Salmonella outbreaks spanning supplements, foods, and emerging XDR strains

Salmonella Outbreaks & Supplement Links

The 2026 Salmonella outbreaks continue to expand across a diverse range of products, including powdered dietary supplements, minimally processed plant-based foods, and emerging strains of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Salmonella. These developments have prompted intensified investigations, widespread recalls, and calls for urgent regulatory reforms to address persistent contamination risks in complex global supply chains.

Expanding Salmonella Outbreaks in Supplements and Foods

Two major powdered supplement outbreaks remain central to the ongoing crisis:

The Live it Up Super Greens powdered supplement outbreak has resulted in 65 confirmed cases across 28 U.S. states, with multiple hospitalizations reported. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) has definitively linked these illnesses to specific contaminated product lots. In response, the manufacturer issued a nationwide voluntary recall of all distributed lots, urging consumers to discontinue use immediately and safely dispose or return the product.
A separate outbreak involves Rosabella Moringa capsules, produced by Ambrosia Brands LLC, with 7 confirmed cases and 3 hospitalizations. This outbreak is particularly alarming due to the identification of an extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Salmonella strain resistant to nearly all first-line antibiotics. Ambrosia Brands promptly initiated a voluntary recall of all Rosabella Moringa capsules to prevent further spread.

These outbreaks highlight the heightened risk posed by powdered supplements, especially given their lack of mandatory pathogen testing and minimal microbial kill-steps, which enable Salmonella survival.

Widening Product Scope: Contaminated Plant-Based Foods and Other Products

The Salmonella threat has extended well beyond supplements to include a variety of minimally processed, low-moisture plant foods and other categories, prompting multiple recalls internationally:

Chia Seeds:
- Navitas Organics’ 8-ounce Organic Chia Seeds (U.S.) and
- The Foodie Market Milled Chia Seeds (Ireland)
  underwent voluntary recalls after Salmonella contamination was confirmed.
Tahini:
Canadian authorities recalled Mahrousa brand tahini due to Salmonella presence, marking an expansion of the outbreak into plant-based pastes and highlighting the cross-border nature of contamination.
Frozen Ready-to-Eat Meals:
Notable recalls include Ajinomoto’s chicken fried rice and an unprecedented Trader Joe’s recall of 3 million pounds of frozen chicken fried rice products with best-by dates from September 8 through November 17, 2026. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) strongly advised consumers not to consume these products.
Eggs:
A large-scale recall of over 6 million eggs from multiple suppliers was issued after Salmonella contamination risks were identified.
Seafood:
Wellsley Farms’ farm-raised Atlantic salmon was recalled following routine testing that detected Salmonella.
Pet Food:
Elite Treats LLC recalled a single lot of chicken chips due to Salmonella, raising concerns about zoonotic transmission.
Confectionery:
A popular mint-flavored chocolate bar, sold nationwide in the U.S., was recalled after routine testing revealed Salmonella contamination in a specific batch.
UK Retail Products:
Tesco withdrew its “Grape & Berry Medley” product following Salmonella detection, demonstrating the international scope of the outbreak.

These recalls expose systemic weaknesses in microbial safety controls across a wide array of food categories, underscoring vulnerabilities in global sourcing and processing.

New Salmonella Newport Outbreak Under FDA Investigation

In late February 2026, the FDA identified a new Salmonella Newport outbreak, currently linked to 38 confirmed cases across multiple states. Although the precise source remains under investigation, preliminary genomic analyses suggest connections to strains implicated in other plant-based supplement and minimally processed food outbreaks.

The FDA has launched an accelerated traceback investigation involving:

Detailed supply chain mapping across complex, multinational networks.
Environmental sampling at processing and distribution facilities.
Collaboration with state, federal, and international partners to coordinate testing and data sharing.
Use of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to link clinical cases with suspect products and environments.

This investigation reflects the escalating Salmonella risk within plant-based powders and highlights the need for rapid intervention to prevent further spread.

