Nine multistate Salmonella outbreaks in 2021 sickened more than 1,200 Americans and hospitalized 250, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The only Salmonella outbreak that has continued into 2022 is the Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak linked to fresh onions imported from Mexico. All of these outbreaks were linked to a specific product, and all were associated with at least one recall or public health alert. The outbreaks include: Plainville Farms ground turkey Salmonella Hadar outbreak In this outbreak, 33 people in 14 states were sickened and four were hospitalized. The patient case count by state was: Arizona (1), Connecticut (2), Indiana (1), Maine (1), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (7), Missouri (2), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (3), New York (4), … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Salmonella Outbreak Investigated by FDA
The BrightFarms Salmonella outbreak that occurred in the summer of 2021 has been investigated by the FDA. In the report released today, the agency states that this is "believed to be FDA’s first domestic investigation of a foodborne illness outbreak associated with leafy greens" that were grown in a Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) operation. The CDC investigation of this outbreak is included in the relevant links section of the report. The outbreak, which was associated with the consumption of packaged leafy greens from BrightFarm's indoor hydroponic operation, sickened at least 31 people in four states. Twenty-six of 27 patients said they ate leafy greens before they got sick. The firm's products were specifically named by 14 patients. The outbreak strain of Salmonella … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Salad Salmonella Outbreak is Number Seven of 2021
The BrightFarms salad Salmonella outbreak is number seven on the list of top 10 multistate food poisoning outbreaks of 2021, with 31 sick in four states. Four people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The patient case count by state is: Illinois (18), Michigan (1), Pennsylvania (2), and Wisconsin (10). Illness onset dates ranged from June 10, 2021 to August 18, 2021. The patient age range was from less than 1 year to 86 years. The hospitalization rate was not given. Interview data and shopper card records show that 15 people ate or bought a variety of BrightFarms packaged salad greens before they got sick. The varieties they ate included 50/50 Spring & Spinach, Sunny Crunch, Harvest Crunch, and Butter Crisp. An FDA investigation found that BrightFarms greenhouse … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Leafy Salad Greens Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 31 Sick
The BrightFarms leafy salad greens Salmonella outbreak has ended with 31 sick in four states and four hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). On the last update on case counts, which was issued in July 2021, there were only 11 people sick and two hospitalized. Another state, Pennsylvania, was added to the case count. The case count by state is: Illinois (18), Michigan (1), Pennsylvania (2), and Wisconsin (10). Illness onset dates range from June 10, 2021 to August 18, 2021. The patient age range was from less than 1 year to 86 years. The hospitalization rate was not given. Ofificlas interviewed people about the foods they ate before they got sick. They also collected shopper card records to discover which specific products were purchased. … [Read more...]
Two New Salmonella Outbreaks on FDA CORE Investigation Table
There are two new Salmonella outbreaks on the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. The first, a Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak, has sickened at least 126 people. The second, a Salmonella Thompson outbreak, has sickened at least 77 people. We don't know where the ill persons live, their age range or illness onset dates. These could end up being very large outbreaks, since the number of Salmonella cases that are actually reported to the government are much smaller than occur. The multiplier used by experts in these outbreaks is 29, which means there could be at least 5,887 people sick across the country. Traceback has been initiated in both outbreaks, but no on-site inspection has been initiated and no sample collection and analysis has begun. The government started using this … [Read more...]
Active Food Poisoning Outbreak Investigations From FDA and USDA
What are the current active food poisoning outbreak investigations that the FDA and USDA are investigating? While there have been several outbreak investigations that have closed, there are still six open investigations on the FDA Outbreak Table, and one, possibly two, investigations on the USDA Table. On the FDA Table, there are two cyclospora outbreak investigations. Neither has any product linked to it. The first outbreak has 37 patients, an increase of two more patients since the last update 12 days ago. Traceback has been initiated, but there has been no on-site inspection, no sample collection, and no analysis. The second cyclospora outbreak has 119 patients, an increase of one patient since the last update. Traceback has begun, on-site inspection has been initiated, and … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Salad Greens Salmonella Outbreak Updated by FDA
The BrightFarms salad greens Salmonella outbreak has been updated by the FDA. A new recall, for BrightFarms baby spinach, was issued on July 28, 2021. The last best by date for this product, through 7/26/21 (July 26, 2021), has ended so it should not be available in stores, but some people may still have it in their home refrigerators. The company is not producing or distributing any product from areas associated with environmental samples that tested positive for Salmonella bacteria. All of the salads that have been recalled were produced in the company's Rochelle, Illinois greenhouse farm that is located in Ogle County. After the FDA visited the facility and collected environmental samples, testing revealed that Salmonella Liverpool was present. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Baby Spinach Included in Salmonella Typhimurium Recall
BrightFarms baby spinach is now included in the company's Salmonella Typhimurium recall, according to an update into the outbreak that is linked to some of that company's packaged salad greens. These packages of baby spinach are past the expiration date. They were produced in the same Rochelle, Illinois greenhouse farm where the other recalled BrightFarms salad products were grown. These recalled baby spinach packages were sold in the same stores in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana, and Michigan as the previously recalled salads. The BrightFarms Baby Spinach is packaged in 4 ounce containers with UPC number 5706200439, and in 8 ounce packages with UPC number 5706200449. The baby spinach was sold in Mariano's Fresh Markets, select Walmart stores, Strack Van Till, Sullivan's … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On BrightFarms Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA is weighing in on the BrightFarms Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that has sickened at least 11 people in three states. Two people have been hospitalized. The outbreak has grown from the eight patients mentioned in the first investigation outbreak notice on July 14, 2021. The eleven patients live in Michigan (1), Illinois (6) and Wisconsin (4). Illness onset dates range from June 10, 2021 to July 1, 2021. The FDA has visited BrightFarms farm where the salad greens were grown in a greenhouse, and has collected samples. The public will be informed about those sample results when available. And the government is working with the company to see if there are more products that may be involved in this outbreak, or if more "best by" dates have been affected. BrightFarms … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Salads Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 11 in MI WI and IL
The BrightFarms Salads Salmonella outbreak has now sickened at least 11 people in three states, according to a new update by the CDC. A new state, Michigan, has been added to the outbreak total, joining Illinois and Wisconsin. One more person has been hospitalized because they are so sick. The patient case count by state is: Illinois (6), Michigan (1), and Wisconsin (4). That includes one more patient each from Illinois and Wisconsin from the previous CDC update on July 16, 2021, and the new patient in Michigan. Illness onset dates range from June 10 2021 to July 1, 2021. That is an expansion of the previous illness onset date range, which was from June 10 to June 15, 2021. The patient age range is from 19 to 61 years. Two people have been hospitalized because thy are so … [Read more...]
