A consent decree of permanent injunction has been entered between U.S. Grandma's Herbs, Inc. of St. George, Utah, and the company's owners. The company allegedly marketed products as dietary supplements, with labeling that rendered them unapproved new drugs and misbranded drugs, according to an FDA news release. The U.S. District Court for the District of Utah entered the consent decree on behalf of the FDA. The FDA has not approved Grandma's Herbs products for any use. The company has claimed that the products could be used to "diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent conditions such as respiratory tract infections, ulcers, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and epilepsy." Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D., FDA’s associate commissioner for regulatory affairs said in a statement, "The … [Read more...]
Williams Valley Family Farm Raw Milk Recalled For E. coli Contamination
Williams Valley Family Farm raw milk has been recalled because it may be contaminated with E. coli bacteria, according to the Washington state Department of Health. The dairy is located in Clayton, Washington. There is no post on the Department of Health agency's website about this recall, but an email alert has been distributed. No reports of illness due to the consumption of this raw milk have been reported to the company or to public health officials as of October 14, 2021. The milk was shipped to retail locations in eastern and western Washington state. Public health officials will provide more distribution details when they become available. It is legal to sell raw milk at the retail level in that state. The raw milk was distributed in gallon and half-gallon containers. … [Read more...]
Kentucky E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Sickens Ten; Two Have HUS
A Kentucky E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least ten people, according to a Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Facebook post. There is nothing posted on the official website about this outbreak. Public health investigators have not yet identified the source of this outbreak, but they think that some sort of food is likely. That's typical for an E. coli outbreak. Most of those sickened are adults. And most live in western Kentucky. Six people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Healthcare providers have been notified about this outbreak so they are aware of symptoms and do not prescribe antibiotics if someone presents with the symptoms of this infection. State health officials are working with staff at local health departments in the counties … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Kirkwood Breaded Stuffed Chicken Ends
The Salmonella outbreak linked to Kirkwood breaded stuffed chicken produced by Serenade Foods has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In all, 36 people in 11 states have been sickened. Twelve people were hospitalized. The patient case count by state is: Arizona (4), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (1), Illinois (10), Indiana (4), Michigan (1), Minnesota (4), Nevada (1), New York (7), Ohio (1), and Oklahoma (2). The new cases since the last update on August 11, 2021 are from Arkansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma. The case count increased by eight patients since that last update. Illness onset dates ranged from February 21, 2021 to August 16, 2021. The patient age range is from one year to 83 years. Of 32 people who gave information to investigators, 12 were … [Read more...]
One Person Has Died in Famous Anthony’s Hepatitis A Virginia Outbreak
One person has died in Famous Anthony's hepatitis A outbreak, as reported by several news outlets. That person had been hospitalized with complications from this infection. The patient allegedly had underlying medical conditions. No further information will be released about this person because of patient privacy and respect for the family. The outbreak began when an infectious employee worked at three Famous Anthony's restaurant locations in Roanoke, Virginia from August 10 to August 26, 2021. They are located at 4913 Grandin Road, 6499 Williamson Road, 2221 Crystal Spring Avenue. As of October 13, 2021, there were 37 people sick with the virus, and 26 of those patients were hospitalized because they were so ill. Hepatitis A can cause severe illness and death in some people, … [Read more...]
Now 592 Sick in the Salmonella Oranienburg Outbreak, 116 Hospitalized
There are now 592 sick in the Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak that government officials have not yet solved, according to the CDC. There have been clues, including officials finding the outbreak strain in a restaurant takeout condiment cup that contained cilantro, jalapeño peppers, onions, or limes, but nothing official has been reported. The patient case count by state is: Alabama (3), Arkansas (12), California (8), Colorado (1), Connecticut (4), Florida (5), Georgia (2), Illinois (34), Indiana (1), Iowa (3), Kansas (10), Kentucky(9), Louisiana (4), Maryland (45), Massachusetts (11), Michigan (9), Minnesota (22), Mississippi (2), Missouri (10), Nebraska (8), New Jersey (5), New Mexico (8), New York (5), North Carolina (11), North Dakota (4), Ohio (6), Oklahoma (92), Oregon (2), … [Read more...]
Famous Anthony’s Hepatitis Outbreak in Virginia Sickens 37
The Famous Anthony's hepatitis outbreak in Virginia has sickened 37 people as of the close of business on October 13, 2021, Christie Wills, Communications Officer of the Roanoke City & Alleghany Health Districts told Food Poisoning Bulletin. All of those cases are confirmed, and all are primary cases, meaning that they were sickened from the original infected person. Secondary cases would be people who got sick from someone who allegedly ate at the restaurant. Twenty-six people have been hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 70%, which is higher than typical for a hepatitis A outbreak. The patient age range is from 31 to 79 years, with an average age of 59 years. Fifty-four percent of the hospitalizations were male. The infectious employee worked at three Famous Anthony … [Read more...]
Don’t Use Some artnaturals Scent Free Hand Sanitizers, Says FDA
Don't use some certain artnaturals scent free hand sanitizers, because they may contain unacceptable levels of benzene, acetaldehyde, and acetal contaminants, the FDA said in a press announcement. Artnaturals hand sanitizers products have been added to the list of hand sanitizers that consumers should not use. The products in question contain the label "DIST. by artnaturals Gardena, CA 90248." The FDA did not supply any more information about the products, including when and where they were sold, lot numbers or UPC numbers, or product package sizes. Artnaturals has allegedly not responded to multiple FDA attempts to discuss the contaminated products. According to the FDA, they will not identify the manufacturer, address possible recalls, or the scope of the contamination. As of … [Read more...]
Famous Anthony’s Hepatitis A Virginia Outbreak Grows to 35 Sick
The Famous Anthony's Hepatitis A Virginia outbreak has now sickened 35 people and hospitalized more than 20 of those patients, according to news reports. The Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts announced on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 that the cases have more than doubled over the last two weeks. The illnesses are linked to three Famous Anthony's restaurant locations in Roanoke. The outbreak was first reported to the public on September 24, 2021. One employee had worked at the three locations (on Grandin Road, Williamson Road, and Crystal Spring Avenue) while infectious. Unfortunately, the number of patients in this Famous Anthony's hepatitis A outbreak is still expected to increase, since the incubation period for this illness is up to 50 days after infection. The employee … [Read more...]
New Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Sickens 20; No Food Identified
A new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been identified on the FDA's Core Outbreak Investigation Table. No food has been named, no advisory has been issued, and there are no recalls. So far, traceback has been initiated, on-site inspections have begun, and sample collection and analysis are initiated. That may mean that the FDA has an idea what food has caused these illnesses. But we don't know where the sick people live, their illness onset dates, the age range, or if anyone has been hospitalized. Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks are usually fairly small. The people who get sickest from this infection are typically the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and those with compromised immune systems, such as cancer patients undergoing treatment. Pregnant women are also quite … [Read more...]
