Jobeth Devera of Hawaii News Now writes the state is investigating 14 cases of salmonella on Oahu that are believed linked to tainted limu from an Oahu seaweed farm.

In a news release issued Monday, the Department of Health said officials have ordered the farm to halt operations and advise its customers to remove its product from sale immediately.

The problem seaweed came from Olokai Hawaii, a seaweed farm in Kahuku. The owner, Dr. Wenhao Sun, said tainted water used in aquaponics may be to blame. 

“I was really surprised,” he said. “I don’t know how this could happen.”

The state said the cases of salmonella were in children and adults. All of the cases developed diarrheal illness from mid- to late October.

Four patients required hospitalization.

Dr. Sun says in 10 years of operations, his farm has never experienced problems like this.

“We will learn more and we will find the problem,” he said. “Then we can move on so we will satisfy our customers and make sure all the food is safe.”
Hawaii News Now – KGMB and KHNL