A new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has been listed on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, with 13 people sick. Traceback has been initiated, but no inspection has been started, and there has been no sample collection or analyzing. We do not know the patient case count by state, patient age ranges, or illness onset dates. The FDA will not release much more information about this outbreak unless there are some things that the public can do to protect itself. There are still four active outbreak investigations on the table. The E. coli O121:H19 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce, which sickened at least four people, has been closed with no resolution. No brand or farm or even a growing area was named. The four active outbreaks are: An Enteroinvasive E. coli O143:H26 … [Read more...]
Hankook (Korean characters only) Original Kimchi E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak
A Hankook (Korean characters only) brand Original Kimchi E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has been announced by the Public Health Agency of Canada. As of January 28, 2022 there are 14 laboratory-confirmed cases linked to this outbreak. A food recall has been issued. The patient case count by province is: Alberta (13) and Saskatchewan (1). The patient age range is between 0 and 61 years of age. No hospitalizations or deaths have been reported. Many of those sickened said they ate Hankook (Korean characters only) brand Original Kimchi before they got sick. Kimchi is a spicy type of Korean sauerkraut that is made from fermented vegetables. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, along with the Public Health Agency of Canada and provincial public health partners are investigating this outbreak. … [Read more...]
Four E. coli Outbreaks in 2021 Sickened 63 People; Two Were Solved
Four E coli outbreaks in 2021 sickened 63 people and hospitalized 26, according to the CDC. Eight of those patients developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of that infection. Two of those outbreaks were linked to a specific brand. One was linked to a product, and the fourth was not solved. One of these outbreaks is ongoing. Simple Truth Power Greens E. coli O157:H7 outbreak Ten people in four states are currently sick in this outbreak that is associated with Simple Truth and Nature's Basket Organic Power Greens. The patient case count is: Alaska (2), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), and Washington (6). The patient age range is from 26 to 79 with a median age of 59. The product contains organic spinach, mizuna, kale, and chard. A recall has not … [Read more...]
CDC Reduces Case Count in Simple Truth Power Greens E. coli Outbreak
The CDC reduces case count in the Simple Truth Power Greens E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in an unusual move. The original outbreak notice stated that 13 people in six state were sick. Now there are 10 people sick in four states. California and Mississippi were dropped from the state count, and the number of people sick in Washington state decreased from seven to six. This happened because the case definition was updated. Three people were infected with E. coli bacteria that were not as closely related genetically to the rest in this outbreak. And none of those patients said they ate Organic Power Greens before they got sick. The case count by state is now: Alaska (2), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), and Washington (6). The patient age range is from 26 to 79 with a median age of 59. Of ten … [Read more...]
Josie’s Organics Baby Spinach E. coli Outbreak Ends With 15 Sick
The Josie's Organics baby spinach E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has ended with 15 people sick in 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One more person, who lives in California, was added to the case count since the last update on December 3, 2021. The outbreak has ended as of January 6, 2021. The patient case count by state is: California (1), Indiana (4), Iowa (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (2), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), and South Dakota (2). Illness onset dates ranged from October 13, 2021 to November 8, 2021. Patient ages ranged from one to 76 years. Four people were hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate was 27%. And three people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a complication of an E. coli infection that … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Table Has Six Active Investigations
The FDA CORE Outbreak Table has six active food poisoning investigations currently; all but one has been identified or solved. The Salmonella Javiana outbreak, which was announced on November 24, 2021, is still not identified, and the number of people sickened in that outbreak has increased to 64. No recall has been initiated, although traceback has begun, on-site inspection has been started, and sample collection and analysis has been initiated. When there is some concrete action that consumers can take, the FDA should update the investigation. The other five active outbreaks include: The E. coli O157:H7 9outbreak linked to Simple Truth and Nature's Basket Organic Power Greens, which has sickened at least 13 people in six states. Four people have been hospitalized, and one … [Read more...]
Four Leafy Greens Outbreaks; How Do You Protect Yourself?
With four leafy greens outbreaks currently ongoing in the United States at this time (and several recalls), how do you protect yourself against foodborne illness? The CDC has some answers. From 2014 to 2018, there were 51 foodborne illness outbreaks linked to leafy greens. Five of those were multistate outbreaks reported to the public. (Most foodborne illnesses are not part of a recognized outbreak, and many are not multistate so the CDC does not cover them.) In 2019 to 2021, there were nine multistate outbreaks linked to leafy greens. And just in the last week of 2021, three of those outbreaks were announced. The current outbreaks are: Josie's Organics baby spinach E. coli outbreak. This outbreak, with illness onset dates ranging from October 13, 2021, to October 27, 2021, … [Read more...]
Three Packaged Salads Food Poisoning Outbreaks End 2021
Three packaged salads food poisoning outbreaks have ended 2021. While we got through the year without an E. coli outbreak specifically and officially linked to romaine lettuce, there are still seven unsolved outbreaks on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. In fact, there were five food poisoning outbreaks linked to packaged salad leafy greens in 2021: Josie's Organics Baby Spinach with E. coli O157:H7 that is still ongoing, Dole Salads with Listeria monocytogenes that is ongoing, Fresh Express with Listeria monocytogenes that is ongoing, Simple Truth and Nature's Basket Power Greens with E. coli O157:H7 that is ongoing, and BrightFarms salad with Salmonella that ended in August. Three Packaged Salads Food Poisoning Outbreaks The last three outbreaks linked to leafy … [Read more...]
Simple Truth and Nature’s Basket Greens Associated With E. coli Outbreak
Simple Truth and Nature's Basket Power Greens are associated with an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 13 people in six states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both brands are organic. Four people have been hospitalized, and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The patient case count by state is: Alaska (2), California (1), Mississippi (1), Ohio (1) Oregon (1), and Washington (7). The patient age range is from four to 79 years. Illness onset dates range from November 27, 2021 to December 9, 2021. Of 12 people who gave information to investigators, four were hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 33%. And of those 12 people interviewed, all reported eating packaged salads … [Read more...]
Top 10 Food Poisoning Outbreaks of 2021: Josie’s Organics Baby Spinach
It's time for the Top 10 Multistate Food Poisoning Outbreaks of 2021! This year has been much different from 2020, when there were exactly ten outbreaks. We had quite a choice this year, and we also want to emphasize a few outbreaks that didn't make the list. Number ten is the Josie's Organics baby spinach E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. One outbreak will be posted every weekday until we reach 12/31/21. For instance, the El Abuelito soft cheese Listeria monocytogenes outbreak sickened 13 people and killed one person; all of the patients were hospitalized. And four of the patients were pregnant. Two women suffered pregnancy loss and there was one premature birth. That outbreak was quite serious and deems mention even if it didn't make the top 10. The Pure Eire yogurt E. coli outbreak … [Read more...]
