A deli meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened 10 people in three states, according to a notice posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epidemiologic evidence shows that deli meat is a likely source of this outbreak. The case count by state is: Florida (1), Massachusetts (7), and New York (2). All ten patients have been hospitalized. One person who lived in Florida has sadly died. Illness onset dates range from August 6, 2020 to October 3, 2020. The patient age range is from 40 to 89 years. Nine of the patients were interviewed by investigators. All of them said that they ate Italian-style meats, such as salami, mortadella, and prosciutto, before they got sick. They bought prepackaged deli meats and meats sliced at deli counters at different … [Read more...]
Former Blue Bell President Charged in Connection with 2015 Listeria Issue
A Texas grand jury has charged a former Blue Bell Creameries president with wire fraud and conspiracy in connection with an alleged scheme to cover up the company's sales of Listeria monocytogenes contaminated ice cream in 2015, according to the Justice Department. The indictment was filed in federal court in Austin, Texas. The former president Paul Kruse was charged with seven counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The indictment states that when Texas officials told Blue Bell in February 2015 that two of their ice cream products teated positive for Listeria monocytogenes, Kruse allegedly tried to deceive some Blue Bell customers, according to the complaint, telling employees to remove potentially contaminated products from stores without telling retailers or … [Read more...]
History of Romaine E. coli Outbreaks Over the Last Three Years
There has not yet been a romaine E. coli outbreak in the United States in 2020, but the year isn't over yet. Let's take a look back at the history of romaine E. coli outbreaks, including leafy greens, over the past three years. There was one outbreak in 2017, two in 2018 and three in 2019. In all of these outbreaks, the romaine lettuce in question was harvested either in the Yuma Arizona region or in the Central California region of the country. Many recalls were issued in regards to all of these outbreaks. This is the history of romaine E. coli outbreaks over the past three years. Leafy Greens E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in 2017 In November 2017, the CDC announced and E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to leafy greens. At least twenty-five people in 15 states were sickened. Nine … [Read more...]
OxyElite Pro Dietary Supplement Executives Sentenced in Fraud Scheme
A federal court in Texas has sentenced two former OxyElite Pro dietary supplement executives to prison and ordered two companies to pay $10.7 million in criminal forfeiture for fraudulently selfing popular workout supplements called Jack3d and OxyElite Pro, according to the United States Department of Justice. U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay presided. Former USPlabs CEO Jacobo Geissler was sentenced to 60 months, and former USPLabs president Jonathan Doyle was sentenced to 24 months. All of the defendants were charged in a 2015 indictment returned by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Texas. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Erin Nealy Cox, said in a statement, "Dietary supplement companies cannot be allowed to deceive their consumers and hide the … [Read more...]
History of E. coli O26 Outbreaks Including Chipotle, Cargill Ground Beef
There are several serotypes of E. coli bacteria that cause serious human illness. The most common is E. coli O157:H7, but other strains, called non-O157 serogroups, have also caused outbreaks. This is the history of E. coli O26 outbreaks including Chipotle and Cargill ground beef in the United States in the past five years. The most common non-O157 serotypes are E. coli O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145. The government has grouped them into a category they call the "Big Six." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 265,000 people are sickened in this U.S. every year with these infections. E. coli O157:H7 causes about 36% of illnesses, while the Big Six are linked to the rest. In 2011, the USDA declared a zero tolerance policy for these strains, … [Read more...]
Hannaford is Recalling Portland Pie Pizza Dough For Malicious Tampering
Because of malicious tampering, Hannaford is recalling Portland Pie pizza dough and Portland Pie cheese that were sold in their deli department. The company says that "metal objects" were inserted into their Portland Pie products. This posing a choking, mouth injury hazard, and injury to the throat or esophagus. No injuries or illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue. All Portland Pie products have been removed from all stores shelves. The company has also passed replenishment of the products "indefinitely." News reports are stating that a person has been arrested after inserting razor blades into the food. The original recall was issued for just the fresh pizza dough products. But the recall has since been expanded to include all Portland Pie branded … [Read more...]
FDA Investigation into the Peach Salmonella Outbreak Continues As It Ends
The FDA investigation into the peach Salmonella outbreak is continuing even as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has declared the outbreak over. At least 101 people in 17 states were sickened in this outbreak which was first identified in August 2020. Twenty-eight patients were hospitalized. The patient case count by state is: California (1), Connecticut (1), Illinois (1), Iowa (11), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (18), Minnesota (27), Missouri (2), New Jersey (8), New York (14), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (4), Vermont (1) Virginia (3), and Wisconsin (6). The ages of patients ranged from 1 to 92 years. Illness onset dates range from June 29, 2020 to August 27, 2020. No deaths were reported. This outbreak prompted many recalls, including secondary … [Read more...]
Canadian Salmonella Peach Outbreak Declared Over With 57 Sick
Public Health Canada has declared the Canadian Salmonella peach outbreak over after sickening 57 people in two provinces. There is a corresponding outbreak in the United States that was just declared over by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The notice from Public Health Canada states that "Given that Salmonella illness reporting linked to this outbreak has significantly decreased over the last four weeks, the outbreak appears to be over and the investigation has been closed." People may still have these peaches either frozen in their freezers or in other products. In Canada, a consumer advisory was issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for Prima Wawona peaches that were imported from the United States and sold from June 1, 2020 to August 22, 2020. The … [Read more...]
Peach Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak Ends With 101 Sick in 17 States
The peach Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak has ended in the United States after 101 people in 17 states have been sickened. Twenty-eight people were hospitalized because they were so sick. That is an increase of 23 more cases since the last update on August 27, 2020. The case count by state is: California (1), Connecticut (1), Illinois (1), Iowa (11), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (18), Minnesota (27), Missouri (2), New Jersey (8), New York (14), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (4), Vermont (1) Virginia (3), and Wisconsin (6). Illness onset dates range from June 29, 2020 to August 27, 2020. And the patient age range is from 1 to 92 years. Of 90 people who gave information about their illness to investigators, 28 were hospitalized. That hospitalization rate of 31% is … [Read more...]
Crystal Brook Farm Raw Goat Milk Recalled For E. coli O157:H7
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture told consumers who bought Crystal Brook Farm raw goat milk or raw goat milk yogurt whey or cottage cheese to discard it immediately because these products may be contaminated with a "disease-causing strain" of E. coli bacteria; in other words, E. coli O157:H7. This warning pertains only to these products sold on or before October 13, 2020. The Crystal Brook Farm raw goat milk was sold in two locations in Lancaster County. The first is Crystal Brook Farm Store at 3568 Scenic Road in Gordonville, and the Dutch Meadow Retail Store at 694 Country Lane in Paradise, Pennsylvania. The milk was sold in plastic half gallons. The milk, whey, and cottage cheese may have been further distributed to other retail locations by Dutch Meadows Distribution … [Read more...]
