An outbreak of Salmonella in Boise, Idaho has left 290 people sick. The Central District Health Department has reported that the source of this outbreak is the Boise Co-op deli. Testing shows that between June 1 and June 10, 2015, the Boise Co-op Deli sold several contaminated products, including raw turkey, onions, and tomatoes. The Co-op voluntarily closed shortly after the outbreak was detected, and by June 15, 2015, testing had shown that surfaces and products at the Co-op were positive for Salmonella contamination.
The Co-op was allowed to reopen on June 19, 2015 after extensive cleaning and sanitizing. The Co-op is also taking steps to prevent further outbreaks from happening, including reorganizing the workflow to prevent cross contamination and installing new sinks to promote sanitation. Also being implemented is the use of color coordinated cutting boards in order to reduce the chance of cross contamination further.
Salmonella poisoning will generally begin to show symptoms between 12 and 72 hours after infection. It can produce symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping. In most cases, someone infected with Salmonella will recover without medical attention. In some instances, however, the illness will worsen and require medical attention.
