WASHINGTON – The US Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a public health alert today due to concerns about Salmonella. The alert is in connection with the consumption of whole hog roasters prepared for barbecue from Kapowsin Meats, Graham, Washington.

On July 13, FSIS was notified of an illness investigation in Washington. On July 19, the Washington State Dept. of Health notified FSIS regarding confirmed case patients involved in an illness outbreak of Salmonella. FSIS, working alongside the Washington State Dept. of Health, local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), determined there is a possible link between the roaster hogs for barbecue from Kapowsin Meats and this illness outbreak.

The epidemiological investigation by the agencies showed three Salmonella case-patients have been identified with illness onset dates ranging from July 5 to July 7. The three patients consumed whole hog roasters for barbecue from Kapowsin Meats.

FSIS moved forward with a Public Health Alert because company representatives were not available to participate in a recall committee conference earlier in the day. FSIS is working with the company to identify if there is a need for a recall.

Kapowsin Meats recalled approximately 116,262 lbs. of whole hogs Aug. 13, 2015, over concerns of Salmonella. Following the initial recall, the company voluntarily suspended operations and expanded the recall of the company’s pork products to 523,380 lbs. of pork.

FSIS discovered a link between whole hogs from Kapowsin Meats and 36 documented Salmonella infections last year. FSIS said epidemiological evidence identified 152 case-patients in Washington. As a result, FSIS intensified its sampling of the company’s products while the firm attempted to address sanitary conditions at its facility following the original recall.