San Diego County Ties 13 Salmonella Cases to Ramona Market's Homemade Mayo

Since illnesses began on June 21, San Diego County health officials have confirmed 13 Salmonella cases tied to Ramona Family Naturals Market, with four people sick enough to be hospitalized, according to the San Diego County News Center.

The market sits at 325 6th Street in Ramona, a small town in the county's rural east. County investigators believe the source is mayonnaise made in-house with raw, unpasteurized eggs and served through the store's deli.

The people who got sick range in age from 27 to 60, according to the county and confirmed by Patch and the food-safety outlet Food Poisoning Bulletin. That's a relatively narrow band, and notably doesn't include the very young or elderly, who typically face the worst outcomes from Salmonella.

The market's owner has cooperated with the county's Department of Environmental Health and Quality and Public Health Services and has already pulled raw, unpasteurized eggs from every product made in-house, the county said in a statement. The move happened quickly. No word yet on whether the market faces any fines or a formal closure order.

Why Raw Eggs Are the Prime Suspect

Salmonella can get inside an egg before the shell ever forms, because the bacteria can infect a hen's ovaries directly, according to Food Poisoning Bulletin. That means contamination doesn't show up in taste, smell, texture, or appearance. You can't cook your way around it if the eggs go into mayo raw.

This is exactly why public health agencies have hammered the same message for decades: don't eat raw eggs, full stop, whether it's cookie dough batter, homemade Caesar dressing, or artisanal mayonnaise at a boutique market. The market failed to follow that guidance until 13 people got sick.

Not the Midwest Egg Outbreak

County officials were explicit that this outbreak strain is separate from the Salmonella outbreak linked to recalled Midwest Poultry Services shell eggs, which has sickened at least 98 people across 17 states, according to Food Poisoning Bulletin. Two different outbreaks, two different sources, same bacteria.

The NY Post's coverage, which frames the market as "swanky," adds a bit of local color but doesn't change the underlying facts reported by the county, Patch, or Food Poisoning Bulletin. All four sources agree on the core numbers: 13 cases, four hospitalizations, ages 27 to 60, onset starting June 21.

What Happens Next

Symptoms of salmonellosis, according to the county, typically show up 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and last four to seven days: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea that can contain blood or mucus, abdominal cramps, and fever. Most people recover without needing medical treatment. Kids under 5, adults over 65, and anyone immunocompromised are at higher risk for complications.

Anyone who ate at Ramona Family Naturals Market or its deli and started feeling sick should contact a doctor. The county is also asking people, whether still sick or already recovered, to report their illness to the Department of Environmental Health Quality at 858-505-6814 or by emailing a report form to fhdepi@sdcounty.ca.gov.

The investigation is still open. County officials haven't said whether they've pinned down which egg supplier sold the contaminated product, and no recall notice tied to a specific egg producer has been issued in connection with this outbreak. Until that traceback is finished, the county's containment plan rests entirely on the market's voluntary decision to stop using raw eggs, not on any broader supply-chain fix.