CBS News is reporting that three people are dead and five are sick after eating a Thanksgiving meal at the Antioch American Legion Hall in California. All of those people were admitted to Sutter Delta Medical Center on Friday, November 25 and Saturday, November 26, 2016 with symptoms of food poisoning. Golden Hills Community Church was allegedly responsible for making the meal served to people that day, according to the report. Other food was donated from restaurants in the area, and volunteers made some of the food. Of the eight who were sickened, three people died, four were treated and then released, and one person is still hospitalized. Health Services spokeswoman Victoria Balladares said in a statement, "if it were a food borne outbreak, we'd expect to see a lot more people … [Read more...]
Foodborne Outbreak Sickens 40 in Shoals, Alabama
A foodborne illness outbreak in Shoals Alabama sickened at least 40 people last weekend, Karen Landers of the Alabama Department of Public Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. Those sickened have symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. Six people have been hospitalized because their illnesses are so severe. The illnesses happened after a private event in Sheffield, Alabama, near Muscle Shoals. About 150 people attended that event. Public health officials believe that "while the number of ill persons and the hospitalized numbers may increase, we may be at the peak of the illness given the average incubation period and course of foodborne outbreaks." Test results may be available late in the week; we will keep you informed of any notices. Officials will not … [Read more...]
Two Restaurants Shut Down in Washington for Food Outbreak
Two restaurants have been shut down in Redmond, Washington after a gastrointestinal outbreak sickened at least 12 people. Those patients were from a single party who ate at the vendor locations on October 30, 2016. The outbreak was reported to Public Health - Seattle & King County on November 1, 2016. The two vendors are Mayuri Foods & Video at 2560 152nd Avenue NE, and Mayuri Indian Cuisine at 2115 Bel-Red Road. Both vendors are in Redmond. There is no laboratory confirmation of the pathogen that caused this outbreak, but officials think norovirus is the cause. The food the patrons ate came from both vendors, but the exact food item that caused the illnesses has not been identified, according to the press release. Both vendors are working with Public Health to try to … [Read more...]
Preschoolers Sickened at Ave Marie Friends School in Florida
Twenty-one preschool children were taken by ambulance to three hospitals from Ave Marie Friends Preparatory School in Lauderhill, Florida on Monday, November 7, 2016. They were treated for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration, symptoms of gastrointestinal distress and classic symptoms of food poisoning. Some of the children have been discharged from the hospital as of Tuesday night. The school, at 5801 Northwest 19th Street, served the children lunch that was catered by an outside vendor. Jeff Levy, assistant chief of Lauderhill Fire Rescue told the Sun-Sentinel that "the only common denominator is what the children ate for lunch." The Florida Department of Health is investigating the outbreak and did not respond to Food Poisoning Bulletin's questions yesterday. … [Read more...]
Soylent Food Bar Recalled in Canada; Reported Illnesses
Rosa Foods and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are recalling Soylent brand Food Bar due to reported illnesses. Consumers should not eat these recalled products. The recalled products were sold through the internet. They are Soylent Food Bar in 60 gram packages. There is no UPC number on this product. The package size is 60 grams. The codes on the product are: 14JUL 17, 15JUL17, 18JUL17, 02AUG17, 04AUG17, 08AUG17, and 10AUG17. Also recalled is Soylent Food Bar in 12 x 60 gram packages. The UPC number is 858369006023. The codes on the product are 14JUL 17, 15JUL17, 18JUL17, 02AUG17, 04AUG17, 08AUG17, and 10AUG17. If you think you got sick after eating this recalled product, see your doctor. If you purchased any of these products, do not eat them. Throw them away in a sealed … [Read more...]
Mighty Taco Outbreak Caused by Bacillus Cereus
The food poisoning outbreak at Mighty Taco restaurants in Erie and Niagara Counties in New York state was caused by Bacillus cereus, Mary C. St. Mary of the Erie County Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. At least 158 people have been sickened in this outbreak. The statement she sent to us reads: "The Wadsworth Center, the public health laboratory of the New York State Department of Health, has identified Bacillus cereus in patient clinical specimens, as well as from refried beans collected from Mighty Taco restaurants, as part of an investigation into gastrointestinal illness among several patrons of certain Mighty Taco restaurants. Bacillus cereus is a type of bacteria that produces a toxin that causes illness, usually resulting in vomiting within 30 minutes to 6 … [Read more...]
Toulouse Petit Kitchen Closed in Seattle Amid Outbreak
Public Health - Seattle & King County closed the Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge in Seattle's Queen Anne neighborhood after a foodborne illness outbreak was associated with that facility. It is located at 601 Queen Anne Avenue North. The restaurant was closed on September 22, 2016. The reasons given on the King County web site were for: potentially hazardous food held at unsafe temperatures, improper cooling of potentially hazardous food, inadequate facilities to control temperature of potentially hazardous food under cold holding, and foods not protected from cross contamination. The page on that restaurant also says: "Imminent health hazard: investigation of possible foodborne illness outbreak." Six out of seven people from the same party ate at the restaurant on … [Read more...]
Hiring a Caterer? Due Diligence is in Order
A wedding held in Snonomish County, Washington state last month was the scene of a food poisoning outbreak that sickened at least 20 people. The caterer for that event, Mr. Rick's Catering, was unlicensed and unpermitted. In fact, that business was recently fined by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department for continuing to operate without a permit since 2012. If you are planning an event and need a caterer, it behooves you to investigate their background. Unlicensed caterers do exist in this country. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department reminds consumers that buy9ing food from permitted food sellers reduces your risk for foodborne illness. No food is 100% safe, of course, but reducing the risk of contamination is important. Permitted caterers employ staff who are trained … [Read more...]
FDA Finds E. coli O121 in Bag of Gold Medal Flour
The FDA has released a statement confirming that they found E. coli O121 isolates from an open sample of General Mills flour belonging to a consumer who was sickened with the pathogenic bacteria. The government used whole genome sequencing to analyze the E. coli bacteria. The isolate was closely genetically related to the clinical isolates taken from sick people. The flour came from a lot that General Mills has recalled. At least 38 people in 20 states have been sickened with the outbreak strain of E. coli O121. Ten people have been hospitalized because their illnesses are so severe. Some of those who got sick had eaten or handled raw dough. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Arizona (2), California (1), Colorado (4), Iowa (1), Illinois (4) Massachusetts (2), … [Read more...]
Safety of Raw Manure Questioned Under FSMA Rule
The safety of raw manure under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) final rule on produce safety is being questioned by the FDA. Submissions on assessing the risk of raw manure as fertilizer are requested. Manure from cattle, chickens, horses, and other farm animals can be, and usually are, contaminated with E. coli and Salmonella bacteria. The FDA is going to conduct a risk assessment to find out how much consumer health is put at risk by the use of raw manure as fertilizer in growing crops covered FSMA's produce safety rule. The agency wants helps of stakeholders, the animal agriculture industry, academia, and members of the public. Produce is the most common food source linked with food poisoning outbreaks. Recent outbreaks just in the past few weeks linked to raw produce … [Read more...]
