
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, October 28, 1994                   TAG: 9410280087
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

2 POISONING VICTIMS FROM ROANOKE VALLEY

Two Roanoke Valley residents were among six Virginians who became ill after eating Schwan's ice cream that was contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis bacteria.

The food poisoning illnesses have not been life-threatening, although two of the six victims were hospitalized, said Dr. Suzanne Jenkins, assistant state epidemiologist. Those treated in the hospital were not from the Roanoke Valley.

The ice cream was made in August at Schwan's Sales Enterprises plant near its headquarters in Marshall, Minn.

The company voluntarily recalled several of its bulk ice cream products Oct. 9 after the Minnesota Health Department traced a number of illnesses to the company.

Illnesses have been reported in 35 states. In addition to the six confirmed reactions, Virginia health officials are investigating another 22 cases that could be linked to the ice cream. Nationally, more than 400 cases had been confirmed as of a week ago and several thousand were being investigated.

Salmonella illness, or food poisoning, is characterized by diarrhea, fever and occasional vomiting and may last several days.

The products thought to be contaminated include Schwan's half gallons of ice cream, yogurt, lite, extra lite and sherbet; all flavors of Schwan's six-quart pails; Schwan's 21/2-gallon and one-gallon vanilla pails; Currier & Ives containers; sundae cones; ice cream sandwiches, sundae cups and Push-ems, all varieties and flavors. The products carried the code numbers 19-114 or 19-115.

For further information, call the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Dairy and Foods, at (804) 786-8899 or Schwan's at (800) 544-6855.

by CNB