Cucumbers imported from Mexico were the source of a 2013 E.coli outbreak that sickened nine Jimmy John’s customers in the Denver area in 2013. It was the first time in the U.S. that an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was linked to cucumbers. The nine people who were sickened reported eating sandwiches containing cucumbers at three Denver-area Jimmy John’s shops in early October 2013. Lab tests revealed they were all sickened by the same strain of E.coli. Health investigators say it's likely that the cucumbers became contaminated before they arrived at the sandwich shop locations. That could mean that the cucumbers were contaminated during growing, harvest, transport, or distribution. Salmonella is more often associated with cucumbers, such as the outbreak last year that sickened 275 … [Read more...]
Jimmy John’s Evergreen Sprouts E. coli Outbreak in 2014 Sickened 19
An E. coli O121 outbreak in 2014 linked to Evergreen raw clover sprouts that were served at Jimmy John's, the Pita Pita, and Daanen's Deli, sickened 19 people, according to government officials. Those people lived in six states. Forty four percent of patients were hospitalized; there was no recall; no one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome; and there were no deaths. The outbreak case count by state was: California (1), Idaho (3), Michigan (1), Montana (2), Utah (1), and Washington (11). Thirteen of the sixteen people interviewed reported eating raw sprouts the week before they got sick. Traceback investigations concluded that contaminated raw clover sprouts produced by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts of Idaho was the likely source of this outbreak. After a meeting with the FDA, the company … [Read more...]
Sprouts Spread E. coli to Jimmy John’s, Pita Pit, Daanen’s in 2014
Washington and Idaho combined public health resources in 2014 to help solve an outbreak that spread E. coli O121 to people who ate clover sprouts at Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches, the Pita Pit and Daanen's Deli, according to a review of state and federal food poisoning reports. "Raw clover sprouts produced by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC of Idaho was the likely source of this outbreak,'' the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wrote in its final update on the sprouts E. coli outbreak. By July 31, 2014, 19 people in six states were infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121, including three from Idaho, two from Montana and 11 from Washington state. No deaths were reported, but 44 percent of case patients were hospitalized after … [Read more...]
Largest Multistate Outbreaks of 2014 #5: Clover Sprouts
An E. coli 0121 outbreak linked to raw clover sprouts sickened 19 people in 6 states in 2014 was the fifth largest outbreak of 2014. Traceback investigations found that contaminated sprouts were produced by Evergreen Fresh Sprouts of Idaho and were sold at Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich locations, the Pita Pit, and Daanen's Deli. The case count per state was: California (1), Idaho (3), Michigan (1), Montana (2), Utah (1), and Washington (11).. Illnesses began from May 1, 2014 to May 20, 2014. Patients ranged in age from 11 years to 52 years, with a median age of 27 years. Sixty-eight percent of ill persons were female. Public health officials interviewed 16 patients; of those, seven, or 44%, were hospitalized. No one developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and no deaths were … [Read more...]
E. coli O121: The Bug Behind Jimmy John’s Sprout Outbreak
E. coli O121 is not among the most prevalent types of toxic E. coli by any means, but this pathogenic organism has been traced to two separate multi-state outbreaks of human infections studied closely by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the past 18 months. Most recently, the raw sprout E. coli outbreak in Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Michigan linked to sandwich shops including Jimmy John's. The harmful bacteria infected 18 people who were confirmed as victims of the same outbreak of foodborne illness. Nearly half of all case patients were hospitalized, but no one died. According to the Washington State Department of Health and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, ill persons reported eating sprouts in sandwiches at several local food establishments, … [Read more...]
CDC Updates E. coli Outbreak Linked to Jimmy John’s Sprouts
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated their investigation into the E. coli O121 outbreak linked to raw clover sprouts served at Jimmy John's and other restaurants. As of June 27, 2014, the case count stands at 18. The case count per state is: Idaho (3), Michigan (1), Montana (2), Utah (1), and Washington (11). Forty-four percent of ill persons have been hospitalized in this outbreak. No one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and no deaths have been reported. Illnesses range from May 1, 2014 to May 20, 2014. Ill persons range in age from 11 years to 45 years, with a median age of 27 years. Seventy-six percent of ill persons are female. Illnesses that began after June 4, 2014 may not have been reported because of the length of time between getting sick … [Read more...]
CDC: 17 in 5 States Now Sick in Sprouts E. coli O121 Outbreak
The E. coli outbreak linked contaminated clover sprouts now includes 17 people people in five states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). AT least seven people have been hospitalized. The outbreak which was first included 10 cases in Washington and Idaho now includes 10 cases in Washington, three cases in Idaho, two cases in Montana, and 1 case in Michigan. Some of the case patients reported eating sandwiches from Jimmy John's and other sandwich shops before becoming ill. Health investigators have tracked the source of the outbreak to Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC in Idaho, which has not issued a recall. Contaminated sprouts may still be on the market, and consumers should not purchase these sprouts, the CDC warns. The U.S. … [Read more...]
FDA Inspects Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, Linked to E. coli Outbreak
The FDA has conducted an investigation of Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC in May and June of 2014 after an E. coli O121 outbreak was linked to their products. The inspection revealed problems at the facility, including irrigation water dripping from rusty valves directly into sprouting vats containing growing sprouts, and tennis rackets with "scratches, chips, and frayed plastic" being used to scoop mung bean sprouts from the harvester to the conveyer belt. The outbreak has sickened at least 17 people in four states. Forty-seven percent of ill persons have been hospitalized in this outbreak, although no one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), one of the complications of an E. coli infection. The outbreak case count is as follows: Idaho (3), Michigan (1), Montana (1), Utah (1), … [Read more...]
CDC: E. coli O121 on Sprouts Hospitalizes 5
Clover sprouts contaminated with E. coli O121 on sandwiches from Jimmy John's and other stores have put five people in the hospital and sickened five others, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seven of those sickened are in Washington and three are in Idaho. Health authorities are warning consumers not to eat sprouts from Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC of Idaho. A recall for the sprouts has not been issued. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning, which include abdominal cramping and bloody diarrhea, usually develop within three days of exposure but can take anywhere from two to eight days. The case patients in this outbreak experienced first symptoms between May 1 and May 13. They range in age from 22 years to 45 years old. The median age is 27. Nine of them are … [Read more...]
Jimmy John’s Sprouts: 5 Food Poisoning Outbreaks in 5 Years
For the fifth time in five years, sprouts served at Jimmy John's sandwich shops are the source of a food poisoning outbreak. Seven people in Washington and Idaho have confirmed cases of E .coli poisoning and three others have probable cases, Washington health officials announced yesterday. Last fall, an E. coli outbreak linked to Jimmy John's in the Denver area sickened eight people. The source of that outbreak was identified as fresh produce other than sprouts. But sprouts have been such a repeat offender for the chain that the company said it was permanently pulling them from the menu after a 2012 E.coli outbreak. But six months after he announced the sprouts were gone for good, the company's founder, Jimmy John Liautaud, brought them back. “I am rolling out a new sprout. Costs … [Read more...]
