Garden of Life implicated as 11 sickened by Salmonella

By Joseph James Whitworth

- Last updated on GMT

Garden of Life has recalled some products
Garden of Life has recalled some products

Related tags Listeria monocytogenes

An outbreak of Salmonella which has sickened 11 people in nine US states has been linked to products made by Garden of Life.

The firm withdrew some of its Raw Meal Organic Shake & Meal Chocolate, Original, Vanilla and Vanilla Chai because of Salmonella Virchow concerns. A list of affected lots can be found here​.

The products have a long shelf life and may still be in people's homes.

Of 10 ill people interviewed, all of them reported having powdered supplements or meal replacement powders in the week before illness, and reported consuming Garden of Life RAW Meal products.

Salmonella isolated but negative on release

Utah and Oregon health officials reported that Salmonella was isolated from open containers of Garden of Life RAW Meal collected from ill people's homes.

However, the firm said every lot tested negative for the pathogen prior to release to the market.

“We are committed to producing the highest quality products and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this recall may have caused,” ​it added.

“You should know that no Garden of Life product has ever tested positive for Salmonella. We will keep you updated with any additional information.”

Raw Meal products are distributed throughout the US and sold at better health food stores and natural grocers.

Garden of Life said products are manufactured in the US at FDA and NSF audited facilities, in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices.

The number of ill people is two in Minnesota and New Jersey and one each in New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin.

Illnesses dates range from December 5, to January 21 with ages from eight to 76.

Fifty-five percent are male and one reported being hospitalized but no deaths have been reported.

Listeria in salad

Meanwhile, an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in the US and Canada has grown to 26 illnesses.

dole salad
Dole salad recall

Fifteen people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from eight states since July, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

All 15 were hospitalized, including one person from Michigan who died as a result of listeriosis. One illness was in a pregnant woman.

Packaged salads produced at the Dole facility in Springfield, Ohio and sold under various brand names are the likely source. Dole stopped production and withdrew products from the site.

Affected product can be identified with a product code beginning with "A" in the upper right-hand corner.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said there are 11 cases of Listeria monocytogenes in five provinces: Ontario (7) and one each from Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.

All cases have been hospitalized, and three people have died, however it has not been determined if Listeria contributed to the deaths. 

Laboratory results from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed a link between recalled packaged salad products and the outbreak of listeriosis. 

Laboratory testing and analysis by the PHAC has confirmed that the Canadian and US Listeria outbreaks are highly genetically related.

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