During this strange, pandemic-plagued year, there were exactly ten multistate food poisoning outbreaks to fill out our end of the year Top 10 list. Four of the outbreaks are still going on, and three are not linked to any particular food source yet. The Number 10 food poisoning outbreak for 2020 is the ongoing deli meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. This outbreak has sickened 11 people in 3 states. The case count by state is: Florida (1), Massachusetts (7), and New York (3). One person who lived in Florida has sadly died. The patient age range is from 4o to 89 years. All of those sickened have been hospitalized. Officials say that deli meat is the likely source of this outbreak, since all ten people interviewed for the investigation said they ate Italian-style deli meats, such … [Read more...]
Deadly Listeria Monocytogenes Deli Meat Outbreak Updated
The deadly Listeria monocytogenes deli meat outbreak has grown to include one more patient, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One death has sadly been reported from Florida. The last update about this outbreak was posted on October 23, 2020. The patient case count by state is: Florida (1), Massachusetts (7), and New York (3). The newly diagnosed patient lives in New York. The patient age range is from 40 t0 89 years. And the illness onset dates range from August 6, 2020 to October 30, 2020. Epidemiologic evidence indicates that deli meat is a likely source of this outback. No specific type of deli meat, any store, or a common supplier has been linked to these illnesses yet. Public health officials interviewed 10 ill patients about … [Read more...]
History of Meat and Cheese Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreaks
There is a new deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is linked to deli meats and cheeses. Ten people are sick in three states, including Florida, Massachusetts, and New York, and one person who lived in Florida has died. All ten patients were hospitalized. While people at high risk for serious complications of food poisoning are warned to stay away from deli meats and cheeses, how often are outbreaks linked to those products? The issue is usually one of cross-contamination. If there is Listeria monocytogenes contamination in a deli, the pathogen can spread via slicing machines. One this pathogen is established, it can resist cleaning. These outbreaks don't happen often, and each one doesn't sicken many people, but those who do get sick are usually hospitalized. This is a … [Read more...]
Deli Meat Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Sickens 10 in 3 States
A deli meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened 10 people in three states, according to a notice posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Epidemiologic evidence shows that deli meat is a likely source of this outbreak. The case count by state is: Florida (1), Massachusetts (7), and New York (2). All ten patients have been hospitalized. One person who lived in Florida has sadly died. Illness onset dates range from August 6, 2020 to October 3, 2020. The patient age range is from 40 to 89 years. Nine of the patients were interviewed by investigators. All of them said that they ate Italian-style meats, such as salami, mortadella, and prosciutto, before they got sick. They bought prepackaged deli meats and meats sliced at deli counters at different … [Read more...]
Enoki Mushrooms Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Sickens 36
At least 36 people are sick in an enoki mushroom Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to product imported from Korea. The mushrooms were imported by Sun Hong Foods. The mushrooms were just recalled after a sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. There is zero tolerance for Listeria monocytogenes contamination in ready to eat foods in this country. These enoki mushrooms were sold in 7.05 ounce clear plastic packaging, with UPC number 7 426852 625810. These mushrooms are also known as enokitake, golden needle, futu, or lily mushrooms. The mushrooms were sold to these retailers: J&L Supermarket, Jusgo Supermarket, ZTao Market, New Sang Supermarket, and Galleria Market in these states: California, Florida, … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Exposure at Old Mill Tavern in Homosassa, FL
A food service worker at Old Mill Tavern in Homosassa, Florida has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Florida Department of Health in Citrus County (DOH-Citrus). That person worked at that restaurant, located at 10465 West Yulee Drive in Homosassa, from January 19 through February 3, 2020. It's too late for anyone who ate at the Old Mill Tavern before January 27, 2020 to get vaccinated against the virus, since the vaccines are effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Those people should contact their doctors, and watch for the symptoms of hepatitis A. A hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination is recommended for anyone who ate or drank at this restaurant between January 28 through February 3, 2020. If you have had the vaccine or have had a hepatitis A … [Read more...]
Almark Foods Hard Boiled Eggs Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Sickens 7
An Almark Foods hard boiled eggs Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened seven people in five states, according to the CDC. Four of the seven people sickened have been hospitalized, and one death has been reported in Texas. The bulk, fresh hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods of Gainesville, Georgia are suspected intros outbreak. The case count by state is: Florida (1), Maine (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (2), and Texas (2). Listeria specimens were collected from ill people from April 10, 2017 to November 12, 2019. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 72, with a median age of 75. One illness was reported in a newborn who was infected with Listeria while the mother was pregnant, but the newborn survived. Of the five people who were interviewed by … [Read more...]
Worker at P.F. Chang’s in Sarasota Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
A worker at P.F. Chang's located at 766 South Osprey in Sarasota, Florida has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to a notice from the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County. An investigation was launched and officials found that that person worked at that end from November 6, 2019 to November 17, 2019. The means that anyone who ate at that specific P.F. Chang's in Sarasota on November 6 must get an immune globulin or hepatitis A vaccine today. The vaccinations are most effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Anyone who ate or drank at that restaurant during that time frame should get vaccinated. If you have been vaccinated against the virus or have been infected in the past, you are considered immune to the virus. No additional action is needed. If you … [Read more...]
Gainesville Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 47 People in Florida
A Gainesville, Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 47 people in Florida, according to news reports. The Department of Health in Alachua County first became aware of this outbreak on November 4, 2019. The source of the illnesses seems to be box lunches that were prepared by a local religious or cultural community. A specific food has not yet been linked to the illnesses. The food was apparently prepared at a woman's house to be delivered to other members of the Vietnamese community over the weekend, according to the Gainesville Sun. One volunteer and member of the Tu Vien A Nan Buddist Temple volunteered this information. Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include a fever, nausea, stomach and abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea that may be bloody. If anyone ate box … [Read more...]
Employees at the Kissimmee, FL Denny’s Restaurant Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
Employees at the Denny's restaurant located at 2051 East Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee, Florida have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, and may have worked while infectious, according to the Osceola County Health Department. Two people who worked there from October 14, 2019 though November 1, 2019 have been diagnosed with the viral illness. Anyone who ate or drank at this restaurant between October 24 and November 1, 2019 should get a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccination. These vaccines are effective if given within two weeks of exposure. Anyone who ate food or drank beverages at that store between October 14 and October 23, 2019 should watch their health for the symptoms of hepatitis A; it's too late for a vaccination. Those symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, … [Read more...]
