These are the top 10 food poisoning outbreaks of 2023. To be included in this list, the outbreaks must have sickened at least two people in different states. The outbreaks were linked to food that ranged from cantaloupe to flour to ground beef to raw cookie dough to dry dog food. The number one outbreak is the deadly Salmonella cantaloupe outbreak that has sickened at least 302 people in 42 states, with 129 patients hospitalized. This outbreak is still ongoing. Four people have died in this outbreak. Three lived in Minnesota and one lived in Oregon. Many recalls have been issued as a result of this outbreak. If you purchased cantaloupe recently, make sure that the fruit is not part of any of these recalls. If you aren't positive, or if you froze cantaloupe in the last two months, … [Read more...]
Number Two Outbreak of 2023: Deadly Gills Onions Salmonella
The number two outbreak of 2023 is the deadly Gills Onions Salmonella Thompson outbreak that sickened at least 80 people in 23 states. Eighteen people were hospitalized, and one person who lived in Wisconsin died. The outbreak was declared over in mid-December 2023. The case count by state was: Arizona (1), California (17), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (4), Indiana (2), Kentucky (1) Massachusetts (1), Michigan (6), Montana (2), North Dakota (2), New York (1), Ohio (3), Oregon (3), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Utah (19), Virginia (3), Washington (4), Wisconsin (4), and Wyoming (1). Illness onset dates ranged from August 2, 2023 to November 11, 2023. The patient age range was from less than one to 90 years. The government interviewed patients about the … [Read more...]
FDA Updates CORE Outbreak Investigation Table
The FDA has updated its CORE Outbreak Investigation Table to include increases in case counts and advances in some of the investigations. There are seven investigations on the table at this time. The first outbreak investigation on the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table is the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak connected to an unidentified food. The FDA has initiated traceback, has conducted an on-site inspection, and has collected samples for analysis. Three people are sick in that outbreak. For the Salmonelal Newport outbreak in a not yet identified food, the case count has increased from 43 to 44 cases. That is an increase of one more patient since the last update. Traceback has begun, and samples have been collected and analyzed. For the deadly Salmonella Sundsvall and … [Read more...]
Deadly Gills Onions Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 80 Sick
The deadly Gills Onions Salmonella outbreak has ended with 80 people sick in 23 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Eighteen people have been hospitalized. That is an increase of seven more patients and one more state since the last update was announced on October 24, 2023. One person who lived in Wisconsin has sadly died. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (17), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (4), Indiana (2), Kentucky (1) Massachusetts (1), Michigan (6), Montana (2), North Dakota (2), New York (1), Ohio (3), Oregon (3), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Utah (19), Virginia (3), Washington (4), Wisconsin (4), and Wyoming (1). Illness onset dates range from August 2, 2023 to November 11, 2023. The patient age … [Read more...]
New Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
A new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been added to the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. It joins six other outbreaks, some that have been solved, and some not. The new outbreak has sickened at least three people. No food has been identified in this outbreak. And the FDA has not issued a recall, initiated traceback, inspected any facilities, or collected samples for testing. The unsolved Salmonella Newport outbreak has added a new strain: Salmonella Oranienburg. In that outbreak, at least 43 people are sick, an increase of one more patient since the last update. The FDA has initiated traceback and has collected samples for testing. The deadly Salmonella Sundsvall and Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak linked to recalled Malichita and Rudy cantaloupes has sickened at … [Read more...]
Salmonella Newport Outbreak on FDA CORE Outbreak Table
There is a new Salmonella Newport outbreak on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. It joins the Salmonella Sundsvall outbreak linked to cantaloupe, the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to peaches, plums, and nectarines, and the elevated lead poisoning cases linked to recalled WanaBana fruit purees. There are also two mystery E. coli outbreaks, and the Salmonella Thompson outbreak linked to recalled Gills onions. For the new Salmonella Newport outbreak, 40 people are ill. Traceback has been initiated. We do not know where the 40 patients live, illness onset dates, the patient age range, or whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. For the Salmonella Sundsvall outbreak linked to recalled cantaloupe, there are 43 people sick in 15 states. Seventeen people have been … [Read more...]
Two New Outbreaks on FDA’s CORE Outbreak Investigation Table
There are two new outbreaks on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, joining three other outbreaks. Only two of the five outbreaks have been solved so far. The first new outbreak is a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least 11 people. No food has been identified in relation to these illnesses. We do not know the patient age range, where the patients live, illness onset dates, or if anyone has been hospitalized. Samples have been collected and analysis has started in this investigation. The second new outbreak is an E. coli O103 outbreak that has sickened at least 12 people. Again, we do not know the patient age range, if anyone has been hospitalized, where patients live, or when people got sick. No food has been linked to this outbreak. Traceback has … [Read more...]
FDA Adds WanaBana Lead Exposures to CORE Outbreak Table
The FDA has added the WanaBana lead exposures to their CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. It joins the unsolved E. coli O121:H19 outbreak in a not yet identified food, and the Salmonella Thompson outbreak that is linked to Gills Onions diced onions. The new addition to the Table is regarding seven children in five states who have suffered acute lead poisoning after eating WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree. The company has voluntarily recalled that product regardless of expiration date or lot number. Two other products have also been recalled for high lead content: Schnucks Cinnamon Applesauce and Weis Cinnamon Apple Sauce. Lead is a heavy metal that can cause acute lead poisoning, with symptoms of headaches, abdominal pain, colic, vomiting, and anemia, although many children do … [Read more...]
New E. coli O121:H19 Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
A new E. coli O121:H19 outbreak has been added to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. The only other outbreak on the table is the Salmonella Thompson outbreak linked to diced onions. The new E. coli O121:H19 outbreak has sickened at least 37 people. No food has been identified as the cause of the illnesses. We don't know the states where patients live, the illness onset dates, or the patient age range. The FDA has initiated traceback, but has not started a recall, started onsite inspections, or analyzed any foods. E. coli O121 is one of the Big Six Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) bacteria that the government started tracking in ground beef this year. But this is an FDA-regulated food, so this outbreak is not linked to meat, poultry, beef, catfish, or processed egg … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs in on Gills Onions Salmonella Thompson Outbreak
The FDA has weighed in on the Gills Onions Salmonella Thompson outbreak that has sickened at least 73 people in 22 states. That facility is located in Oxnard, California. Fifteen people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), California (17), Colorado (1), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (4), Indiana (2), Kentucky (1) Massachusetts (1) Michigan (6), Montana (2), North Dakota (2), New York (1), Ohio (3), Oregon (3), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Utah (17), Virginia (3), Wisconsin (3), and Wyoming (1). Illness onset dates range from August 2, 2023 to September 25, 2023. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 90 years. A recall of some of the Gills fresh onions products has been initiated. All of the recalled products are … [Read more...]
