The Rhode Island <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/food_poisoning">Salmonella outbreak continues to grow as the health investigation also remains ongoing. To date, 56 people have fallen ill with the dangerous, sometimes deadly, Salmonella pathogen; 24 have been hospitalized, and one person has died. According to NECN, some egg crates taken from DeFusco’s bakery and tested by the Rhode Island Department of Public Health all contained the Salmonella bacteria.
All of those who fell ill reportedly ate zeppoles made by DeFusco’s Bakery in Johnston, said NECN, which noted that DeFusco’s stored the poisoned pastries in the contaminated egg crates.
Last week, we wrote that the Associated Press (AP) said an investigation is underway to determine if the man who died from Salmonella poisoning ate a contaminated pastry. Spokeswoman for the state health department, Annemarie Bearsdsworth, said that the man, who was in his 80s, died on March 23, resided in Providence County, and tested positive for the same Salmonella strain involved in the outbreak.
The tainted pastries were also sold statewide and have since been recalled, said the AP, noting that the bakery has voluntarily closed, for now.
A prior report from the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH), said the outbreak was likely caused by consumption of zeppole pastries that came in contact with raw eggs. Pastry shells from DeFusco’s were stored in used egg crates, which could have exposed the pastry shells to infected raw eggs.
American Bakery Supplies purchased zeppoles from DeFusco’s. That company distributed the pastries to Roch’s Market (West Warwick), Meal Works (Coventry), and Touch of Class Catering (West Warwick). Meal Works, a caterer, served the zeppoles at events on March and 18 at West Warwick Manor Senior Center; Sts. John and Paul Church (Coventry); Sparrow Point, a West Warwick senior facility; and Crescent Park Manor (Riverside). Zeppoles from DeFusco’s Johnston store were also sold at all DeFusco’s locations, Colvitto’s Bistro (Narragansett), Sal’s Bakery (Providence), and Focaccia World (Johnston). All five Crugnale Bakery locations in Providence, East Providence, North Providence, Cranston, and Cumberland also sold DeFusco’s zeppoles March 16-20.
Unsafe food storage practices were revealed at Buono’s Bakery (Providence). Its zeppole, cream puff, and éclair shells were also stored in used egg crates, which could lead to contamination from raw eggs, said HEALTH. People are advised to immediately discard all baked goods from any DeFusco’s; zeppoles from any of the locations mentioned; and zeppoles, cream puffs, and éclairs from Buono’s Bakery (Providence).
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that usually last 4 to 7 days. The infected person develops fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea between 12 and 72 hours after becoming infected. Very young and very old people, as well as those with weakened immune systems can suffer severe illness and, in the worst cases possible, death, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
