The Dave's Sushi morel mushroom outbreak has now sickened at least 41 people in Montana, according to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. The Table states that morel mushrooms are the suspect food in this outbreak. Two deaths have occurred in patrons of that establishment after eating there. The case count has increased to 41 from 30 since the last update was issued on May 3, 2023. In that investigation, traceback has been initiated, and sample collection and analysis has begun. The Gallatin City-County Health Department, which is also investigating the outbreak, says that ill persons ate at the restaurant between March 31 and April 17, 2023. Three patrons had "severe outcomes," including hospitalizations, and the deaths of two patrons are being investigated. No causative … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In On Gold Medal Flour Salmonella Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has weighed in on the Gold Medal flour Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 13 people in 12 states. Gold Medal unbleached and bleached all purpose flour with expiration dates of March 27 and 28, 2024 was recalled by the company on April 28, 2023, after testing found Salmonella Infantis in one type of flour. The case count by state is: California (1), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (1). Illness onset dates range from December 6, 2022 to March 1, 2023. The patient age range is from 12 to 81 years. Of 13 people who gave information to investigators, three have been hospitalized. That is a hospitalization rate … [Read more...]
Gold Medal Flour Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 13
A Gold Medal Flour Salmonella Infantis outbreak has sickened at least 13 people in 12 states, according to the FDA. Three people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. General Mills recalled two types of its flour on April 28, 2023 because Salmonella Infantis, the same strain as the pathogen that has sickened people, was found in one type of that flour. The case count by state is: California (1), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (1). The last illness onset date was March 1, 2023. This case count is almost identical to the one the CDC posted on March 30, 2023, about a Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to an unnamed brand of flour, with 12 sick in 11 states. … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Investigation Table Updated With New Outbreak
The FDA CORE Investigation Table has been updated with a new outbreak and an increase in the number of cases in the hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen organic strawberries. There are currently four active outbreak investigations on that Table. The new outbreak has sickened at least 13 people. We don't know where those people live, illness onset dates, if anyone has been hospitalized, or the patient age range. We also do not know the pathogen, or if it was a food sold from a grocery store or served at a restaurant that caused these illnesses. In the hepatitis A outbreak, the case count has increased from seven to eight. Several bands of frozen organic strawberries, including Kirkland Signature, Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Made With, Meijer, PCC Community Markets, and Trader … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table Updated
The FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table has been updated with more informant about the Salmonella Infantis, the Salmonella Hartford, and the hepatitis A outbreaks. There are currently just three active outbreak investigations on that table. For the Salmonella Infantis outbreak that is linked to raw flour, an onsite inspection, sample collection, and sample analysis has been initiated. In that outbreak, there are 12 people in 11 states that are sick. The case count is: California (1), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (1). The outbreak investigation has not been updated since March 30, 2023. No specific brand of flour has been linked to these illnesses. The Salmonella Hartford … [Read more...]
What Are the Current Food Poisoning Outbreaks?
What are the current food poisoning outbreaks? The FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table says that there are four outbreaks being investigated; two Salmonella outbreaks, one hepatitis A outbreak, and a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. Only two have foods attached to them. And then there is another Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that was announced by the FDA in a recall notice that is not on the chart. The Salmonella infantis outbreak linked to raw flour has sickened at least 12 people in 11 states. Three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The case count by state is: California (1), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (1). No specific brand of flour has been linked to … [Read more...]
What is the History of Outbreaks Linked to Flour?
With the newest identified outbreak on the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table a Salmonella Infantis outbreak linked to flour, the question arises: What is the history of outbreaks linked to flour? Because flour is dry and seems so inert, many people assume that it could not harbor pathogens. But flour is a raw agricultural product, and can be contaminated in the field by birds and animals, during harvest, during transportation, and during processing. Many pathogens can survive with very little water. And no "kill step," that is, heating the grain to a temperature high enough to destroys pathogens, is used when flour is processed. That's why food safety experts warn consumers to be careful handling flour, and to avoid eating raw cookie dough and cake batter made with untreated … [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...]
Flour Linked to Salmonella Infantis Outbreak Sickens 12
Flour linked to Salmonella Infantis outbreak has sickened at least 12 people in 11 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A specific brand of flour has not yet been identified, but this is a good opportunity to remind everyone that you should not eat any dough or batter that is made with uncooked flour. The case count by state is: California (1), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (1). Illness onset dates range from December 6, 2022 to February 13, 2023. The patient age range is from 12 to 81 years. Of 12 people who gave information to investigators, three have been hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 25%, which is higher than the typical 20% … [Read more...]
Safer Food Choices For Those at Risk For Food Poisoning
Every month there is at least one food recall about a potentially dangerous food in the United States. These recalls are for foods that may be contaminated with E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, cyclospora, and Campylobacter. Unfortunately, some foods are inherently risky because of the way they are grown or prepared. While the general public certainly is at risk for illness from these foods, there are some people who can become seriously ill if they are infected. There are safer food choices for anyone who is at high risk for food poisoning complications. People at higher risk for serious complications from food poisoning include the very young, the elderly, pregnant women, people with chronic health problems such as diabetes, and anyone with a compromised immune system. … [Read more...]
