GA Agriculture finds contaminated tuna salad

Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin announced today that Georgia Department of Agriculture food scientists have found Salmonella in a sample of “Deli Fresh” tuna salad manufactured by Allison’s Gourmet Kitchens, LTD, of Moore, Oklahoma.

The contamination was found in a 12-ounce package marked USE BY 07/29/08 B1.

Symptoms of foodborne Salmonella infection include nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.  In persons with poor health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections.  Individuals who have recently eaten this tuna salad and experienced any of these symptoms should contact a doctor or health care professional.

“We have notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of today’s lab findings, and we are warning the public about the contamination,” said Commissioner Irvin.  “We discovered this contamination as part of our sampling program.  Sampling on a regular basis with a scientific protocol is a very important part of our department’s food safety program.”

Georgia Department of Agriculture sanitarians will be looking for this tuna salad during their inspections of grocery stores and food warehouses throughout the state to make sure it has been removed from sale.  The sample that tested positive was collected from an Ingle’s store.  Ingle’s has already removed the tuna salad from its shelves.  It is uncertain what other stores may carry this brand. 

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