Raw milk that was produced and packaged by Valley Milk Simply Bottled in Stanislaus County, California is being recalled for possible Campylobacter contamination. The farm's packaged raw whole milk was sampled and tested by the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the lab confirmed detection of the pathogen. The raw milk is sold in one gallon plastic drugs. Any milk that was purchased or received 3/11/19 through 3/19/19 should be discarded. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue. Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized. In the past few years, there have been many recalls of raw milk and raw milk products for possible pathogen contamination. A 2015 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found … [Read more...]
Raw Turkey Salmonella Reading Outbreak Grows to 279 Sick
The raw turkey Salmonella Reading outbreak has grown to include 279 sick people, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of those patients, 107 people have been hospitalized, and one person who lived in California has died. That's an addition of 63 more people from 24 states and the District of Columbia. Illness onset dates range form November 20, 2017 to January 29, 2019. The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 101. Forty-eight percent of patients have been hospitalized. The case count by state is: Alabama (4), Alaska (2), Arizona (4), Arkansas (1), California (26), Colorado (6), Connecticut (4), Delaware (1), District of Columbia (4), Florida (12), Georgia (2), Hawaii (2), Idaho (4), Iowa (4), Illinois (23), Indiana (7), Kansas … [Read more...]
Tomales Bay Oyster Norovirus Outbreak Sickens 44 in California
The California Department of Public Health has closed Tomales Bay to oyster harvesting because a norovirus outbreak that has sickened at least 44 people is associated with oysters from that area. The CDPH posted a recall and listed 40 restaurants that may have sold the Hog Island oysters. The restaurants are located in San Francisco, Sonoma, Petaluma, Bolinas, Sacramento, Sebastopol, Napa, and Santa Rosa. The closure was issued on January 3, 2019, according to Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County's public health officer. The state of California has recalled Tomales Bay oysters that were served in 34 restaurants by Hog Island Oyster Company. The illnesses happened between December 29, 2018 and January 5, 2019. The illnesses were in San Francisco. Public health officials interviewed … [Read more...]
E. coli O157:H7 Romaine Lettuce Outbreak Ends With 62 Sick
The latest E. coli O157:H7 romaine lettuce outbreak has ended with 62 sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those people live in 16 states and the District of Columbia. The case count by state is: California (12), Connecticut (1), Washington DC (1), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (2), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (7), New Hampshire (6), New Jersey (13), New York (7), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode Island (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates ranged from October 7, 2018 to December 4, 2018. Twenty-five people were hospitalized because they were so sick. Two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The FDA, CDC, and state partners investigated farms and cooling facilities in … [Read more...]
Number 2 Outbreak of 2018: JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak
The number two outbreak of 2018 is the JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Salmonella outbreak that is still ongoing. At least 333 people in 28 states are sick. Ninety-one people have been hospitalized. The company recalled 6.9 million pounds of beef products on October 4, 2018, and then recalled an additional 5.2 million pounds on December 4, 2018. The beef has the establishment number "EST. 267" that is usually inside the USDA mark of inspection, but can be found elsewhere on the package. The brand names of some of the recalled products are Kroger, Laura's Lean, and Generic JBS. The recalled items include ground sirloin, ground beef patty, fine ground chubs, Kroger GB loaf, and ground round loaf. The case count by state as of December 12, 2018 is: Arizona (50), California (107), Colorado … [Read more...]
First Romaine E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak: Number Six of 2018
The number six food poisoning outbreak of 2018 is the first romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that ended in June. (Yes, there was a second that is ongoing, but that outbreak did not make the Top 10 List.) In that outbreak, 210 people in 36 states were sickened, 96 people were hospitalized, and five people, who lived in Arkansas, California, Minnesota, and New York, died. Twenty-seven patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. This was the largest E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to leafy greens since 2006. The CDC found the outbreak strain in canal water samples taken from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. Government officials are investigating to see how the bacteria got into the water in the first place and how the water contaminated the … [Read more...]
Honey Smacks Salmonella Mbandaka Outbreak Was Number 7 of 2018
The Honey Smacks Salmonella Mbandaka outbreak that sickened at least 135 people in 36 states was the number 7 multistate outbreak of 2018. Thirty-four people were hospitalized in that outbreak, which ended in September 2018. The Kellogg Company recalled all Honey Smacks cereal with a "best if used by" date of June 14, 2019, no matter what the size is. The "best if used by" date is printed on the box top. Even if some of the cereal was eaten and nobody got sick, throw it away. Salmonella bacteria can clump in tiny areas and not every piece of cereal may be contaminated. If you decanted the cereal into another container and don't have the box it was packaged in, throw that cereal away. And thoroughly wash the container before you add more cereal or other food. Check your pantry to see … [Read more...]
Raw Turkey Salmonella Reading Outbreak Grows to 216 Sick
The raw turkey Salmonella Reading outbreak has grown to 216 sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eighty-four people are hospitalized and one person who lived in California has died. This outbreak has also sickened people in Canada. That's an increase of 52 more ill persons since the last update on November 8, 2018. The case count by state is: Alabama (4), Alaska (2), Arizona (3), Arkansas (1), California (16), Colorado (6), Connecticut (3), Delaware (1), District of Columbia (2), Florida (8), Georgia (2), Hawaii (1), Idaho (2), Iowa (4), Illinois (21), Indiana (5), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (5), Massachusetts (3), Michigan (8), Minnesota (18), Missouri (3), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (9), New York (15), North Carolina (8), North Dakota (2), … [Read more...]
Romaine Lettuce E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Grows to 59 Sick
The romaine lettuce E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has grown to include 59 people in 15 states, according to an update posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an addition of seven more ill persons since the last update was posted on December 6, 2018. Twenty-three people have been hospitalized, and two people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. There are 27 people in Canada who are sick with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. All epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence from both countries indicates that this outbreak is linked to romaine lettuce harvested from the Central Coastal growing regions of northern and central California. The case count by state is: California (12), Connecticut (1), … [Read more...]
FDA Names Adam Bros Farming in Romaine E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
The FDA has named one farm in California where the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 linked to romaine lettuce was found. The farm is a ranch owned and operated by Adam Bros Farming, Inc., in Santa Barbara County. The bacteria was found in the sediment of an agricultural reservoir at the ranch. The bacteria matches those collected from patients who were sickened in this outbreak. Officials used whole genome sequencing (WGS) to identify the strain. The FDA has confirmed that Adam Bros Farming has not shipped any romaine since November 20, 2018. Officials are working at the farm to try to discover how the contamination occurred and what actions should be taken before the next growing season begins. Adams Bros Farming is cooperating with the FDA and CDC and will recall products … [Read more...]
