A new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been added to the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. It joins six other outbreaks, some that have been solved, and some not. The new outbreak has sickened at least three people. No food has been identified in this outbreak. And the FDA has not issued a recall, initiated traceback, inspected any facilities, or collected samples for testing. The unsolved Salmonella Newport outbreak has added a new strain: Salmonella Oranienburg. In that outbreak, at least 43 people are sick, an increase of one more patient since the last update. The FDA has initiated traceback and has collected samples for testing. The deadly Salmonella Sundsvall and Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak linked to recalled Malichita and Rudy cantaloupes has sickened at … [Read more...]
FDA Lists Stores Where Listeria Contaminated Peaches Were Sold
The FDA has listed the stores where possibly Listeria contaminated peaches by HMC Farms and Signature Farms were sold. There is a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to some of these products, with at least 11 sick and one death in seven states. Ill persons live in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, and Ohio. The recalled, conventionally grown peaches, plums, and nectarines were sold at the retail level from May 1, 2022 through November 15, 2022 and from May 1, 2023 through November 15, 2023. While these fruits are no longer available for sale, some people most likely froze them for later use. Listeria monocytogenes bacteria are not destroyed by freezing temperatures, so these frozen fruits are not safe to eat. The individual pieces of fruit have PLU … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On HMC Farms Stone Fruit Listeria Outbreak
The FDA has weighed in on the deadly HMC Farms stone fruit Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. In that outbreak, 11 people in seven states have been sickened. One person who lived in California has died. Another patient experience premature labor. The fruits, under the labels HMC Farms and Signature Farms, have been recalled. The FDA notice also states that the recalled fruit was sold to other manufacturers who may have frozen or relabeled the recalled fruit to sell under another brand. The FDA advisories will be updated as more information is uncovered. The recalled fresh fruit is no longer available for sale in retail stores, but public health officials are worried that consumers have frozen this fruit for later use. Listeria monocytogenes bacteria easily survive the freezing … [Read more...]
HMC Farms Peaches Listeria Outbreak Sickens 11; 1 Death
The HMC Farms peaches Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened at least 11 people in seven states. One person has sadly died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The peaches were also sold under the brand name Signature Farms. The case count by state is: California (3), Colorado (1), Florida (3), Illinois (1), Kansas (1), Michigan (1), and Ohio (1). The patient age range is from 30 to 80 years. Illness onset dates range from August 22, 2018 to August 16, 2023. Of ten people who gave information to investigators, all have been hospitalized. One death was reported from California. One person suffered preterm labor. There are most likely many more people sickened in this outbreak. Many do not go to a doctor. And this outbreak could still grow, … [Read more...]
Victor Dog Food Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Infants
The Victor Dog Food Salmonella Kiambu outbreak has sickened at least seven people, mostly infants, in seven states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Several brands and types of dog and pet food have been recalled in association with this outbreak. The recalling firm is Mid America Pet Food. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), California (1), Florida (1), Hawaii (1), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (1), and Oklahoma (1). Most of the patients (86%) are one year old or younger, and the remaining patient is under the age of 65. Illness onset dates range from January 14, 2023 to August 19, 2023. One patient has been hospitalized. State and local public health officials are interviewing patients and their families about pets or pet food that the sick … [Read more...]
Miguel’s Cocina E. coli Outbreak Has Sickened 35 Patrons
The Miguel's Cocina E. coli outbreak has now sickened at least 35 patrons, according to news reports. That is an increase of five more patients since the last update was issued last week. At least ten patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. And one patient has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. The restaurant was closed for 10 days but has since reopened. The facility has been disinfected and all food has been replaced. In addition, staff have been given food handling training and testing. The government still does not know exactly what caused this outbreak. It could have been contaminated food, or an ill restaurant worker could have been the source. Those who were sickened in this outbreak ate at Miguel's Cocina 4S … [Read more...]
California Bans Red 3, Brominated Vegetable Oil, Other Additives
California bans Red 3, brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, and propylparaben from being added to food because of possible adverse health effects. The governor signed the legislation on October 7, 2023. Industry has until 2027 to comply with this new law. The synthetic dye, Red 3, is made from petroleum. The law, Assembly Bill 418, makes California the first state in the country to ban the use of these additives in packaged foods. The FDA says they are safe to consume. Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) states that the FDA learned Red 3 was a carcinogen in the 1980s and declared it as a carcinogen in 1990. This 2012 article from The National Library of Medicine states that Red 3 causes cancer in animals. The FDA has eliminated the use of this food dye from … [Read more...]
Miguel’s Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli Outbreak Sickens 20 in CA
The Miguel's Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli outbreak has now sickened at least 20 people in San Diego, California according to news reports. The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has not updated their information about this outbreak on their web site since the first announcement of the outbreak on October 24, 2023. That's an increase of three more patients since October 26, 2023. Seven people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Those hospitalized include four children. The patient age range is from 6 to 87. At least one of these patients has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. People who got sick ate at the Miguel's Cocina 4S Ranch location from October 6 to October 18, 2023. People started getting sick … [Read more...]
Five Raw Milk Outbreaks Highlight the Inherent Risks
Five raw milk outbreaks occurring at the same time this fall highlight the inherent risks of this product. Raw milk is unpasteurized, that is, it is not heat treated to kill dangerous pathogens such as E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Brucella, Campylobacter, and Cryptosporidium. The issue is that a cow's udders are close to the anus. And ruminant animals such as cows can harbor pathogens and not appear sick. The pathogens are excreted in feces and can easily contaminate the udders and milk. All together, these outbreaks have sickened at least 51 people. And since the multipliers for Salmonella and Campylobacter alone are around 30, that means there could be 1500 people sick. The Outbreaks These outbreaks occurred in September and October, 2023. Two of the outbreaks … [Read more...]
Miguel’s Cocina 4S Ranch Outbreak Now 17, With 7 Hospitalized
The Miguel's Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli outbreak in California now has 17 patients, with seven of those patients hospitalized, according to news reports. Four of those hospitalized are children. The investigation into the outbreak is ongoing. Officials have not said what food they may suspect as the source of the pathogen. Those sickened ate at the restaurant between October 6 and October 18, 2023, and illness onset dates range from October 13 to October 19, 2023. The restaurant closed on October 24, 2023. The strain of E. coli that has made people sick has not been identified, but it is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). That pathogen produces Shiga toxins, which destroy red blood cells when they enter the bloodstream. When those damaged and dead red blood cells get to the … [Read more...]
