A Radiance of the Seas Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 180 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And three crew members were sick. The voyage dates for that cruise were September 20 to September 27, 2024. The voyage number is 20118. There were 2,172 passengers on the ship. Outbreaks on cruise ships can be common, but they are usually caused by norovirus, a highly contagious virus that causes the same symptoms as Salmonella. The close quarters of ships makes transmission of bacteria and viruses easy. During the outbreak, Royal Caribbean International and the crew on the ship made announcements to notify people of the outbreak, encourage case reporting, and stress good hygiene, especially handwashing. Stool specimens were collected … [Read more...]
LongHorn Steakhouse Shigella Outbreak in Illinois Sickens 14
A LongHorn Steakhouse Shigella outbreak in Fairview Heights, Illinois has sickened 14 people, according to the St. Clair County Health Department. That restaurant is located at 6115 North Illinois Street in that city. The patients live in "multiple jurisdictions." Representatives from the restaurant have been cooperating with public health officials. Some of the illnesses were caused by shigellosis, which is an infectious disease caused by the Shigella bacteria. The investigation is ongoing. As of October 2, 2024, there have been 14 Shigella reports with positive test results. Twelve of those people ate at the LongHorn Restaurant between September 21 and 22, 2024. Six of those patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Noted food safety attorney Eric … [Read more...]
There are 10 Dead and 59 Sick in Boar’s Head Listeria Outbreak
There are now 10 people dead and 59 sick in Boar's Head Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, according to the CDC. All 59 people have been hospitalized. The outbreak has affected people in 19 states. The CDC says that illness reports have started to decrease. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), Florida (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (3), Minnesota (1), Missouri (3), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (1), New York (17), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (1), Virginia (4), and Wisconsin (1). The people who died lived in Illinois, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, two were from New York, New Mexico, and two lived in South Carolina. The patient age range is from 32 to 95 years. … [Read more...]
Madre Oaxacan Outbreak Sickens 36 with Salmonella Infections
The Madre Oaxacan outbreak has sickened at least 36 people with Salmonella infections, according an email from the LA County of Public Health. The restaurant will allegedly reopen soon after passing a restaurant re-inspection that was conducted on September 24, 2024, according to news reports. The outbreak was uncovered on September 17, 2024, when reports of people suffering from gastrointestinal illnesses started coming in to the health department. The restaurant, which is located at 27007 Mc Bean Parkway in Valencia, California, was closed "due to [an] imminent health hazard for disease transmission," according to the email. The 36 Salmonella infections are confirmed. The restaurant received a "C" grade during an inspection on September 18, 2024. The inspector noted 12 … [Read more...]
Rainbow Farm Eggs Salmonella Outbreak in Maine Sickens Five
A Rainbow Farm eggs Salmonella outbreak in Maine has sickened at least five people, according to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry. That farm is located in Orland, Maine. Those patients have all tested positive for Salmonella. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the consumption of these eggs as the outbreak source. The eggs are being recalled. Public heath officials are working with Rainbow Farm to address this issue. Production and distribution of the eggs has ended while the farm conducts tests, sanitizes the buildings and equipment, and may cull affected laying hens. The eggs were sold by the farm itself, and were also sold at these locations in Maine: Bar Harbor (Eden) Farmers Market Blue Hill Farmers … [Read more...]
Alleged Madre Oaxacan Restaurant Outbreak Sickens People in LA County
An alleged Madre Oaxacan and Mezcaleria Restaurant outbreak has sickened an unnamed number of people in LA County, according to news reports. The pathogen was not named. That restaurant is located at 27007 McBean Parkway in Valencia, California. The LA County Health Department started getting reports of "gastrointestinal symptoms" on Tuesday, September 17, 2023 after people ate at that facility. In response to this outbreak, public health officials have posted a survey for anyone who ate at the restaurant to fill out, whether or not they got sick. This can help narrow the focus of the investigation. The information on the survey is confidential. The survey asks if the respondent got sick on or before September 13, 2024. A list of the foods in the survey include Squash Blossoms, … [Read more...]
Milo’s Poultry Outbreak: History of Salmonella Egg Outbreaks
In the wake of the Milo's Poultry outbreak, what is the history of Salmonella egg outbreaks? Not surprisingly, there have been quite a few outbreaks linked to shell eggs over the years. Eggs are considered a high risk food that need to be handled with care. One of the issues is that Salmonella can get inside eggs, if the hen has Salmonella in her ovaries. So even if the eggs are washed, they can still make you sick if they are undercooked. That's why it's so important to cook eggs to 160°F or well done, and to cook any recipe that contains eges to a safe final internal temperature. In the Milo's Poultry Farm Salmonella outbreak, there are 65 people sick in nine states. The case count by state is: California (2), Colorado (1), Illinois (11), Iowa (2), Michigan (2), Minnesota (3), … [Read more...]
Boar’s Head Closes After Listeria Outbreak, Poor Inspections
The USDA states that the Boar's Head facility in Jarratt, Virginia has closed after a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak and years of poor inspection reports. A letter sent to the company by the USDA describes the outbreak and inspection reports as justification for the closure. The USDA states, "your establishment failed to maintain sanitary conditions, as required by 9 CFR 416 et seq., and 500.3(a)(1), based on the determination that your establishment produced and shipped adulterated product." The Federal Meat Inspection Act gives FSIS the authority to set sanitation requirements and refuse to let meat products to be marked, labeled, stamped, or tagged as inspected and passed. If a facility can't get USDA approval for products ,they cannot sell them. The letter was … [Read more...]
Milo’s Poultry Farm Salmonella Outbreak Hits Wisconsin Hard
The Milo's Poultry Farm Salmonella outbreak has hit Wisconsin hard, with 42 of the 65 illnesses in that state. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services released a statement about the outbreak. In all, those 65 people live in nine states: California (2), Colorado (1), Illinois (11), Iowa (2), Michigan (2), Minnesota (3), Utah (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (42). The patient age range is from 2 to 88 years. Twenty-four people are hospitalized because they are so sick. The notice did not state how many hospitalized people live in Wisconsin. The farm is located in Bonduel, Wisconsin. The eggs have been recalled. Along with Milo's Poultry Farm brand eggs, Tony's Fresh Market eggs are included in the recall. All chicken egg types, including conventional cage free, non-GMO, and … [Read more...]
Milo’s Poultry Farms Eggs Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 65
A Milo's Poultry Farms eggs Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 65 people in nine states, according to the CDC. That farm is located in Bonduel, Wisconsin. The eggs may be labeled "Tony's Fresh Market" The case count by state is: California (2), Colorado (1), Illinois (11), Iowa (2), Michigan (2), Minnesota (3), Utah (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (42). The patient age range is from 2 to 88 years. Twenty-four people are hospitalized because they are so sick. That's a hospitalization rate of 37%, much higher than the typical 20% hospitalization rate for a Salmonella outbreak. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence shows that eggs supplied by Milo's Poultry Farms are contaminated with Salmonella bacteria and are making people sick. Public health officials have … [Read more...]