Emergence of Extensively Drug-Resistant (XDR) Salmonella Strains

A particularly troubling development in 2026 has been the rise of XDR Salmonella strains, notably linked to supplement-associated outbreaks:

The Rosabella Moringa capsules outbreak is characterized by an XDR Salmonella strain resistant to nearly all first-line antibiotics, complicating treatment and containment efforts.
Public health officials have emphasized the need for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiling to guide clinical management and inform outbreak control strategies.
The dietary supplement sector’s lack of standardized, mandatory microbial safety testing remains a significant regulatory gap, allowing resistant Salmonella strains to propagate unnoticed.

Healthcare providers are urged to maintain heightened vigilance for resistant infections and promptly report resistance patterns to public health authorities.

Underlying Risk Factors Driving Persistence and Spread

Several factors contribute to Salmonella’s persistence in these outbreaks:

Minimal or Absent Kill-Steps: Many powdered supplements and plant-based foods do not undergo adequate microbial lethality treatments such as heat or irradiation.
Survival in Low-Moisture Environments: Salmonella can remain viable for extended periods in dehydrated powders, seeds, and pastes, evading detection.
Complex Global Supply Chains: Sourcing from multiple international suppliers complicates traceability and increases contamination risk.
Lapses in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and insufficient supplier verification permit contaminated ingredients to enter production undetected.
Wide Distribution Networks: Powdered products facilitate broad geographic dissemination once contamination occurs.

Coordinated Regulatory and Industry Response

Regulatory agencies across North America and internationally have escalated efforts to address the outbreaks:

Accelerated traceback investigations to identify contamination points in supply chains.
Expanded inspections and sanitation audits focusing on manufacturing processes for powdered supplements, minimally processed plant foods, frozen meals, seafood, and eggs.
Enhanced microbial surveillance, including targeted pathogen testing and import alerts addressing microbial contamination and labeling violations.
Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and AMR profiling are employed extensively to link cases, characterize strains, and inform treatment.
Prompt recall actions and widespread public notifications aim to reduce exposure.

Dr. Janet Fields, senior FDA food safety expert, remarked:

“These expanding Salmonella outbreaks tied to minimally processed plant powders expose critical gaps in regulatory oversight and supply chain transparency. Strengthening pathogen detection and enforcing robust controls are vital to protect consumers.”

Recommendations and Consumer Guidance

To mitigate risks amid ongoing recalls, public health authorities strongly advise:

Immediate cessation of use of recalled products, including:
- Live it Up Super Greens powdered supplements
- Rosabella Moringa capsules
- Navitas Organics and The Foodie Market chia seeds (select lots)
- Mahrousa tahini (Canada)
- Trader Joe’s and Ajinomoto frozen chicken fried rice
- Wellsley Farms Atlantic salmon
- Recalled egg batches
- Popular mint-flavored chocolate bar batches
- Tesco Grape & Berry Medley
Careful disposal or return of recalled products per official instructions.
Monitoring symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting following consumption of implicated products.
Seeking prompt medical care, especially for vulnerable populations including children, elderly, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals.
Staying informed through updates from the FDA, CDC, Health Canada, CFIA, USDA FSIS, and local health departments.
Choosing supplements and plant-based powders from reputable brands with documented pathogen testing, third-party certifications, and transparent supply chains.

Policy Implications: Strengthening Safety in the Superfood and Food Sectors

The 2026 Salmonella outbreaks underscore urgent needs for systemic reforms:

Mandatory routine pathogen testing tailored to powdered supplements and minimally processed plant powders and pastes.
Improved supply chain transparency and traceability, particularly for internationally sourced ingredients.
Stricter supplier oversight and enforcement of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) across all production stages.
Expanded antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and research to inform clinical and containment strategies.
Enhanced consumer education regarding microbial hazards in natural supplements and minimally processed foods.

Regulatory reforms anticipated in 2026 aim to codify these measures, ensuring safer production and distribution standards to protect public health.

The ongoing, multifaceted Salmonella outbreaks—including the new Salmonella Newport cluster and the alarming rise of XDR strains in supplements—highlight profound challenges in ensuring food safety across an increasingly globalized and complex food supply. Effective mitigation will require sustained vigilance, rapid coordinated response, and comprehensive regulatory reforms, particularly within the dietary supplement sector, to safeguard consumers and restore confidence in these growing markets.

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