Salmonella in Sushi Leaves Dozens Wishing They'd Ordered the Tempura
If you plan on going out for sushi in the near future, it might be a good idea to avoid tuna rolls, tuna sashimi, spicy tuna hand rolls—anything that involves tuna really.
The popular fish hasn't been singled out yet as the direct cause of 53 reported cases of salmonella linked to eating sushi since March 5, yet all but one of the people who fell ill had eaten raw tuna, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty-one cases of illness have been identified in California, plus there are sporadic cases in Arizona, Illinois, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
No supplier has been singled out as the source of the contamination, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a press release: “If a specific food or source linked to the illnesses is identified, the FDA will work to remove it from the marketplace and alert consumers to avoid it.”
RELATED: The Sources of out Food-Borne Illnesses
There are about 40,000 cases of salmonella reported every year in America, making it one of the most common food-borne illnesses. Symptoms range from moderate to severe and can include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. If extreme dehydration occurs during the illness, patients are often hospitalized.
"This is a good reminder to Californians that there are sometimes risks when eating raw or undercooked meats, fish or poultry," Dr. Karen Smith, director of the California Department of Public Health, said in a statement. "This is particularly true for young children, the elderly, or people with compromised immune systems who may be at an increased risk of severe illness."
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Original article from TakePart
