Another cyclospora outbreak and a new Salmonella outbreak are listed on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, bringing the number of outbreaks under investigation to eight. Six of those eight outbreaks are unsolved. The newest outbreak is a cyclospora outbreak that has sickened at least two people. The FDA has initiated traceback but has not collected samples or started inspections. A new Salmonella Newport outbreak is on the table with two people sick. No product has been identified as the cause of the illnesses. The FDA has not initiated traceback, has not collected samples, or started inspections. The other two cyclospora outbreaks are unchanged. In the first outbreak, there are 26 patients, and in the second, there are 16 patients. In both of these outbreaks, the … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs in on Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA is weighing in on the cucumber Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 449 people in 31 states and the District of Columbia. The CDC and FDA combined what were originally two separate outbreaks into one as they shared similarities, including the demographics of patients, when and where the illnesses occurred, and the foods they ate before they got sick. The case count by state is: Alabama (4), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (7), Delaware (2), Florida (52), Georgia (33), Illinois (4), Indiana (2), Iowa (4), Kentucky (17), Maine (3), Maryland (13), Massachusetts (11), Michigan (9), Minnesota (9), Missouri (3), Nevada (1), New Jersey (19), New York (57), North Carolina (22), Ohio (18), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (60), Rhode Island (7), South Carolina (20), Tennessee (20), … [Read more...]
More Sick Patients on FDA CORE Outbreak Table
There are more sick patients on the FDA CORE Outbreak Table, with a total of six outbreaks currently under investigation. Four of those outbreaks are currently unsolved. For the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that is currently unsolved, the patient case count has increased from 47 to 53. The FDA has imitated traceback in this investigation but has not collected samples or scheduled an inspection of any facility. For the outbreak associated with the consumption of Diamond Shruumz chocolate candy, the case count has increased to 39 sick, with 23 of those patients hospitalized. The FDA has found compounds in the chocolates, but is investigating to see what effect those compounds have on human health. The investigation of the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak that may be linked to … [Read more...]
Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak Case Count Rises to 196
The cucumber Salmonella outbreak case count has risen to 196 sick in 28 states and the District of Columbia, according to the CDC, but there's a twist in the investigation. Officials did find Salmonella bacteria in cucumber samples, but it was Salmonella Bareilly, not the Salmonella Africana or possibly Salmonella Braenderup that has sickened patients. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (2), Delaware (1), District of Columbia (1), Florida (22), Georgia (16), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Iowa (3), Kentucky (5), Maine (2), Maryland (3), Massachusetts (5), Michigan (5), Minnesota (5), Missouri (1), New Jersey (5), New York (23), North Carolina (7), Ohio (10), Pennsylvania (29), Rhode Island (4), South Carolina (11), Tennessee (10), Texas (2), Vermont (1), … [Read more...]
New Salmonella Braenderup Outbreak Added to CORE Table
A new Salmonella Braenderup outbreak has been added to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. This brings the total outbreaks currently being investigated to six. The new Salmonella Braenderup outbreak has sickened at least 158 people. FDA has initiated traceback. In the outbreak investigation of Salmonella Africana that is allegedly linked to cucumbers, this outbreak is mentioned and may also be linked to that vegetable because the two outbreaks are similar. The outbreak linked to Diamond Shruumz Microdosing Chocolate Bars has sickened at least eight people in four states. Six of those patients have been hospitalized. The government has not yet determined what chemical, drug, or pathogen is making people sick. The Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA is weighing in on the cucumber Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 162 people in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Fresh Start Produce Sales has recalled cucumbers that were grown in Florida and distributed to wholesalers, food service distributors, and retail distribution centers in these states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia from May 17th through May 21st, 2024. This product should no longer be available for consumers to purchase in stores. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (2), Delaware (1), District of Columbia (1), Florida (18), Georgia (8), Indiana (1), Iowa (3), Kentucky (4), Maine (1), … [Read more...]
Have Cucumbers Caused Outbreaks in the Past?
In the wake of the recall of Fresh Start cucumbers for possible Salmonella contamination, have cucumbers caused outbreaks in the past? Yes, they have, and some have been deadly. The FDA is conducting testing to see if the cucumbers are related to an ongoing Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 100 people. In 2013, a Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to imported cucumbers sickened at least 84 people in 18 states. Illness onset dates range from January 12, 2023 to April 28, 2024. Twenty-eight percent of patients were hospitalized. In 2015 and 2016, a huge Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to cucumbers sickened at least 907 people in 40 states. There were 204 people hospitalized, and six deaths were reported, even though the Salmonella infection wasn't considered a … [Read more...]
Fresh Start Whole Cucumbers Recalled For Possible Salmonella
Fresh Start whole cucumbers are being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. The FDA states, "The FDA is conducting whole genome sequencing to determine if this sample is related to an ongoing Salmonella outbreak investigation." The recalling firm is Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray, Florida. There is a Salmonella Africana outbreak on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table with 141 people sick. The FDA publicly announced on June 5th that they have opened an outbreak investigation connected to Fresh Start cucumbers. The cucumbers were shipped in bulk cartons from May 17 through May 21, 2024, directly to retail food distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in these states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New … [Read more...]
