A Logan County Salmonella outbreak in Colorado has sickened at least 17 people, according to a news report in the Sterling Journal-advocate. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment states that the cluster of Salmonella infections is in northeastern counties in the state. The outbreak is being investigated along with the Northeast Colorado Health Department. The illness onset dates range from August 1, 2020 and September 17, 2020. Eleven of those seventeen cases are in Logan County. The typical number of Salmonella illnesses in those six counties is less than 12 in August and September. Public health officials have not determined a single common exposure for all of the cases. The investigation is ongoing. Salmonella is a reportable illness, so doctors will report … [Read more...]
What Happened to the Fresh Express Bagged Salad Cyclospora Outbreak?
It has been almost a month since the FDA or CDC has updated the Fresh Express bagged salad cyclospora outbreak. The last update in the U.S., published on August 14, 2020, listed 690 people sick in 13 states, with Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois hardest hit. Thirty-seven people have been hospitalized. In Canada, where the last update was posted on July 8, 2020, 37 people in three provinces were sick. Fresh Express recalled products containing iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, or carrots with the product code Z178 or lower in June 2020, with more updates issued later. The salads were sold under several brand names, including ALDI, Hy Vee, Jewel Osco, Walmart, Giant Eagle, and ShopRite. The best by dates on the recalled products ran through July 14, 2020. Based on traceback, the carrots are … [Read more...]
Did You Know Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Ground Beef Are Common?
People who are familiar with food poisoning outbreaks are used to linking ground beef to E. coli illnesses. And it is true that there have been four multistate E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef since 2013. But did you know that Salmonella outbreaks linked to ground beef are fairly common? E. coli, especially E. coli O157:H7, lives in the guts of cows. The animals don't get sick from that pathogen. When the cow is slaughtered, the bacteria can escape from the guts and contaminate the meat. When the meat is ground, the pathogen is mixed all through it. Then when burgers are made from that beef and are not fully cooked to 160°F, pathogens can remain active and will cause illnesses. Recognizing that this product can be contaminated with Salmonella, the USDA proposed changes to … [Read more...]
Will There Be a 2020 E. coli Romaine Lettuce Outbreak?
Food safety experts are holding their collective breath. Now that fall is here, will there be a 2020 E. coli romaine lettuce outbreak? In previous years, by this time there has been at least one serious outbreak linked to leafy greens. Is our luck about to run out? Or have changes made by the California and Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreements and government made a difference? There has been at least one E. coli outbreak in the U.S. linked to leafy greens every year since 2017; hundreds have been sickened, dozens have been hospitalized, and several people died. One of the issues in these outbreak developments, especially in the past several years, has to do with climate. When there has been an unusually hot and dry summer, farmers in California and Arizona have to use more … [Read more...]
Onion Salmonella Newport Outbreak Has Now Sickened 1012 in 47 States
The Thomson International onion Salmonella Newport outbreak has now sickened at least 1,012 people in 47 states, according to a September 1, 2020 update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of 143 more ill persons in the last two weeks. One hundred thirty-six people are hospitalized. The case count by state is: Alaska (21), Alabama (1), Arizona (35), Arkansas (2), California (122), Colorado (26), Connecticut (2), Delaware (2), Florida (8), Georgia (11), Hawaii (3), Idaho (37), Illinois (54), Indiana (3), Iowa (26), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Maine (6), Maryland (7), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (47), Minnesota (18), Mississippi (4), Missouri (11), Montana (63), Nebraska (10), Nebraska (10), Nevada (11), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (8), New … [Read more...]
Salmonella Enteritidis Peach Outbreak Grows to 78 Cases in 12 States
The Salmonella enteritidis peach outbreak has now grown to include 78 people in 12 states, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-three people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The outbreak has been linked to recalled Prima Wawona and Wawona Packing peaches and some products made with those peaches. Ten more ill people and three new states, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Missouri, have been added to the outbreak totals. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Iowa (8), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (17), Minnesota (23), Missouri (1), New Jersey (7), New York (9), Pennsylvania (2), Virginia (3), and Wisconsin (5). Illness onset dates range from June 29, 2020 to August 3, 2020. Of 67 patients who provided … [Read more...]
Prima Wawona Peaches Recalled For Possible Salmonella Contamination
The FDA says that Prima Wawona peaches are being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. Both conventionally grown and organic peaches are included in this recall. There is a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to these peaches that has sickened at least 68 people in 9 states. Peaches that are sold as loose fruit or in bulk are not associated with this particular recall. Only bagged peaches are included. The peaches were distributed and sold from June 1, 2020 to August 19, 2020 in supermarkets around the country. Kroger and Wegmans have been named in this recall notice. The recalled products are Wawona peaches with product code 033383322001, Wawona Organic Peaches with code 849315000400, Prima Peaches with code 766342325903, Organic Marketside Peaches with code … [Read more...]
Wawona Peaches Linked to a Salmonella Outbreak; Sickens 68 in 9 States
The FDA says that Wawona Packing peaches linked to a Salmonella outbreak have sickened at least 68 people in nine states. The peaches were sold at ALDI stores in certain states. As of August 19, 2020, ALDI has voluntarily recalled all of the Wawona brand bagged peaches from select stores in multiple states. The case count by state is: Iowa (8), Maryland (1), Michigan (17), Minnesota (23), New Jersey (4), New York (8), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (3), and Wisconsin (3). Fourteen people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The Wawona peaches linked to a Salmonella outbreak were distributed in Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and West … [Read more...]
Wawona Peaches Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 23 in MN, 68 Nationally
A Wawona peaches Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 23 in Minnesota and 68 nationwide, according to a press release from the Minnesota Department of Health. This Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak is linked to the consumption of fresh, whole peaches supplied by Wawona Packing Company. Patients said they purchased peaches from ALDI and Target and perhaps other retail locations. On August 19, 2020, ALDI announced a recall of Wawona peaches, including both loose and bagged peaches. Target is also now removing peaches from its stores. Twenty-three Minnesotans are part of this outbreak, which has sickened at least 68 people in eight other states nationwide. The patient age range is from 3 to 92 years, with a median age of 28. Six of these patients were hospitalized and all have … [Read more...]
Maison Terre Goldenseal Root Powder Recalled; One Infant Has Died
Maison Terre of Little Rock, Arkansas is recalling all lots of Maison Terre Goldenseal Root Powder for bacterial contamination. FDA laboratory analysis of product samples found the product is contaminated with Enterobacter cloacae, Cronobacter sakazakii, and Cronobacter dublinensis, among others. This product was purchased from Starwest Botanicals of Sacramento, California, and repackaged to sell to consumers. The recall notice states, "The use of contaminated product in otherwise healthy patients can result in infections necessitating antimicrobial and potentially surgical treatment. In individuals with weak immune systems and infants, the use of the product can result in death. Maison Terre has received a report of one infant death associated with use of this product on the … [Read more...]
