If you contract an E. coli infection, the symptoms are unmistakeable. Because of the toxins the pathogen produces, and how it attacks the body, patients know they are really ill. All pathogens are assigned a "multiplier" by public health officials. The number is chosen based on how many people actually go to a doctor when they contract food poisoning. The multiplier for Salmonella infections is 29, because not many people need to see a physician when they are ill. The multiplier for E. coli infections is 26, which is a surprisingly high number, given the severity of the symptoms. The main symptoms of E. coli infections are: Very severe and painful abdominal cramps Bloody and watery diarrhea Mild fever Those symptoms usually begin three to four days after … [Read more...]
University of Cincinnati Professor Studies Hamburger E. coli
A professor at the University of Cincinnati is studying hamburger E. coli with a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) grant. The pathogen is E. coli O157:H7, which is sometimes called "hamburger E. coli" because many illnesses are attributed to that food-pathogen combination. And indeed, an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to ground beef sickened 7 people in 2016. Five people were hospitalized because they were so ill. The pathogen is carried in the guts of ruminant animals, such as cows and goats. Those animals do not get sick, but they pass the E. coli bacteria in their feces. That feces can get onto the coat of the animal, and may be spread to the muscle during slaughter. When the beef is ground, the entire batch of hamburger can be contaminated. Shiga … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreaks in 2018 Sickened 296
Three E. coli outbreaks in 2018 sickened at least 296 people. These outbreaks were linked to romaine lettuce and ground beef. E. coli illnesses are serious because if a patient is under the age of five, they can develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), as a complication. That complication can cause kidney failure, strokes, seizures, and death. The E. coli outbreaks of 2018 included the strains O157:H7 and O26. There are six non-O157 E. coli strains that produce shiga toxins. Those toxins travel through the bloodstream, destroying red blood cells, which then clog tiny tubes in the kidneys. They also travel to the brain and can cause strokes. Patients sickened in this outbreak did develop that complication. One hundred twenty seven people were hospitalized, 29 developed HUS, and … [Read more...]
Number 2 Outbreak of 2018: JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak
The number two outbreak of 2018 is the JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Salmonella outbreak that is still ongoing. At least 333 people in 28 states are sick. Ninety-one people have been hospitalized. The company recalled 6.9 million pounds of beef products on October 4, 2018, and then recalled an additional 5.2 million pounds on December 4, 2018. The beef has the establishment number "EST. 267" that is usually inside the USDA mark of inspection, but can be found elsewhere on the package. The brand names of some of the recalled products are Kroger, Laura's Lean, and Generic JBS. The recalled items include ground sirloin, ground beef patty, fine ground chubs, Kroger GB loaf, and ground round loaf. The case count by state as of December 12, 2018 is: Arizona (50), California (107), Colorado … [Read more...]
Salmonella Newport Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef Grows to 333 Sick
The Salmonella Newport outbreak that is linked to ground beef from JBS Tolleson has grown to include 333 people sick in 28 states. Ninety-one people have been hospitalized. That's an addition of 87 more patients since the last notice was published in November 2018. Those additional 87 ill people live in 16 states. New states added to the outbreak count are Michigan, Mississippi, and West Virginia. Illness onset dates range from August 5, 2018 to November 9, 2018. The patient age range is from less than one year to 99. The hospitalization rate in this outbreak, which is 33%, is higher than the typical hospitalization rate for a Salmonella outbreak, which is 20%. The states with the most ill persons are Arizona, with 50, California, with 107, and Colorado, with 58. Of the 227 … [Read more...]
California Hard Hit by JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak
California has been hard hit by the ground beef Salmonella outbreak linked to a 12-million-pound recall. About one-quarter of all illnesses reported in this outbreak, 66 of the 246 total, have occurred in California. It's also the state with most grocery stores affected by the massive recall. The outbreak, which was announced on October 4, 2018, includes 246 people in 25 states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fifty-nine people got so sick they need to be hospitalized. Other states reporting illnesses linked to this outbreak are: Arizona (42), Colorado (50), Connecticut (1), Hawaii (4), Idaho (3), Iowa (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (2), Missouri (3), Montana (8), New Mexico … [Read more...]
JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Recall Associated With Salmonella Outbreak Expands
JBS Tolleson ground beef is associated with a Salmonella Newport outbreak that has sickened at least 246 people in 25 states. The recall issued in association with that outbreak that was originally announced on October 4, 2018 has now doubled. An additional 5,156,076 pounds of raw beef products is recalled, for a total of 12,093,271 pounds. The raw, non-intact beef items were packaged on various dates ranging from July 26, 2018 to September 7, 2018. All of the recalled products have the establishment number "EST. 267" inside the USDA mark of inspection or somewhere else on the label. They were shipped to retail locations and institutions nationwide. You can see the long list of recalled products, along with product code, use by date, and distribution level, at the USDA web site. The … [Read more...]
Swift Beef Recalls Ground Beef Products for Possible E. coli O157:H7
Swift Beef Company of Hyrum, Utah is recalling about 99,260 pounds of raw non-intact ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this issue. The products were made on October 24, 2018. The recalled products are 2,000 pounds of bulk pallets of Swift Ground Beef 81/19 (81% lean) Fine Grind Combo with product code 42982; 8-10 pound plastic wrapped chubs of “blue ribbon BEEF” Ground Beef 81/19 (81% lean) Coarse Grind with the product code 42410; 8-10 pound plastic wrapped chubs of “blue ribbon BEEF” Ground Beef 93/07 (93% lean) Coarse Grind with product code 42413; 8-10 pound plastic wrapped chubs of “blue ribbon BEEF” Ground Beef 85/15 (85% lean) Coarse Grind bearing product code 42415; and 8-10 … [Read more...]
Majestic Meat Company Recalls Ground Beef For Possible E. coli O157:H7
Majestic Meat Company of Salt Lake City, Utah is recalling about 532 pounds of ground beef because it may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria. No illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with this recall. The Majestic Meat Company ground beef, ground patties, and meatball produts that are being recalled were produced on November 8, 2018. You can see the long list of recalled products at the USDA website. The recalled products are sold under the brand names Majestic Meat AND 44 FARMS. They include Ground Beef Patties 80/20, bulk Ground Beef 80/20, Beef Patty Chuck 80/20, and Meatball Beef, Pork, Veal Ground. USDA inspectors identified that product associated with a sample that tested positive for E. coli O157:Hy7 had been shipped. The establishment … [Read more...]
Now 246 Sickened in JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
At least 246 people in 25 states are now sick in the JBS Tolleson ground beef Salmonella outbreak. Fifty-nine of those patients have been hospitalized, which is 35% of ill persons. That's an increase of 126 more patients since the last update on October 23, 2018. There more states reported patients: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Missouri. The case count by state is: Arizona (42), California (66), Colorado (50), Connecticut (1), Hawaii (4), Idaho (3), Iowa (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (2), Missouri (3), Montana (8), New Mexico (9), Nevada (3), Ohio (9), Oklahoma (4), Oregon (1), South Dakota (6), Texas (13), Utah (9), Washington (3), and Wyoming (4). Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 5, 2018 to October 16, … [Read more...]
