Another romaine lettuce E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The language from the government is very strong: "CDC is advising that U.S. consumers not eat any romaine lettuce, and retailers and restaurants not serve or sell any, until we learn more about the outbreak." Thirty-two people in 11 states are sick in this outbreak. Thirteen people have been hospitalized. The case count by state is: California (10), Connecticut (1), Illinois (2), Massachusetts (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (7), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (3), New York (2), Ohio (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from October 8 to October 31, 2018. One person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. It's very … [Read more...]
Another Romaine Lettuce E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Announced; Some May Sue
Now 246 Sickened in JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
At least 246 people in 25 states are now sick in the JBS Tolleson ground beef Salmonella outbreak. Fifty-nine of those patients have been hospitalized, which is 35% of ill persons. That's an increase of 126 more patients since the last update on October 23, 2018. There more states reported patients: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Missouri. The case count by state is: Arizona (42), California (66), Colorado (50), Connecticut (1), Hawaii (4), Idaho (3), Iowa (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (2), Missouri (3), Montana (8), New Mexico (9), Nevada (3), Ohio (9), Oklahoma (4), Oregon (1), South Dakota (6), Texas (13), Utah (9), Washington (3), and Wyoming (4). Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 5, 2018 to October 16, … [Read more...]
Jennie-O Ground Turkey Recalled in Association with Salmonella Outbreak
Jennie-O Turkey Store of Wisconsin is recalling about 91,388 pounds or raw ground turkey products that may be associated with an outbreak of Salmonella Reading infections. At least 164 people in 35 states are ill in this outbreak. One person in California died. The raw ground turkey products were made on September 11, 2018. The recalled products include 1-pound packages of Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 93% LEAN | 7% FAT with use by dates of 10/01/2018 and 10/02/2018; 1-pound packages of Jennie-O TACO SEASONED GROUND TURKEY with a use by date of 10/02/2018; 1-pound packages of Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 85% LEAN | 15% FAT with a use by date of 10/02/2018; and 1-pound packages of Jennie-O ITALIAN SEASONED GROUND TURKEY with a use by date of 10/02/2018. The products subject to recall bear … [Read more...]
History of Lettuce E. coli Outbreaks is Long and Complicated
Earlier this year, a deadly romaine lettuce E. coli outbreak sickened more than 200 people, hospitalized more than 100, and killed five people. Twenty-seven people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The FDA and CDC did not solve this outbreak. They did not name a farm or producer that was linked to the contaminated lettuce, and no recall for the chopped lettuce was issued. A recall of whole lettuce heads that was linked to a small outbreak in Alaska. After months of investigation, the government announced they had found the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 in canal water in Yuma, Arizona that may have been used on the lettuce crop. They think that cow feces in the water was the source of the bacteria. But this isn't the first time that lettuce … [Read more...]
CDC Posts Info About Potential Duncan Hines Cake Mix Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted information about the potential Duncan Hines cake mix Salmonella Agbeni outbreak that has sickened at least five people in three states. ConAgra recalled four varieties of that cake mix after officials in Oregon identified the outbreak strain of Salmonella bacteria in a box of Duncan Hines Classic White Fake Mix. Investigators are trying to determine if the illnesses are linked to the Duncan Hines cake mix. After officials found the pathogen in the cake mix, CDC reviewed the PulseNet database and found five people sickened with the same strain. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food labs coordinated by the CDC. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that the bacteria are closely related … [Read more...]
Salmonella Reading Outbreak Linked to Raw Turkey Turns Deadly; Some May Sue
The CDC has updated its investigation of the multistate outbreak of Salmonella Reading infections that are linked to raw turkey products. One person in California has died. And 74 more ill persons were reported, bringing the total to 164 in 35 states. The last update on this outbreak was issued on July 19, 2018. The case count by state is: Alaska (1), Arizona (1)< California (13), Colorado (6), Connecticut (3), Delaware (1), Florida (7), Georgia (2), Hawaii (1), Idaho (1), Iowa (3), Illinois (16), Indiana (3), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (3), Massachusetts (3), Michigan (6), Minnesota (17), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (8), New York (12), North Carolina (7), North Dakota (2), Ohio (5), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (8), South Carolina (1), South Dakota … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Potential Duncan Hines Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
The FDA has provided more information on the potential Duncan Hines Salmonella outbreak that many be linked to that company's cake mixes. Five people in three states are ill with Salmonella Agnebi infections. There are two cases on Maryland, two in Ohio, and one in Wisconsin. No one has been hospitalized. We don't know the patient age range or when the illnesses began. The FDA is investigating the manufacturing facility that made the mixes. They are collecting environmental samples there. A sample of Duncan Hines Classic White Cake Mix continued the same strain of Salmonella Agbeni that sickened the five people. The match was made using whole genome sequencing (WGS), which is a very accurate way to type DNA. Conagra is working with the FDA to conduct a recall of four different … [Read more...]
Duncan Hines Cake Mixes Potentially Linked to Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
The FDA is investigating a Salmonella Agbeni outbreak that may be linked to Duncan Hines cake mixes. A sample of Duncan Hines Classic White Cake Mix the contained the outbreak strain matched the bacteria collected from ill persons. Whole genome sequencing was used to identify the bacteria and match its DNA. Five people are sick with Salmonella Agbeni illnesses that have the same DNA fingerprint. We don't know anything about these illnesses at this time, where they live, the patient's age range, or if any of them have been hospitalized. Conagra Brands is working with the FDA to conduct a voluntary recall of Duncan Hines cake mixes from the marketplace. And the FDA is conducting an inspection at the facility that produced the mixes, collecting environmental and product … [Read more...]
Will Romaine Lettuce Be Safe to Eat This Year After Huge E. coli Outbreak?
Will romaine lettuce be safe to eat in 2019 after this year's huge and deadly E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that was linked to farms in Yuma, Arizona? Growers and processors in that state are taking some steps to try to prevent a repeat disaster, with the help of the FDA. Farmers are planting crops now in the Yuma area. Last year, 210 people in 36 states were sickened with E. coli O157:H7 infections after eating romaine lettuce. Ninety-six people were hospitalized, and 27 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. Five people died. And lawsuits were filed. Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker said, "This outbreak has been very difficult to solve, and in fact the government did not pinpoint the specific farm or farms where the contaminated lettuce was … [Read more...]
Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 30 in New Mexico; Lawsuits Possible
A ground beef Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 30 people in New Mexico, according to a notice published by the New Mexico Department of Health. State officials are working with the USDA and CDC on this outbreak. It's likely that these illnesses are part of a larger multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to JBS Tolleson ground beef. In the last CDC update, officials stated that 21 people in New Mexico were sick. The CDC has not updated their ground beef Salmonella outbreak investigation since October 23, 2018. Illnesses in New Mexico started being reported in late August. The average illness duration among these patients is 13 days, which is much higher than the 4 to 7 days that a typical Salmonella infection lasts. And 27% of patients have been hospitalized in that state, … [Read more...]
