Use of Global Trade Item Numbers in the Investigation of a Salmonella Newport Outbreak Associated with Blueberries in Minnesota, 2010

Abstract

In August 2010, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Department of Health investigated an outbreak of six cases of Salmonella Newport infection occurring in northwestern Minnesota, which identified fresh blueberries as the cause. Initially, traditional traceback methods involving the review of invoices and bills of lading were used to attempt to identify the source of the outbreak. When these methods failed, novel traceback methods were used. Specifically, supplier-specific 12-digit Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs) and shopper-card information were used to identify a single blueberry grower linked to cases, corroborating the results of a case-control study in which consuming fresh blueberries was statistically associated with illness (5 of 5 cases versus 8 of 19 controls, matched odds ratio [MOR] undefined, P = 0.02). Consuming fresh blueberries from retailer A was also statistically associated with illness (3 of 3 cases versus 3 of 18 controls, MOR undefined, P = 0.03). Based on initially incomplete evidence in this investigation, the invoices pointed to wholesaler A and grower A, based on first-in-first-out product rotation. However, when point-of-sale data were analyzed and linked to shopper-card information, a common GTIN was identified. This information led to an on-site record evaluation at retailer A, and the discovery of additional records at this location documented the supply chain from grower B to wholesaler C to retailer A, shifting the focus of the investigation from grower A to grower B. This investigation demonstrates the emerging concepts of Critical Tracking Events (CTEs) and Key Data Elements (KDE) related to food product tracing. The use of these shopper-cased data and the event data that were queried by investigators demonstrates the potential utility of consciously designed CTEs and KDEs at critical points in the supply chain to better facilitate product tracing.

Effects of Chitosan‐Essential Oil Coatings on Safety and Quality of Fresh Blueberries

“…An outbreak of hepatitis A, an RNA virus associated with consumption of raw blueberries, was investigated in New Zealand in which the blueberries were likely contaminated from polluted water or by infected food handlers (Calder and others ). Similarly, an outbreak of 6 cases of illness due to Salmonella Newport on blueberries occurred in Minnesota in 2010 (Miller and others ). Because of the foodborne illnesses caused by blueberries, retailers of blueberries are now beginning to test for foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes , Escherichia coli , and Salmonella , as well as yeasts and molds, such as Colletotrichum and Penicillium (Popa and others ).…”

Fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on Whole Strawberries and Blueberries of Two Maturities under Different Storage Conditions

“…In 2011, straw berries from Oregon, contam inated with Escherichia coli 0 1 5 7 :H 7 , resulted in 14 illnesses and one death (28). Confirm ed outbreaks in 2009 and 2010 im plicating blueberries contam inated with Salm onella M uenchen and New port, respectively, resulted in 14 and 6 illnesses (6,19). These outbreaks w arrant study to better understand the ecology o f bacterial foodbom e pathogens on sm all berries.…”

An approach to improve the safety and quality of ready‐to‐eat blueberries

“…Fruit decay in blueberries is usually caused by fungi. The growth of Escherichia coli , Salmonella , Staphylococcus aureus , and Listeria monocytogenes on blueberries has been reported by different authors (Miller, Rigdon, Robinson, Hedberg, & Smith, ; Popa, Hanson, Todd, Schilder, & Ryser, ; Sun et al, ).…”