Raw yellowfin tuna product associated with salmonella outbreak recalled

10 cases in Illinois, 3 hospitalizations 

[April 16, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local and federal public health agencies indicate that a frozen raw yellowfin tuna product known as Nakaochi Scrape from Moon Marine USA Corp. is the likely source of the salmonella Bareilly outbreak. Marine USA of Cupertino, Calif., is voluntarily recalling 58,828 pounds of a frozen raw yellowfin tuna product labeled as Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA. The Nakaochi Scrape is associated with an outbreak of 116 cases of salmonella Bareilly in 20 states and the District of Columbia, including 10 cases in Illinois.

The product is not available for sale to individual consumers, but may have been used to make sushi, sashimi, ceviche and similar dishes available in restaurants and grocery stores. The product looks like raw ground tuna. Consumers should not eat the recalled product, and retailers should not serve the recalled raw Nakaochi Scrape tuna product from Moon Marine USA.

Many of the people who became ill reported eating raw tuna in sushi as "spicy tuna." If you purchase "spicy tuna" or other sushi, sashimi, ceviche or similar dishes that might contain Nakaochi Scrape from a restaurant or grocery store, check with the establishment to make sure that it does not contain raw recalled product from Moon Marine USA. When in doubt, don’t eat it.

Consumers who think they might have become ill from eating possibly contaminated raw Nakaochi Scrape should consult their health care providers.

Of the 10 reported illnesses in Illinois, there have been three hospitalizations. Illness onset dates in Illinois range from Feb. 11 to March 19. Of the 10 cases in Illinois, six are in Chicago, one in suburban Cook County, one in McLean County and two in Will County.

Most people infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection. The illness usually lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. However, in certain cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless these patients are treated promptly with antibiotics.

Infants, older adults, pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems are more likely than others to develop severe illness and should not eat raw or partially cooked fish or shellfish. If you are unsure of your risk, ask your health care provider.

The Illinois Department of Public Health will continue to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and local health departments in Illinois to investigate the outbreak and continue the surveillance to identify new cases.

Consumers or product sellers with questions about the recall can contact the FDA at 888-INFO-FDA (888-463-6332). Reporters with media inquiries can contact Curtis Allen with the FDA at [e-mail], 301-796-0393 or 301-500-8888.

[Text from Illinois Department of Public Health file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]