20 PM EDT

So, it was the invention of Fire that made the eating of fish unsafe?

Try again.

  • 3 votes
#1.14 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:58 PM EDT

pink slime looks mighty good about now ( Eat it RAW ARE YOU A CAVE MAN ) leave it raw even a cave man can do it ?

......................BEEF ITS WHATS FOR DINNER ..........

  • 2 votes
#1.15 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:08 PM EDT

Cook it 'till it's dead! I don't even like a little pink if I'm eating steak, I won't even try raw fish...

  • 1 vote
#1.16 - Fri Apr 27, 2012 11:29 AM EDT
Reply

Sushi is really good but this is the risk you take......hope nobody dies. I never have had it.... but I have heard from others that salmonella will make you wish you were dead.

  • 1 vote
Reply#2 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:53 PM EDT

How can there be a health problem, eating raw fish, whales do it all the time. It is hard to fire up the barbie under water.I have never seen one of them vomiting, but I am only at the sea coast a couple of times a year.

  • 1 vote
#2.1 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:12 PM EDT

Whales have a much different digestive system than we do.

  • 2 votes
#2.2 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:37 PM EDT

whales also eat it pretty fresh, though not many eat tuna, 'cept for killer whales, but they are in the dolphin family.

  • 2 votes
#2.3 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:03 PM EDT

My guess is a whale's digestive system is a bit larger than mine, but I am catching up every day. But not on raw fish.

    #2.4 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:04 PM EDT

    um guys ? Whales eat krill and plankton ......They are basking mammals.

    • 4 votes
    #2.5 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:15 PM EDT

    PValdes - Right. Tell that to the seals and Sea Lions.

    • 1 vote
    #2.6 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:54 PM EDT

    @pugface-3520663

    You're thinking of "killer whales" which are not actually whales; they are the largest dolphins.

    You were saying?

    • 3 votes
    #2.7 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:24 PM EDT

    Thanks boom ....I was just trying to help some people along ...

    • 3 votes
    #2.8 - Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:26 AM EDT
    Reply

    wake up america !!! less than 5% of imported food is not inspected and we're getting food from china ?????? what is going on... profit is all that matters.. money money money. boycott imported food from china !!!

    • 4 votes
    Reply#3 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:53 PM EDT

    where did you see china in this article? And what are you talking about with money making and all that? Are you sick?

    • 3 votes
    #3.1 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:01 PM EDT

    Uhhhhh...where the heck does this article say anything about China? It says it is produced in the US....

    • 2 votes
    #3.2 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:18 PM EDT

    Help us: You really need help! Do me a favor,check the wiring and tin foil in your cap,take your meds and lay down and take a nappy!I'll watch thing while you nappy! I'll keep the Armadrillians away until you wake up and get ready for them!

      #3.3 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:25 PM EDT

      It didn't say where it came from in this article. But this article does state that the tuna came from India:

        #3.4 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:37 PM EDT

        Odds are, Moon Marie (Marine? Marina?) imported their product from China.

        Weird, when you google Moon Marie USA Corp, or Moon Marine USA Corp, or Moon Marina USA Corp...you cant find a website for them. If they are producing product, wouldnt it be logical there is SOMETHING on the internet to find them, and find out where they source their fish from?

        • 1 vote
        #3.5 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:39 PM EDT

          #3.6 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:40 PM EDT

          The East Coast gets their fish fresh from the Atlantic! It's the improper handling and ingesting that causes food poisoning.

          I bet all most all of those 200 people didn't put wasabi on their sushi.

          • 1 vote
          #3.7 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:39 PM EDT

          ChrisWanker: Bingo!

          It's all about proper (or in this case, improper) handling. Our two youngest sons are chefs that roll sushi all the time and they insist on only the freshest (not frozen) Yellowfin. Their rule of thumb: "If it smells like fish, don't eat it, toss it!" Fresh fish should not smell. Period!

          • 2 votes
          #3.8 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:19 PM EDT

          Jessica-1170252 said:

          Odds are, Moon Marie (Marine? Marina?) imported their product from China.

          Odds are, you are 100% wrong. It's from India.

          Not only that, but you are lazy. It says "Moon Marine" several times in the story. I guess you just have reading comprehension problems.

            #3.9 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:28 PM EDT
            Reply

            Mmmm, tuna pink slime... (except without all the yummy, wholesome chemical additives...)

            http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/would-you-eat-lysol-pink-slimes-ammonium-hydroxide-is-actually-added-to-lots-of-food.html

              Reply#4 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:02 PM EDT

              Sooooo, pretty much nothing like pink slime.

                #4.1 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:19 PM EDT
                Reply

                Did I miss it, or could we have the 21 states?

                • 2 votes
                Reply#5 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:05 PM EDT


                They are all "blue" states!It's a plot by dimocrap sushi bar owners to get rid of as many republican they can before the November election! They figure if you are dead,you become dimocraps and can vote 5-6 times each!

                • 2 votes
                #5.1 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:30 PM EDT

                mas098: I think you misunderstand the topic here. Does it hurt your ears when you try to pull your head out?

                • 1 vote
                #5.2 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:25 PM EDT

                He doesn't try

                • 1 vote
                #5.3 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:51 PM EDT
                Reply

                I have an friend who is an attorney who loved sushi until one day, after eating several pieces he had terrible stomach and lower digestive track pain. Went to the doctor and low an behold his stomach and colon was loaded with tiny pin worms. THAT ENDED HIS DESIRE FOR SUSHI. I personally want my fish to be cooked!!!

