Organic Carrots recalled in Canada for possible E. coli 121 are some of the same varieties as the ones recalled in the U.S., that are linked to an outbreak there. No illnesses have been reported in Canada in connection to the consumption of these products. The recalling firm is Grimmway Farms. These carrots were sold nationwide at the retail level. You can see the long list of recalled products at the CFIA web site, along with the package size, product name, UPC number, and best by dates. The recalled products include Organic Juice Carrots, Fresh Carrots, Organic Baby-Cut Carrots, Organic Carrots, and Organic Petite Carrots, The brand names that the carrots were sold under include Bunny-Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments Organic, and PC Organics. Please check your refrigerator and … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreaks Were Solved on New FDA CORE Table
The Cyclospora Outbreaks were solved on the new FDA CORE Outbreak Investigations Table, but no corporations were named as being responsible for those products. In addition, a new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was added to the Table. There are eight outbreaks on the Table; two have been solved. The new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least 18 people. The FDA has initiated traceback, but has not collected or tested samples, or inspected any facilities. For the E. coli O121:H19 outbreak in a not yet identified food, there are 37 patients, an increase of four more patients since the last update. The FDA has conducted traceback but has performed no other activities. For the E. coli O26:H11 outbreak, at least nine people are sick. No recall has been initiated, but traceback has … [Read more...]
2021 Chipotle and Panera Romaine E. coli Outbreak
In 2021, health departments in Washington and Minnesota did something that doesn't happen very often. They solved an E. coli outbreak linked to leafy greens. "It is rare to be able to identify the outbreak vehicle for commercially distributed food like romaine lettuce (much less link back to a farm source) with only four laboratory-confirmed cases who consumed the romaine lettuce at four different restaurant locations in two states," Doug Schultz, an information officer at the Minnesota Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. The outbreak was never announced because, by the time investigators identified the specific grower, there was no ongoing risk to the public, he said. Stream of Unsolved Outbreaks Leafy greens recently overtook ground beef to become the leading … [Read more...]
ALDI Falafel Outbreak Investigation Added to FDA CORE Table
The new ALDI falafel outbreak investigation has been added to the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table with at least 20 people sick with E. coli O121:H19 infections in six states, and five hospitalized. The case count by state is: Florida (2), Iowa (1), Kansas (1), Michigan (11), Ohio (1), and Wisconsin (4). The falafel was sold at ALDI stores in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Gouda-Like E. coli O121 Outbreak in Canada Recommendations
A report on a raw milk Gouda-like E. coli O121 outbreak in British Columbia, Canada in 2018 has prompted recommendations for more controls on this type of product. The outbreak in 2018 sickened seven people. Four of the seven cases ate the same raw milk Gouda-type cheese between August and October 2018. The implicated cheese was aged longer than the minimum requirement of 60 days, and investigators found no production deficiencies at the facility. The dairy plant was compliant with current Canadian regulatory requirements. One sample of the cheese tested positive for E. coli O121. The investigators recommend that raw milk Gouda and Gouda-like cheeses should be labeled to increase consumer awareness of the potential risks in these types of products. They also recommend … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In On Bison Burgers E. coli O103 and O121 Outbreak
An E. coli O103 and O121 outbreak linked to Northfork Bison ground bison and Bison Burgers/Buffalo Burgers has sickened at least 21 people in 7 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These products are imported from Canada. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (4), Michigan (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (2), New York (9), and Pennsylvania (3). Eight people have been hospitalized. No cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, have been reported. Illness onset dates range from March 18 to June 18, 2019. The patient age range is from 6 to 79 years. Six people are sick with E. coli O103, 13 are sick with E. coli O121, and 2 people are sick with both of these pathogens. Epidemiologic and traceback information … [Read more...]
E. coli O121 and O103 Outbreak Associated with Ground Bison Sickens 21
An E. coli O121 and O103 outbreak likely linked to ground bison supplied by Northfork Bison Distributors has sickened at least 21 people in 7 states. This investigation into this outbreak is being conducted by the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, since the supplier is in Québec, Canada. The CDC and FDA have analyzed traceback information to determine that ground bison supplied by Northfork Bison Distributors is the likely cause of this outbreak. The FDA regulates bison meat because authority to do so is not assigned specifically to the USDA in the Federal Meat Inspection Act. The states where ill persons live are Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Eight people have been … [Read more...]
Rad Cat Raw Diet Pet Foods Lots Recalled for Possible Listeria and E. coli O121 Contamination
Radagast Pet Food of Portland, Oregon is recalling three lots of Rad Cat Raw Diet Free-Range Chicken Recipe pet food because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Also recalled is one lot of Rad Cat Raw Diet Pasture-Raised Venison Recipe because it may be contaminated with E coli O121. The risk to humans is that people handing these products could ingest these pathogenic bacteria if they don't wash their hands after handling these products. And animals eating these pet foods could get sick or become carriers, and pass the bacteria on to people. Listeria monocytogenes can sicken pets, with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, fever, weight loss and muscular or respiratory problems. E. coli O121 is not known to cause illness in cats, but there is zero tolerance for … [Read more...]
E. coli HUS Outbreak Linked to General Mills Flour Highlights Risk of Raw Flour
Consumption of raw flour can lead to E. coli HUS infections, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, titled "Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) Infections Associated with Flour," looks at the 2016 outbreak linked to recalled General Mills flour. That outbreak was caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O21 and O26 bacteria. The CDC investigation ended on September 29, 2016 and stated that "Although the outbreak investigation is over, illnesses are expected to continue for some time. The recalled flour and flour products have long shelf lives and may still be in people's homes. Consumers who don't know about the recalls could continue to eat the products and get sick." At least 63 people in 24 states were infected with the outbreak … [Read more...]
MMWR Covers Canadian Flour E. coli O121 Outbreak
The CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) for the week of July 78, 2017 has a report about the outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121 infections in Canada that were associated with flour. That outbreak sickened at least 30 people. Patients affected in this outbreak lived in three provinces when the illnesses were first discovered. PulseNet Canada identified a cluster of six E. coli non-O157 isolates with a matching PFGE pattern on December 29, 2016. An investigation was launched in January 2017. Patient illness onset dates ranged from November 2016 to April 2017. As of May 23, 2017, a total of 29 cases were identified in Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. Eight patients were hospitalized, and one developed … [Read more...]
