The CDC is weighing in on the Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak that has been declared over. As of July 7, 2021, 20 people in four states have been sickened in this outbreak. Five people have been hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The 20 people sickened is an almost threefold increase over the number reported in the last update in May. Then, seven people were part of this outbreak. In addition, a new state was added to the outbreak: Maryland. The patient case count by state is: California (15), Florida (2), Maryland (1), and Tennessee (2). The patient age range is from 1 to 72 years. Illness onset dates range from December 11, 2020, to May 9, 2021. State and local public health officials interviewed patients about the foods they ate the week before they got sick. … [Read more...]
Twenty Sickened as Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak Ends
The FDA says that there are twenty sickened as Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak ends. This is a huge increase from the seven illnesses that were reported in the last update on May 7, 2021. Five people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Cashew brie is a vegan alternative to the dairy product. It is typically made with raw cashews. The case count by state is: California (15), Florida (2), Maryland (1), Tennessee (2). The FDA does not give out any information about patient age ranges or illness onset dates. All varieties of Jule's Foods products were recalled on April 22, 2021 because of this outbreak. The recall included three varieties of the cashew brie, an artichoke spinach dip, and vegan ranch dressing. These items were distributed to independently owned … [Read more...]
FDA Releases Results of Romaine Lettuce Sampling Assignment
The FDA has released results of their romaine lettuce sampling assignment, which was instituted after years of Shiga toxin-producing E coli (STEC) outbreaks linked to that product. The FDA did not detect any pathogens during the assignment. Unfortunately, this is not unusual and doesn't mean that there will not be any more outbreaks linked to romaine or leafy greens. Contamination can be spotty and can vary with weather conditions and the presence of animals in the field. Furthermore, it's impossible to sample every leaf of romaine lettuce. E. coli bacteria tend to clump in small amounts and can be difficult to detect. It only takes 10 of these bacteria to make someone sick. And one head of contaminated lettuce can contaminate many bags of prepared lettuce. In fact, the study … [Read more...]
It’s the Cashews: Seven Sick in Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak
It's the cashews. Seven people are sick in the Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak, according to a new update posted today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an addition of two more patients since the last update in April. Three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. And a new strain, Salmonella Urbana, has been added to the original outbreak strain of Salmonella Duisburg. Two people identified in this outbreak are sick with Salmonella Urbana infections. The case count by state is: California (4), Florida (1), and Tennessee (2). The patient age range is from 23 to 72 years. Illness onset dates range from January 31, 2021 to April 8, 2021. But the true number of people sickened in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number … [Read more...]
Jule’s Cashew Brie Salmonella Duisburg Outbreak Sickens 5 in 3 States
The FDA has posted a notice saying that a Jule's Cashew Brie Salmonella Duisburg outbreak has sickened at least five people in three states. The CDC has not yet posted an outbreak investigation notice. Jule's Foods recalled all of their products for possible Salmonella contamination on April 22, 2021. Jule's Cashew Brie is a vegan or plant-based cheese alternative. The firm is located in Carlsbad, California. Salmonella Duisburg is considered a rare serotype of this pathogen. The case count by state is: California (2), Florida (1), and Tennessee (2). Two people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The last illness onset date was February 27, 2021. We don't yet now the patient age ranges. These products were distributed in these states: Arkansas, California, … [Read more...]
All Jule’s Foods Recalled For Salmonella Contamination and Outbreak
All Jule's Foods recalled for Salmonella contamination and an outbreak, according to an FDA recall notice. The notice states that the FDA and CDC are investigating this outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet released any information about this outbreak, but there is a new Salmonella Duisburg outbreak that was posted on the FDA's Core Investigation Table on April 22, 2021 with five people sick. We still don't know the patient age range, illness onset dates, or whether anyone has been hospitalized. The FDA has preliminary confirmation of Salmonella in Jule's Foods brie products that contain cashews. The company is working with the FDA to find the source of the pathogen in samples that were collected by the California Department of Public Health. Thus this … [Read more...]
Investigation of Leafy Greens E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Fall 2020
The FDA has released an investigation report into factors that may have contributed to the leafy greens E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in fall 2020 that sickened at least 40 people in 19 states across the country. The outbreak was linked via whole genome sequencing and geography to outbreaks in 2019 and 2018 that were associated to the California growing region.; the proximity of cattle is a likely contributing factor. The outbreak caused 20 hospitalizations. Four people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of an E. coli infection that is a type of kidney failure. The illness onset dates ranged from August 10 through October 31, 2020. Leafy greens were declared the likely source of this outbreak after interviews with patients. The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak strain … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Real Water Non-viral Hepatitis Outbreak
The FDA has updated the Real Water non-Viral hepatitis outbreak that has sickened at least five children living in Nevada. The consumption of Real Water brand alkaline water is the only common link identified among all of the cases so far. This brand of water is owned by Real Water, Inc. of Mesa, Arizona. FDA is in the beginning stage of this investigation, and more products may be connected to this outbreak. An investigation at the Real Water firm has begun. What's new in this update s that the government has added areas in the country where the water was distributed. The water was sold in 5-gallon containers through home delivery and subscription; in bottles that were sold online and in stores; and as "Real Water" concentrate that is sold online. The 5-gallon containers are … [Read more...]
Thomson International Onion Salmonella Outbreak Number One of 2020
The Thomson International onion Salmonella Newport outbreak was the number one multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2020, sickening at least 1,127 people in 48 states. One hundred sixty seven people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The case count by state is: Alaska (25), Alabama (2), Arizona (39), Arkansas (2), California (128), Colorado (32), Connecticut (2), Delaware (2), Florida (8), Georgia (11), Hawaii (3), Idaho (43), Illinois (54), Indiana (4), Iowa (31), Kansas (3), Kentucky (3), Maine (6), Maryland (7), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (47), Minnesota (19), Mississippi (5), Missouri (11), Montana (72), Nebraska (10), Nebraska (10), Nevada (11), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (12), New Mexico (3), New York (14), North Carolina (6), North Dakota (9), Ohio (11), … [Read more...]
Salmonella Stanley Wood Ear Mushroom Outbreak Number Four of 2020
The Salmonella Stanley wood ear mushroom outbreak is the number four multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2020. Wood ear mushrooms are also known as kikurage or dried fungus. At least 55 people in 12 states were sickened in this outbreak. Six people were hospitalized because they were so ill. The patient case count by state was: Arizona (1), California (33), Connecticut (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (5), Louisiana (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (2). The patient age range is from 2 to 74 years. Illness onset dates ranged from January 21, 2020 to September 19, 2020. These dried wood ear mushrooms were sold only to restaurants and not to consumers. On September 23, 2020, Wismettac Asian Foods recalled dried fungus for … [Read more...]
