A new Salmonella Braenderup outbreak has been added to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. This brings the total outbreaks currently being investigated to six. The new Salmonella Braenderup outbreak has sickened at least 158 people. FDA has initiated traceback. In the outbreak investigation of Salmonella Africana that is allegedly linked to cucumbers, this outbreak is mentioned and may also be linked to that vegetable because the two outbreaks are similar. The outbreak linked to Diamond Shruumz Microdosing Chocolate Bars has sickened at least eight people in four states. Six of those patients have been hospitalized. The government has not yet determined what chemical, drug, or pathogen is making people sick. The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak at Lake Anna in Virginia on Memorial Weekend
An E. coli outbreak at Lake Anna in Richmond, Virginia over the Memorial Day weekend has sickened people, according to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). The number of patients has not been released, only that VDH has received "numerous reports of GI illnesses, mainly in children." Some of the patients have been hospitalized and diagnosed with E. coli infections. All potential causes of these illnesses, including food and lake water, are being investigated. The symptoms that patients are experiencing include vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea that is often bloody or watery, fever, and chills. In severe cases, the infection can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. The notice did not confirm that anyone is suffering from … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA is weighing in on the cucumber Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 162 people in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Fresh Start Produce Sales has recalled cucumbers that were grown in Florida and distributed to wholesalers, food service distributors, and retail distribution centers in these states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia from May 17th through May 21st, 2024. This product should no longer be available for consumers to purchase in stores. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (2), Delaware (1), District of Columbia (1), Florida (18), Georgia (8), Indiana (1), Iowa (3), Kentucky (4), Maine (1), … [Read more...]
Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 162 in 25 States
A cucumber Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 162 people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fresh Start Produce cucumbers are implicated in this outbreak. The strain of Salmonella is Salmonella Africana. CDC and FDA are also investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup infections, with 158 illnesses in 23 states. The two outbreaks are similar, including where and when illnesses occurred and the demographics. Investigators are working to determine whether the two outbreaks could be linked to the same food. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (2), Delaware (1), District of Columbia (1), Florida (18), Georgia (8), Indiana (1), Iowa (3), Kentucky (4), Maine (1), … [Read more...]
Have Cucumbers Caused Outbreaks in the Past?
In the wake of the recall of Fresh Start cucumbers for possible Salmonella contamination, have cucumbers caused outbreaks in the past? Yes, they have, and some have been deadly. The FDA is conducting testing to see if the cucumbers are related to an ongoing Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 100 people. In 2013, a Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to imported cucumbers sickened at least 84 people in 18 states. Illness onset dates range from January 12, 2023 to April 28, 2024. Twenty-eight percent of patients were hospitalized. In 2015 and 2016, a huge Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to cucumbers sickened at least 907 people in 40 states. There were 204 people hospitalized, and six deaths were reported, even though the Salmonella infection wasn't considered a … [Read more...]
Cracker Barrel Salmonella Outbreak in Illinois Sickens Eight
A Cracker Barrel Salmonella outbreak in a city in Illinois has sickened at least eight people, according to a press release from the Kankakee County Health Department. That restaurant is located at 50 Ken Hayes Drive in Bourbonnais. As of May 14, 2024, the patent case count is eight. The press release did not state whether or not any of the patients have been hospitalized. The restaurant voluntarily closed on May 4, 2024 and is cooperating with the health department to try to determine the source of the pathogen. Public health officials inspected the restaurant and provided an environmental assessment. They also gave employees guidance on safe food handling and cleaning. An alert has been issued to doctors in the area about this outbreak. Symptoms of a Salmonella infection … [Read more...]
Long History of Nut and Nut Product Outbreaks
In the wake of the current E. coli outbreak linked to organic walnuts, there is a long history of nut and nut product outbreaks. Nuts are an agricultural product, and just like leafy greens, herbs, and berries, can be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. And nuts, like other types of produce, are often eaten without a consumer "kill step," in other words, cooking. History of Nut and Nut Product Outbreaks The current E. coli O157 outbreak allegedly linked to Gibson Farms organic walnuts and walnut pieces has sickened at least 12 people in two states, California and Washington. Seven of those patients have been hospitalized, and two people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The walnuts have been recalled. In 2022, a Salmonella Senftenberg … [Read more...]
PA Apple Valley Creamery Raw Milk Sickens One With Campylobacter
Apple Valley Creamery raw milk has sickened at least one person in Pennsylvania with a Campylobacter infection, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That dairy is located at 531 Germany Road in East Berlin, Pennsylvania. Public health officials are warning consumers to discard raw milk from Apple Valley Creamery that was sold under the Pure Pastures Dairy label. The sell by dates for this unpasteurized milk are from April 3, 2024 through May 2, 2024. The milk is packaged in quart and half gallon glass containers. Samples of the raw milk were tested by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and were positive for the pathogen. Apple Valley Creamery raw milk was sold at these locations in south central, central, and eastern counties in Pennsylvania: Adams … [Read more...]
FDA on Gibson Farms Walnuts E. coli O157 Outbreak
The FDA has weighed in on the Gibson Farms walnuts E. coli O157 outbreak that has allegedly sickened at least 12 people in two states: California and Washington. Seven of those 12 patients have been hospitalized, and two of them have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The recalled organic walnut halves and pieces were sold at natural food and co-op stores in these states: Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The walnuts were sold in bulk, but some stores may have repackaged the nuts into bags or plastic clamshell containers. A list of the store names and locations where the walnuts may have been sold is … [Read more...]
Organic Bulk Walnuts E. coli Outbreak Sickens 12 in 2 States
An organic bulk walnuts E. coli O157 outbreak has sickened at least 12 people in two states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seven of those patients have been hospitalized. Two have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The patient case count by state is: Washington (6), and California (6). Illness onset dates range from February 1, 2024 to April 4, 2024. The patient age range is from six to 84 years. State and local pubic health officials interviewed patients about the foods they ate before they got sick. Of the 10 interviewed, all said they ate walnuts. That percentage is significantly higher than the 26% of respondents who said they ate walnuts in the FoodNet Population Survey during the same time frame. And all … [Read more...]
