The Wisconsin BrightFarms Salad Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least four people, not three, the number according to the CDC case count, in information in a news release that was issued by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Current data indicates that pre-packaged salad greens produced by BrightFarms of Rochelle, Illinois are the source of this outbreak. One person has been hospitalized. Five people are sick in Illinois. Since the investigation announcements by the FDA and CDC only have eight total patients with no hospitalizations, it may be that this new Wisconsin case has been hospitalized. Wisconsin Department of Health Services Communicable Diseases Supervisor Ryan Wozniak said in a statement, "At this time, DHS urges consumers not to purchase, eat, or … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Sunny Crunch Salad Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Eight
The BrightFarms Sunny Crunch Salad Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least eight people in two states, according to an investigation notice posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least five people bought or ate this product before they got sick. The company has issued a recall for eight of their branded packaged salad products. The patient case count by state as of July 14, 2021 is: Wisconsin (3), and Illinois (5). Illness onset dates range from June 10, 2021 to June 15, 2021. The patient age range is from 31 to 61 years. This outbreak may not be limited to these states and is likely much higher than the number reported, according to the CDC. Many people contract Salmonella infections and do not seek medical care, so are not tested. Officials from … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Sunny Crunch Salad Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
One of the new outbreaks on the FDA Outbreak Investigations Table has already elicited an outbreak investigation notice. The consumption of BrightFarms Sunny Crunch Salad is linked to a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. No one has been hospitalized in this outbreak and there are no deaths. The case count by state is: Illinois (5) and Wisconsin (3). The last illness onset date was June 15, 2021. This product was distributed in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana. The BrightFarms Sunny Crunch Salad could have been distributed further, reaching more states. This product was made in the firm's Rochelle, Illinois facility. The outbreak investigation notice states that "Although it is early in the investigation, epidemiological and traceback evidence from sick people indicate that … [Read more...]
Artificial Sweeteners May Increase Pathogen Damage in the Gut
A study published in the International Journal of Molecular Science looked at the effect of artificial sweeteners on gut bacterial pathogenicity. They found that artificial sweeteners may increase damage in the gut, by increasing the ability of bacteria to form a biofilm and the ability of the bacteria to adhere to, invade, and kill the host epithelium, which is the lining of the gut. Researchers demonstrated that saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame all promote pathogenic changes in two model gut bacteria, E. coli and E. faecalis, which could "worsen the effect of consuming artificial sweetener in the diet on gut health." This is important because bacteria growing in biofilms are less sensitive to antimicrobial resistance treatment and are more likely to express virulence factors … [Read more...]
More Tyson Chicken Recalled in Association with Deadly Listeria Outbreak
The USDA says that more Tyson chicken recalled in association with a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak was distributed to retail stores and institutions. About another 500,000 pounds of these products are recalled, for a total of 8,955,296 pounds. While the recalled products included precooked chicken that was shipped to schools, it was from a commercial sale and was not part of food provided by the USDA for the National School Lunch Program. There is evidence linking a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened three people in Delaware and Texas to precooked chicken produced at Tyson Foods. The chicken is frozen, fully cooked, and ready to eat. The chicken was produced between December 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021. You can see the long list of recalled products … [Read more...]
Swan Bros Dairy Raw Milk Recalled in Oklahoma For Possible Listeria
Swan Bros Dairy raw milk is being recalled in Oklahoma because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The detection of Listeria is confirmed. This is a statewide recall. Anyone who has purchased or received raw milk products from Swan Bros Dairy is strongly urged to dispose of it. One person has tested positive for the bacterial infection from these products. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry found the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in a sample collected from the dairy. The raw milk products were sold in plastic half-gallons, gallons, and pint containers directly from the Swan Bros Dairy in Claremore, Oklahoma. The recalled products include raw 2% milk, raw skim milk, and raw heavy cream sold in pints. Public health officials are … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs in on Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak
The CDC is weighing in on the Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak that has been declared over. As of July 7, 2021, 20 people in four states have been sickened in this outbreak. Five people have been hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The 20 people sickened is an almost threefold increase over the number reported in the last update in May. Then, seven people were part of this outbreak. In addition, a new state was added to the outbreak: Maryland. The patient case count by state is: California (15), Florida (2), Maryland (1), and Tennessee (2). The patient age range is from 1 to 72 years. Illness onset dates range from December 11, 2020, to May 9, 2021. State and local public health officials interviewed patients about the foods they ate the week before they got sick. … [Read more...]
Twenty Sickened as Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak Ends
The FDA says that there are twenty sickened as Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak ends. This is a huge increase from the seven illnesses that were reported in the last update on May 7, 2021. Five people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Cashew brie is a vegan alternative to the dairy product. It is typically made with raw cashews. The case count by state is: California (15), Florida (2), Maryland (1), Tennessee (2). The FDA does not give out any information about patient age ranges or illness onset dates. All varieties of Jule's Foods products were recalled on April 22, 2021 because of this outbreak. The recall included three varieties of the cashew brie, an artichoke spinach dip, and vegan ranch dressing. These items were distributed to independently owned … [Read more...]
Delaware Listeria Patient Linked to Multi-State Chicken Outbreak
A Delaware Listeria patient who is linked to the multi-state precooked chicken outbreak was allegedly sickened by Tyson foods ready-to-eat chicken products, according to an update by the Delaware Division of Public Health. That notice states that there is "one case of Listeria associated with a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to recalled Tyson Foods ready-to-eat chicken products." The state will not release any more information about this specific case at this time to protect privacy. The other two patients in this outbreak live in Texas. One patient from Texas has sadly died. Tyson has initiated a huge recall of their frozen, fully cooked chicken products that were produced between December 26, 2020 and April 13, 2021. More than 8.4 million pounds of … [Read more...]
Hawaii Raw Goat Milk Embargo in Effect Against Retail Stores
A Hawaii raw goat milk embargo is in effect because the product is allegedly being sold by food retailers and in pet supply stores. It is illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in Hawaii. The government is issuing cease and desist orders to those facilities that may be selling unpasteurized goat milk. These raw milk products are not safe for humans consumption. Pet stores or any other retailer that has raw milk in their possession must remove it from sale immediately and destroy it or return the milk to their supplier. Fines for disobeying this embargo can be up to $10,000 per day. As of July 1, 2021, there were nearly 20 Oahu pet store that were selling the unpasteurized goat milk product, according to the DOH notice. The health department is inspecting stores to try to … [Read more...]
