A hidden romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreak sickened at least 98 people in 2024, hospitalized 36, and killed one person, according to an FDA report that was obtained by NBC News. This outbreak was not publicized by the FDA. Officials in Missouri first alerted the FDA to the issue when an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak sickened people who were served food by a caterer in Missouri. Those events took plate on November 6 and November 8, 2024. The case count by state was: Arkansas (2), Colorado (1), Illinois (7), Indiana (8), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Missouri (50), Montana (1), North Dakota (2), Nebraska (3), Ohio (8), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), and Wisconsin (2). Illness onset dates ranged from November 4, 2025 to November 30, 2025. The patient age range was from 4 to … [Read more...]
FDA: Taylor Farms Safety Issues Yielded Contaminated Onions
CBS filed a Freedom of Information Act with the FDA over the deadly McDonald's E. coli outbreak linked to Taylor Farms onions. The report states that Taylor Farms safety issues yielded contaminated onions. And the report states that dozens of violations were found by FDA inspectors.. The FDA issued a Form 483, which is only used when inspectors think that conditions exist that could be "injurious to health." In that outbreak, at least 104 people were sickened, 34 were hospitalized, and one person died. Four people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The outbreak, which ended in October 2024, was the sixth largest outbreak of 2024. The report states that Taylor Farms did not implement their sanitation preventive controls. Pooling water was found on … [Read more...]
Unsolved Romaine E. coli Outbreak Ends, in FDA CORE Table
The unsolved romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has ended, and three other outbreaks remain on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Table. Only one outbreak is ongoing. All of the investigations are still active. All of those outbreaks are unsolved. The romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreak sickened at least 88 people. The grower, supplier, and any grocery stores or restaurants that may have supplied the lettuce are unnamed. The FDA conducted traceback investigations, conducted inspections, and collected and tested samples, but no recalls were issued. For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is still ongoing, there are at least 31 patients sick. We do not know the patient age range, illness onset dates, or if anyone has been hospitalized or has died. The FDA has initiated traceback, has … [Read more...]
Five More Significant Outbreaks in 2024
There were so many notable food poisoning outbreaks this year that we decided to add a list of five more significant outbreaks of 2024. These outbreaks are notable because people died, because the situation was so unusual, or because the vehicle for the pathogen was unusual. Grimmway Farms Carrot E. coli O121:H9 Outbreak One person died in this outbreak that was linked to recalled Grimmway Farms carrots. The carrots were contaminated with E. coli O121;H9 bacteria. There were 48 people sick in 19 states and twenty people were hospitalized. The case count by state was: Arkansas (1), California (3), Colorado (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (5), Missouri (1), New Jersey (2), New York (5), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (3), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (2), … [Read more...]
New Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
There is a new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Table. There are only three active outbreaks on the table at this time; one has been partially solved, and one has been solved but is still growing. The new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened at least 31 people. The FDA has initiated traceback, but has not issued a recall, inspected any facilities, or tested samples. The E. coli O145:H29 outbreak that sickened at least eight people has not been solved. The outbreak itself has ended, but the FDA is still investigating. That agency has initiated traceback but has not collected samples or inspected a faciity. For the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak the vehicle is romaine lettuce. The case count has increased from 86 to 88. But the FDA has not mentioned … [Read more...]
Top 10 Outbreaks of 2024: Number Six McDonald’s Onions
The top 10 outbreaks of 2024 continues with number six: the deadly McDonald's onions E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. In that outbreak, 104 people were sickened, 34 were hospitalized, and one person who lived in Colorado died. That outbreak was declared over on December 3, 2024. The final patient case count was: Colorado (30), Iowa (1), Kansas (3), Michigan (2), Missouri (8), Montana (19), Nebraska (13), New Mexico (10), Oregon (1), Utah (8), Washington (1), Wisconsin (1), and Wyoming (6). Illnesses onset dates range from September 27, 2024 to October 21, 2024. The patient age range was from 1 to 88 years. In this outbreak, four people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, which is a type of kidney failure. The person who died did not have HUS. Taylor Farms provided the fresh … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Table Updated With New E. coli Outbreak
The FDA has updated its CORE Outbreak Investigation Table to include a new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. There are currently four active outbreak investigations on the Table; one is unsolved. Four investigation have ended; all of those were unsolved. The FDA and CDC are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157 infections linked to an iceberg and romaine lettuce blend served at catering events, restaurants, and a school. A total of 69 people infected with the same strain of E. coli O157 have been reported from 10 states. FDA’s traceback investigation has identified an iceberg and romaine lettuce blend from a common supplier as the source of this outbreak; however, this product is past shelf life and no longer on the market. The supplier was not named. At this … [Read more...]
Deadly McDonald’s Onions E. coli Outbreak Ends With 104 Sick
The deadly McDonald's onions E. coli O157H7 outbreak has ended with 104 sick in 14 states, according to the CDC. Thirty four people were hospitalized because they were so sick. And one person, who lived in Colorado, has died. The outbreak is over as of December 3, 2024. The case count is: Colorado (30), Iowa (1), Kansas (3), Michigan (2), Missouri (8), Montana (19), Nebraska (13), New Mexico (10), Oregon (1), Utah (8), Washington (1), Wisconsin (1), and Wyoming (6). Illnesses onset dates range from September 27, 2024 to October 21, 2024. The patient age range is from 1 to 88 years. Illness onset dates range from September 12, 2o24 to October 21, 2024. Of 98 people who gave information to public health investigators, 34 were hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 35%. Four … [Read more...]
Wolverine Ground Beef Linked to Red Cow E. coli Outbreak
Wolverine ground beef is linked to the Red Cow E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Minnesota, according to the USDA. The ground beef tested positive for the E. coli bacteria and has been recalled. About 167,277 pounds of the product is included in the recall. The recalled items are Wolverine Packing Company ground beef products. The fresh products have a use by date of 11/14/2024 and the frozen products have a production date of 10/22/24. They were shipped to restaurant locations nationwide. These items have the establishment number EST. 2574B that is stamped inside the USDA mark of identification on the product labels. You can see the product list and pictures of product labels ate the USDA web site. The recalled products include Ground Beef Steakburgers, Ground Beef Patties and … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table Updated
The FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table has been updated. Four outbreak investigations have ended, bringing the total outbreaks on the Table that are still ongoing to five. Three of the five investigations are unsolved. The outbreak of Salmonella Liverpool, which is unsolved, has ended. That outbreak sickened at least three people. And the deadly outbreak linked to recalled Diamond Shruumz products has ended. The FDA has shifted to post-incident actions and activities. The Salmonella Thompson outbreak investigation has ended. The case count remains at 25. The FDA has identified jalapeño peppers as the outbreak source, but no grower or supplier was named. Finally, for the third E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, the case count remains at 28 and the outbreak has ended. No food was … [Read more...]
