Last week, a recall was issued for herbal tea produced by U.S. Deer Antlers Exports and Imports because of the risk of botulism food poisoning. The California Department of Public Health has issued a health warning about those products and is investigating two possible cases of botulism in Orange County residents. Both of those patients drank U.S. Deer Antlers Exports and Imports, Inc. herbal tea products in March 2017. There is no word on the condition of the patients, or if they have been hospitalized. U.S. Deer Antlers Exports and Imports of Los Angeles is voluntarily recalling all of their herbal tea products in plastic pouches. The 6" x 4" plastic tea pouches are labeled in Korean and do not include any lot codes or best by dates. These teas were sold to acupuncturists and … [Read more...]
Botulism Sickens Five at Valley Oak Food and Fuel in Walnut Grove, CA
A botulism outbreak at Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station in Walnut Grove, California is being investigated by the Sacramento County Department of Health, which has just released information about the situation. Public health officials are working with the California Department of Public Health and the Sacramento County of Environmental Management to stop the sale of prepared food items at that location. Public Health is asking that anyone who consumed prepared food from Valley Oak Food and Fuel in Walnut Grove from April 23, 2017 through today, May 8, 2017, and has been sick see a doctor immediately. Botulism food poisoning can be fatal. According to news reports, five people have been hospitalized in this outbreak, and all are in serious condition. Four of the five patients … [Read more...]
Botulism Outbreak at Valley Oak Food and Fuel in Walnut Grove, CA
A botulism outbreak has sickened five people who ate food from the Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station in Walnut Grove, California, according to the Sacramento Bee. Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye told the paper that five cases are under investigation. All of the patients are hospitalized in serious condition. Four of those sickened said they ate prepared food purchased from the gas station. The bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, that sickened those people produces a nerve toxin when it grows under anaerobic conditions (without oxygen). Improperly processed canned foods are the most common source of this type of food poisoning. When the bacteria grows, it releases a toxin called botulism. The toxin acts on a person's nervous system. Attorney Fred … [Read more...]
Why Are JEM Nut Butters Contaminated with Salmonella?
The Salmonella outbreak linked to JEM raw brand sprouted nut butter spreads has sickened at least 11 people in 9 states. This is not the first time nut butters have caused illness. Why are these products, which are relatively low in moisture and not usually considered a food safety risk, harboring pathogenic bacteria? According to the University of California-Davis, tree nuts can be a vehicle for foodborne pathogens. The tree nuts are too dry to support the growth of bacteria, but Salmonella and E. coli bacteria cause illness with only a few present. Tree nut handlers are supposed to consider Salmonella and STEC bacteria a major public health risk in their HACCP plans. Any raw food is a risk for bacteria, whether it's raw nuts, poultry, beef, seafood, or produce. Contamination can … [Read more...]
Rapid Response on Ohio’s Church Potluck Botulism Outbreak
The botulism outbreak at the Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church in Lancaster, Ohio in April 2015 was the nation's largest in 40 years. The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) released a study on the outbreak that gives credit to early diagnoses that limited the number of deaths. One person died in this botulism outbreak; and 29 people were sickened. The last time an outbreak of 10 or more people resulted in a death in the U.S. was in 1978. An outbreak in New Mexico at that time sickened 34 people and killed one person. It can be difficult to diagnose botulism, since the early symptoms, including difficulty swallowing, facial weakness, and drooping eyelids, can mimic a stroke. On April 21, 2015, the Fairfield Medical Center contacted with Ohio Department of Health … [Read more...]
Botulism Case in North Carolina: Be Careful with Home Canning
Home canning is becoming more popular, since more people are planting gardens, supporting locally grown produce, and the "clean food" movement gathers steam. But canning low-acid foods, such as potatoes, carrots, and meat, can be tricky. One mistake and one bite of an improperly canned food, and you could die. A woman in North Carolina contracted botulism earlier this year, according to a presentation at the Governor's Task Force on Food Safety and Defense at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center in Research Triangle Park. The North Carolina Health News broke the story. Botulism spores are produced by the Clostridium botulism bacteria. They can survive just about anything. They live in dirt, and can be on any plant harvested from any container, garden, or farm. The spores grow in … [Read more...]
After Botulism Outbreaks, CDC Issues Home Canning Tips
After two botulism outbreaks were reported in one month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has compiled some tips on home canning, the most common source of foodborne botulism. In New Mexico, two people sickened with botulism were hospitalized in Texas. In Ohio, at least 21 people who ate at a church potluck were sickened and one of them died. Botulism is caused by a nerve toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum which is found in soil and dust. Symptoms include: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, muscle weakness, descending paralysis, difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. Death occurs when the muscles that control breathing are paralyzed. Between 1996 to 2008, 116 foodborne … [Read more...]
Home Canned Potatoes Likely Caused Ohio Church Botulism Outbreak
Public health officials in Ohio have found that potato salad made from home-canned potatoes likely caused the deadly botulism outbreak at the Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church potluck on April 19, 2015. As of today, there are 21 confirmed cases of botulism associated with that event. One woman died. There are also ten suspected cases where people are showing symptoms consistent with the illness. Patients have been treated with a botulism antitoxin provided by the CDC. Twelve people are still hospitalized. Improperly canned low-acid foods, such as potatoes, cheese, meat, and vegetables can harbor Clostridium botulism spores. Those spores grow in low-oxygen environments. Canned foods have very little oxygen, which is driven off during the cooking and canning process. It's … [Read more...]
Two Foodborne Botulism Outbreaks in One Month
Foodborne botulism is rare, but this month two outbreaks have been reported, one in New Mexico and one in Ohio. In New Mexico, two people were sickened and hospitalized in Texas. In Ohio, at least 19 people who ate at a church potluck were sickened and one of them died. Patients in that outbreak are being treated at the Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, Ohio. Health officials have not yet determined the food source for either outbreak. In Ohio, the list of possible suspects includes 20 items. Botulism is caused by a nerve toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum which is found in soil and dust. Symptoms include: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, muscle weakness, descending paralysis, difficulty … [Read more...]
Doctor: Death Toll in Church Potluck Botulism Outbreak Could Rise
The botulism outbreak linked to a potluck dinner at Cross Pointe Free Will Baptist Church could claim more lives, according to a doctor treating the victims at the Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, Ohio. "These people are really ill, and the care is supportive," Dr. Andrew Murry told the Eagle-Gazette. Health officials are still trying to determine the food source of the outbreak which has killed one person and sickened at least 18 others. So far, the list of possible suspects includes 20 items. Botulism is caused by a nerve toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum which is found in soil and dust. Symptoms include: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, muscle weakness, descending paralysis, difficulty … [Read more...]
