The Food and Drug Administration is inspecting a Del Monte Fresh Produce Inc. facility after four cases of salmonellosis were linked to vegetable trays produced there.
An FDA notice on the investigation of Salmonella Infantis said Wisconsin Department of Health Services linked the illnesses to the vegetable trays from the Kankakee, Ill., plant. The trays were sold at Kwik Trip convenience stores in Wisconsin and Minnesota, with three cases in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota.
Wisconsin’s department of health reported patients became ill between April 13 and April 29.
Kwik Trip voluntarily removed the deli trays from stores.
Del Monte issued a statement in response to the FDA’s notice. The company said it has no “evidence that has been shared with us that a Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable tray was the confirmed cause of those incidents,” but was informed individuals involved reported eating from the trays.
“The products in question would have exceeded their ‘best by date’ weeks ago and would have expired and off the shelves for some time,” according to the statement. “The FDA recently inspected the facility where the vegetable trays were produced with our full cooperation and no findings were issued.”
The products involved in the current salmonella investigation are six- and 12-ounce Del Monte vegetable trays containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and dill dip. The Wisconsin health department is warning consumers not to eat those products.
The FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Wisconsin and Minnesota state health officials are investigating the source of the outbreak and the distribution of products, according to the FDA notice.
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