The FDA has updated its investigation of the ADM Milling flour E. coli O26 outbreak with more information about another product recall. On June 13, 2019, King Arthur Flour, a customer of ADM Milling, recalled five pound bags of unbleached all-purpose flour with these lot codes and best by dates: 12/07/19 LOT: L18A07C; 12/08/19 LOTS: L18A08A, L18A08B; and 12/14/19 LOTS: L18A14A, L18A14B, L18A14C. This recall does not include products sold through the King Arthur website, Baker's Catalogue, or the Baker's Store in Norwich, Vermont. The recall also reminds consumers that all five pound bags, all lot codes, and all best if used by dates of Aldi Baker's Corner all purpose flour that were distributed in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, … [Read more...]
Delaware Warns Consumers Against Raw Milk After Brucellosis Case
The Delaware Division of Public Health is warning consumers to avoid consuming raw dairy products as a woman living in Sussex County has been diagnosed with a Brucella melitensis infection. This illness affects people who come into contact with sick animals or contaminated animal products. The most common source of this infection is the consumption of raw unpasteurized dairy products. Before she got sick, the patient consumed unpasteurized homemade dairy products from Mexico. She had no other risk factors. A second, related case of brucellosis is pending confirmation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). DPH Medical Director Dr. Rick Hong said in a statement: "Cases such as this one can serve as an unfortunate reminder that we are vulnerable to certain bacteria … [Read more...]
Three People Sick With E. coli in Winnebago County, Illinois
Three people are sick with E. coli infections in Winnebago County, Illinois, according to the Winnebago County Health Department. Those patients have been experiencing diarrhea beginning May 21, 2019. The exact cause of the illness has not been determined. An outbreak is defined as two people who are not related getting sick with the same illness. E. coli outbreaks in the past have been linked to contaminated water and contaminated food, especially ground beef and leafy greens. Authorities interview these patients to see if they can find a common source for the pathogen. If you or anyone you know has been sick with the symptoms of a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection on or after May 21, 2019, contact a healthcare provider, especially if you live in Winnebago County, … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak at Wedding in Oregon Linked to Asparagus
According to data presented at the CDC's Annual Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference, contaminated asparagus was the likely source of a Shigella outbreak at a Yarnhill County wedding in Oregon in 2018. One hundred twelve people were sickened; 10 people were hospitalized. The Oregon Health Authority first received reports of gastroenteritis at a wedding in august 2018. Shigella flexneri type 3a was identified in stool samples taken from patients. That particular pathogen accounts for less than 3% of the Shigella flexneri isolates in the United States. Researchers asked the wedding attendees to fill out surveys to try to find the cause of the outbreak. Presumptive cases were people who had diarrhea lasting 5 days or less. Confirmed cases were patents who had Shigella flexneri … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Elite Childcare Academy in Omaha, NE
A possible Salmonella outbreak at Elite Childcare Academy in Omaha, Nebraska may have sickened an unknown number of children, according to news reports. The Douglas County Health Department is investigating. One hundred children are enrolled. Officials do not know how many children may have been sickened, since there can be a 72 hour incubation period with Salmonella infections. The business told news outlets that there are confirmed cases of Salmonella among some of the children. Moreover, some children can be infected with the pathogen and not show any symptoms, but can pass the illness on to others. Investigators have not found the cause of the illnesses. The daycare sent a notice to parents and guardians of children who attend that daycare, asking them to complete a survey … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at Teriyaki Japan in North Augusta, SC
Customers who ate at Teriyaki Japan on Edgefield Road in North Augusta, South Carolina may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, according to a news release by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Anyone who ate food or drank beverages between May 14 and May 28, 2019 could have been exposed to the virus. Dr. Linda Bell, state epidemiologist, said in a statement, "The concern here is not the restaurant. It is with a food handler who has hepatitis A infection." The risk of contracting the illness is low, but it still exists. "As a precaution, in these situations, vaccination should be considered for individuals who were exposed during the time the food handler was contagious," she added. Anyone who ate there after May 17, 2019 can no longer get … [Read more...]
Compliments Chicken Strips Linked to Salmonella Outbreak in Canada
Compliments chicken strips are being recalled in Canada because they are linked to a Salmonella outbreak in that country. The Public Health Agency of Canada is investigating an outbreak of human illnesses and has identified this product as a source of illness. The outbreak investigation is ongoing and officials may name other products. The recalled product is Compliments brand Chicken Strips - Breaded Chicken Cutlets - Uncooked, sold in 907 gram packages. The code on the outer package is 2019 NO 24 and on the inner package it is 328MM. the UPC number on the product is 0 57742 33687 0. The chicken was sold nationwide until May 1, 2019. Some consumers may still have this product in their home freezers. Many frozen breaded chicken products on the market are raw, but they appear to be … [Read more...]
New Salmonella Outbreak in Canada Linked to Frozen Breaded Raw Chicken
A new Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak in Canada is linked to frozen raw breaded chicken products. At least eleven people are sick; one person has been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. The case count by province is: British Columbia (2), Alberta (1), Ontario (2), Quebec (3), New Brunswick (1), Nova Scotia (1), and Prince Edward Island (1). Illness onset dates range from September 2018 and April 2019. Because there have been so many Salmonella outbreaks linked to frozen breaded raw chicken products in Canada in the past few years, the Canadian government has implemented new industry measures for controlling the risk of Salmonella in these foods. The measures took effect on April 1, 2019, but product made before this date are still on the market and are still in … [Read more...]
CDC Says Caito Precut Melon Salmonella Outbreak is Over
The CDC says that the Caito Precut Melon Salmonella Carrau outbreak is over, after sickening 137 people in 10 states. Thirty-eight people have been hospitalized. This last outbreak notice recognizes an increase of 20 cases since the last update in mid-April 2019. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Iowa (2), Illinois (7), Indiana (26), Kentucky (26), Michigan (22), Minnesota (3), Missouri (8), Ohio (42), and Wisconsin (1). Illnesses started on March 3, 2019, and the last illness was reported on May 1, 2019. Most of the patients in this outbreak are female. Since these products were recalled in April and are long past their shelf life, there should not be many more cases. Officials used PulseNet, the national sub typing network of labs that collect and store bacterial … [Read more...]
ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 Outbreak Sickens 17
The ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 outbreak has sickened 17 people in 8 states, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Three of those patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The notice did not state whether or not any patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of this type of infection. The Rhode Island Department of Health collected and analyzed an unopened sample of this flour and found that the flour contained E. coli O26. A public warning was issued to the public on May 22, 2019. The investigation is ongoing, but DNA analysis found that the E. coli in the unopened sample of flour was closely related to the isolates from ill persons. Epidemiological and laboratory evidence … [Read more...]
