A new Salmonella outbreak and a new cyclospora cluster have been added to the FDA's Core Outbreak Investigation Table. There are now six active outbreak investigations on that table. The new Salmonella outbreak is Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+. There are at least 31 people sick in this outbreak. Traceback has been initiated, but there is no information about what food is suspected, where ill persons live, the patient age range, or if anyone has been hospitalized. The new Cyclospora cluster has 28 ill persons. Once again, FDA has initiated traceback, but a product linked to those illnesses has not been identified. There is no patient age range or information about where ill persons live. The Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to raw cookie dough remains … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak With New Recall
The FDA updates strawberry Hepatitis A outbreak information with the new recall for Wawona Frozen Foods Organic Daybreak Blend mix sold at Costco stores. The recall is for that product sold in these states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington. The case count remains the same: California (2), Oregon (1), and Washington (6). Illness onset dates range from November 24, 2022 to April 12, 2023, and the patient age range is from 38 to 64. Three people have been hospitalized. The Organic Daybreak Blend is packaged in 4 pound bags and has best by dates of 9/23/2023, 9/29/2023, 9/30/2023, and 10/18/2023 with corresponding lot numbers. Other recalled products include brands California Splendor that supplied Costco stores, Scenic Fruit that supplied Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital … [Read more...]
Dave’s Sushi Morel Mushroom Outbreak Sickens 41 in Montana
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...]
Nine Sick in Organic Strawberries Hepatitis A Outbreak
There are now nine people sick in the organic strawberries hepatitis A outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Three people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. That is an increase of one more patient since the last update that was issued on April 26, 2023. The case count by state is: California (2), Oregon (1), and Washington (6). The new patient lives in Oregon, and Oregon has been added to the list. And the new patient has been hospitalized. Illness onset dates range from November 24, 2022 to April 12, 2023. The patient age range is from 38 to 64. The hospitalization rate is 33%. The outbreak is linked to frozen organic strawberries that were imported from farms in Baja California, in Mexico. The strain of hepatitis A that is … [Read more...]
Frozen Strawberries Hepatitis A Case Count Increases to 8
The frozen strawberries hepatitis A outbreak case count has increased to 8 patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is an increase of one more patient since the last update on April 11, 2023. Several recalls of the strawberries have been issued, including the brands Kirkland Signature, Made With, PCC Community Markets, Trader Joe's, Meijer, Vital Choice, and Simply Nature. The berries were imported from Baja, California in Mexico. The case count by state is: California (2), and Washington (6). The new patient lives in Washington. Two people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Illness onset dates range from November 24, 2022 to April 12, 2023. The outbreak strain is the same one that was linked to strawberries imported from Mexico … [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...]
Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak Grows to Seven Sick
The strawberry hepatitis A outbreak has grown to include two more patients from California, for a total of seven sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Several recalls of organic frozen strawberries have been issued in connection with this outbreak. The case count by state is: California (2) and Washington (5). Illness onset dates range from November 24, 2022 yo March 26, 2023. The patient age range is from 38 to 64 years. Of seven people who gave information about their illness to investigators, two, or 29%, have been hospitalized. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicates that frozen organic strawberries that were imported fresh from farms in Baja California, Mexico in 2022 are the likely source of this outbreak. Furthermore, the virus … [Read more...]
New Mystery Salmonella Infantis Outbreak Sickens 12
A new mystery Salmonella Infantis outbreak has sickened at least 12 people, according to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. There are now five active outbreak investigations on that table. For the new mystery Salmonella Infantis outbreak, there is no recall, we don't know where ill persons live, there is no patient age range, and we don't know if anyone has been hospitalized. The only action that the government has taken so far is traceback. In the mystery Salmonella Hartford outbreak in a not yet identified product, the case count has increased from 50 to 53 cases. In that investigation, traceback has begun, an on-site inspection has begun, and samples have been collected and analyzed. The hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen organic strawberries remains unchanged, … [Read more...]
History of Hepatitis A Outbreaks Linked to Berries is Long
The history of hepatitis A outbreaks linked to berries is long. The current outbreak that has sickened at least five people in Washington state is linked to frozen organic strawberries branded Kirkland Signature, and Scenic Fruit Company strawberries that were sold at Costco, Trader Joe's, and other stores. Those products have been recalled. In 2019, the FDA launched a program to sample berries for both hepatitis A and norovirus in the wake of three hepatitis A outbreaks from 1997 to 2017 that sickened hundreds of people. Since then there have been two outbreaks linked to berries, one last year and the new outbreak. In 2013, there was a hepatitis A outbreak linked to Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen mixed berries. There were at least 162 people in 10 states … [Read more...]
