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...]
FDA Investigating Nine Active Food Poisoning Outbreaks
The FDA is investigating nine active food poisoning outbreaks, according to the CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. There have been changes to four of those outbreaks in the update released today. For the outbreak of E. coli O121:H19 that is linked to Earth Grown frozen falafel, the government has initiated traceback and sample collection and analysis. The case count stands at 20 sick in six states. Five people have been hospitalized. A recall of the product was issued on October 7, 2022. The investigation of the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in an "unidentified product," has closed. That outbreak is associated with Wendy's restaurants. At least 109 people in six states were sickened, and 52 people were hospitalized. Thirteen people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome HUS, which is … [Read more...]
Earth Grown Falafel Recalled For Possible E. coli Contamination
An Earth Grown Falafel E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 20 people in six states, according to the FDA. The outbreak announcement was inside a recall notice posted today. Two varieties of the falafel are included in this recall: Traditional Vegan and Garlic & Herb. The recalling firm is Cuisine Innovations Unlimited LLC of Lakewood, New Jersey. The products were sold exclusively by Aldi. The recalled products are Earth Grown Vegan Traditional Falafel and Earth Grown Garlic & Herb Falafel in 12 ounce packages. The product is in a bag inside a box that is marked with any of these lot numbers: 1472, 1481, 1531, 1532, 1541, 1552, 1561, 1581, 1601, 1611, 1612, 1661, 1682, 1732, 1752, 1762, 1782, 1802, and 1812. The products were shipped to Aldi stores after June 24, 2021. … [Read more...]
What Are Common Food Poisoning Pathogen Incubation Periods?
Every time there is an outbreak and the cause or pathogen is not immediately apparent, investigators have several clues they can use to help them solve it. One is the incubation period, of the time between when a person eats contaminated food and they start getting sick. These facts are complicated by the fact that most people think the last thing they ate made them sick, which is often not the case. What are common food poisoning pathogen incubation periods? All pathogens have different incubation periods that can range from hours to days or even weeks and months. While there is always a range, these incubation periods are true across all outbreaks. Common Food Poisoning Pathogen Incubation Periods Bacillus cereus can cause illness especially in foods that have been sitting out … [Read more...]
Wendy’s Romaine E. coli Outbreak Case Count Rises to 97
The Wendy's romaine E. coli outbreak case count has risen to include at least 97 sick in six states, with 43 hospitalized. Ten people are suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of 13 new illnesses, five new hospitalizations, two more with HUS, and two new states: New York and Kentucky. The patient case count by state is: Indiana (11), Kentucky (1), Michigan (58), New York (1), Ohio (24), and Pennsylvania (2). Illness onset dates range from July 25, 2022 to August 15, 2022. The patient age range is from 3 to 94 years. Of 81 people who gave information about their health to investigators, 43, or 53%, have been hospitalized, which is a very high hospitalization … [Read more...]
