A Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak with an unknown food source that has sickened 127 people in 25 states has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While a specific food has not been identified, this outbreak is growing rapidly, according to the government. The outbreak was first announced on FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table on September 15, 2021. The case count by state is: Arkansas (2), California (3), Connecticut (3), Illinois (5), Iowa (1), Kansas (5), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (7), Michigan (2), Minnesota (13), Missouri (2), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (3), New York (1), North Carolina (1), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (7), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (45), Utah (1), Virginia (9), and … [Read more...]
U.S. Court Strikes Down Kansas Ag-Gag Law As Unconstitutional
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a lower court ruling striking down a Kansas Ag-Gag law for violating the First Amendment, according to the Center for Food Safety. The lawsuit was first filed in 2018 by a coalition of food safety advocates, along with animal and environmental groups. Ag gag laws are intended to stop undercover filming in large factory farms by advocates who are trying to expose animal mistreatment as well as food safety violations. Studies have shown that stressing animals can increase the risk of pathogenic bacterial growth, and may lead to more human illnesses. The court held that Kansas may not legislate speech to silence views "critical of animal agriculture." The three provisions of the law targeted speech, not just conduct, … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Second Mystery E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak; Romaine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the second mystery E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that may be associated with leafy greens or romaine lettuce. This outbreak has now sickened at least 39 people in 18 states. There are three unsolved multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks ongoing at this time; all of the investigation notices mention leafy greens, and one mentions an unnamed restaurant. The outbreak investigation notice states that "This outbreak is different from the two other E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks CDC is currently investigating." This is the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 which caused a massive outbreak last year that was linked to romaine lettuce from the Salinas Valley growing region in California. At least 167 people were sickened in that outbreak … [Read more...]
Second Secret E. coli Outbreak Sickens 23 in 12 States, Hospitalizes 10
A second secret E. coli outbreak has sickened 23 people and hospitalized 10, according to information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) late last night. The first outbreak, which was caused by a different strain of E. coli O157:H7, was also announced last night. This outbreak is caused by the same strain of bacteria that contaminated romaine lettuce and sickened 167 people in 27 states in 2019. While this information is significant, it doesn't mean that this outbreak was caused by leafy greens. A specific food has not been identified yet, and the government is not making any recommendations for consumers to avoid any particular food. But in another twist, the outbreak investigation statement says, "State and local public health officials are … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak at Indian Taco Dinner in Highland, Kansas Updated; Lawsuits May Be Filed
The Salmonella outbreak at the Indian Taco Dinner in Highland, Kansas has been updated; 14 people are now ill. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Doniphan County Health Department are investigating this outbreak. The dinner took place at the Highland United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Highland, Kansas on August 7, 2018. Officials put out a survey on August 10, 2018 to collect exposure information from anyone who attended the dinner. As of August 31, 2018, 115 people had completed the survey. Sixty-nine people said they were ill, and 14 tested positive for Salmonella Newport. Testing of the food served at that dinner was completed. All of the foods tested negative except for a sample of tomatoes that were positive for the same strain of Salmonella … [Read more...]
Possible Salmonella Outbreak at Indian Taco Dinner in Highland, Kansas
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Doniphan County Health Department are investigating a possible Salmonella outbreak that may be associated with an Election Day Indian Taco Dinner at the Highland United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Highland, Kansas. That dinner took place on August 7, 2018. One person has tested positive with a Salmonella infection after attending the dinner. The two health departments are asking that anyone who attended that dinner or ate food there to complete an online survey to help officials investigate this possible outbreak. You are asked to complete the survey even if you are not ill. The survey asks if the respondent ate Indian tacos, pie, black beans, watermelon, or iced tea at the dinner. Other items listed on the survey … [Read more...]
Precut Melon Linked to Salmonella Outbreak Sold in More States: AL, CA, FL, KS, MD, MN, NE, ND, SD, and TN; Lawsuits Filed
The FDA just stated that there are more states where precut melon and fresh-cut melon products linked to a Salmonella Adelaide outbreak were sold. They were also sold in Alabama, California, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Tennessee. That means the states that received these products include Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The products were packaged in clear plastic clamshell containers and were sold under several different brand names. The stores that the FDA has listed as carrying the melons are Costco, Jay C, Kroger, … [Read more...]
E. coli Outbreak Associated with Louisburg Cider Mill Ciderfest in Kansas
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is investigating an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 among people who attended the Louisburg Cider Mill Ciderfest in Louisburg, Kansas. That event was held September 24 to 25 and October 1 to 2, 2016. So far, seven laboratory-confirmed cases of E. coli illnesses have been confirmed in this outbreak. The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria (STEC) can cause serious illness and death. The Kansas Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and KDHE performed an on-site assessment at the facility on October 27, 2016. Samples were collected for testing in public health laboratories. Public health officials are asking that anyone who experienced diarrhea one to ten days after attending either event to call … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak in KS and OK Associated with Sprouts
The Kansas Department of health and Environment is reporting that a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened eight people in two states is associated with sprouts grown at Sweetwater Farms in Inman, Kansas. Five people in Kansas and three people in Oklahoma are sick. The KDHE, the FDA, the CDC, the Oklahoma Department of Health, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture have been working together on this outbreak. The last date of illness onset was in late January in a man from Kansas. Three Oklahoma cases have been matched to the outbreak strain of Salmonella. Public health officials have inspected Sweetwater Farms and found samples of irrigation water and products that have tested positive for Salmonella, although the exact strain of the pathogenic bacteria has not been identified. Lab … [Read more...]
What’s With Norovirus in Overland Park?
There are three norovirus outbreaks in Overland Park, Kansas that are being investigated by the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. At least 628 people have been sickened so far in these outbreaks. Norovirus is very common, especially in the winter months. The virus is very contagious and easily transmitted through contact with food and surfaces, and from person-to-person. When people stay indoors more often in the colder weather, it's very easy to pass the virus around and contract it. The first outbreak is among people who visited the New Theatre Restaurant in mid-January 2016. At least 600 people have been sickened in that outbreak. Most of those sickened were at the facility between January 15 and 19, … [Read more...]
