California health officials are investigating a potential salmonella outbreak associated with mangoes. So far, 73 people have been sickened in the Golden state. The California Department of Public Health said 67-percent of the patients had eaten mangoes.
NBC news reported the fruit was imported from Mexico, but the CDC said it was too soon to conclusively state that Mexico was the origin.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency recently reported illnesses resulting from the same bacterial strain of salmonella a few weeks ago. In the Canadian cases the mangoes were sold individually between July 12 and Aug. 14.
Officials with the California Department of Public Health say they are working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Canadian public health and food safety agencies to pinpoint the cause.
So far there has been no recall connected to the outbreak.
"As far as linking to any specific brand of mangoes, our detailed interviews of case patients show that most cases did not know it. Any determination of the type or source will have to come from the traceback investigation, when investigators try to determine the source of contamination – to both identify the source of the current outbreak and prevent similar occurrences from happening in the future," the CDC stated.
Splendid Products in Burlingame isn't taking any chances. Larry Nienkirk, Splendid Products founder, told NBC he has issued a voluntary recall of Daniella brand mangoes imported from Mexico. Splendid said the mangoes are shipped to grocery stores and other retailers nationwide.
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Splendid Products has specialized in mangoes for 37 years. "We're doing everything we can to get to the bottom of this," Nienkirk told NBC.
Salmonella poisoning can cause fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramping and diarrhea. It can cause serious illness and death in people with weakened immune systems, children, and the elderly.
