Manufacturers have recalled 59,000 pounds of yellowfin tuna after linking it to a 20-state salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 116 people with food poisoning and caused 12 hospitalizations, according the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The distributors of the contaminated yellowfin tuna is voluntarily recalling the frozen yellowfin tuna product, known as “Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA.” The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had previously warned that the salmonella outbreak was linked to to spicy tuna rolls and sushi.
What You Can Do & How a Yellowfin Tuna Salmonella Lawsuit Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Yellowfin Tuna salmonella injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by Yellowfin Tuna contaminated with salmonella, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Salmonella Food Poisoning Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Yellowfin Tuna Salmonella Outbreak
Moon Marine USA Corporation, a company located in Cupertino, CA, announced that it will be voluntarily recalling 58,828 pounds of frozen raw yellowfin tuna products. The products are labeled as “Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA.” The raw tuna product is backmeat, scraped off the bones of the tuna, and when packaged it looks like a ground fish product.
The outbreak, which has been causing food poisonings since January, has caused the following injuries:
- 116 confirmed cases of yellowfin tuna salmonella poisoning
- 12 hospitalizations
- No deaths
In a statement, the FDA warns that “the tuna may not be readily identifiable by retail outlets or by consumers as being from the implicated lots.” The raw yellowfin tuna product likely passed through several distributors before it got to a restaurant or a grocery store. These distributors often break down bulk products into smaller lots. Once the smaller lot reaches its end destination, there may be very little marking information identifying it as the “Nakaochi Scrape” product. Therefore, it is possible that there are still contaminated products in restaurants or grocery stores that are not identifiable as the recalled product.
The FDA is warning consumers to exercise caution, and when in doubt about whether food contains contaminated raw yellowfin tuna, do not consume the product. The following products may be contaminated:
- Spicy tuna rolls — many of the people sickened reported eating raw tuna in sushi sold as “spicy tuna”
- Sushi
- Sashimi
- Ceviche
- Other food products that might contain raw yellowfin tuna
The outbreak has been tied to Salmonella Bareilly, a rare strain of salmonella that was previously linked to a raw bean sprout salmonella outbreak.
States In the Yellowfin Tuna Salmonella Outbreak
The following states are involved in the yellowfin tuna salmonella outbreak. The number after the state represents the number of people who have been sickened in that state:
- Alabama (2)
- Arkansas (1)
- Connecticut (5)
- District of Columbia (2)
- Florida (1)
- Georgia (5)
- Illinois (10)
- Louisiana (2)
- Maryland (11)
- Massachusetts (8)
- Mississippi (1)
- Missouri (2)
- New Jersey (7)
- New York (24)
- North Carolina (2)
- Pennsylvania (5)
- Rhode Island (5)
- South Carolina (3)
- Texas (3)
- Virginia (5)
- Wisconsin (12)
Yellowfin Tuna Salmonella Poisoning
Yellowfin tuna salmonella poisoning typically occurs 12 to 72 hours after ingestion of the contaminated product. The first symptoms begin as nausea and abdominal cramps, followed by an urgent need to use the bathroom. Once diarrhea begins, symptoms intensify and typically include nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, headache, and a high fever. Vomiting combined with diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration. Healthy people normally recover from salmonella poisoning within 5-7 days, though normal bowel function may not return for several weeks or months.
In some cases, salmonella food poisoning can be deadly. The people at the highest risk of death are children, older Americans, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems. For these people, the salmonella infection may spread to the bloodstream and other parts of the body.
Yellowfin Tuna Salmonella Lawsuit
If you were sickened by yellowfin tuna contaminated with salmonella, it is not your fault. It is the responsibility of food manufacturers to follow safe food guidelines and do their best to protect consumers from being sickened with potentially life-threatening salmonella food poisoning. If you decide to file a yellowfin tuna salmonella lawsuit, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost income while you were recovering from your illness, and more. Contact us today for more information about your legal rights.
Do I have a Yellowfin Tuna Salmonella Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Yellowfin Tuna induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been injured by Yellowfin Tuna contaminated with salmonella, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Yellowfin Tuna Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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