In August 2012 public health and agriculture officials in Minnesota investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to consumption of raw meat among persons who attended a gathering on August 19. Individuals were of Laotian descent and consumed a raw meat dish known as laab. Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) officials determined that a member of the community had purchased a cow at auction in Goodhue County, slaughtered the animal and sold the meat to his neighbors over the next 2 days.

Twenty four cases were identified. Five people were hospitalized. All 24 were culture confirmed with Salmonella. Two of the 24 cases also tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Salmonella Enteritidis isolates were subtyped by PFGE as SE1B1 (n=22), SE192B204 (n=1) and SE139B205 (n=1).

A sample of the meat was obtained from one of the cases. The meat tested in the MDA laboratory. The sample was positive for Salmonella Enteritidis SE1B1.