Two years before a 2018 Salmonella outbreak linked to ground beef produced by JBS Tolleson triggered one of the largest beef recalls in modern history, another outbreak, a secret and deadly one was linked to the same strain. The deadly 2016 outbreak was never announced and no recall was ever issued because the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) said traceback records didn't conclusively point to a single establishment. So, contaminated ground beef was sold to consumers and 106 people in 21 states got Salmonella infections. Forty-eight percent of the patients were hospitalized, and one person died. One year after that outbreak ended, the first illness in the 2018 outbreak was reported. That outbreak, which was publicly announced, eventually … [Read more...]
What You Need to Know About Ground Beef Food Safety
In our new series helping beginning cooks learn how to prepare food safety, we have been focusing on foods that may be inherently risky; that is, foods that are commonly contaminated with pathogens. This is what you need to know about ground beef food safety. For years, food safety experts have been telling consumers to stop cooking ground beef less than well done, or 160°F as measured with a food thermometer. There. have been many Salmonella and E. coli outbreaks over the years linked to raw and undercooked ground beef. Consumer Reports issued a report in 2015 about the risks of rare ground beef. They found that up to 28% of Americans eat rare and raw ground beef. Between 2002 and 2012, there were 80 E. coli outbreaks linked to ground beef that killed five people. Since then, … [Read more...]
JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak Was #2 of 2019
The JBS Tolleson ground beef Salmonella outbreak was the #2 multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2019, sickening at least 403 people in 30 states. There were 117 hospitalizations and no deaths. The patient case count by state was: Arizona (54), California (143), Colorado (60), Connecticut (1), Hawaii (5), Idaho (3), Iowa (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Louisiana (5), Michigan (1), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (2), Mississippi (2), Missouri (3), Montana (10), New Mexico (23), New York (1), Nevada (14), Ohio (9), Oklahoma (10), Oregon (1), South Dakota (10), Texas (19), Utah (11), Washington (3), West Virginia (1), Wyoming (5). Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 5, 2018 to February 8, 2019. Thirty-four percent of patients were hospitalized, which … [Read more...]
CDC Report: Salmonella Newport Shows Decreased Sensitivity to Azithromycin
In the current CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report, some bacteria in a Salmonella Newport outbreak that was linked to beef and to a cheese imported from Mexico had decreased susceptibility to azithromycin and nonsusceptibility to ciprofloxacin. This susceptibility has emerged recently, because that serotype with decreased susceptibility to azithromycin wasn't found in any isolates in the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) surveillance before 2016. A genetically distinct group of MDR Newport isolates was identified in the two outbreaks. This resistance is rare among Salmonella serotypes that cause illness in the United States. Azithromycin is recommended to treat Salmonella infections orally; until 2017, decreased susceptibility to this antibiotic … [Read more...]
JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Salmonella Newport Outbreak Ends With 403 Sick
The JBS Tolleson ground beef Salmonella Newport outbreak has ended, with at least 403 people sick in 30 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One hundred seventeen people were hospitalized because they were so sick; there were no deaths reported. Officials are warning consumers that, even though the official outbreak is over, this recalled ground beef could still be in home freezers. The ground beef was packaged under many different brand names and sold from July 26, 2018 to September 7, 2018. Almost seven million pounds of ground beef was recalled on October 4, 2018, and an additional 5.2 million pounds of beef products were recalled on December 4, 2018. Check your freezer to see if you have any of these products on hand. Recalled products … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreaks in 2018 Sickened 1,394 People
Salmonella outbreaks linked to food products in 2018 were numerous and severe; 15 were multistate. In fact, seven of the top 10 multistate outbreaks of the year were caused by different strains of Salmonella bacteria. By July 2018, there were five multistate outbreaks that sickened at least 553 people. In all, at least 1,394 people were sickened by Salmonella in ground beef, chicken salad, pasta salad, turkey, cereal, tahini, cake mix, chicken, eggs, and melons. And six of these outbreaks are still ongoing. The words "at least" are used because most people who contract Salmonella infections never see a doctor, so are not diagnosed and added to an outbreak total. Epidemiologists use what is called a "multiplier" to estimate the actual number sickened in Salmonella outbreaks. That … [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...]
