The FDA has announced that the pathogen in the Kwik Trip Minnesota Wisconsin Del Monte vegetable tray outbreak that has sickened at least four people is Salmonella Infantis. That agency is currently inspecting the Del Monte facility in Kankakee, Illinois that produced those vegetable trays. The case count in this outbreak remains the same: three sick in Wisconsin, and one sick in Minnesota. Those patients got sick between April 13 and April 27, 2019. The FDA, authorities from Minnesota and Wisconsin, and the CDC are investigating the outbreak, the source of the pathogen, and the distribution of products. While all patients sickened in this outbreak said they ate the Del Monte Vegetable Trays purchased at Kwik Trip stores before getting sick, the Wisconsin Department of Health … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Caito Foods Salmonella Carrau Melon Outbreak
The FDA has updated the Caito Foods Salmonella Carrau melon outbreak. The latest numbers are 137 people sick in 10 states. Thirty-eight people, or 28%, have been hospitalized because they are so ill, which is a high number for a typical Salmonella outbreak. Usually only 20% of patients are hospitalized when they are sickened with this pathogen. Caito Foods recalled many different types of cut melon products, including Melon Mix, Honeydew Chunks, Cantaloupe Spears, Fruit Burst, Fruit Snack Tray, Watermelon Spear, and Seasonal Fruit Salad among others, on April 12, 2019. Some of these products were sold at Kroger, Spartan Nash, Target, Walmart, and Amazon/Whole Foods locations. It is not likely that any of these products are still in consumer's homes, because the shelf life of … [Read more...]
Kwik Trip Del Monte Vegetable Tray Salmonella Outbreak: What Happened?
The new Kwik Trip Del Monte vegetable tray Salmonella Infantis outbreak that was announced on May 21, 2019 by the Wisconsin Department of Health has sickened four people: one in Minnesota and three in Wisconsin. This is the second time that product has been linked to an outbreak: in 2018, hundreds were sickened by cyclospora infections linked to that company's vegetables. How do these vegetables get contaminated in the first place? Unfortunately, produce and Salmonella are a common pair. There are several ways that produce can be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Contamination can occur at any point along the farm to fork path. First, produce can be contaminated in the field. This has happened because of animal activity in a farm field. The irrigation water that was used on … [Read more...]
Raw Ground Tuna Salmonella Newport Outbreak Ends With 15 Sick
The raw ground tuna Salmonella Newport outbreak has ended after sickening 15 people in 8 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That tuna, produced at JK Fish in Vietnam, was imported by Jensen Tuna in Louisiana. The case count by state is: Colorado (1), Connecticut (1), Illinois (1), Iowa (1), Minnesota (1), New York (2), North Dakota (4), and Washington (4). Two people were hospitalized in this outbreak. Illness onset dates range from January 8, 2019 to March 31, 2019. The patient age range was from 24 to 85 years. No deaths were reported. Officials used the PulseNet system to find people sickened in this outbreak. Whole genome sequencing performed on the isolates taken from ill persons showed that they were closely related … [Read more...]
Kwik Trip Del Monte Vegetable Trays Linked to Salmonella Outbreak in WI and MN
A new Kwik Trip Del Monte vegetable tray outbreak has sickened three people in Wisconsin and one person in Minnesota with Salmonella food poisoning, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health. Last year, a cyclospora outbreak that was linked to Del Monte vegetable trays, also sold at Kwik Trip and Kwik Star locations in the upper Midwest, sickened at least 250 people. All patients sickened in this outbreak have told officials they ate a Del Monte vegetable tray purchased from a Wisconsin or Minnesota Kwik Tip before they started feeling ill. Kwik Trip is cooperating with the investigation and has removed all Del Monte vegetable trays from their stores. Patients in this new outbreak got sick between April 13 and April 27, 2019. The Wisconsin press release states that it is … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at Roy Moore’s Fish Shack in Rockport, MA
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is warning consumers that if they ate cold food or uncooked food at Roy Moore's Fish Shack in Rockport, Massachusetts between April 21 and May 12, 2019 may have been exposed to hepatitis A. A food service employee of the restaurant who worked there during those dates has been confirmed as sick with hepatitis A. Anyone who ate there after May 6, 2019 can get a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination to protect themselves against the illness. Anyone who ate there before May 6, 2019 can only monitor themselves for the symptoms of the illness. The vaccinations are only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. The cold or uncooked foods that were available at Roy Moore's Fish Shack include salads and salad items, rolls, bread, … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In On Karawan Tahini Salmonella Concord Outbreak
The CDC has weighed in on the Karawan tahini Salmonella Concord outbreak. At least four people in three states are ill in this outbreak. One person has been hospitalized. The base count is: Massachusetts (1), New York (2), and Texas (1). The patient age range is from 8 to 32 years, with a median age of 21. Three of the four patients are female. Illness onset dates range from March 9, 2019 to March 23, 2019. PulseNet investigators are using their nationwide typing system to find people who may be part of this outbreak. Whole genome sequencing performed on isolates taken from ill persons showed they were closely related genetically. That means those people are more likely to share a common source of infection. Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory evidence indicates that … [Read more...]
CDC Study: Antibiotics Used as Pesticides Facilitate Antibiotic Resistance
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have conducted a study that finds that medically important antibiotics that the EPA wants to re-approve for expanded pesticide use on crops can facilitate antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Those pathogens pose "urgent" and "serious" threats to human health. The results of this study were obtained by the Center for Biological Diversity under the Freedom of Information Act. Those dangerous antibiotic resistant-bacteria include MSA, nightmare bacteria (Cabapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. Those pathogens cause more than 100,000 infections and 13,000 deaths every year in the United States. Nathan Donley, a senior scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity said in a statement, "It’s … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak at La Hacienda Restaurant in Madison, WI
About 25 people have been sickened in a norovirus outbreak at La Hacienda restaurant at 515 South Park Street in Madison, Wisconsin, according to news reports. The restaurant was closed on Thursday, May 9, 2019 and remained closed over the weekend as investigators gathered information about the illnesses. The restaurant reopened yesterday, May 14, 2019, after it was cleaned and the investigation was closed. There is no information about the conditions of those sickened or whether or not anyone was hospitalized in this outbreak. Norovirus is very contagious, and can spread through contaminated food and drink, as well as person-to-person contact and contact with contaminated surfaces. The virus causes vomiting and diarrhea with a quick onset. Most people recover within a day or two … [Read more...]
FDA Warns Homeopathic Product Manufacturers
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning five homeopathic product manufacturers for significant violations of current good manufacturing practice regulations (CGMP). Warning letters were sent to those companies. Four of the letters target companies who jointly produced a product labeled as homeopathic that was not sterile. The fifth outlines a company's failure to have a system in place that makes sure there is proper design, monitoring, and control of the manufacturing process. FDA Acting Commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless said in a statement, "It’s our public health obligation to protect consumers from unsafe products. Our manufacturing requirements are designed to ensure the quality and safety of drugs distributed to American consumers, and the FDA expects companies to … [Read more...]
