'Super greens' sicken, hospitalize dozens more in salmonella outbreak

'Super greens' sicken, hospitalize dozens more in salmonella outbreak

Asalmonella outbreaklinked to superfood supplements has been declared "over" after sending more people to the hospital, according to an update published by federal health authorities.

USA TODAY

The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have completed an investigation into a multi-state salmonella outbreak traced toLive it Up-brand dietary supplements, which were sold nationwide on Amazon and the brand's website.

AMarch 17 FDA notice reportedthat 97 people from 32 states became sick with salmonella poisoning, resulting in 26 hospitalizations. This was up from the65 people in 28 states reported in the last notice on Jan. 29. No deaths have been reported.

Recalls began on Jan. 15, when Live it Upvoluntarily recalledits products "out of an abundance of caution." Why Not Natural, another supplement brand, later added one of its products to the list in aJan. 28 recall.

While the items have been pulled from shelves, the supplements have long shelf lives, so federal health authoritiesare still encouraging consumersto check their homes for any recalled items.

Exposure to salmonella can be especially dangerous for vulnerable groups, including children, older adults and those with compromised immune systems. Here's what to know about the outbreak.

<p style=Consumer Reports, the nonprofit known for testing and monitoring consumer-facing policy and products, released its annual risky food report in April, naming the 10 foods of 2024 that were subject to the most recalls and/or associated with the largest illness outbreaks. USA TODAY broke it down further on a what-you-need-to-know basis.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Deli meat is somewhat of a "risky" food as it is often associated with the spread of listeria, such as in the 2024 case of the Boar's Head listeria outbreak that killed 10. Listeria monocytogenes is a hardy germ that can survive in very low temperatures but thrives in cool and damp places. It can, and will, happily live on foods in your or your grocery store's storage area, and the process for mass-producing the meat lends itself to plenty of opportunities for contamination.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Produce, like the cucumbers recalled due to a salmonella outbreak that infected 113 people across 23 states, can become adulterated with harmful bacteria through fecal contamination, which can occur through wastewater, water in the growing area, fertilizer and the proximity of the growing area to livestock.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Raw dairy, which is always unsafe to consume and illegal to sell in some states, poses a risk when it's not pasteurized. Dairy pasteurization, or heating milk products to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria, has been practiced since the 1920s and has resulted in illnesses commonly spread via milk, such as listeriosis, diphtheria and tuberculosis, becoming less prevalent.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Cotija and queso fresco cheese are made from unpasteurized milk, meaning they carry an increased risk. One producer, Rizo-Lopez Foods, was shut down in October 2024 after its cheeses were linked to a years-long listeria outbreak that killed two people and made dozens of others sick.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Eggs can become contaminated via the same means as cucumbers and other raw produce, especially if they have a cracked shell.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Like other raw produce, onions can become infected via fecal contamination. In 2024, E. coli-contaminated slivered onions on McDonald's Quarter Pounders triggered some locations to stop serving the burger temporarily.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Like cucumbers and onions, leafy greens are easily contaminated with bacteria like E. coli, as in the case of the Solata Foods spinach recall in 2024.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Organic carrots were linked to a major E. coli outbreak in late 2024, leaving at least 39 ill and one dead.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=Ready-to-eat/cooked poultry and meat have been the source of multiple major recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years. The same issue arises with RTE foods as with deli meat; the conditions they are made and stored under are often ideal for bacteria such as listeria to grow. In 2024, millions of pounds of RTE foods were recalled by BrucePac for listeria contamination.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

See the 'risky foods' linked to US recalls and illness outbreaks

Consumer Reports, the nonprofit known for testing and monitoring consumer-facing policy and products, releasedits annual risky food reportin April, naming the 10 foods of 2024 that were subject to the most recalls and/or associated with the largest illness outbreaks. USA TODAYbroke it down furtheron a what-you-need-to-know basis.

What super greens supplement was recalled?

The recalled Live it Up products include certain Live it Up-brand Super Greens dietary supplement powder, including both original and wild berry flavors. All stick pack products, or Live it Up items packaged in tube-like containers, with expiration dates between August 2026 and January 2028, are also recalled.

The supplements were sold nationwide, primarily online, on Live it Up's website and Amazon. They may also have been sold by unauthorized third-party sellers, such as Walmart, according to the FDA notice.

According to the FDA, consumers should check for the following:

Advertisement

  • Live it Up Super Greens, NET WT 8.5 oz (240g) with UPC 860013190804.

  • Live it Up Super Greens, 30 – 0.28oz (8g) sticks, NET WT. 8.47 oz (240g) with UPC 850077468063

  • Live it Up Super Greens, Wild Berry, NET WT 8.5OZ (240g), with UPC 860013190811

  • Live it Up Super Greens, Wild Berry, 30 – 0.32oz (9g) Sticks, NET WT. 9.52oz (270g), with UPC 850077468070

The recalled products are packaged in green pouches. The lot code is printed on the bottom back of the packaging in black and begins with the letter "A" or the number "3" for a stick pack product, the FDA said.

Why Not Natural recalled its Why Not Natural Organic Moringa - Green Superfood supplements as part of the outbreak. These capsules were also sold nationwide on Why Not's website and third-party sellers, including Amazon, between July 2025 and January 2026.

  • Why Not Natural Organic Moringa - Green Superfood, 120 capsule bottles with lot # A25G051 and expiration date 07/2028.

Supplements by brands Why Not Natural and Live it Up have been recalled for potential salmonella contamination.

Where did people get sick?

Sixty-five people have been sickened across 32 states as of March 17, including: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

What to do if you purchased the recalled Live it Up products

If you have a recalled Live it Up-brand Super Greens dietary supplement powder in your home, you should discard it or return it to the place of purchase, the FDA said. Clean and sanitize any surfaces that may have come in contact with the product and contact your healthcare provider if you believe you have symptoms of salmonella poisoning, the agency advised. Those seeking a refund can fill out Live it Up'sonline formto request one.

Consumers who have purchased Why Not Natural Moringa Capsules should also stop consuming them and return the products to the company for a refund. Consumers may contact Why Not Natural for a full refund atcare@whynotnatural.com.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning usually start six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria. The most common symptoms are diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, according to theCDC.

While most healthy people can recover in four to seven days without treatment, some vulnerable people, like children under 5, adults 65 and older and those with weakened immune systems, may experience more severe illness that requires medical treatment or hospitalization.

If you display any of these more serious symptoms, the CDC advises contacting your health care professional:

  • Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit

  • Diarrhea for more than three days that is not improving

  • Bloody diarrhea

  • Vomiting to the point that you cannot keep liquids down

  • Signs of dehydration, such as not peeing much, dry mouth and throat, and feeling dizzy when standing up

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Salmonella outbreak linked to 'super greens' grows to 32 states

 

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