Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an analysis of a Salmonella outbreak linked to vegan cheese made from cashews. The 2021 outbreak linked to Jule's cashew brie marked the second time since 2014 that illnesses in multiple states were linked to cashew cheese. Does vegan cheese pose a food safety risk? If it's made from nuts, it might. Cashews and Kill Steps The CDC's 2021 report on the Jule's brie Salmonella outbreak states that whole genome sequencing tests on the Salmonella strain cultured from patients produced the same genetic "fingerprint," meaning the patients were exposed to the same source of contaminated food. Investigators found this outbreak strain in samples of Jule's cheese, in the facility where it was made, and in the … [Read more...]
CDC Analyzes Jule’s Foods Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak
The CDC has published an analysis of the Jule's Foods Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 20 people in four states. The outbreak was first identified by the Tennessee Department of Health. Two patients said they ate the same brand of cashew brie at the same restaurant before they got sick. The case count by state was: California (15), Florida (2), Maryland (1), and Tennessee (2). The patient age range was from one to 72 years. Illness onset dates ranged from December 11, 2020, to May 9, 2021. Five people were hospitalized because they were so sick. After the outbreak was identified, a search of the National Center for Biotechnology Information Pathogen Detection Isolates Browser found three more patients, two from California and one from Florida. Open-source … [Read more...]
Nine Multistate Salmonella Outbreaks in 2021 Sickened More Than 1,200
Nine multistate Salmonella outbreaks in 2021 sickened more than 1,200 Americans and hospitalized 250, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The only Salmonella outbreak that has continued into 2022 is the Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak linked to fresh onions imported from Mexico. All of these outbreaks were linked to a specific product, and all were associated with at least one recall or public health alert. The outbreaks include: Plainville Farms ground turkey Salmonella Hadar outbreak In this outbreak, 33 people in 14 states were sickened and four were hospitalized. The patient case count by state was: Arizona (1), Connecticut (2), Indiana (1), Maine (1), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (7), Missouri (2), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (3), New York (4), … [Read more...]
Jule’s Foods Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak is Number Nine For 2021
The Jule's Foods Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak is the number nine multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2021. At least 20 people were sickened in four states. Five people were hospitalized because they were so ill. Two serotypes of Salmonella caused this outbreak: Urbana and Chester. The patient case count is: California (15), Florida (2), Maryland (1), and Tennessee (2). The patient age range is from one to 72 years. Illness onset dates ranged from December 11, 2020, to May 9, 2021. Cashew Brie is a vegan food that is made from raw cashews, which, since they are a raw agricultural product, can be contaminated with pathogens. Officials in California and Tennessee found that samples of Jule's Truffle Cashew Brie were contaminated with Salmonella. Lab tests conducted in … [Read more...]
Jule’s Foods FDA Warning Letter Details Salmonella Contamination
A Jule's Foods FDA warning letter details the Salmonella contamination found at that company's facility, after inspections were launched in relation to a multistate outbreak that sickened at least 20 people in four states and hospitalized five. The outbreak was declared over in early July 2021. The facility is located at 2790 Loker Avenue West in Carlsbad, California. The FDA inspected the facility from April 21 to May 24, 2021. The outbreak included six Salmonella serotypes. Four of those serotypes were found in an environmental swab taken from the company's vegan cashew brie, the vegan cashew brie varieties, and/or the incoming cashew pieces used to make these products. The CDC and FDA determined, based on epidemiologic and laboratory evidence, that the RTE vegan cashew brie … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs in on Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak
The CDC is weighing in on the Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak that has been declared over. As of July 7, 2021, 20 people in four states have been sickened in this outbreak. Five people have been hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The 20 people sickened is an almost threefold increase over the number reported in the last update in May. Then, seven people were part of this outbreak. In addition, a new state was added to the outbreak: Maryland. The patient case count by state is: California (15), Florida (2), Maryland (1), and Tennessee (2). The patient age range is from 1 to 72 years. Illness onset dates range from December 11, 2020, to May 9, 2021. State and local public health officials interviewed patients about the foods they ate the week before they got sick. … [Read more...]
Twenty Sickened as Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak Ends
The FDA says that there are twenty sickened as Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak ends. This is a huge increase from the seven illnesses that were reported in the last update on May 7, 2021. Five people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Cashew brie is a vegan alternative to the dairy product. It is typically made with raw cashews. The case count by state is: California (15), Florida (2), Maryland (1), Tennessee (2). The FDA does not give out any information about patient age ranges or illness onset dates. All varieties of Jule's Foods products were recalled on April 22, 2021 because of this outbreak. The recall included three varieties of the cashew brie, an artichoke spinach dip, and vegan ranch dressing. These items were distributed to independently owned … [Read more...]
New Salmonella Weltevreden Outbreak on FDA Core Investigation Table
A new Salmonella Weltevreden outbreak has been posted on the FDA's Core Outbreak Investigation Table. At least six people have been sickened in this outbreak. According to the table, traceback has been initiated, but officials do not yet know what caused these illnesses, or what food may have caused this outbreak. There is also no information about illness onset dates or the patient age ranges, or if anyone has been hospitalized. Of the seven outbreaks listed on that table so far this year, four have been reported on by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and three have been solved. The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Abuelito Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses, ended in May 2021. The Salmonella Duisburg and Salmonella Urbana outbreak linked to Jules … [Read more...]
It’s the Cashews: Seven Sick in Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak
It's the cashews. Seven people are sick in the Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak, according to a new update posted today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an addition of two more patients since the last update in April. Three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. And a new strain, Salmonella Urbana, has been added to the original outbreak strain of Salmonella Duisburg. Two people identified in this outbreak are sick with Salmonella Urbana infections. The case count by state is: California (4), Florida (1), and Tennessee (2). The patient age range is from 23 to 72 years. Illness onset dates range from January 31, 2021 to April 8, 2021. But the true number of people sickened in this outbreak is likely much higher than the number … [Read more...]
Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella Outbreak: What Is Cashew Brie?
The Jules Cashew Brie Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least five people in three states and hospitalized two people. The outbreak is linked to a food called cashew brie that is vegan. But what is cashew brie? We don't know the exact formula used to make the Jules vegan cheese product. But we do know that cashew brie is a vegan cheese substitute that is made from raw cashews that are soaked in water, then blended with salt and usually inoculated with a safe bacteria that flavors the product. The "cheese" is aged to allow the fermentation process turn the cashew mixture into something that really resembles real cheese. Unfortunately, raw nuts can be contaminated with pathogens. Nuts may not seem like a food that is easily contaminated with bacteria because of their low water … [Read more...]
