Minnesota Department of Health

News Release

October 9, 2007

Contact information

Salmonella cases traced to Banquet brand pot pies
Consumers urged to discard product

Six cases of Salmonella infection in Minnesota residents have been linked to eating Banquet brand turkey or chicken pot pies, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) said today. The finding prompted health and agriculture officials to warn consumers not to eat any Banquet brand pot pies. An investigation is ongoing.

Banquet brand pot pies are sold in the freezer section at grocery stores and other outlets throughout the country. Pot pies made at the same plant are also sold under a dozen store labels, but all carry a code number beginning with 5009. “Best if used by” dates for implicated product are not known at this time.

Three of the Minnesota cases are adults and three are children. Five of the cases are from outstate Minnesota, and one is from the Twin Cities metro area. No one has been hospitalized.

The Minnesota cases are part of a much larger multi-state outbreak of Salmonella infections. Since June, at least 135 confirmed cases have been identified from approximately 25 states. The six Minnesota cases were reported in September; interviews of these cases by MDH epidemiologists led to the identification of Banquet pot pies as the source of the illnesses. The national investigation to determine the extent of the outbreak, production dates of contaminated product, and the source of contamination is ongoing.

Salmonella bacteria are widely distributed among animals and in the environment. Poultry is often contaminated, and other outbreaks have been traced to meat, unpasteurized milk and cheese, and produce. Salmonella in food can be killed by cooking thoroughly, but can survive undercooking or uneven cooking, as can happen in many microwave ovens.

Salmonella infections can cause diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramping, and vomiting. Symptoms usually last less than a week, but some individuals, particularly infants, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are at increased risk for severe illness. Treatment with antibiotics is typically not recommended for most healthy patients. People who become ill with symptoms of Salmonella should see their health care provider.

Consumers who have Banquet or other brands of pot pies with a code beginning with 5009 in their freezer should not eat them. The product should be thrown away or can be held but not consumed until the investigation is completed and additional recommendations on its safety are available.

More information on Salmonella can be found on the MDH Web site at www.health.state.mn.us.

ConAgra, manufacturer of the implicated pot pies, has given this number for consumer questions: 1-866-484-8671. More information may be found at www.conagrafoods.com. More information about the national outbreak can be found on the Centers for Disease Control Web site at www.cdc.gov.

-MDH-

For more information, contact:

Doug Schultz
MDH Communications
(651) 201-4993

Stephanie Meyer
MDH epidemiologist

Foodborne Diseases
(651) 201-5414

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