Food poisoning outbreaks occur every year in the United States. These outbreaks can be caused by bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria Monocytogenes, Clostridium botulinum, Campylobacter, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, Brucella, Vibrio, and Bacillus cereus; and viruses such as norovirus and hepatitis A. At least 48,000,000 Americans are sickened with food poisoning every year. Do you know the common symptoms of all of the food poisoning pathogens? We've collected articles about all of these symptoms, which includes the foods most likely to be contaminated, in one place for easy reference. If someone in your family is sick with these symptoms, you'll be able to get help more quickly if you understand the pathogens. It's worth noting that it's wise for all consumers to … [Read more...]
New Data Shows Rising Antibiotic Resistance Among Foodborne Pathogens
Bad news about antibiotic resistance and food poisoning: New surveillance data from European Union member states shows rising antibiotic resistance to a medically important antibiotic among foodborne pathogens. The report focuses on antibiotic resistance levels in Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The bacteria that were analyzed were taken from humans, pigs, calves, broiler chickens, and turkey. Resistance to the critically important antibiotic ciprofloxacin is common in some species of Salmonella taken from patient isolates. Resistance to ciprofloxacin ranged from high to very high in Campylobacter recovered from people, food producing animals, and poultry. This resistance makes infections much more difficult to treat. In … [Read more...]
Campylobacter Illness Associated with Bad Farms PA Raw Milk
One person is sick with a Campylobacter infection after allegedly drinking raw whole milk from BAD FARMS in Kempton, Pennsylvania, according to news reports. That farm is located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The milk has been recalled and removed from store shelves. Tests taking during routine sampling indicated that the raw whole milk teated positive for Campylobacter bacteria. The milk was sold in plastic half gallons, gallons, and pints with a sell-by date of August 23, 2019. The milk was sold at Emmaus Farmer’s Market, Lehighton Farmers Market in Emmaus, Lehigh County, Trexlertown Farmers’ Market in Breinigsville, Lehigh County, and in BAD FARMS’ on-farm store and Wannamakers General Store, both in Kempton. Anyone who drank this milk and has been sick should contact their … [Read more...]
Raw Oysters Sold by DiCarlo Seafood Linked to Outbreak Recalled
Raw oysters that are linked to a multistate, multi pathogen food poisoning outbreak have been recalled, according to the California Department of Public Health. The recalling firm is DiCarlo Seafood of Wilmington, California. At least 16 people who live in 5 states are sick in this outbreak. The pathogens involved are Shigella, Vibrio, E. coli, Campylobacter, and norovirus. Some of the patients are sick with more than one pathogen. Two people have been hospitalized because their illness is so severe. The patients live in Alaska, California, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Nevada. The DiCarlo Seafood imported raw oysters were harvested from Estero El Cardon in Baja California Sur, Mexico. They were sold at restaurants in California. We know they were sold at Fish Market Restaurant at … [Read more...]
Oysters From Mexico Linked to Multistate Shigella Vibrio Outbreak
Oysters from Mexico are linked to a multistate Shigella, Vibrio, E. coli, Campylobacter, and norovirus outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some patients were sickened with more than one pathogen. This outbreak was reported by the California Department of Public Health on May 7, 2019; all of the patients at that time lived in California. Now 16 people from five states are ill in this outbreak. Two people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. No deaths have been reported. One recall, by DiCarlo Seafood in Wilmington, California, has been issued. The case count by state is: Alaska (1), California (12), Illinois (1), New Hampshire (1), and Nevada (1). Illness onset dates range from December 16, 2018 to April 4, 2019. The patient age … [Read more...]
CDC Says: Don’t Rinse That Chicken!
The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) is reiterating advice it has given before: don't rinse that chicken! Americans eat more chicken than any other meat, and chicken is often contaminated with Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Clostridum perfringens bacteria. Anyone who purchases raw chicken should handle it carefully to prevent food poisoning. Cooks and even cookbooks have told consumers to rinse chicken before cooking. But that advice is incorrect; don't rinse that chicken! Bacteria can aerosolize under running water, and can contaminate everything within a 3-foot radius of the faucet. That means that the sink, countertop, and even you can be contaminated with pathogens if you rinse your chicken. The only thing that gets rid of bacteria on chicken is cooking it to … [Read more...]
How Do You Know If You Have a Campylobacter Infection?
With the Center for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report report release detailing how foodborne illness increased by 65% in 2018 compared to 2015-2017, people are starting to think about the bacteria Campylobacter. This pathogen was the most common cause of bacterial foodborne illness in the United States in 2018, causing 19.5 illnesses per 100,000 people. How do you know if you have a Campylobacter infection? Most of these cases are not part of outbreaks, which are defined as two or more unrelated people sickened by the same strain of pathogen. About 14 cases are diagnosed per 100,000 people in this country every year. About 1,300,000 Americans are sickened by Campylobacter every year. In 2015, a Campylobacter outbreak in Northern California was associated … [Read more...]
Foodborne Illnesses Increased in 2018 Compared to 2015-2017
Foodborne illnesses increased in 2018 compared to the period of 2015-2017, according to a new report by the Center for Disease Control for its Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report for the week of April 26, 2019. The report states that this increase may are partially attributable to increased culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs). CIDT identifies pathogens that were not routinely detected by other methods. During 2018, FoodNet identified 25,606 infections, 5,893 hospitalizations, and 120 deaths. The incidence of cyclospora infections increased "markedly," in 2018 because there were several large outbreaks associated with produce. And the number of illnesses caused by Campylobacter and Salmonella remain high. FoodNet surveils the population for lab-diagnosed infections … [Read more...]
What Are the Common Symptoms of Food Poisoning?
Given that 48,000,000 Americans are sickened with food poisoning every year in this country, every American has most likely had food poisoning. But many people confuse the symptoms of these illnesses with the "24 hour flu" or "stomach flu." As a result, some patients could be undiagnosed and untreated, and develop the long term consequences of these illnesses without even knowing they had been sickened by these pathogens. What are the symptoms of food poisoning? At this time, there are five ongoing multistate food poisoning outbreaks in the U.S. An E. coli O103 outbreak is linked to ground beef, a Salmonella Carrau outbreak is linked to precut melons, a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak is linked to deli meats and cheeses, and a Salmonella Newport outbreak is linked to raw … [Read more...]
Valley Milk Simply Bottled Raw Milk Recalled for Possible Campylobacter in CA
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...]
