Every year people are sickened by certain types of foods. Avoid making and serving these potentially dangerous holiday foods this season. Some are inherently dangerous, and others are easily contaminated with dangerous bacteria. The potentially harmful foods include cannibal sandwiches, raw cookie dough, eggnog, unpasteurized cider, and raw oysters. Cannibal sandwiches are sandwiches made with raw ground beef. They are a specialty in some areas of the Midwest United States. In 2013, an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Wisconsin was associated with the seasonal consumption of these sandwiches. Raw ground beef is inherently risky, because cows carry pathogenic STEC bacteria in their guts. When the cows are slaughtered, the bacteria are released and can contaminate the beef. When this beef … [Read more...]
What You Need to Know About Apple Cider Season and Food Poisoning
Every fall many family make trips to orchards to buy apple cider. But there are things you need to know about apple cider season and food safety, especially about unpasteurized fruit juices. There have been three food poisoning outbreaks linked to unpasteurized apple cider or juice in the last few years. Those outbreaks include a cryptosporidium outbreak in 2015 that was linked to apple cider that was sold and consumed at the Pike County Fall Color Drive in Illinois. At least 70 people were sickened in that outbreak, and several were hospitalized. Also in 2015, an E. coli O111 outbreak that sickened 13 people was linked to apple juice from High Hill Ranch. And in 2013, a cryptosporidium outbreak in Iowa was linked to unpasteurized apple cider. Eleven people were sickened in that … [Read more...]
MI’s Pica Farms Cider Sales Production Ended For Insanitary Conditions
Michigan's Pica Farms cider sales and production is ordered ended by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD). Production and retail and wholesale sales have been ended by the government because of "insanitary conditions that may cause imminent or substantial hazard to people who consume their products." The cease and desist order was issued on October 26, 2020, after a routine inspection found several violations of the Michigan Food Law, P.S., 92 of 2000, including some violations that had not been corrected from previous inspections. The farm has until November 5, 2020 to correct the violations or face more regulatory action, including the possibility of license suspension. The products that are affected by this advisory include all gallon and … [Read more...]
Apple Cider Outbreak in Pike County, IL Grows to 70 Sick
The food poisoning outbreak linked to apple cider consumed and sold at the Pike County Fall Color Drive in Illinois on October 17 and 18, 2015 has grown to include at least 70 people as of November 6, 2015. Adams and Pike County Health Departments are investigating the outbreak. Those sickened drank apple cider from vendors at several different locations during the event. Those sickened have been experiencing diarrhea, cramping, and vomiting. Case patients range in age from less than one year to 89 years old. Several people have been hospitalized because their illnesses have been so serious. The illness onset rates in this outbreak range from October 18 through November 4, 2015. New illnesses are being reported daily, according to public health officials. Symptoms include profuse … [Read more...]
Cryptosporidium Outbreak in Pike County, IL Linked to Apple Cider
A cryptosporidium outbreak in Pike County, Illinois has sickened at least 30 people, according to the Pike County Health Department. The initial announcement stated that the outbreak pathogen had not yet been identified, and directed health care providers to test patients for both E. coli and Cryptosporidium. Those sickened attended the Pike County Fall Color Drive on October 17 and 18, 2015 in Barry, Illinois. This event is a large fall festival that spans several communities in the county. Patients who have been sick consumed apple cider from vendors at two locations. News reports have identified the outbreak as cryptosporidiosis, and the symptoms mentioned in the press release from Pike County are those of cryptosporidiosis. Symptoms of those sickened include profuse and … [Read more...]
