What establishments received Salmonella onions linked to a huge multistate outbreak? The FDA has released a list of establishments that may have received onions that have been recalled by ProSource Produce LLC (ProSource Inc.). This list represents the "best information" currently available to the FDA, but it may not include all of the establishments that received the onions, and may include establishments that did not receive the onions. Consumers must use product specific information in addition to this list to see if they purchased the recalled red, white, and yellow onions. Look carefully at this list to see if you patronize any of the stores. The stores on the list are in these states: Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and … [Read more...]
Largest Food Poisoning Outbreak of 2016: Salmonella in Cucumbers
The largest multistate food poisoning outbreak in 2016 ended in 2016, but it started in 2015. At least 907 people were sickened with Salmonella Poona infections that were linked to imported cucumbers. Six people died, and 204 people were hospitalized in this massive outbreak. The strange thing about this outbreak is that even though the cucumbers that were identified as the source of this outbreak, infections were still being reported to officials two months after the recall was issued. Cucumbers do not have a long shelf life. The cucumbers in question were traced to Rancho Don Juanito de R.L. de C.V. in Baja, Mexico. Two import alerts were issued by the FDA, banning those products from coming into the United States. Three outbreak strains of Salmonella Poona were identified … [Read more...]
Salmonella Poona Outbreak Linked to Imported Cucumbers Finally Over
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted, stating that the Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to cucumbers imported from Mexico by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce is finally over. At least 907 people in 40 states were sickened by the outbreak strain. Six people died, and 204 were hospitalized. The final case count by state is: Alabama (1), Alaska (21), Arizona (140), Arkansas (13), California (245), Colorado (21), Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Hawaii (1), Idaho (27), Illinois (11), Indiana (5), Iowa (7), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (5), Maryland (1), Minnesota (46), Missouri (15), Montana (16), Nebraska (8), Nevada (17), New Hampshire (1), New Mexico (37), New York (6), North Dakota (8), Ohio (3), Oklahoma (13), Oregon (23), … [Read more...]
Congresswoman DeLauro Concerned About Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) wrote a letter dated February 5, 2106 to the acting commissioner of the FDA, Dr. Stephen Ostroff, about the ongoing multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to imported cucumbers. Food Poisoning Bulletin told you two weeks ago that the CDC had updated their investigation into the outbreak and stated that 50 more ill persons had been sickened in the last two months. The continuation of the outbreak is puzzling, since the cucumbers in question were recalled in September 2015 and the vegetable does not have a long shelf life. The letter expresses DeLauro's concerns about the outbreak, and states that "this is a public health crisis." She adds that the FDA "needs to do everything within its power to expeditiously identify the ongoing source of … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers
It has been more than two months since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated the Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to imported cucumbers. Since that last update on November 19, 2015, 50 more ill persons have been reported from 16 states. And two more people in California have died, making the total number of deaths in this outbreak six, even though the Salmonella infection was not a "contributing factor" in those two deaths. The number of illnesses has declined substantially since the peak in August and September, but the number of Salmonella illnesses reported every month should be about 1, not 25. Of the 38 ill persons recently sickened, 24 were interviewed. Twenty-four, or 63% of them, reported eating cucumbers the week before they got sick. And since … [Read more...]
Deadly Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers Grows to 732
The Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to cucumbers imported by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce has grown to 732 sick persons, with four dead. One person has died in Oklahoma, adding to the death toll of one person each in Arizona, California, and Texas. Maryland was added to the states included in the outbreak, bringing the total number of states involved to 35. One hundred fifty ill people have been hospitalized, which is a rate of 28%, higher than the typical 20% hospitalization rate in these outbreaks. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Alaska (14), Arizona (114), Arkansas (11), California (192), Colorado (18), Hawaii (1), Idaho (24), Illinois (9), Indiana (3), Iowa (6), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (5), Maryland (1), Minnesota (37), Missouri (11), Montana (14), … [Read more...]
Deadly Salmonella Cucumber Outbreak Grows to 671 Sick
The Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to cucumbers imported by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce has grown to include 671 people sick in 34 states. Three people have died from their infections, and 131 people have been hospitalized. Alabama was added to the list of states with ill persons. This is an increase of 113 cases since the last update on September 22, 2015. Now, 51% of ill persons are children younger than the age of 18. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Alaska (13), Arizona (112), Arkansas (9), California (164), Colorado (17), Hawaii (1), Idaho (22), Illinois (8), Indiana (2), Iowa (5), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (5), Minnesota (34), Missouri (10), Montana (14), Nebraska (5), Nevada (13), New Mexico (30), New York (5), North Dakota (3), Ohio (2), … [Read more...]
Eighteen Sick in Washington State with Salmonella from Cucumbers
According to the Washington State Department of Health, at least 18 resident are sick with Salmonella Poona infections linked to cucumbers imported from Mexico by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce. Nationwide, at least 558 people are sick in this outbreak. The eighteen people sick in Washington live in these counties: Clark (3), King (5), Kitsap (2), Pierce (3), Snohomish (3), Thurston (1) and Yakima (1). None of those patients were hospitalized. State health officials are working with the CDC and FDA on this investigation. The case count by state as of September 11, 2015 is: Alaska (12), Arizona (95), Arkansas (8), California (120), Colorado (17), Hawaii (1), Idaho (20), Illinois (8), Indiana (2), Iowa (1), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (4), Minnesota (29), Missouri (9), … [Read more...]
Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 558
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their investigation into the Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to imported cucumbers. Since the last update on September 15, 2015, 140 new illnesses have been reported. Now at least 558 people in 33 states have been sickened in this outbreak. One hundred twelve people have been hospitalized as a result of their infections, and three people have died. Those who died lived in Arizona, California, and Texas. Fifty-two percent of ill people are children under the age of 18. The new states involved in this outbreak are Iowa and South Dakota. A recall by Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce, which imported the cucumbers, has been issued. The FDA has discovered that the cucumbers were produced at Rancho Don Juanito de R.L. de … [Read more...]
Salmonella in Cucumbers is Not Antibiotic Resistant
In their latest report on the deadly Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to Andrew & Williamson cucumbers imported from Baja, Mexico, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that tests on the outbreak strain shows that 100% of the bacteria are not resistant to antibiotics. That is good news. Still, the hospitalization rate for this outbreak is 31%, which is 11% higher than the usual rate for Salmonella infections. There may be two reasons for this discrepancy. First, a large proportion of patients in this outbreak (52%) are children. Because children's immune systems are still developing, they have a harder time fighting off these types of infections. Second, there may have been so many bacteria on the cucumbers that they overwhelmed patients' immune systems and … [Read more...]
