The McDonald's Fresh Express cyclospora outbreak linked to their salads has now sickened 476 people, according to the FDA. These ill persons live in 15 states. Twenty-one people have been hospitalized. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (98), Illinois (246), Indiana (8), Kentucky (8), Michigan (2), Minnesota (1), Missouri (52), Nebraska (5), Ohio (15), South Dakota (18), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (10). The patients in Connecticut, Tennessee, Virginia, and Florida purchased McDonald's salads while traveling in another state. In the investigation, FDA officials analyzed an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix produced by Fresh Express in Streamwood, Illinois. They found cyclospora in the product. Fresh Express told the FDA … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 476; Lawsuits Are Filed
Possible Salmonella Outbreak at Indian Taco Dinner in Highland, Kansas
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Doniphan County Health Department are investigating a possible Salmonella outbreak that may be associated with an Election Day Indian Taco Dinner at the Highland United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Highland, Kansas. That dinner took place on August 7, 2018. One person has tested positive with a Salmonella infection after attending the dinner. The two health departments are asking that anyone who attended that dinner or ate food there to complete an online survey to help officials investigate this possible outbreak. You are asked to complete the survey even if you are not ill. The survey asks if the respondent ate Indian tacos, pie, black beans, watermelon, or iced tea at the dinner. Other items listed on the survey … [Read more...]
Perry County Salmonella Outbreak Associated with St. Vincent de Paul Parish Seminary Picnicd
In response to the Salmonella outbreak in Perry County, Missouri, officials at the Perry County Health Department have posted a questionnaire for people who attended the St. Vincent de Paul Parish Seminary Picnic that was held August 3 through August 5, 2018. At least 30 people are sick in this outbreak; three people were hospitalized. The seminary is located in Perryville, Missouri. No more information about this outbreak has been posted by the health department or any other public health official. We don't know if they are focusing on a particular food or if someone who handled food may have been ill. The questionnaire is only asking people who attended the picnic two fill out the form. The questionnaire asks when someone attended the St. Vincent de Paul Parish Seminary picnic, … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak Sickens 436; Lawsuits Filed
The McDonald's Fresh Express cyclospora outbreak that is linked to McDonald's salads has now sickened 436 people in 15 states. Twenty people have been hospitalized. The last reported illness started on July 20, 2018. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (95), Illinois (219), Indiana (1), Kentucky (8), Michigan (2), Minnesota (9), Missouri (52), Nebraska (5), Ohio (15), South Dakota (14), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (10). The patients from Connecticut, Tennessee, and Virginia bought salads from McDonald's while traveling in Illinois. The Florida patient purchased a McDonald's salad while traveling in Kentucky. McDonald's stopped serving salads at 3,000 restaurants in the midwest on July 13, 2018. They replaced the supplier of … [Read more...]
Deadly Romaine Lettuce E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak May Be Linked to Cow Feces
The FDA just updated their investigation into the deadly Romaine lettuce E. coli O157:H7 outbreak this summer that sickened 210 people in 36 states and killed 5. Ninety-six people were hospitalized, including 27 who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. It seems that canal water in the Yuma Arizona growing region is close to a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). In other words, it's likely that cow feces contaminated with the pathogenic bacteria got into the canal water that irrigated the romaine lettuce fields in that area. CAFOs are huge cattle operations that can hold more than 100,000 head of cattle at any one time. There is a cluster of romaine lettuce farms nearby. The Environmental Assessment report the FDA is working on will be … [Read more...]
Congresswoman DeLauro Wants Answers About Fresh Express/McDonald’s Cyclospora Outbreak
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb asking for information about the investigation of the cyclospora outbreak that is linked to Fresh Express salads and McDonald's. In that cyclospora outbreak, almost 400 Americans are sick, and 16 people have been hospitalized. That outbreak was first announced July 13, 2018, after the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Illinois Department of Public Health reported an increase in cyclosporiasis cases among people who at salads sold at McDonald's. Sixty-one people in seven states were announced as part of this outbreak. The outbreak has grown over the month of July to include 395 people in 15 states. Work conducted by the FDA found Cyclospora parasites in a sample of Fresh Express salad mix … [Read more...]
At Least 395 Are Sick In the McDonald’s Cyclospora Outbreak; Lawsuits Filed
At least 395 people are now sick in the McDonald's cyclospora outbreak that is linked to that company's salads produced by Fresh Express. Those sickened live in 15 states. Sixteen people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (87), Illinois (202), Indiana (1), Kentucky (6), Michigan (2), Minnesota (8), Missouri (47), Nebraska (5), Ohio (13), South Dakota (11), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (8). The patients in Connecticut, Tennessee, and Virginia bought the salads while they are traveling in Illinois. The patient living in Florida purchased a McDonald's salad in Kentucky. On July 26, 2018, the FDA completed an analysis of an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix that was distorted to … [Read more...]
Cryptosporidiosis Outbreak at Shades of Sherwood Campground in Zumbrota, MN
An outbreak of cryptosporidiosis has occurred among people who visited the Shades of Sherwood Campground in Zumbrota, Minnesota. Three people have been sickened in this outbreak; one person has been hospitalized. One of these patients was also infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. Minnesota Department of health investigators want to speak with anyone who has visited the Shades of Sherwood Campground since July 1, 2018, whether or not they have been sick. The press release states that "This step is especially important in this investigation because MDH investigators have been unable to get key information from the facility itself." If you visited that campground during the month of July, please call the MDH Waterborne Diseases Unit at 651-201-5794. Cryptosporidiosis is a … [Read more...]
Inspections of Chipotle at Center of Ohio Outbreak Reveal Problems; Lawsuit Filed
More than 500 people are reportedly ill after eating at a Chipotle restaurant at 9733 Sawmill Parkway in Powell, Ohio according to a notice posted on the Delaware General Health District's Twitter page. Officials have received 95 emails and 423 calls from possible outbreak patients. All reported nausea, diarrhea, and fever. One lawsuit has been filed. The pathogen responsible for this outbreak has not yet been identified. The health department is testing fecal samples for Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli, and norovirus. In addition, food samples are being tested for Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus. All of these pathogens can cause these symptoms. Chipotle was the site of one of the largest multistate food poisoning outbreaks in 2015. The Delaware General Health District … [Read more...]
FDA Quietly Updates Honey Smacks Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Are Possible
The FDA has updated its investigation into the Kellogg's Honey Smacks Salmonella outbreak, but did not put a date on the new announcement, or update outbreak numbers. They added a paragraph to the investigation page that stated officials inspected a "contract facility" where Kellogg's Honey Smacks is manufactured, and found Salmonella bacteria that "is a match to the outbreak strain." Lawsuits have been filed. And last week, the FDA sent a warning letter to Kerry, Inc. of Beloit, Wisconsin, where Salmonella was found "throughout the facility, including in cereal production rooms." We don't know if these events are linked. Kerry manufactures wheat puffed grains, rice puffed grains, oat puffed grains, and corn puffed grains, among other products. The FDA inspected that facility … [Read more...]
