The 10 largest multistate food poisoning outbreaks of 2015 sickened 1,771 people, hospitalized 286 people and killed 13. Five of them were Salmonella outbreaks, two were E.coli, two were Listeria and one was Cyclospora. Here is brief look at each of them.
An ongoing cucumber Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 838 people in 38 states was the largest multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2015. One hundred and sixty five people were hospitalized. Four of them died. About 50 percent of all of case patients were children under 18.
The second-largest was a 31-state Cyclospora outbreak that sickened 546 people. Some of the illnesses were linked to fresh cilantro imported from Puebla, Mexico. Other food sources were not identified.
The third-largest was a Salmonella outbreak linked to pork from Kapowsin Meats of Graham, Wash. The outbreak, which sickened 192 people in five states from April 25, 2015 to October 10, 2015, was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in August.
The fourth-largest was a Salmonella outbreak linked to frozen raw tuna used for sushi and other dishes. The outbreak sickened 65 people in 11 states, 11 people were hospitalized. Health officials linked the outbreak frozen, yellowfin tuna produced by Osamu Corporation at a processing plant in Indonesia. The company issued two recalls. One on July 20, the other on July 21.
The fifth-largest was the E. coli outbreak linked to food served at Chipotle restaurants in nine states. At least 52 people were sickened, 20 of them were hospitalized.
The sixth-largest was a Listeria outbreak linked to soft cheeses produced by Karoun Dairies Inc. Thirty people in 10 states were sickened after eating cheeses distributed by Karoun and sold under a variety of brand names. Three people died and one woman had a miscarriage.
The seventh-largest was the E. coli outbreak linked to Costco Rotisserie Chicken Salad. At least 19 people in seven states were sickened. Five people were hospitalized; two of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication that causes kidney failure, seizure, stroke and coma.
The eighth-largest was a Salmonella outbreak linked to Barber frozen Chicken Kiev. The Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to the raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees made by Barber Foods sickened 15 people in seven states before ending in October. Four people were hospitalized. Cases were reported from the following states: Connecticut (1), Illinois (2), Minnesota (8), New Hampshire (1), New York (1), Oklahoma (1), and Wisconsin (1).
The ninth-largest was a Salmonella outbreak linked to JEM nut butters. Eleven people in nine states were sickened by the raw nut butter spreads, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There were three cases in Oregon. California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, North Carolina and New Jersey each reported one case. During interviews with public health investigators. Six people specifically mentioned mentioned eating JEM brand raw sprouted nut butter spreads before they became ill.
The 10th largest was the Blue Bell ice cream Listeria outbreak. The outbreak, linked to the nation’s third-largest ice cream maker, sickened at least 10 people from four states- Arizona, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Three of them died.
