According to a U.S. FDA release on August 21st the CDC has identified peaches supplied by Wawona Packing Company LLC of Fresno, CA. as the vehicle involved in the multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis.

As of August 19th CDC reported 68 cases in nine states with 14 hospitalizations, although implicated peaches were distributed to 35 states. Canada has also documented confirmed cases.  Affected batches packed from June 1st have been recalled as a precaution but with a relatively short shelf life contaminated peaches have mostly been consumed or discarded up to the beginning of August.

As with other Salmonella infections involving basic foods recala have been extended to derived products including peah salsa and gift baskets containing peaches.

This outbreak will be included in the annual CDC report on salmonellosis in 2020 and because S.Enteritidis was the causal serovar cases attributed to peaches will emphasize the prevalence of SE and indirectly reflect adversely on the egg industry or be used maliciously by opponents of intensive egg production.

 The fact that the affected peaches were certified as organic confirms that organic status is no guarantee of food safety.