THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 28, 1994 TAG: 9410280595
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Five Virginians have become ill from eating Schwan's ice cream in recent weeks, and illnesses in 22 others probably resulted from eating the salmonella-contaminated product, the state Health Department said Wednesday.
Illnesses associated with particular batches of the ice cream, recalled by the manufacturer this month, have been confirmed in 16 states, and several hundred people became ill after eating the ice cream. The contaminated products were made at the company's Marshall, Minn., plant; products made at other plants are not affected by the recall.
Two of the five Virginians involved in the laboratory-confirmed cases are from Virginia Beach. The others are from Roanoke, Roanoke County and Page County. They became sick between Sept. 11 and Oct. 19, said Dr. Suzanne R. Jenkins, assistant state epidemiologist.
The ice cream is sold primarily through home delivery, although it also is carried in some small specialty stores.
The state Health Department asks that people contact their local health departments if they have had salmonella-poisoning symptoms - diarrhea, fever and, occasionally, vomiting - and had eaten Schwan's ice cream products between early September and mid-October.
Symptoms of salmonella food poisoning generally appear 12 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food, but they can show up as early as six hours and as late as 72 hours afterward.
The illness may last up to several days, and most people recover on their own.
More information is available from the state agriculture department, (804) 786-8899, and from Schwan's at (800) 544-6855.
Late last week, federal and state investigators said the contamination may have been caused by tanker trucks that carried raw eggs and then ice cream mix.
KEYWORDS: SALMONELLA by CNB