State health and agriculture officials are investigating an outbreak of foodborne illness associated with eating “Garden of Life Organic Shake & Meal Replacement” in Minnesota and several other states.

Two cases of Salmonella Virchow infection with the same DNA fingerprint pattern have been reported to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) since Monday, January 11. One case was a child and one was an adult in his 30s. Neither was hospitalized, and both have recovered.

Since many cases of Salmonella infection (salmonellosis) do not seek health care and get tested, the number of ill people that are part of this outbreak is likely to be larger than the identified cases. Consequently, health officials want to bring this outbreak to the attention of people who have become ill with symptoms of salmonellosis but who have not yet consulted a health care provider. These people should mention this outbreak to their health care provider should they consult one.

Several matching Salmonella Virchow cases in other states have reported eating this product, which is a powdered nutritional supplement and meal replacement. These states include Wisconsin, Tennessee, Oregon, New Jersey, New Mexico and Utah. Most of  these states have reported single cases.