Orange juice products may be contaminated

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a nationwide warning to consumers against drinking unpasteurized orange juice products distributed under various brand names by Orchid Island Juice Co of Fort Pierce FL, because they could be contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium.

To date, 15 cases of a matching strain of illness directly linked to a history of consumption of Orchid Island Juice have been reported from mid-May to June in Michigan, Ohio, and Massachusetts. In addition, at least 16 other states have reported cases of Salmonella Typhimurium infection that match this strain. Further investigations are underway to determine if these infections are also related to these products or the earlier FDA recall of Salmonella Typhimurium tainted ice cream sold by Cold Stone Creamery.

Salmonella is one of the most common intestinal infections in the United States. The reported incidence of Salmonella illnesses are about 17 cases per each 100,000 persons.