Banquet pot pies, products of ConAgra Foods, tested positive for the bacteria last week in an examination by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.,”Consumers across the nation have been advised to dispose of certain pot pies linked to cases of salmonella illnesses. In Wisconsin alone, 22 people in 15 counties have been diagnosed with salmonella infections including three in Milwaukee County, as of Oct. 17.

Banquet Pot Pies, products of ConAgra Foods, tested positive for the bacteria last week in an examination by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The pot pie tested came from the freezer of a Wisconsin resident diagnosed with salmonella in September. More testing will be done to determine if the bacterium matches the strain that caused 211 illnesses nationwide, according to a press release from the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services.

The Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services has been working in conjunction with the department of agriculture on testing and getting information out to the public, said Eva Robelia, spokeswoman for DHFS.

"We work in close connection with them on testing any products of concern," she said. "We are constantly monitoring the situation and keeping an eye out for future cases."

Those affected in Wisconsin range in age from 3 to 79. At least 11 of those affected are under the age of 20.

DHFS is working with the United States Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to notify the public and share information. The department has further collaborated with local health departments, hospitals and clinics, Robelia said.

"When a person is sick and goes to the doctor, the doctor takes a sample and sends it in for testing," she said. "That is when we can find out what is going on and if there is a link between illnesses."

Wisconsin health officials discovered the salmonella outbreak through the doctor visits and hospitalization of three people. Health officials in different states discovered the salmonella outbreak and contacted ConAgra Foods with concerns, the DHFS press release said.

According to Barb Troy, adjunct assistant professor in Marquette's department of biomedical sciences, those infected should seek medical treatment if they become severely dehydrated. Besides dehydration, she said symptoms may include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever and headache. To curb mild dehydration and treat the infection, fluids, bed rest and oral re-hydration solutions should be used. Salmonella illnesses are not usually fatal, Troy said.

To address the situation, Banquet is working with the USDA to investigate concerns to determine how the salmonella outbreak happened and what steps to take next, said Stephanie Childs, spokeswoman for ConAgra Foods. The company also issued a voluntary recall of all poultry and beef pot pies including products under seven different store brand names, Childs said.

"Our goal is to make sure the product is not edible and cannot re-enter the marketplace," she said. "ConAgra Foods' first priority is to ensure consumer safety. We have issued a refund for the product and recommend consumers discard the product."

ConAgra has alerted retailers to pull the product from their shelves and to destroy it in accordance with federal regulations issued by the USDA. The company also suspended pot pie production at its Marshall, Mo., plant, Childs said.

Consumers can further protect themselves from salmonella by keeping kitchen and other surfaces clean, regularly washing sponges and storing food at proper temperatures, Troy said. She said cold foods should be kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit and hot foods should maintain a temperature above 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

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