The deadly Yu Shang Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has ended with 24 sick, 22 hospitalized, and three dead, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epidemiological, traceback, and laboratory evidence indicated that the ready to eat meat and poultry products from that company were contaminated with Listeria bacteria and made people sick. That's an increase of five more illnesses and one more death since the last update was issued on December 5, 2024. The case count by state is: California (14), Georgia (1), Illinois (2), Michigan (1), New Jersey (1), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Oregon (1), and Tennessee (2). The new states are Michigan and New Jersey. The patient age range is from less than one to 91 years. All of the patients are Asian. Of … [Read more...]
Sea Win Frozen Half Shell Oysters Recalled For Norovirus
Sea Win Frozen Half Shell Oysters are being recalled in California for possible norovirus contamination, according to a press release by the California Department of Public Health. There have been illnesses reported, but there are no further details about the number of people sickened, where they ate the oysters, illness onset dates, the patent age range, or whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. The recalling firm is Sea Win, Inc. of Los Angeles, California. The oysters were harvested in Korea and were distributed in California, at the retail level and also at restaurants. The harvest dates for the oysters were 1/30/24 and 02/04/24. The Sea Win frozen half shell oysters have the code KR 7 SP. Oysters are filter feeders, which means that they take in water and filter out … [Read more...]
New Listeria Outbreak Added to FDA CORE Outbreak Table
A new Listeria outbreak has been added to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, joining four other investigations for a total of five. Three of the outbreaks are unsolved. Three of the outbreaks are caused by Listeria bacteria; the other two are Salmonella outbreaks. The new Listeria outbreak has sickened three people. The FDA has initiated traceback and has initiated sampling, but no inspections have been scheduled. The second Listeria outbreak has sickened at least 36 people. We don't know where the patients live, if anyone has been hospitalized (there are usually large numbers of patients hospitalized in these types of outbreaks), or if anyone has died. The FDA has initiated traceback, has inspected a facility, and has collected and tested samples. The third Listeria … [Read more...]
Idaho Illnesses Prompt Warnings About Unlicensed Vendors
Idaho illnesses have prompted the Idaho Central Health District into issuing warnings to consumers about unlicensed restaurants and unregulated food vendors. In the last few months, officials have received food poisoning complaints related to those facilities. Consumers are urged to use caution when purchasing foods from home vendors and to not visit unlicensed "underground" restaurants operated out of home kitchens. Environmental Health Program Manager Natasha Ferney said in a statement, "There are multiple risk factors in buying from unlicensed and unregulated vendors, but the most serious is the risk of foodborne illness. These vendors may not have a sanitary kitchen that meets provisions of the Idaho Food Code or know how to properly store or handle food to help prevent growth … [Read more...]
US PIRG: Hospitalizations and Deaths From Food Doubled in 2024
A new report from U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) found that hospitalizations and deaths from food doubled in 2024. The report, titled Food For Thought 2025, states that hospitalizations and deaths were the highest last year in five years. Food contaminated with Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli increased by 41%. and 98% of all illnesses were linked to just 13 outbreaks. There were 241 FDA recalls in 2024, and 55 USDA recalls. The FDA number is and increase of 8% over 2023, while the USDA number is a 38% decline. Most of the recalls were from undeclared allergens. Recalls for Listeria contamination were next, followed by Salmonella recalls. But the recall numbers only tell half the story. Almost 1400 people got sick from food poisoning in 2024. Twelve … [Read more...]
FDA Updates CORE Table with New Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA updates CORE Table with a new Salmonella outbreak. There are four outbreaks on the Table that are being actively investigated. Two of them have not been solved. The first outbreak is a Salmonella Newport outbreak that has sickened at least 27 people. The food linked to this outbreak has not been identified. The FDA has initiated traceback but has not initiated an inspection and not collected any items for sampling. . The second outbreak is the Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak that is linked to recalled Sweet Cream mini pastries. That outbreak has sickened at least 18 people in seven states. There is a similar outbreak in Canada, where at least 69 illnesses have been reported. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have not yet reported on this outbreak, so we do … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs in on Sysco ReadyCare Shakes Listeria Outbreak
The CDC weighs in on the Sysco ReadyCare shakes Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened 38 and caused 12 deaths. The supplemental nutritional shakes have been recalled. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), California (4), Colorado (1), Connecticut (2), Florida (2), Illinois (2), Indiana (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (2), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), North Carolina (2), Nevada (1), New York (3), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (2), Texas (5), Washington (1), and West Virginia (1). The patient age range is from 43 to 101 years. Sick person's samples were collected from August 17, 2018 to January 23, 2025. Twelve people have died, an increase of one more death since the last update was issued on February 21, 2025. Those people lived in California, … [Read more...]
Lyons and Sysco Shakes Listeria Outbreak Sickens 38, Kills 11
A Lyons and Sysco Shakes Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened at least 38 people and has killed eleven, according to the FDA. Ill persons live in 21 states. The products are Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes. The patients live in these states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. We do not know how many patients live in each state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides that information, but they have not posted any info about this outbreak. We also do not know where the eleven people who died lived. These products have been voluntarily … [Read more...]
Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at ilili Restaurant in New York City
A possible hepatitis A exposure at ilili restaurant in New York City has been reported by the New York City Health Department. That restaurant is located at 236 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. The infected food handler worked at that restaurant between January 31 and February 9, 2025. No additional cases of hepatitis A have been reported to date. Unfortunately, it may be too late for anyone ate there or who ordered takeout before January 31, 2025 to get a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination. The vaccine is most effective when given within two weeks of exposure. Check with your doctor to make sure. But the notice then states that anyone who ate food from the restaurant from January 17 to February 9 should monitor their health for the symptoms of hepatitis A, which usually … [Read more...]
Sweet Cream Pastries Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 18
A Sweet Cream pastries Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 18 people in seven states, according to the FDA. An outbreak linked to these products has been reported in Canada, where at least 69 are sick in five provinces, with 22 hospitalizations. The pastries were manufactured in Italy and exported into the United States by Importations Piu Che Dolci Inc. of Quebec, Canada. Patients have been reported from these states: California, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The product was distributed in Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The product could have been distributed in more states. One person has been hospitalized. We do not know the state where that person lives. We also do not know the patient age range or how … [Read more...]
