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Shredded coconut identified as source of salmonella outbreak, the CDC says

Coconut Tree Brand frozen products recalled in early January

Lisa Jennings, Executive Editor

January 17, 2018

1 Min Read
coconut
CDC

Shredded coconut has been identified as the source of a salmonella outbreak in multiple states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday.

Twenty five people have been sickened by what investigators believe is a related strain of salmonella Newport in nine states. Six people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported, the CDC said.

Testing indicates the likely source is Coconut Tree Brand frozen shredded coconut, distributed by Evershing International Trading Company. The product was recalled by the company on Jan. 3. 

Some victims reported having an Asian-style dessert drink at restaurants in the week before they fell ill. The product is distributed in Ohio, Massachusetts, Washington, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Florida and Texas.

It was first identified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health after the coconut was used as an ingredient in a Boston restaurant, which the health department did not identify.

Most of the illnesses were reported in California (9), but also in Pennsylvania (5), Washington state (4), Massachusetts (2) and one each in Colorado, Oklahoma, New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected] 

Follow her on Twitter: @livetodineout

About the Author

Lisa Jennings

Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality

Lisa Jennings is executive editor of Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She joined the NRN staff as West Coast editor in 2004 as a veteran journalist. Before joining NRN, she spent 11 years at The Commercial Appeal, the daily newspaper in Memphis, Tenn., most recently as editor of the Food and Health & Wellness sections. Prior experience includes staff reporting for the Washington Business Journal and United Press International.

Lisa’s areas of expertise include coverage of both large public restaurant chains and small independents, the regulatory and legal landscapes impacting the industry overall, as well as helping operators find solutions to run their business better.

Lisa Jennings’ experience:

Executive editor, NRN (March 2020 to present)

Executive editor, Restaurant Hospitality (January 2018 to present)

Senior editor, NRN (September 2004 to March 2020)

Reporter/editor, The Commercial Appeal (1990-2001)

Reporter, Washington Business Journal (1985-1987)

Contact Lisa Jennings at:

[email protected]

@livetodineout

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-jennings-83202510/

 

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