Interstate Outbreak of Salmonella newbrunswick Infection Traced to Powdered Milk

Abstract

During the investigation of an interstate outbreak of gastroenteritis due to<i>Salmonella newbrunswick</i>, epidemiologic data led to the hypothesis that instant nonfat dry milk was the vehicle of infection. The same serotype was isolated from shelf samples of the product and from a single large milk-drying plant where equipment and processing were conductive to introduction and spread of salmonellae. Subsequent surveys of milk-drying plants in various states resulted in isolation of numerous<i>Salmonella</i>serotypes from dried milk products. Instant nonfat dry milk should be considered to be a possible source of infection in future epidemiologic investigations of cases of human salmonellosis.