You may have forgotten about this by now, but what is the status of the peach and onion Salmonella outbreaks in the United States? Both of those items; Wawona peaches and Thomson International red onions, are linked to multistate outbreaks, and neither investigation has been updated by the CDC or FDA in weeks. The Salmonella Newport outbreak that is linked to red onions produced by Thomson International has sickened at least 1,012 people in 47 states. One hundred thirty six people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. That outbreak investigation has not been updated since August 18, 2020. Another outbreak that is linked to the U.S. outbreak, also connected to Thomson International red onions, has sickened at least 506 people in seven provinces in Canada. Public Health … [Read more...]
Status of Peach and Onion Salmonella Outbreaks in United States?
Indiana Salmonella Outbreak at La Aldea Grocery Store in West Lafayette
A Salmonella outbreak at La Aldea Grocery store, located at 2801 Klondike Road #D in West Lafayette, Indiana has sickened an undetermined number of people, according to a press release from the Tippecanoe County Health Department. Officials are telling anyone who ate or drank anything from that store from September 7, 2020 to September 17, 2020 to monitor their health for the signs of a Salmonella infection. The press release did not specify how many people were sick, if anyone has been hospitalized, or what if any foods may be implicated in this outbreak. Since Salmonella can spread through contaminated food and drink as well as through person-to-person contact, we don't know if the outbreak is linked to a food or beverage or an ill employee. If you ate foods or drank beverages … [Read more...]
Texas Court Sentenced Blue Bell Creameries; Will Pay $17.25 Million in 2015 Listeria Outbreak
A federal court in Texas has sentenced Blue Bell Creameries to pay $17.5 million in criminal penalties in association with the deadly 2015 Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that killed three people who lived in Kansas. The company allegedly shipped contaminated product to hospitals where patients who were already susceptible to infection ate the ice cream in milkshakes and ice cream cups. In May 2020, Blue Bell pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of distributing adulterated ice cream products. The $17.25 million fine and forfeiture is the largest ever criminal penalty in a food safety case. Judy McMeekin, Pharm.D., Associated Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs in the FDA, said in a statement, "The health of American consumers and the safety of our food are too important to … [Read more...]
What Happened to the Fresh Express Bagged Salad Cyclospora Outbreak?
It has been almost a month since the FDA or CDC has updated the Fresh Express bagged salad cyclospora outbreak. The last update in the U.S., published on August 14, 2020, listed 690 people sick in 13 states, with Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois hardest hit. Thirty-seven people have been hospitalized. In Canada, where the last update was posted on July 8, 2020, 37 people in three provinces were sick. Fresh Express recalled products containing iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, or carrots with the product code Z178 or lower in June 2020, with more updates issued later. The salads were sold under several brand names, including ALDI, Hy Vee, Jewel Osco, Walmart, Giant Eagle, and ShopRite. The best by dates on the recalled products ran through July 14, 2020. Based on traceback, the carrots are … [Read more...]
Did You Know Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Ground Beef Are Common?
People who are familiar with food poisoning outbreaks are used to linking ground beef to E. coli illnesses. And it is true that there have been four multistate E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef since 2013. But did you know that Salmonella outbreaks linked to ground beef are fairly common? E. coli, especially E. coli O157:H7, lives in the guts of cows. The animals don't get sick from that pathogen. When the cow is slaughtered, the bacteria can escape from the guts and contaminate the meat. When the meat is ground, the pathogen is mixed all through it. Then when burgers are made from that beef and are not fully cooked to 160°F, pathogens can remain active and will cause illnesses. Recognizing that this product can be contaminated with Salmonella, the USDA proposed changes to … [Read more...]
Will There Be a 2020 E. coli Romaine Lettuce Outbreak?
Food safety experts are holding their collective breath. Now that fall is here, will there be a 2020 E. coli romaine lettuce outbreak? In previous years, by this time there has been at least one serious outbreak linked to leafy greens. Is our luck about to run out? Or have changes made by the California and Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements and government made a difference? There has been at least one E. coli outbreak in the U.S. linked to leafy greens every year since 2017; hundreds have been sickened, dozens have been hospitalized, and several people died. One of the issues in these outbreak developments, especially in the past several years, has to do with climate. When there has been an unusually hot and dry summer, farmers in California and Arizona have to use more … [Read more...]
Onion Salmonella Newport Outbreak Has Now Sickened 1012 in 47 States
The Thomson International onion Salmonella Newport outbreak has now sickened at least 1,012 people in 47 states, according to a September 1, 2020 update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of 143 more ill persons in the last two weeks. One hundred thirty-six people are hospitalized. The case count by state is: Alaska (21), Alabama (1), Arizona (35), Arkansas (2), California (122), Colorado (26), Connecticut (2), Delaware (2), Florida (8), Georgia (11), Hawaii (3), Idaho (37), Illinois (54), Indiana (3), Iowa (26), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Maine (6), Maryland (7), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (47), Minnesota (18), Mississippi (4), Missouri (11), Montana (63), Nebraska (10), Nebraska (10), Nevada (11), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (8), New … [Read more...]
Wawona Salmonella Peaches Recalled In More Countries
Wawona Salmonella Peaches are being recalled in more countries around the globe, after being linked to an outbreak in the U.S. and in Canada. As of August 28, 2020, the governments of Canada, Singapore, and New Zealand have issued recalls. And information received by the FDA indicates that the recalled peaches were shipped to the countries of Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. The FDA is sharing information with the food safety authorities in those countries. In the U.S., the case count remains at 78 sick in 12 states and 23 hospitalized, as of August 28, 2020. The last illness onset date was August 3, 2020. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), … [Read more...]
Salmonella Enteritidis Peach Outbreak Grows to 78 Cases in 12 States
The Salmonella enteritidis peach outbreak has now grown to include 78 people in 12 states, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-three people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The outbreak has been linked to recalled Prima Wawona and Wawona Packing peaches and some products made with those peaches. Ten more ill people and three new states, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Missouri, have been added to the outbreak totals. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Iowa (8), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (17), Minnesota (23), Missouri (1), New Jersey (7), New York (9), Pennsylvania (2), Virginia (3), and Wisconsin (5). Illness onset dates range from June 29, 2020 to August 3, 2020. Of 67 patients who provided … [Read more...]
FDA Updates the Salmonella Peach Outbreak With More Recall Information
The FDA has updated the multistate Salmonella peach outbreak with more information about where recalled peaches were sold. As of August 22, 2020, there are 68 people in 9 states who are sick with Salmonella Enteritidis infections that the CDC says is linked to peaches. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled peaches packed by or supplied by Prima Wawona or products made with them. If you purchased any of the following recalled products, which include bagged peaches, loose or bulk peaches, and products made with those peaches, do not eat them, even if some have been eaten without anyone getting sick. Not every peach may be contaminated. And if you aren't sure where the peaches you bought came from, throw them out. The FDA is recommending that … [Read more...]
