Earlier Salmonella tuna outbreaks also appear to be related to imports too.

According to the April 20, 2012 Investigation Update by the FDA, frozen, raw yellowfin tuna product from India, labeled as Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA (AA and AAA refer to the grade of the tuna) as the likely source of the Salmonella Bareilly outbreak which has caused more than 160 illnesses (26 hospitalizations) in 20 states and the District of Columbia.  A total of 7 “clusters” at restaurants (unnamed) or grocery stores (unnamed) were identified, where two or more unrelated ill persons reported eating in the week before becoming ill. In each cluster, at least one ill person reported eating sushi purchased at the restaurant (unnamed) or grocery store (unnamed). Clusters were located in five states (unnamed).   Records obtained by FDA and traceback efforts indicated that Moon Marine USA Corporation of Cupertino, California imported the suspect product.  Moon Marine agreed to recall all their frozen raw yellowfin tuna product imported from India, labeled as Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA, totaling approximately 58,000 pounds.

Past Tuna Salmonella Outbreaks in United States

Twenty-three were sickened in 2010 with Salmonella Paratyphi B linked to the consumption of imported, raw, ahi tuna at various locations on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The product was said to have originated from Asia, and was previously frozen. Concurrent cases of Salmonella Paratyphi B were reported in five other U.S. states, California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York. It was not stated whether these cases were also linked to the consumption of raw ahi tuna.

Four were sickened in 2008 linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Barranquilla among people who had eaten raw tuna or bass fish at a restaurant in Massachusetts.

Forty-four were sickened in 2007 with Salmonella Paratyphi B after the consumption of previously frozen, raw, ahi tuna on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Additional cases were identified in Colorado and California. The tuna had been sent from Indonesia to a U.S. mainland importer.