There are new E. coli and Cyclospora outbreaks on the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, and case counts have increased in older outbreaks. There are seven outbreaks on the table, and six are unsolved. The FDA does not give out any information about patients until there is some action that consumers can take. The new cyclospora outbreak has sickened at least 39 people. FDA and state partners have started sample collection and testing. In addition, FDA has initiated traceback. A new outbreak of E. coli O26 has been added to the table. There are thirteen people sick in that outbreak, but no food has been identified. FDA has initiated traceback. For the second outbreak of cyclospora, the case count has increased to 121 people sick, from 118 in the last update. Traceback has … [Read more...]
LGMA Launches Romaine Test & Learn Project
With a long history of E. coli outbreaks linked to romaine lettuce in mind, the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) is starting a food safety study named "Romaine Test & Learn." The Packer sites that the study was unanimously approved by the LGMA Advisory Board. Researchers will collect and analyze members' pathogen test data for romaine lettuce. Jan Berk, LGMA Chair told The Packer, "Romaine Test & Learn represents the most significant change the LGMA has made to benefit food safety since its inception. This program will allow our members’ individual testing data to collectively provide meaningful, aggregated data to better understand potential risks." The program was inspired by aviation studies. Those studies shared and aggregated safety data to make … [Read more...]
Consumer Reports Lists 10 Risky Recalled Foods From 2017-2022
Consumer Reports lists 10 risky recalled foods from 2017 to 2022 that you should know about. These foods were recalled because of bacterial contamination and many were linked to foodborne illness outbreaks. The 10 risky recalled foods that are listed in rank order include: Leafy Greens. These types of vegetables were linked to 50 outbreaks and recalls. There were 614 illnesses and 11 deaths as a result of E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes bacterial contamination on these products, including the deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Fresh Express packaged salads that sickened and hospitalized 10 people in 10 states, and the Wendy's E. coli romaine outbreak that sickened at least 109 people in six states. Contaminated water used to irritate crops is one source of these … [Read more...]
Earth Grown Falafel E. coli Outbreak Was Number Four of 2022
The Earth Grown Falafel E. coli O121 outbreak was the number four outbreak of 2022, sickening at least 24 people in six states according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Frozen Earth Grown Vegan Traditional Falafel and Garlic & Herb Falafel were both recalled after the outbreak was announced. Those products were sold at Aldi stores. The case count by state was: Florida (2), Iowa (2), Kansas (1), Michigan (13), Ohio (1), and Wisconsin (5). The patient age range was from under the age of one to 77 years, and illness onset date ranged from July 13, 2022 to October 24, 2022. One patient did develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. Public health officials interviewed 18 patients about what they ate before they got sick. … [Read more...]
Earth Grown Falafel E. coli O121 Outbreak Ends With 24 Sick
The Earth Grown Falafel E. coli O121 outbreak has ended with 24 sick in six states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of four patients since the last update on October 7, 2022. The case count per state is: Florida (2), Iowa (2), Kansas (1), Michigan (13), Ohio (1), and Wisconsin (5). The patient age range is from under the age of one to 77 years, and illness onset date ranged from July 13, 2022 to October 24, 2022. One person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. Officials interviewed patients about the foods they ate before they got sick. Of the 18 people interviewed, 15, or 83%, said they shopped at Aldi stores. Among those shoppers, 14 ate Earth Grown frozen falafel the week before they got … [Read more...]
Mystery Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak Grows Again
The mystery Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak has grown again according to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. There are four other active outbreak investigations currently on the Table. The Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak, which was first posted on November 16, 2022, has now sickened 270 people, up from 269 people the last time the Table was updated. This is a very large outbreak to not be associated with a food. The government has initiated traceback and also sample collection and analysis, so perhaps an outbreak investigation notice is coming soon. There is no informantion about illness onset dates, patient age ranges, or if anyone has been hospitalized. For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is linked to Enoki mushrooms that were imported from Korea, the case … [Read more...]
FDA’s CORE Outbreak Investigation Table Updated
The FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table has been updated to include more information about three of the current investigations. This table does not provide a lot of information about outbreaks. It just informs consumers that outbreaks have occurred. For the new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to imported enoki mushrooms, the CDC investigation notice has been added. The outbreak has sickened at least two people in two states; both have been hospitalized. Traceback has been initiated, and sample collection and analysis has also been initiated. For the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak in an unidentified food, the case count has increased from 264 cases to 269 cases. Traceback was initiated and sample collection and analysis has begun. It's unusual that an outbreak this … [Read more...]
Oklahoma Campylobacter and E. coli Outbreak Sickens Residents
An Oklahoma Campylobacter and E. coli outbreak has sickened residents in several cities, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health (ODSH). This outbreak was originally identified on October 25, 2022 in Hydro county, especially the city of Weatherford, but OSDH and local county health departments have been working with other partners to conduct tests and found more patients. No possible cause of these illnesses has been named. Public health officials are asking residents of Custer county and Hydro, Hinton, and Lookeba residents to fill out a survey, which is being shared through the local Emergency Alert System. They hope that this information will help find more patients who may not have been to a doctor, as well as get information about difference in activities between … [Read more...]
How Many Outbreaks Are Linked to Fast Food Restaurants?
In the past ten years, there have been many food poisoning outbreaks linked to fast food restaurants. The outbreaks slowed significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic, however. This year, there was only one fast food outbreak that was allegedly associated with Wendy's restaurants in several states that may have been caused by romaine lettuce. These outbreaks can be very large simply because there are so many restaurants in these fast food chains. Now that people are no longer staying at home, and are eating out more, will there be more food poisoning outbreaks linked to fast food restaurants? Only time will tell. How many outbreaks are linked to fast food restaurants? In 2022, an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was allegedly associated with romaine lettuce served on Wendy's hamburgers and … [Read more...]
New E. coli Outbreak and Cyclospora in Leafy Greens, Says FDA
A new E. coli outbreak is on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, and the two cyclospora outbreaks that have been closed may have been linked to leafy greens. There are now just five active outbreaks under investigation on that table. The Salmonella Mississippi outbreak that sickened at least 103 people ended unsolved. The Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that may have been linked to cantaloupe ended with no resolution. The Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak that sickened at least 35 people ended unsolved. And the illnesses linked to Daily Harvest French Lentils + Leeks crumbles ended with no cause. In the new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, which has sickened at least 10 people, traceback has been initiated. The E. coil O121:H19 outbreak linked to Earth Grown frozen falafel … [Read more...]
