The FDA updated its investigation into the E. coli O103 clover sprouts outbreak that has sickened at least 14 people in five states. Yesterday, Chicago Indoor Garden recalled its products made with clover sprouts, since the FDA found the outbreak strain of E. coli O103 in a sample of the raw sprouts. The original outbreak notice linked this outbreak to clover sprouts served on Jimmy John's sandwiches, but there is no longer any mention of that restaurant in the outbreak notice. These illnesses are new and are not linked to the E. coli O103 outbreak in Iowa that the FDA referenced in warning letters that were sent to both Jimmy John's and another sprouts growing company in late February 2020. Jimmy John's is not mentioned anymore, either in the March 13, 2020 outbreak update or … [Read more...]
Chicago Indoor Garden Red Clover Sprouts Recalled For E. coli O103
Chicago Indoor Garden red clover sprouts are being recalled for possible E. coli O103 contamination. The FDA found the pathogen in the sprouts during its investigation of an E. coli O103 outbreak linked to raw sprouts. The outbreak strain was found on the sprouts, but neither the FDA or Chicago Indoor Garden has said whether any illnesses have been linked to this product. All products that contain Red Clover sprouts are recalled. That includes Chicago Indoor Garden Red Clover sprouts in a 4 ounce clamshell, Red clover in 2 pound boxes, Sprouts salad in a 6 ounce clamshell container, Mixed Greens in a 4 ounce clamshell container, and Spring Salad in a 6 ounce clamshell container. These products containing these sprouts purchased with "Best By" dates from 12/1/19 through 3/12/20 … [Read more...]
FDA Warns Against Chicago Indoor Garden Sprouts in E. coli Update
The FDA has released an update on the E. coli O103 outbreak likely linked to clover sprouts, but this time is warning consumers not to eat Chicago Indoor Garden red clover sprouts and other products. FDA analysis found E. coli O103 in some of these products, which all contain sprouts. Whole genome sequencing tests found that the DNA in the bacteria on the sprouts matches the outbreak strain. The products are Chicago Indoor Garden red clover (with and without non-GMO labels), sprout salad, mixed greens, and spring salad with best by dates between December 1, 2019 and March 12, 2020. You can see more pictures of product photos at the FDA web site. The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating an outbreak of 14 illnesses caused by E. coli O103 in … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Jimmy John’s Sprouts E. coli O103 Outbreak
The FDA has weighed in on the Jimmy John's sprouts E. coli O103 outbreak that has sickened at least 14 people in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, and Utah. Epidemiologic evidence has indicated that clover sprouts served at Jimmy John's restaurants are a likely source of this outbreak. And this isn't the first time an outbreak like this has happened. The FDA recently sent a warning letter to Jimmy John's detailing the four other outbreaks linked to their sprouts since 2012. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending that anyone who has eaten clover sprouts on a sandwich from Jimmy John's restaurants and who is sick with the symptoms of an E. coli infection see a doctor as soon as possible. Those symptoms include severe and painful stomach and abdominal … [Read more...]
Jimmy John’s Sprouts E. coli O103 Outbreak Info From the CDC
Information about the multistate Jimmy John's sprouts E. coli O103 outbreak has been released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is a different outbreak from the E. coli O103 outbreak at Jimmy John's restaurants in Iowa that sickened 22 people in late 2019. Ill people reported eating clover sprouts that were served at Jimmy John's restaurants in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, and Utah. The government is investigating to see if contaminated sprouts were served at other restaurants or sold in grocery stores. The case count by state is: Illinois (6), Iowa (3), Missouri (1), Texas (1), and Utah (3). Illness onset dates range from January 6, 2020 to February 11, 2020. The patient case count is from 1 year to 79 years. No hospitalizations or deaths have … [Read more...]
New Jimmy John’s E. coli O103 Outbreak Sickens People in IA, IL, MO, TX, and UT
A new Jimmy John's E. coli O103 outbreak that has sickened at least 14 people in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Texas, and Utah was just announced by Frank Yiannas, Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response at the FDA. And yes, it is linked to clover sprouts served at Jimmy John's restaurants in those states. This is a different outbreak from the one that was announced in December 2019 that has sickened 22 people in Iowa alone, and about which the FDA sent a warning letter to Jimmy John's and Sprouts Unlimited this week. Yiannas said, "These 14 new cases are not associated with the warning letter that the FDA issued to the company yesterday, but they do underscore the seriousness of the issue as we work with Jimmy John's to prevent outbreaks like these in the future." The case … [Read more...]
FDA Warning Letter to Sprouts Unlimited Details Info About Outbreak
An FDA warning letter to Sprouts Unlimited, located in Marion, Iowa, details information about problems at the company's facility in the wake of a 2019 E. coli O103 outbreak in Iowa linked to their raw clover sprouts served at Jimmy John's restaurants. The FDA has determined that the company's clover sprouts are adulterated in that they "bear or contain an added poisonous or deleterious substance which may render them injurious to health." The FDA inspected the Sprouts Unlimited facility from December 31, 2019 to January 9, 2020. Inspectors documented "numerous serious violations of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption regulation (PSR), Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 112 (21 CFR Part 112) that may have resulted … [Read more...]
E. coli O103 Jimmy John’s Clover Sprouts Outbreak Sickens 22 in Iowa
An E. coli O103 Jimmy John's clover sprouts outbreak has sickened at least 22 people in Iowa, according to a warning letter the FDA sent to Jimmy John's and Sprouts Unlimited on February 21, 2020. This outbreak was briefly mentioned by the FDA in a recall notice on December 18, 2019, but there were very few details about the outbreak at that time. The FDA warning letter details information about five food poisoning outbreaks linked to Jimmy John's restaurants going back to 2012. The outbreaks were caused by E. coli O103, Salmonella Montevideo, E. coli O102, E. coli O157:H7, and E. coli O26. The letter states that, "Taken together, these outbreaks, which spanned over the past seven years and impacted no fewer than seventeen states demonstrate the corporate-wide supplier control … [Read more...]
Iowa Raw Sprouts E. coli O103 Outbreak at Jimmy John’s, HyVee
An Iowa raw sprouts E. coli O103 outbreak is linked to Sprouts Unlimited raw clover sprouts that were distributed to Hy Vee Food stores, Fareway Food Stores, and Jimmy John's restaurants in that state, according to a recall notice posted by the FDA. Sprouts Unlimited of Marion, Iowa is recalling clover sprouts sold in 4 ounce packages. The sprouts available at retail were packaged in pint containers with a blue label on the lid. The UPC number 7 32684 00013 6 is stamped on the bottom right side of the label. The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals told Sprouts Unlimited that a cluster of E. coli O103 illnesses epidemiologically linked to their clover sprouts has been identified. An investigation has been launched. There is no further information about how many people are … [Read more...]
Multistate Outbreak #5 For 2019: Ground Beef E. coli O103
The multistate outbreak in the number 5 position for 2019 is the ground beef E. coli O103 outbreak that sickened at least 209 people in 10 states. Twenty-nine people were hospitalized. Two people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. As has happened so often this, year, no single source of contamination was identified. But two processors did recall ground beef that may have been contaminated with E. coli O103. The case count by state is: Florida (5), Georgia (51), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Kentucky (76), Minnesota (1), Mississippi (1), Ohio (12), Tennessee (59), and Virginia (2). Illness onset dates range from March 1, 2019 to May 1, 2019. The patient age range was less than 1 year to 84 years. Patients told investigators that they ate … [Read more...]
