Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella

Slide 1: Salmonella Outbreak Investigation: Moringa Leaf Powder (October 2025)

Jason Burwell | Industrial Microbiology | December 1, 2025

• Presenter: Jason Burwell
• Affiliation: Industrial Microbiology
• Date: December 1, 2025
• Topic: Salmonella Outbreak Investigation: Moringa Leaf Powder

Slide 2: What is Salmonella?

• Gram-negative pathogen: Foodborne pathogen
• Symptoms: Causes diarrhea, fever, cramps
• Survival: Can survive in dry powders
• Risk: Dangerous for vulnerable individuals

Slide 3: What is Moringa Leaf Powder?

• Popularity: Popular ‘superfood’ supplement
• Usage: Added to shakes, capsules, greens blends
• Origin: Often imported from India/Africa
• Supply Chain: Large global supply chain

Slide 4: Start of the Outbreak (May–Oct 2025)

• Detection: Multi-state Salmonella cluster detected
• Link: Many cases linked to greens powders
• Patient Reports: Patients reported moringa-containing supplements
• Period: Outbreak occurred between May and October 2025

Slide 5: Confirmed Cases & States

• Illnesses: 11 illnesses
• Hospitalizations: 3 hospitalizations
• Affected States: States affected: FL, KS, MI, NY, NC, SC, VA
• Geographic Distribution: Multi-state outbreak across several states

Slide 6: Contaminated Products

• Member’s Mark: Member’s Mark Super Greens (Sam’s Club)
• Food to Live: Food to Live Organic Moringa Powder
• Africa Imports: Africa Imports Organic Moringa
• Recalls: Multiple nationwide recalls

Slide 7: How Investigators Found the Source

• Product Testing: Product testing from homes
• Salmonella Positive: Samples positive for Salmonella
• WGS Matching: WGS matched strains to patients
• Traceback: Traceback linked source to Jodhpur, India

Slide 8: Public Health Response

• Outbreak Alerts: CDC and FDA outbreak alerts
• National Recalls: National recalls issued
• Consumer Advice: Consumers told to discard products
• Retail Action: Retailers removed affected inventory

Slide 9: Industrial Microbiology Significance

• Dry Powder Risk: Dry powders can carry pathogens
• Supply Chain Issues: Global supply-chain vulnerabilities
• Sanitation Needs: Need validated sanitation steps
• WGS Impact: WGS accelerates outbreak detection

Slide 10: Key Takeaways

• Outbreak Cause: Contaminated moringa caused outbreak
• Impact: 11 illnesses, 3 hospitalizations
• Recalls: Multiple recalls issued
• Prevention: Strong QA/QC systems required. Traceability is essential