The FDA has expanded its investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Richmond illnesses to include Africa Imports moringa powder supplement.
The agency already named Maker’s Mark moringa summlements marketed at Sam’s Club stores as a cause of the outbreak. The Food and Drug Administration has identified a single lot — Batch No.: VFD/ORG/MORP/L/24 with the best by date (BBD) of November 2027 — of moringa leaf powder supplied to the United States by Vallon Farmdirect PVT LTD of Johdpur, India, as the product behind the outbreak.
Sam’s Club has already issued a recall of all of its Maker’s Mark Super Greens dietary supplements. This week Africa Imports recalled all of its Organic Moringa Leaf Powder in 1-kilogram boxes sold on its website,africaimports.com, after June 6.
As part of the overall investigation, the Virginia Department of Health collected an open sample of Africa Imports moringa leaf powder from an ill person’s home. This sample tested positive for Salmonella and based on whole genome sequencing matches the strain causing illnesses in this outbreak.
Also, officials in Michigan collected an open container of Member’s Mark Super Greens Powder from an ill person’s home for testing. This sample tested positive for Salmonella. WGS showed that the Salmonella in the supplement powder matched the bacteria from sick people.
So far, the outbreak has sickened 11 people across seven states. Three of the patients have required hospitalization. The patients range in age from 13 to 65 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The patients became ill between early May and early September.
There are likely many more sick people in the outbreak than have been confirmed. This is because some people to not seek medical attention and others are not specifically tested for Salmonella. The CDC estimates that for every sick person identified in a Salmonella outbreak there are 29 more who go undetected.
The CDC and FDA are urging consumers to check their homes for the recalled moringa powder and throw it away.
About Salmonella infections
Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile, according to the CDC.
Anyone who has consumed any of the recalled moringa powder and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.
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