All News / Outbreaks /

King Soopers and Beef Packers Drug-Resistant Salmonella Outbreaks

In July and August of 2009, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and other state and local health departments, investigated two outbreaks of drug-resistant Salmonella. Both Salmonella outbreak investigations led to ground beef recalls, as ground beef was the source of the drug-resistant Salmonella contamination.

The first recall, initiated by King Soopers, Inc., of Denver, Colorado, included approximately 466,000 pounds of ground beef products for drug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 contamination. The recall was initiated on July 22, 2009 after CDPHE and the CDC determined that the ground beef products were the source of a drug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 outbreak among at least 14 Colorado residents. Products included in this first ground beef recall included ground beef chub, tray packs, and hamburger patties. Sell-by dates for those products ranged from May 31, 2009 and June 23, 2009. The products were distributed to supermarkets and other retail establishments in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, and although they are no longer available for sale consumers who may have purchased King Soopers ground beef products could have the Salmonella Typhimurium DT104-contaminated product in their freezers. Those products should be discarded or destroyed.

The second recall, initiated by Beef Packers, Inc., of Fresno, California, a subsidiary of Cargill, included approximately 825,000 pounds of ground beef products for drug-resistant Salmonella Newport contamination. The recall was initiated on August 6, 2009 after CDPHE, the CDC, California Department of Health Services (CDPH), and other public health agencies determined that the ground beef products were the source of a drug-resistant Salmonella Newport outbreak among at least forty people in eleven states. CDPH reported 21 illness associated with the drug-resistant Salmonella outbreak, and CDPH reported at least five illnesses associated with the outbreak. The ground beef products were produced between June 5, 2009 and June 23, 2009, and were distributed in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Utah, and were repackaged into consumer-sized packages and sold under brand names. Safeway reportedly sold the ground beef as meatloaf, hamburger patties, and as ground beef. Consumers who purchased the Salmonella Newport-contaminated ground beef should discard or destroy the product.

Get Help

Affected by an outbreak or recall?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

Get a free consultation
Related Resources
Salmonella Food Poisoning

What is Salmonella and how does it cause food poisoning? The term Salmonella refers to a specific group of gram-negative bacteria with the potential to cause gastrointestinal distress and other...

The Incidence of Salmonella Infections

Typhoidal Salmonella Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhi, Sendai, and Paratyphi A, B, or C are found exclusively in humans. These serotypes, collectively referred to as typhoidal Salmonella, cause enteric fever (also...

The Prevalence of Salmonella in Food and Elsewhere

Most Salmonella infections are caused by eating contaminated food. One study found that 87% of all confirmed cases of Salmonella are foodborne. Foods of animal origin, including meat, poultry, eggs...

Transmission of Salmonella Bacteria

In the past two decades, consumption of produce, especially sprouts, tomatoes, fruits, leafy greens, nuts, and nut butters, has been associated with Salmonella illnesses. The surface of fruits and vegetables...

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include painful abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever. Salmonella infections can have a broad range of illness, from no symptoms to severe illness. The most common clinical...

Outbreak Database

Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

View Outbreak Database