Food poisoning outbreak includes Otero County man
High risk individuals who experience any of the symptoms connected to Salmonella food poisoning should check with their health care providers.
Officials with the New Mexico Department of Health are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the New Mexico Environment Department, the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department and other state health departments as part of an ongoing investigation of a food poisoning outbreak from Salmonella virchow.
To date, eleven cases have been confirmed across nine states, including a 75-year-old man from Otero County.
Cases related to the outbreak appear to be linked to consuming Garden of Life Raw Meal Organic Shake and Meal products. These powdered nutritional supplements come in a variety of flavors and are available at nutrition stores and food cooperatives throughout the state and country, as well as through online retailers, according to information from the state health department.
Garden of Life LLC issued a voluntary recall of its chocolate, original, vanilla and vanilla chai Raw Meal Organic Shake and Meal supplements. State health department representatives recommend that New Mexicans not eat any flavor of this product, if it was purchased on or after Nov. 1, 2015. Additionally, product with a “Best Used by: 09/2017” date or later stamped on the bottom of the container should not be consumed, they stated.
Customers who purchased these items can return them for a full refund. More information, including specific lot numbers are available at: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/garden-of-life-llc-recalls-raw-meal-organic-shake--meal-products-because-of-possible-health-risk-300212416.html?tc=eml_cleartime
“The New Mexico Department of Health encourages anyone who consumed this product and is experiencing symptoms related to Salmonella to visit their health care provider,” Health Department Secretary Retta Ward said.
Symptoms include an acute onset of headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and sometimes vomiting. Dehydration, especially among infants, may be severe.
People who are at high risk for Salmonella infection include infants, the elderly, the immuno-compromised, including persons on immunosuppressive therapies or medications, and pregnant women. Healthy adults rarely develop severe illness.
It is important for people at high risk to follow the standard CDC guidance about Salmonella. People can decrease their risk of Salmonella infection through proper food handling and preparation and by practicing proper hand washing and hygiene practices, health officials said.
For more information, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/salmonella/.