The deadly Big Olaf ice cream Listeria monocytogenes outbreak was the number three outbreak of 2022, with at least 28 people sick in 11 states. Twenty-seven people were hospitalized because they were so sick. One person who lived in Illinois died. The patient case count by state was: Colorado (1), Florida (14), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kansas (1), Massachusetts (2), Minnesota (1), Nebraska (1), Massachusetts (2), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), New York (4), and Pennsylvania (1). The patient age range is from less than one to 92 years. Illness onset dates range from January 24, 2021 to August 19, 2022. Some of those sick included pregnant people and newborns, and one illness caused a pregnancy loss. Of the 23 people interviewed in this outbreak, all said they ate ice cream … [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...]
FDA and USDA Outbreak Tables Updated: More Illnesses
FDA and USDA Outbreak Tables have been updated with new information. The USDA table, which does not have as many outbreaks listed, had one outbreak of Salmonella Muenchen, with beef as a suspected source, that is now closed with no resolution. On the FDA outbreak table, the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak that is not solved now has 70 illnesses, up from 63 on the last update. Every other outbreak remains the same. There are eight active investigations, plus the Cronobacter illnesses investigation in infants, which has been transferred to an IMG group. The Big Olaf ice cream Listeria monocytogenes outbreak case count remains the same, with 23 illnesses, 23 hospitalizations, one death, and one fetal loss. The last illness onset date was 6/12/2022. Investigators found Listeria … [Read more...]
Big Olaf Who? Amid Outbreak Shops Ditch Ice Cream, Branding
For Big Olaf, the break-ups came quickly but not all at once. And not all of them quietly. In the two and half weeks since Big Olaf ice cream was linked to a deadly Listeria outbreak, licensed shops throughout Florida started switching to new suppliers. One owner has permanently changed the names of the two stores she operates. Although Listeria isn't as common as other foodborne pathogens. It is the most deadly. And it targets pregnant women, who can suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth if they develop an infection. "Five of the patients in this outbreak are women who contracted listeriosis while they were pregnant," said Eric Hageman, a Listeria lawyer, and Food Poisoning Bulletin Publisher. Hageman has extensive experience with Listeria lawsuits including one filed on behalf of a … [Read more...]
Big Olaf Ice Cream Positive For Listeria Monocytogenes
Big Olaf ice cream positive for Listeria monocytogenes, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Sixteen flavors of the 17 samples taken for testing were positive. They include Blueberry Cheesecake, Cherry Cordial, Butter Pecan, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Coconut, Coconut Almond Joy, Cookie Dough, Cookies & Cream, Mint Chip, Kahlua Krunch, Pistachio, Plantation Praline, Superman, Vanilla, and White Chocolate Raspberry. A formal stop sales order has been issued by FDACS on those sixteen flavors. The ice cream was recalled by the company on July 13, 2022. Earlier, nine of the environmental samples taken from the Big Olaf Creamery facility in Florida tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Officials were waiting on results of a tenth … [Read more...]
Listeria Found at Big Olaf Creamery Facility in Nine Swabs
Listeria found at Big Olaf Creamery facility in nine environmental swabs, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS). Erin M. Moffet, spokesman for that agency, said in a statement, "FDACS has issued a stop use order of the processing equipment where the Listeria monocytogenes was found. This will effectively shut down all operations at this processing facility, which had already been done voluntarily by the company." That ice cream is linked to a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least 23 people in 10 states. Twenty-two people have been hospitalized, one person who lived in Illinois died, and there was one fetal loss. The case count by state remains: Colorado (1), Florida (12), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kansas (1), … [Read more...]
Big Olaf Ice Cream Recalled For Possible Listeria Contamination
Big Olaf ice cream recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This ice cream is linked to a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but the recall notice states, "No formal complaints were filed with the Florida Department of Health as of July 1st, 2022," and "Based on epidemiological information shared by the CDC and State Officials, Big Olaf may be a potential source of illness in an ongoing Listeria monocytogenes outbreak." Big Olaf Creamery is located in Sarasota, Florida. The product was sold at Big Olaf retailers in Florida, to consumers in restaurants, and in senior homes. It was also sold at one location in Fredericksburg, Ohio, which was not named. The ice cream was sold in plastic pint … [Read more...]
Big Olaf Ice Cream Linked to Listeria Outbreak Also Sold in Ohio
Big Olaf ice cream that is linked to a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak was also sold in Ohio in addition to Florida, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ice cream was finally recalled today, July 13, 2022, after the FDA said that the product was still being sold even after a recall was allegedly issued by the company last week. The ice cream was sold or served at Big Olaf retailers, restaurants, and senior homes in Florida, and was also sold at one location in Fredericksburg, Ohio. That Ohio outlet was not named. The ice cream was sold in plastic pint-size containers, in plastic 1/2 gallon containers, and was sold to independent retail stores in plastic 2.5-gallon scoopable tubs. All flavors and lots of Big Olaf ice cream … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Table Updated: Big Olaf Ice Cream Listeria Outbreak
The FDA Core Outbreak Investigation Table was updated, with ten active investigations. The FDA states that the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least 23 people is linked to big Olaf ice cream. The quote is, "For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, a product linked to illnesses is ice cream from Big Olaf Creamery, located in Florida." There is still no recall on the FDA recall page about this ice cream, but according to news reports Big Olaf started recalling the ice cream over the weekend. The CDC reiterated their warning to consumers about the ice cream on July 8, 2022. Anyone who has this ice cream in their freezer should discard it immediately, even if some has been consumed and no one is sick. Listeria bacteria can cluster in tiny clumps and may not be … [Read more...]
