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...]
Number Seven Outbreak of 2020: Deadly Enoki Mushrooms Listeria
The number seven outbreak of 2020 was the deadly Enoki mushroom Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened 36 people in 17 states last spring. Thirty-one people were hospitalized because they were so sick, and four people died. In addition, six of these cases were pregnancy-associated, with two resulting in fetal loss. The patient case count by state was: Arizona (2), California (9), Florida (2), Hawaii (3), Indiana (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (2), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), New York (4), North Carolina (1), Rhode Island (1), Tennessee (1), Virginia (3), and Washington (1). Illness onset dates ranged from November 23, 2016 to December 13, 2019. The patient age range was from less than 1 to 96 years. Thirty-one out of thirty-three interviewed … [Read more...]
CDC Investigation of E. coli Outbreak Unknown Source 1 Ends
The FDA and CDC have announced that they have completed their investigation into two mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks. Here we focus on the investigation into E. coli Outbreak Unknown Source 1. This outbreak is different from Unknown Source 2 and Unknown Source 3. And this outbreak is the number eight multistate outbreak of 2020 in terms of numbers of people sickened. The first completed investigation was into Outbreak Unknown Source 1, which has sickened 32 people in 12 states. The case count by state is: California (10), Illinois (3), Louisiana (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (2), Montana (2), New Jersey (1), Ohio (7), Utah (1), Virginia (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (2). Fifteen people were hospitalized because they were so sick, and one person who lived in Michigan died. One … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Second Mystery E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak; Romaine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the second mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that may be associated with leafy greens or romaine lettuce. This outbreak has now sickened at least 39 people in 18 states. There are three unsolved multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks ongoing at this time; all of the investigation notices mention leafy greens, and one mentions an unnamed restaurant. The outbreak investigation notice states that "This outbreak is different from the two other E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks CDC is currently investigating." This is the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 which caused a massive outbreak last year that was linked to romaine lettuce from the Salinas Valley growing region in California. At least 167 people were sickened in that outbreak … [Read more...]
Study Finds Low Level Contamination on Farmers Market Food in CA
A study conducted by the University of California Davis has found that there is low level contamination on farmers market produce and meat in Northern California. While the bacterial level is low, there is still "cause for some concern." The study was published in the Journal of Food Protection. Researchers looked at the prevalence of Salmonella bacteria on meat and produce, as well as generic E. coli on produce, which indicates possible fecal contamination. Samples were taken from 44 certified Northern California farmers markets. They found that less than 2% of animal products sampled, including beef, poultry, and pork, teated positive for Salmonella, while all produce tested negative. But slightly more than 30% of produce did test positive for generic E coli. Lead author … [Read more...]
CDC Investigates Third Mystery E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak; May be Romaine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a third mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 12 people in 5 states. The other two outbreaks, which were announced earlier this month, have sickened a total of 44 people. And the outbreak notices seem to suggest that the illnesses may be associated with romaine lettuce and/or restaurants. In this new outbreak, the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 was found in a sample of recalled Tanimura & Antle single head romaine lettuce by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. But the government is insisting that isn't enough to link the romaine to the outbreak. They are still investigating to see if more products may be contaminated with the pathogen. Investigators are … [Read more...]
Wood Ear Mushroom Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 55 Sick
The wood ear mushroom Salmonella outbreak has ended with 55 sick in 12 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Six people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The mushrooms, imported by Wismettac Asian Foods, were recalled in October 2020. The patient case count has increased by 12 since the last outbreak update almost a month ago. And two states, Oregon and Washington, were added to the outbreak state count. The patient case count by state is: 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 range from January 21, 2020 to September 19, 2020. … [Read more...]
One Of the New E. coli O157:H7 Outbreaks Associated With a Restaurant
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced that one of the two new E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks is associated with a restaurant. This deadly outbreak, which has sickened twenty-one people in eight states and killed one person from Michigan, is caused by a pathogen that is closely related to the 2018 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce that sickened 210 people in 36 states. Patients sickened in this outbreak live in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Utah, and Wisconsin. The outbreak notice states, "Several ill people have been identified as part of an illness cluster at a restaurant. An illness cluster is defined as two or more people from different households who report eating at the same restaurant location, attending … [Read more...]
Second Secret E. coli Outbreak Sickens 23 in 12 States, Hospitalizes 10
A second secret E. coli outbreak has sickened 23 people and hospitalized 10, according to information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late last night. The first outbreak, which was caused by a different strain of E. coli O157:H7, was also announced last night. This outbreak is caused by the same strain of bacteria that contaminated romaine lettuce and sickened 167 people in 27 states in 2019. While this information is significant, it doesn't mean that this outbreak was caused by leafy greens. A specific food has not been identified yet, and the government is not making any recommendations for consumers to avoid any particular food. But in another twist, the outbreak investigation statement says, "State and local public health officials are … [Read more...]
