The romaine lettuce E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has grown to include 59 people in 15 states, according to an update posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an addition of seven more ill persons since the last update was posted on December 6, 2018. Twenty-three people have been hospitalized, and two people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. There are 27 people in Canada who are sick with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. All epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence from both countries indicates that this outbreak is linked to romaine lettuce harvested from the Central Coastal growing regions of northern and central California. The case count by state is: California (12), Connecticut (1), … [Read more...]
FDA Names Adam Bros Farming in Romaine E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
The FDA has named one farm in California where the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 linked to romaine lettuce was found. The farm is a ranch owned and operated by Adam Bros Farming, Inc., in Santa Barbara County. The bacteria was found in the sediment of an agricultural reservoir at the ranch. The bacteria matches those collected from patients who were sickened in this outbreak. Officials used whole genome sequencing (WGS) to identify the strain. The FDA has confirmed that Adam Bros Farming has not shipped any romaine since November er 20, 2018. Officials are working at the farm to try to discover how the contamination occurred and what actions should be taken before the next growing season begins. Adams Bros Farming is cooperating with the FDA and CDC and will recall … [Read more...]
FDA Reiterates Warning About Achdut Tahini Linked to Salmonella Concord Outbreak
The FDA is reiterating its warning to consumers to avoid eating Achdut Tahini. Products made by Actdut Ltd., which is based in Israel, are linked to a Salmonella Concord outbreak that has sickened at least 5 people. Achdut updated their recall on December 11, 2018, to include all brands of tahini products that were manufactured from April 7, 2018 to May 21, 2018. Most of the Achdut tahini brands have expiration dates of April 7, 2020 to May 21, 2020. One exception is for Baron's brand tahini, with an expiration date of May 5, 2021. The tahini was sold through mail order and is available internationally in retail stores. The brands of Achdut tahini that are recalled include Achva, Achdut, Soom, S&F, Baron's, and Pepperwood. The product lot codes range from 18-097 to 18-141. … [Read more...]
Salmonella Newport Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef Grows to 333 Sick
The Salmonella Newport outbreak that is linked to ground beef from JBS Tolleson has grown to include 333 people sick in 28 states. Ninety-one people have been hospitalized. That's an addition of 87 more patients since the last notice was published in November 2018. Those additional 87 ill people live in 16 states. New states added to the outbreak count are Michigan, Mississippi, and West Virginia. Illness onset dates range from August 5, 2018 to November 9, 2018. The patient age range is from less than one year to 99. The hospitalization rate in this outbreak, which is 33%, is higher than the typical hospitalization rate for a Salmonella outbreak, which is 20%. The states with the most ill persons are Arizona, with 50, California, with 107, and Colorado, with 58. Of the 227 … [Read more...]
Worker with Hepatitis A at Applebee’s in Winchester, KY
A worker at the Applebee's restaurant at 1525 West Lexington Avenue in Winchester, New York has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to a public health advisory posted by the Clark County Health Department. That person worked there from November 14 through November 25, 2018. That means it is too late to get a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination, since the shot is only effective if given within two weeks of exposure. If you ate food or drank beverages there during that time period, all you can do is monitor yourself for the symptoms of hepatitis A. Those symptoms include dark urine, lethargy, clay-colored stools, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, stomach pain, nausea, and jaundice, which is yellowing of the eyes and skin. These symptoms can appear anywhere from … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Update: More Achdut Tahini Recalled
Actdut of Ariel, Israel is recalling more tahini products that are linked to a Salmonella outbreak in the U.S. All packages and sizes of tahini that were produced on the dates of April 7 through May 21, 2018 are being recalled because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. the tahini was distributed internationally through retail stores and mail order. The recalled products are Tahini, Whole Tahini, Organic Tahini, and Seasoned Tahini. The container sizes of these recalled products are: 15 ounce, 16 ounce, 17.6 ounce, 635 ounce (428 g, 454 g, 500 g, 18K g), with lot numbers 18-097 to 18-141 or with expiration dates April 7th to May 21st 2020. The Baron's brand that is recalled has the expiration date of 5/5/2021. The brand names of the products are: Achdut, Baron's, … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Warning For Sonny’s BBQ In Richmond, KY
A hepatitis A warning has been issued by the Madison County Health Department for anyone who ate at Sonny's BBQ on Center Drive in Richmond, Kentucky between November 18 and December 1, 2018. There is a hepatitis A outbreak in that area of the country. The Health Department has been recommending hepatitis A vaccinations for everyone in the community, since a county wide outbreak was declared on October 24, 2018. Sonny's has been cooperating with state and local health officials. It's too late to get an immune globulin or hepatitis A vaccination for anyone who ate there before November 27, 2018. Those shots are only good for two weeks after exposure. Those patrons need to contact their doctors and watch themselves for the symptoms of hepatitis A, which can appear anywhere from 15 … [Read more...]
Kosher Chicken Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 25 Sick, Lawsuits Possible
The kosher chicken Salmonella outbreak that was associated with Empire Kosher brand has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with 25 patients in 6 states. Eleven people were hospitalized in this outbreak, which is a very high percentage for a Salmonella outbreak. The Salmonella that sickened those people is Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-. Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory evidence found that some kosher chicken products were contaminated with the outbreak strain. The outbreak strain was found in samples of raw chicken collected from two facilities, including one that processes Empire Kosher brand chicken. The case count by state is: Maryland (1)< Massachusetts (2), New York (16), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (4), and Virginia (1). Illness onset dates … [Read more...]
FDA Narrows Scope of E. coli Romaine Lettuce Outbreak
The FDA has narrowed the scope of the E. coli O157:H7 romaine lettuce outbreak investigation. The outbreak has grown from the latest update in November 2018, with 52 people now sick. The FDA states in their latest romaine lettuce outbreak update that "Traceback information from four restaurants in three different states so far has implicated 10 different distributors, 12 different growers, and 11 different farms as potential sources of the contaminated lettuce. The information indicates that the outbreak cannot be explained by a single farm, grower, harvester, or distributor." However, they have not named those distributors, growers, or farms. The FDA's Produce Safety Network is assisting with the investigation. This network includes personnel from the FDA's Center for Food … [Read more...]
E. coli O157:H7 Romaine Outbreak Increases With 52 Sick and 19 Hospitalized
The E. coli O157:H7 romaine outbreak has grown, according to an update posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Since the last update posted in November 26, 2018, an additional nine patients have been added to the total for 52 sick. Those patients live in 15 states. Nineteen people have been hospitalized. The patient case count by state in this E. coli O157:H7 romaine outbreak is: California (11), Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Illinois (2), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (7), New Hampshire (6), New Jersey (11), New York (6), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from October 5, 2018 to November 18, 2018. Nineteen people have been hospitalized; two have developed hemolytic uremic … [Read more...]
