An International Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis Infections in the United States and Canada Linked to Peaches – 2020

Asma Madad; Michael Vasser; Stelios Viazis; Karen P. Neil; Margaret Kirchner; Tyann Blessington; Arthur Pightling; David T. Ingram; Laura Grunenfelder; Stephen Hughes; Rebecca L. Bell; Hua Wang; Brittany Nork; Estefania Fernandez; Kevin Gerrity; Evelyn Ladines; Kelley Hise; Omar Hummadi; Amber Barnes; Krista Grant; Anne-Marie Lowe; Ashley Kearney; Laura Gieraltowski; Monique Salter; Michael Bazaco; Christina K. Carstens

doi:10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100519

Journal of Food Protection (May 2025)

An International Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis Infections in the United States and Canada Linked to Peaches – 2020

Asma Madad,
Michael Vasser,
Stelios Viazis,
Karen P. Neil,
Margaret Kirchner,
Tyann Blessington,
Arthur Pightling,
David T. Ingram,
Laura Grunenfelder,
Stephen Hughes,
Rebecca L. Bell,
Hua Wang,
Brittany Nork,
Estefania Fernandez,
Kevin Gerrity,
Evelyn Ladines,
Kelley Hise,
Omar Hummadi,
Amber Barnes,
Krista Grant,
Anne-Marie Lowe,
Ashley Kearney,
Laura Gieraltowski,
Monique Salter,
Michael Bazaco,
Christina K. Carstens

Affiliations

Asma Madad: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA; Corresponding author.
Michael Vasser: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Stelios Viazis: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Karen P. Neil: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Margaret Kirchner: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Tyann Blessington: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Arthur Pightling: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
David T. Ingram: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Laura Grunenfelder: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Stephen Hughes: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, MD 20708, USA
Rebecca L. Bell: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Hua Wang: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Brittany Nork: Office of Inspections and Investigations, Food and Drug Administration, Loveland, Colorado, USA
Estefania Fernandez: Office of Inspections and Investigations, Food and Drug Administration, Suisun City, California, USA
Kevin Gerrity: Office of Inspections and Investigations, Food and Drug Administration, San Diego, California, USA
Evelyn Ladines: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, Irvine, California, USA
Kelley Hise: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Omar Hummadi: California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA
Amber Barnes: California Department of Public Health, Sacramento, California, USA
Krista Grant: Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Anne-Marie Lowe: Public Health Agency of Canada, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Ashley Kearney: Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Laura Gieraltowski: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Monique Salter: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Michael Bazaco: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA
Christina K. Carstens: Human Foods Program, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD 20740, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfp.2025.100519
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 88, no. 6
p. 100519

Abstract

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During August–October 2020, United States federal, state, and Canadian partners investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections, in the U.S. and Canada, linked to fresh, whole peaches packed and supplied by a grower and packer with multiple orchards (Farm A). In the U.S., a total of 101 ill people and 28 hospitalizations were reported in 17 states, while in Canada, 57 ill people and 12 hospitalizations were reported in two Canadian provinces. The U.S. traceback investigation included 14 points of service (POS), representing 18 illnesses in eight states. Multiple distributors, packinghouses, and orchards supplied bagged and loose peaches during the timeframe of interest to identified POS, with peaches and packinghouses linked to Farm A being the primary source. Orchards of interest were identified for peach fruit, orchard tree leaf, and soil drag swab sample collection using traceback and geospatial analysis. Geospatial analyses showed that several orchards were in proximity to animal operations. While none of the Salmonella isolates recovered matched the outbreak strain, Salmonella Alachua was recovered from peaches and leaf samples, and Salmonella Montevideo was recovered from orchard tree leaves. Whole genome sequencing indicated that these Salmonella isolates were closely related to historical poultry and cattle isolates. Farm A voluntarily recalled loose peaches sold from June 1 to August 3, 2020, and bagged Brand A conventional and organic peaches sold from June 1 to August 19, 2020. Recalled products were likely distributed to at least 14 different countries. Findings suggest that adjacent animal operations may be a potential contributing factor to Salmonella contamination of peaches, with windborne or fugitive dust as a possible route. The findings from this first reported international outbreak of Salmonella linked to peaches grown in the U.S. highlight the importance of grower awareness of adjacent land use.

Published in Journal of Food Protection

ISSN: 0362-028X (Print); 1944-9097 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Food processing and manufacture; Technology: Home economics: Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-food-protection

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