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...]
Largest Multistate Food Poisoning Outbreaks of 2014 #6
Salmonella outbreak linked to non-dairy cheese made from raw cashews was the sixth-largest multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2014. The outbreak sickened 17 people in three states. Three people were hospitalized. Public health investigators used pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) technology to obtain a DNA “fingerprint” of the outbreak strain. The tests revealed that the outbreak strain of Salmonella Stanley is rare and only been seen 20 times prior to this outbreak. Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea which, may be bloody diarrhea. In some cases, the infection can travel to the bloodstream producing more severe illness. Most of the illnesses in this outbreak occurred during November 2013. The last reported date … [Read more...]
Cashew Cheese Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 17 Sick
A Salmonella outbreak linked to non-dairy cheese made from cashews has ended after sickening 17 people in three states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Three people were hospitalized. The maker of the cheese, Cultured Kitchen of West Sacramento, issued a recall for the cheese on December 31. Most of the illnesses occurred during November 2013. The last reported date of onset of illness was January 3, the same day the outbreak was announced by the CDC. Fifteen of the illnesses were in California. Nevada and Wyoming each reported one case. Case patients ranged in age from 2 years to 83 years old. The median age was 27. Fifty-three percent of case patients were male. Public health investigators used pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) testing … [Read more...]
