NEED TO KNOW
Texas Mom Warns of Salmonella Dangers Linked to Pumpkins
Briana Robertson said her 4-month-old daughter became severely dehydrated a few days after a pumpkin activity at daycare.
The FDA says pumpkins can be contaminated by soil, water or handling.
A Texas mother is warning other parents after her little girl contracted Salmonella from an unlikely source.
Briana Robertson told NBC DFW that last year, her daughter Kehlani, then 4 months old, likely contracted Salmonella after being exposed to pumpkins. She said her daughter has been around pumpkins during fall seasonal activities, like one involving pumpkin seeds and pulp at her daycare.
She said about two to three weeks later, Kehlani participated in another pumpkin activity at school.
“The teachers put the pumpkin seeds and pumpkin guts in a Ziploc bag,” Robertson said, then revealing that a few days later her daughter developed salmonella.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“She was lethargic, turning purple; she wasn’t eating, wasn’t drinking,” said the worried mother. Robertson said Kehlani was so dehydrated that staff had to make 15 attempts to place an IV.
After several tests, Robertson learned that her daughter had Salmonella, likely from her exposure to pumpkin.
“When you think of nontyphoidal salmonella, you think of the typical product,” Robertson said. “Pumpkin, you don’t read much.”
According to the FDA, fresh produce, including pumpkins, can be contaminated with Salmonella through soil, water and during handling.
Last summer, a salmonella outbreak linked to pumpkin seeds infected nearly 100 people in France. However, Robertson said doctors told her her daughter’s case was rare.
“They actually said they’ve never had an infant or child with a serious case of salmonella from the pumpkins,” she said, according to CBS News.
Robertson added that she hopes her daughter’s story can help warn other parents about the risk of salmonella during fall activities.
Read the original article on People
Gn Health