                • 3 votes
                Reply#6 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:09 PM EDT

                Where did he get his sushi from? Personally, I wouldn't order sushi from any landlocked state. I've been eating it for the past 10 years without issue. The place I go to gets their fish daily from Hunts Point.

                  #6.1 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:22 PM EDT

                  I love raw tuna! Alway have and always will!

                  • 2 votes
                  #6.2 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:26 PM EDT

                  It takes pinworms 2-8 weeks to develop to the state. What you swallow are the eggs, not the worms and it takes a while to develop. Hard to pin it on sushi, however, since they are transmitted only by human anus to human mouth. They are not found in sushi. (Other parasites are, however.)

                  Pinworms are the most common parasite in the world. The CDCP estimates that approaching 100% of all children who such their thumbs or fingers or bite their nails have pinworms. Proper sanitation stops the fecal matter-to-mouth 13-week lifecycle and they go away.

                  So your attorney friend need not worry about his sushi. But maybe his head or thumb have been in odd places?????? ROFL It should only happen to a lawyer.

                  • 2 votes
                  #6.3 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:25 PM EDT

                  As far as I'm concerned, if whatever I'm eating can get up off the plate and walk away, I'm of a mind to let it live.

                    #6.4 - Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:01 AM EDT
                    Reply

                    Humm, scraped from the backbone, UGH! I eat sushi all the time, and really never had a problem. However, I only want cold sliced pieces of fish, nothing minced - even if there is nothing wrong with the fish to start, being minced requires too much handling. I had "spicy tuna roll" once & didn't like it - thought it tasted oily and nasty - now I know why. Also I never buy sushi that is pre-package at the super market, or anywhere else, only at the chinese and Japanese restaurants where I eat all the time.

                      Reply#7 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:23 PM EDT

                      No worse than getting salmonella from raw salad. You can die from either one.

                      • 2 votes
                      Reply#8 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:34 PM EDT

                      "A frozen yellowfin tun product, known as Nakaochi Scrape"

                      Sounds like a fish version of pink slime.

                      • 4 votes
                      Reply#9 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:37 PM EDT

                      Time to switch to McDonalds for a while...

                        Reply#10 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:37 PM EDT

                        Both Humans and Fish die when they swallow the bait. Sushi = Raw Fish = Bait

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#11 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:38 PM EDT

                        I hated deep sea fishing with our company in the Gulf. We couldn't catch anything because the oriental engineers kept eating the bait.

                          #11.1 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:08 PM EDT
                          Reply

                          Ha Ha Ha Ha! that's why you're supposed to cook the $hit.

                          • 3 votes
                          Reply#12 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:43 PM EDT

                          Always cracks me up when people who eat raw fish/sushi get sick and then complain and or sue?! Uhh, hello, that's the risk you take when you eat anything raw..cookie dough, hamburger, meat, fish. WTF, brainiacs!

                          • 6 votes
                          Reply#13 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:01 PM EDT

                          I think everyone should be concerned with consuming 'sushi' that isn't fresh.

                          Living in Seattle we do not have this problem.

                          • 2 votes
                          Reply#14 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:09 PM EDT

                          Before anyone considers eating raw fish..have a chat with a Gastrointestinal Dr. He/She will tell you a couple of horror stories. You'll never want to eat it again...

                          • 1 vote
                          Reply#15 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:19 PM EDT

                          Do tell.

                            #15.1 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:39 PM EDT
                            Reply

                            That's what you get for eating that raw garbage.

                              Reply#16 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:39 PM EDT

                              Phuk mi joe ! I eat tuna backstrap sushi last week. Salmonella come to me. Eye almost git sick joe.

                                Reply#17 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:48 PM EDT

                                No way! You mean you can actually get diseased by eating raw uncooked food!? This must be a tremendous revelation!

                                • 2 votes
                                Reply#18 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:53 PM EDT

                                Uncle Henryare you an infant? if not why are you even drinking cows milk? what other animal species drinks another animal species milk in nature? Cats and many other animals have nursed different species such as deer, ans they all drink the milk from the animal nursing them. The internet is replete with such videos. Making such inane comments really does not speak volumes concerning yer intelligence.

                                  Reply#19 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:56 PM EDT

                                  We have enough food borne illnesses to go around, just from food that has actually been cooked. Eating anything raw is a prescription for disaster.

                                  • 1 vote
                                  Reply#20 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:16 PM EDT

                                  Uh oh. They're on to me.

                                  • 3 votes
                                  Reply#21 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 6:44 PM EDT

                                  I love sashimi/wasabi and never got sick. By the way, my doc once told me, "Milk is for baby cows..."

                                  • 1 vote
                                  Reply#22 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:13 PM EDT

                                  Got to grow some commonsense

                                    Reply#23 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:29 PM EDT

                                    For the most part, this is strong evidence that fewer people than one might expect take courses in Zoology, because after just one course in Zoology any type of raw meat is off the menu, as is traveling to Africa and anywhere in the tropics, because in those two general parts of our planet there are gnarly things that no researcher ever has seen or studied and for which when they cause medical problems there are no known cures or treatments . . .

                                    All it takes to acquire a particularly gnarly parasite or disease is standing barefoot in the mud for a few seconds; taking a sip of water from a stream, river, pond, or lake; being bitten by a mosquito or anything else; or eating something that people never should eat, really . . .

                                    Really! :-o

                                    • 1 vote
                                    Reply#24 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:38 PM EDT

                                    Life can kill you.

                                    • 1 vote
                                    #24.1 - Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:07 AM EDT
                                    Reply

                                    This is just another form of Pink Slim, you know the stuff the Republicans LOVE to eat.

                                    • 1 vote
                                    Reply#25 - Thu Apr 26, 2012 11:14 PM EDT
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