An increase in E. coli cases in Ottawa County, Michigan has sickened at least nine people and hospitalized four, according to the Ottawa Department of Public Health. The pathogen is shiga toxin E. coli (STEC), which is the type that causes serious illness in people, and can trigger hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), especially in young children. This is a high number of cases for any area. STEC bacteria is usually tied to food poisoning outbreaks. The pathogen lives in the guts of ruminant animals and is excreted in their feces. There is no word on what officials are investigating, whether it's a restaurant or some particular type of food. In the past, E. coli outbreaks have been linked to flour, ground beef, raw sprouts, unpasteurized milk, spinach, romaine lettuce, bagged salad … [Read more...]
Kansas Shigella Outbreak at Splash Pad Sickened 21 in June 2021
A Kansas shigella outbreak at a splash pad in June 2021 sickened at least 21 people, according to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for the week of August 5, 2022. The splash pad was located in a Kansas wildlife park. There were actually two outbreaks: One involving shigella, and the other was a norovirus outbreak. Getting splash pad water in the mouth was associated with the illnesses. The shigella outbreak was linked to visits on June 11, 2021, and the norovirus outbreak was linked to visits on June 18, 2021. The contributing factors were inadequate disinfection, equipment, and training. The park has animal exhibits and a splash pad. In June 2021, Kansas state and county public health officials identified three cases of … [Read more...]
Consumer Reports Says Skip Products Made With Tara Flour
Consumer Reports is advising consumers to skip products made with tara flour for now. That ingredient is a food additive that Daily Harvest says is the culprit causing more than 300 illnesses in consumers who ate that product. Anecdotal reports puts the number of illnesses closer to 500. There is no actual information on what may be in that product that is causing the illnesses, with symptoms that suggest liver disease. At least 25 patients had their gallbladders removed. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea, and high liver enzyme levels. Dr. James E. Rogers, director of food safety and testing at Consumer Reports said in a statement, "Because the reported symptoms have been so severe and so little is known, we’re advising people to avoid tara flour until … [Read more...]
Two More Illnesses in Big Olaf Ice Cream Listeria Outbreak
Two more illnesses in the Big Olaf ice cream Listeria monocytogenes outbreak brings the total to 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-four people have been hospitalized, one person has died, and there has been one fetal loss. And there is a genetic match between the ice cream samples and patient isolates. The case count by state is: Colorado (1), Florida (13), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kansas (1), Nebraska (1), Massachusetts (2), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), New York (2), and Pennsylvania (1). The patient age range is from less than one to 92 years. Illness onset dates range from January 24, 2021 to June 24, 2022. It's possible that this outbreak will keep growing, since it can take up to 70 days, or more than two months, between when a … [Read more...]
New Cyclospora Outbreak, Two Outbreaks Ended Unsolved
A new cyclospora outbreak has been added to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, while two other outbreaks have ended unsolved. The new cyclospora outbreak has sickened at least six people. The food responsible has not yet been identified. And traceback has been initiated. This joins the other cyclospora outbreak that was announced last week, with at least 60 sick and no food, again, identified. Traceback has been initiated in that investigation, and samples have been collected for analysis. The two outbreaks that have ended are the Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ that sickened at least 14 people. Although traceback was conducted, no food was identified. And a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened at least 12 people has also ended unsolved. The only … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Illnesses Spike to 384 Sick with 30 Hospitalized
Cyclospora illnesses have spiked to 384 sick in 22 states and 30 hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There has been a cyclospora outbreak, in fact, usually several cyclospora outbreaks, in the United States during the spring and summer months every year since 2013. This is an increase of 323 cases since the last update was issued on June 30, 2022. Cases are still being reported. Last year, there were two cyclospora outbreaks that were unsolved that sickened at least 153 people. In 2020, a cyclospora outbreak linked to Fresh Express bagged salads sickened at least 701 people in 14 states and hospitalized 38. Cases usually peak in June and July, although activity can last through September. The number of clusters vary from season to … [Read more...]
Wisconsin Shelled Pea Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Six
A Wisconsin shelled pea Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least six people, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The peas were sold at farmers markets and farm stands in Wisconsin. The Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and local health departments are collaborating with DHS on this investigation. The six patients were sickened with the same strain of Salmonella after purchasing peas produced by Green Barn Farm Market of Ripon, Wisconsin. The peas were sold at Green Barn Farm Market farm stands and farmers markets in Ripon, Green Bay, Madison, and Fond du Lac, as well as the Green Valley Acres Farm and Company farm stand in Neenah. Shelled peas are loose, no longer in … [Read more...]
More Illnesses Reported With Daily Harvest French Lentils
More illnesses have been reported with the Daily Harvest French Lentil + Leek Crumbles issue, according to the FDA. As of July 28, 2022 there have been 329 CAERS reports and Consumer Complaints related to this product, and 113 of those people have been hospitalized. That's an increase of 52 more reports since the last update was issued on July 14, 2022. The last illness onset date is July 16, 2022. The states where ill persons live are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak on Shenandoah Schooner in Massachusetts
A Salmonella outbreak on the Shenandoah schooner in Tisbury, Massachusetts has sickened 11 children, according to the MV Times. The schooner is used as part of the Tisbury's school youth voyage programs. All of the sick children were on the same schooner. There were 22 children on the trip, and about half of them got sick. The trip took place from June 27 to July 2, 2022. The outbreak was announced during a Tisbury board of health meeting on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The assistant health agent, Catherine Blake, said she was "not made aware" of the situation until July 8. There was no food protection manager on board the Shenandoah schooner, although three staff members were U.S. Coast Guard certified food handlers, and two staff members had ServeSafe certification for food … [Read more...]
Jif Peanut Butter Salmonella Senftenberg Outbreak Ends
The Jif peanut butter Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with 21 people sick in 17 states. Four people were hospitalized. Jif issued a recall of several types of its peanut butter when the outbreak was announced on May 21, 2022, and there have been about a dozen secondary recalls issued. The five new states added to the outbreak total are Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, and West Virginia. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), Arkansas (1), Florida (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (2), New York (1), North Carolina (2), Ohio (1), South Carolina (1), Texas (2), Virginia (1), Washington (1), and West Virginia (1). The patient age range is from less than … [Read more...]
