The FDA has updated its CORE Outbreak Investigation Table to include increases in case counts and advances in some of the investigations. There are seven investigations on the table at this time. The first outbreak investigation on the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table is the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak connected to an unidentified food. The FDA has initiated traceback, has conducted an on-site inspection, and has collected samples for analysis. Three people are sick in that outbreak. For the Salmonelal Newport outbreak in a not yet identified food, the case count has increased from 43 to 44 cases. That is an increase of one more patient since the last update. Traceback has begun, and samples have been collected and analyzed. For the deadly Salmonella Sundsvall and … [Read more...]
FDA Adds WanaBana Lead Exposures to CORE Outbreak Table
The FDA has added the WanaBana lead exposures to their CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. It joins the unsolved E. coli O121:H19 outbreak in a not yet identified food, and the Salmonella Thompson outbreak that is linked to Gills Onions diced onions. The new addition to the Table is regarding seven children in five states who have suffered acute lead poisoning after eating WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree. The company has voluntarily recalled that product regardless of expiration date or lot number. Two other products have also been recalled for high lead content: Schnucks Cinnamon Applesauce and Weis Cinnamon Apple Sauce. Lead is a heavy metal that can cause acute lead poisoning, with symptoms of headaches, abdominal pain, colic, vomiting, and anemia, although many children do … [Read more...]
Miguel’s Cocina E. coli Outbreak Has Sickened 35 Patrons
The Miguel's Cocina E. coli outbreak has now sickened at least 35 patrons, according to news reports. That is an increase of five more patients since the last update was issued last week. At least ten patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. And one patient has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. The restaurant was closed for 10 days but has since reopened. The facility has been disinfected and all food has been replaced. In addition, staff have been given food handling training and testing. The government still does not know exactly what caused this outbreak. It could have been contaminated food, or an ill restaurant worker could have been the source. Those who were sickened in this outbreak ate at Miguel's Cocina 4S … [Read more...]
New E. coli O121:H19 Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
A new E. coli O121:H19 outbreak has been added to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. The only other outbreak on the table is the Salmonella Thompson outbreak linked to diced onions. The new E. coli O121:H19 outbreak has sickened at least 37 people. No food has been identified as the cause of the illnesses. We don't know the states where patients live, the illness onset dates, or the patient age range. The FDA has initiated traceback, but has not started a recall, started onsite inspections, or analyzed any foods. E. coli O121 is one of the Big Six Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria that the government started tracking in ground beef this year. But this is an FDA-regulated food, so this outbreak is not linked to meat, poultry, beef, catfish, or processed egg … [Read more...]
Miguel’s Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli Outbreak Sickens 20 in CA
The Miguel's Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli outbreak has now sickened at least 20 people in San Diego, California according to news reports. The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) has not updated their information about this outbreak on their web site since the first announcement of the outbreak on October 24, 2023. That's an increase of three more patients since October 26, 2023. Seven people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Those hospitalized include four children. The patient age range is from 6 to 87. At least one of these patients has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. People who got sick ate at the Miguel's Cocina 4S Ranch location from October 6 to October 18, 2023. People started getting sick … [Read more...]
Miguel’s Cocina 4S Ranch Outbreak Now 17, With 7 Hospitalized
The Miguel's Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli outbreak in California now has 17 patients, with seven of those patients hospitalized, according to news reports. Four of those hospitalized are children. The investigation into the outbreak is ongoing. Officials have not said what food they may suspect as the source of the pathogen. Those sickened ate at the restaurant between October 6 and October 18, 2023, and illness onset dates range from October 13 to October 19, 2023. The restaurant closed on October 24, 2023. The strain of E. coli that has made people sick has not been identified, but it is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). That pathogen produces Shiga toxins, which destroy red blood cells when they enter the bloodstream. When those damaged and dead red blood cells get to the … [Read more...]
Huntley High School E. coli Illnesses Linked to Multistate Outbreak
The CDC has confirmed that the Huntley High E. coli illnesses last month are linked to a multistate outbreak. Katia Martinez, Health Communication Specialist for the Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases (DFWED) and National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Disease (NCEZID) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told Food Poisoning Bulletin that as of October 25, 2023, there are 22 people in 10 states that are sick with E. coli infections and that the Huntley outbreak is linked to those illnesses. Three people in this outbreak have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. Officials have not identified the source of the outbreak, and the CDC is working with state health partners to interview patients. … [Read more...]
Miguel’s Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli Outbreak Sickens 13 in San Diego
A Miguel's Cocina 4S Ranch E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 13 people in San Diego, California, according to the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) officials. That restaurant is located at 10514 Craftsman Way in San Diego. The pathogen that caused those illnesses is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strain (STEC). That means the bacteria produce a toxin called Shiga toxin that damages red blood cells and can cause kidney failure. The County Health Department of Environmental Health and the county's Epidemiology team are investigating the outbreak. The patient age range is from 6 to 87 years old. Seven people have been hospitalized. At least one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. Those patients … [Read more...]