According to the County of San Diego, the outbreak dates back to June 21 and has sickened people ranging in age from 27 to 60 years old. Investigators believe the illnesses are connected to mayonnaise prepared with raw, unpasteurized eggs, a practice the County says carries a known risk of salmonella contamination.
County officials said the market's owner has been cooperating with the investigation and has already stopped using raw, unpasteurized eggs in all food products. Officials emphasized that this outbreak is not related to the multi-state salmonella outbreak currently tied to recalled shell eggs distributed by Midwest Poultry Services, which has sickened nearly 100 people across 17 states.
Salmonella infection, also known as salmonellosis, typically develops 12 to 72 hours after consuming contaminated food. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus, abdominal cramps and fever. Most people recover within four to seven days without medical treatment, but infections can become severe for young children, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems.
Anyone who ate food purchased from Ramona Family Naturals Market or its deli and later developed symptoms is urged to contact a healthcare provider. County officials are also asking anyone who became ill after eating food from the market - even if they have already recovered - to report their illness to the County Department of Environmental Health and Quality to assist investigators in identifying the full scope of the outbreak.
The investigation remains ongoing as public health officials continue working to determine whether any additional cases are connected to the Ramona market.
The outbreak comes just months after another high-profile salmonella outbreak in San Diego County was linked to Aladdin Mediterranean Café in Clairemont, where dozens of diners became ill and multiple people were hospitalized, ultimately leading to lawsuits against the restaurant.
Health officials continue to remind consumers that raw or undercooked eggs can carry salmonella bacteria and recommend using pasteurized eggs when preparing foods such as homemade mayonnaise, Caesar dressing, aioli and other uncooked egg-based products.
Originally published on July 28, 2026.
