The Blue Bell Listeria outbreak is another example of how dangerous bacteria such as Listeria and E.coli can survive freezing temperatures. Rare strains of Listeria in Blue Bell ice cream served to patients at Via Christi hospital in Wichita gave five of them listeriosis. Three people died. The source of the outbreak was traced to a machine at the company's Brenham, Texas facility that produced single serving ice cream treats such as ice cream bars, sandwiches and individually packaged scoops of ice cream. Many of the potentially contaminated products were distributed for use in food service, which was also the case with another frozen food outbreak. in 2013. An E. coli outbreak linked to Farm Rich frozen products sickened 35 people in 19 states in 2013. Most of them were under … [Read more...]
Farm Rich Frozen Snacks Carried E. coli O121 Across Country
Three federal agencies traced a 2013 outbreak of E. coli O121 to Farm Rich brand frozen snacks, including mini pizza slices, mozzarella bites, mini quesadillas and philly cheese steaks. A broad recall of those products was launched, including Schwan's and Market Day brand frozen snacks produced at the same Farm Rich plant in Waycross, Georgia. Across 19 states, a total of 35 people were confirmed as case patients in this outbreak, including two who suffered kidney failure and other harms from a toxic E. coli complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome. Ohio, Texas, Michigan and New York were among the hardest hit states in the Farm Rich E. coli outbreak, which lasted six months as consumers went to their freezers while unaware of the contamination. Farm Rich E. coli lawsuit evidence … [Read more...]
Farm Rich E. coli Outbreak Sickened 35
One year ago, an E. coli outbreak linked to Farm Rich frozen products was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The 19-state outbreak, the seventh-largest, multi-state food poisoning outbreak of 2013, sickened 35 people, most of them under the age of 21. A number of Farm Rich products were recalled in association with the outbreak including Mozzarella Bites, Mini Pizza Slices, Mini Quesadillas and Philly Cheese Steaks which were all distributed nationwide. Retailers that sold the products included: Alco, Food Lion, Food City, Price Chopper Ralph’s, Safeway, Schnuck’s, Supervalu, Target, and Winn Dixie. Of the 10 million pounds products recalled, about 300,000 pounds were sold to schools. About 82 percent of those infected with the E.coli outbreak strain … [Read more...]
Largest Multi-State Food Poisoning Outbreaks of 2013: #7
An E. coli outbreak linked to Farm Rich frozen products was the seventh-largest, multi-state food poisoning outbreak of 2013. The 19-state outbreak sickened 35 people from December 2012 through April 2013. Lab tests on Farm Rich products from patients’ homes established that Farm Rich brand frozen food products were the source of this outbreak. Farm Rich issued a recall for products with "best by" dates ranging from January 1, 2013 to September 29, 2014. The recalled products, which included Mozzarella Bites, Mini Pizza Slices, Mini Quesadillas and Philly Cheese Steaks, were distributed nationwide to retail and foodservice locations. Retailers that sold the product included: Alco, Food Lion, Food City, Price Chopper Ralph’s, Safeway, Schnuck’s, Supervalu, Target, and Winn Dixie. In … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Shows Not All Frozen Meals Are “Heat and Serve” Items
Performing a pathogen "kill step" sounds more like something from a weird video game than a routine part of dinner prep. But killing pathogens in food by cooking them thoroughly, including many frozen foods, is a duty consumers are regularly charged with. The problem is, they often don't know it, as was the case in 2010 when 44 people got Salmonella poisoning after heating, but not thoroughly cooking, frozen meals. Between May 24 - June 19, 2010, 44 people from 18 states contracted Salmonella infections after eating frozen cheesy chicken and rice meals. Chicken was identified as the likely source of the Salmonella. The company, whose name was witheld by the CDC, issued a recall for the products. The outbreak shows that not all frozen meals are "heat and serve" items, but many … [Read more...]
Farm Rich Frozen Food Caused 2013’s Biggest E. coli Outbreak
An outbreak of food poisoning illness associated with mini quesadillas, mini pizza slices, mozzarella bites, philly cheese steaks and other frozen snack food from Rich Products still stands as the largest, multi-state outbreak of toxic E. coli so far in 2013 in the United States. And while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that the outbreak appears to be over, it is still cautioning consumers to clear their home freezers of any lingering inventory of recalled packages. Rich Products Corporation of Buffalo, New York, began to recall its lines of Farm Rich® and Market Day® products in March, ultimately expanding it to include all food produced at its Waycross, Georgia plant. The recalled products were sold at Walmart stores nationwide and at … [Read more...]
Farm Rich E. coli O121 Outbreak Grows Again
The E. coli O121 outbreak linked to Farm Rich brand frozen food products has grown again to include 35 people in 19 states. Nine people have been hospitalized in this outbreak, and no deaths have been reported. Two patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The outbreak has grown from 32 people since the last update in late April. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), California (1), Colorado (1), Florida (2), Illinois (2), Indiana (2), Michigan (3), Mississippi (1), Missouri (1), New York (4), Ohio (6), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (3), Utah (1), Virginia (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (2). Missouri is now included in the outbreak. The new reports of illness come from Ohio and Missouri. Ill persons range in age from one year to 75 … [Read more...]
Farm Rich E. coli O121 Outbreak Grows to 32 Ill
The outbreak of E. coli O121 infections linked to the Farm Rich brand frozen food products has grown to include 32 people in 18 states, according to the CDC. Nine people have been hospitalized. There are no deaths. Two patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. All Farm Rich products, including Market Day and Schwan's, that were made at the company's Waycross, Georgia plant have been recalled. The number of ill persons in each state is as follows: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), California (1), Colorado (1), Florida (2), Illinois (2), Indiana (2), Michigan (3), Mississippi (1), New York (4), Ohio (4), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (3), Utah (1), Virginia (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (2). New cases were reported in California, … [Read more...]
Farm Rich E. coli O121 Outbreak: Retail List Expands Yet Again
The retail list for the Farm Rich products linked to the E. coli O121 outbreak that has sickened at least 27 people in fifteen states has expanded again. Two patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the serious complication of a STEC infection that can cause kidney failure. The list of retail establishments that carried the products is now 107 pages long. The store chains that carried the product nationwide include Alco and Walmart. Several other large chains, including Bi-Lo, Food Lion, Harp's, Homeland, Kroger, Meijer, Price Chopper, and Shop & Save carried the products in many states. Please look carefully at the retail list to see if you patronize those stores. If you do, check your freezer to see if you have any of the recalled products in your home freezer. … [Read more...]
E.coli Use Flagella As Propellers and Anchors, Study Finds
Flagella aren’t just for swimming. For E.coli, these long tails that propel them through liquid, also function as anchors, establishing a hold on surfaces that allow the bacteria to settle in and colonize, according to a new study from Harvard researchers. “We demonstrate that flagella are able to reach into crevices, access additional surface area, and produce a dense, fibrous network,’” the researchers say in the abstract for the study which was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on March 18. The findings could lead to improved design of surfaces used in health care and food manufacturing settings. Every year, more than 250,000 Americans contract infections from E.coli, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms of … [Read more...]
