FDA and USDA Outbreak Tables have been updated with new information. The USDA table, which does not have as many outbreaks listed, had one outbreak of Salmonella Muenchen, with beef as a suspected source, that is now closed with no resolution. On the FDA outbreak table, the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak that is not solved now has 70 illnesses, up from 63 on the last update. Every other outbreak remains the same. There are eight active investigations, plus the Cronobacter illnesses investigation in infants, which has been transferred to an IMG group. The Big Olaf ice cream Listeria monocytogenes outbreak case count remains the same, with 23 illnesses, 23 hospitalizations, one death, and one fetal loss. The last illness onset date was 6/12/2022. Investigators found Listeria … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Table Updated: Big Olaf Ice Cream Listeria Outbreak
The FDA Core Outbreak Investigation Table was updated, with ten active investigations. The FDA states that the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least 23 people is linked to big Olaf ice cream. The quote is, "For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, a product linked to illnesses is ice cream from Big Olaf Creamery, located in Florida." There is still no recall on the FDA recall page about this ice cream, but according to news reports Big Olaf started recalling the ice cream over the weekend. The CDC reiterated their warning to consumers about the ice cream on July 8, 2022. Anyone who has this ice cream in their freezer should discard it immediately, even if some has been consumed and no one is sick. Listeria bacteria can cluster in tiny clumps and may not be … [Read more...]
What Are the Current Food Poisoning Outbreaks in the U.S.?
What are the current food poisoning outbreaks in the U.S.? There are currently four solved active outbreaks right now, and there are also three unidentified Salmonella outbreaks, one mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, and one unidentified Listeria monocytogenes outbreak on the FDA and USDA Investigation Tables. The only clue in those outbreaks is the one associated with a USDA-inspected food; that Salmonella Muenchen outbreak may be linked to a beef product. Current Food Poisoning Outbreaks Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak This outbreak, which is linked to FreshKampo and HEB organic strawberries, has sickened at least 18 people in three states. Thirteen patients have been hospitalized. Anyone who purchased those brands between March 5, 2022 and April 15, 2022 and froze them for … [Read more...]
FDA Updates CORE Outbreak Table; More Illnesses Added
The FDA updates CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. More illnesses have been added to two mystery Salmonella outbreaks and one mystery Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. And a new "adverse event series" that is associated with a "frozen food product," has been added. That product is not identified, but it is most likely the Daily Harvest French Lentil + Leeks Crumble product, which is associated with almost 500 adverse events and has been recalled. There are currently 10 active outbreak investigations. The frozen food outbreak has 107 adverse event reports listed. A recall has been issued, traceback has begun, an on-site inspection has been conducted, and sample collections have been analyzed. Yesterday Fresh Harvest issued a statement saying that the FDA testing has found no pathogens … [Read more...]
Possible Long Beach Meals on Wheels Hepatitis A Exposure
A possible Long Beach Meals on Wheels hepatitis A exposure has occurred in California. The incident occurred because a volunteer who was helping package food was allegedly diagnosed with the illness. The exposures took place in "late May and June" 2022. The agency delivers meals five times a week to about 400 people in Long Beach. Most of the clients are elderly. The Long Beach Health Department sent letters to those affected by this issue on May 23 and 31, and June 6 and June 13, 2022, warning them about the exposure. The Health Department has stated that risk of infection is low, but there is still la risk. Meals on Wheels has cooperated fully with the investigation. The Health Department stated, "The potential exposure was not due to lack of health and safety protocols. We … [Read more...]
Urban Remedy Strawberry Hibiscus Rose Tea Recalled For Hepatitis A
UPDATE: This product was not made with the recalled strawberries, so this is now a market withdrawal. Urban Remedy Strawberry Hibiscus Rose Tea is being recalled for possible hepatitis A contamination. No illnesses are associated with the consumption of this particular product. The recalling firm is Urban Remedy. Urban Remedy contracts with Youngstown Grape Distributors to co-manufacture this product. The recalled product is Urban Remedy Organic Revitalizing Tea Tonic Strawberry Hibiscus Rose that is packaged in 12 ounce resealable plastic bottles. The lot number for this product is 1232. The best by date that is stamped on the product label is 7/17/2022 (July 17, 2022). And the UPC number on this product is 813377025831. The tea may contain fresh organic strawberries from … [Read more...]
Minnesota Strawberry Hepatitis Outbreak Sickens One, 16 in CA and ND
A Minnesota Strawberry hepatitis A outbreak has sickened one person in that state, according to the Minnesota Department of Health, and has also sickened 16 other people in California and North Dakota. Twelve people are hospitalized in this outbreak, which is a very high hospitalization rate. The person who lives in Minnesota was not hospitalized and has recovered. The fresh, organic strawberries are branded FreshKampo and HB. They were sold at various stores around the country from March 5, 2022 to April 25, 2022. The Minnesota patient purchased the strawberries from Mississippi Market on March 21, 2022. The berries were labeled FreshKampo. While the strawberries are no longer available for sale, some people may have frozen them for later use or made recipes that were frozen. … [Read more...]
Hepatitis A Strawberries Imported From Baja California in Mexico
The hepatitis A strawberries that are linked to an outbreak in the United States and Canada were imported from Baja, California, a state in Northern Mexico. The berries are branded as FreshKampo and HEB by a common supplier, according to the FDA. The berries were for sale between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022. They are no longer available for sale because they are past their shelf life. The berries may have been sold at these retailers, and may have also been sold at others: HEB, Kroger, Safeway, Sprouts Farmers Market, Trade Joe's, Walmart, Weis Markets, and WinCo Foods. The FDA is concerned because consumers may have frozen the strawberries. The hepatitis A virus is not destroyed by freezing. If you did buy these berries and preserved them, do not eat them. If you aren't … [Read more...]
Skowhegan Maine Walmart Employee Diagnosed with Hepatitis A
A Walmart employee at a store in Skowhegan, Maine has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. That person did handle food while infectious. The Walmart is located at 60 Fairgrounds Market Place in Skowhegan. Anyone who purchased or ate food from the deli in that specific Walmart on these dates is at risk for contracting hepatitis A. No other food or items were potentially contaminated. May 7, 2022, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. May 8, 10, 11, 12, and 14, 2022, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. May 15, 17, 18, 19, and 21, 2022, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. If you did eat food prepared at the deli at that store on those dates and during those times, and are not vaccinated against hepatitis A, you should get vaccinated. … [Read more...]
Employee at Luigi’s Restaurant in Roanoke, VA Diagnosed With Hepatitis A
An employee at Luigi's restaurant in Roanoke, Virginia was recently diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to the Virginia Department of Health. That employee may have had limited involvement handling food before the food was cooked. Cooking food kills the virus that causes hepatitis A, so this situation does not meet the criteria of an exposure. But, "given the high level of sensitivity of hepatitis A in our community and out of an abundance of caution," the Roanoke City Health Department is offering the hepatitis A vaccine to anyone who ate at Luigi's restaurant between the dates of April 26 through May 17, 2022. This is the same city where the Famous Anthony's hepatitis A outbreak occurred. That outbreak sickened and hospitalized dozens of patrons, and at least three people … [Read more...]
