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...]
Three More Sick in Raw Farm Raw Milk Salmonella Outbreak
Three more people are sick in the Raw Farm raw milk Salmonella outbreak in California, according to San Diego County officials. Those three patients live in San Diego County, bringing the total of patients in that county to 12. And there are seven ill persons who live in Orange County, so the outbreak total so far stands at 19. The farm is located in Fresno, California. Cases began in late September. The most recent illness onset date was October 17, 2023. The outbreak may continue to row, since it can take time when someone gets sick until they visit a doctor, get teated, are diagnosed, and that diagnosis is shared with public health officials. All 12 patients in San Diego County said they drank raw milk from Raw Farm LLC before they got sick. Three people are hospitalized. … [Read more...]
Raw Farm Salmonella Outbreak Spreads to Orange County
The Raw Farm Salmonella outbreak that has sickened nine people in San Diego County has now sickened seven people in Orange County, according to the Orange County Health Care Agency. Those sickened consumed raw milk from that dairy. Raw Farm LLC, which is located in Fresno, has recalled their raw milk and raw cream products. All of the patients got sick within the last month. The patient age range is from one to 20 years. Orange County Health Care Agency is investigating this outbreak with the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. They are also contacting stores in the county where these products may be sold to make sure they are not available for purchase. Raw milk is an unpasteurized dairy product that has not gone through … [Read more...]
Raw Farm Recalls Raw Milk and Cream For Salmonella in CA
Raw Farm recalls raw milk and cream for Salmonella contamination in California. These products are linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least nine people in San Diego County and seven people in Orange County. All fluid raw whole milk and raw heavy cream are included in this recall. The recalling firm is Raw Farm LLC of Fresno, California. The best by dates for these products range from 10/11/2023 to 11/6/2023. They were sold in California. UPDATE: the retail distribution list for this raw milk has been posted by the California Department of Public Health. The list includes these venues: Bristol Farms, Clark’s Nutrition, Elliott’s Natural Foods, Erewhon Market, Frazier Farms Market, Jimbo’s, Lassen’s Natural Foods, Lazy Acres, Lunardi’s, Mother’s Market, Nugget … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs in on Gills Onions Salmonella Thompson Outbreak
The FDA has weighed in on the Gills Onions Salmonella Thompson outbreak that has sickened at least 73 people in 22 states. That facility is located in Oxnard, California. Fifteen people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (17), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (4), Indiana (2), Kentucky (1) Massachusetts (1) Michigan (6), Montana (2), North Dakota (2), New York (1), Ohio (3), Oregon (3), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Utah (17), Virginia (3), Wisconsin (3), and Wyoming (1). Illness onset dates range from August 2, 2023 to September 25, 2023. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 90 years. A recall of some of the Gills fresh onions products has been initiated. All of the recalled products are … [Read more...]
