Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef - July 2023

Investigation notice

Investigation start date: July 25, 2023
Investigation status: Closed
Recall issued: No

This outbreak is over. Any ground beef can have germs, like Salmonella. Always cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F.

Fast Facts

  • Cases: 18
  • Hospitalizations: 7
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 4

Outbreak investigation summary

Ground beef was the only common food people reported eating. Of the people who remembered the type of ground beef they ate, most reported eating 80% lean ground beef before they got sick. Traceback information did not identify a common source of ground beef.

What you should do

Follow these to prevent getting sick from Salmonella.

  • Clean:
    • Wash any bowls, utensils, and surfaces that touch raw ground beef with soap and water before using them to prepare other foods.
    • Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after preparing raw ground beef and before touching other kitchen items.
  • Separate:
    • When shopping, separate raw ground beef from other foods in your shopping cart and grocery bags. Place packages of raw ground beef into individual plastic bags to avoid cross-contamination.
    • Keep raw ground beef separate from foods that will not be cooked.
    • Store raw ground beef in a container or sealed, leakproof bag on the lowest shelf in the fridge or freezer.
  • Cook:
    • Use a food thermometer to make sure you have cooked meat to a . Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F, and leftovers should be heated to an internal temperature of 165°
    • Eating raw or undercooked ground beef can make you sick.
  • Chill:
    • Raw ground beef that has been refrigerated should be used or frozen within 1 or 2 days.
    • Refrigerate or freeze ground beef within 2 hours of cooking. If the food is exposed to temperatures hotter than 90°F, like a hot car or picnic, refrigerate or freeze within 1 hour.
    • Freeze any meat that will not be used within a few days. Although freezing can help keep ground beef safe until you can cook it, it does not kill existing harmful germs.
    • Thaw frozen ground beef in the refrigerator, not on the counter.

Symptoms of Salmonella

  • Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
    • Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
    • Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.
  • Some people—especially children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
  • For more information about Salmonella, see the Salmonella Questions and Answers page.

See also

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)