In July 2013 Minnesota public health officials investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Javiana infections linked to a restaurant located in Northfield, Minnesota. Seven cases were identified with an indistinguishable strain of Salmonella Javiana, JVN80 (MInnesota designation). All seven reported eating sandwiches at "Restaurant A" in the week prior to illness onset. Meal dates ranged from July 9 through July 17. No other common exposures were identified.

As case-control study was conducted using non-ill Restaurant A patrons as controls. No specific sandwich ingredient was statistically associated with illness.

All 13 restaurant employees were interviewed. None reported any gastrointestinal illness in the 3 weeks prior to the suspected meal dates. The sanitarian did not observe any improper food handling practices.

Eight additional S. Javiana cases that matched by PFGE subtyping were identified nationally during June-July, 2013. Although the PFGE pattern was new to Minnesota is had been seen commonly in the southeastern US. No epidemiologic link between was found between the Minnesota cases and the national matches.

Minnesota public health investigators concluded that while no specific menu item could be implicated, and the source of contamination was not identified, the most plausible vehicle was a produce item from the southeastern region of the the US.