Two Boston restaurants have had their permits to operate temporarily suspended after an apparent Salmonella outbreak. Ana Karina Vivas, Media Relations Manager at the Boston Public Health Commission, told Food Poisoning Bulletin that there are eight confirmed cases of Salmonella and no known hospitalizations. Four of the patients ate at Cafe Med, two at Back Bay Sandwich, and two people ate at both facilities. She said that they are working on testing employees to identify the source of the outbreak. Boston public health officials found violations in the way those facilities prepare, handle, and hold food. Back Bay Sandwich at 31 Saint James Avenue had its permit pulled on May 17 and May 18, 2017 for "multiple risk factors." And Cafe Med, also at 31 Saint James Avenue was … [Read more...]
Botulism in Nacho Cheese Sauce at Valley Oak Food and Fuel Kills One, Sickens Nine
Officials in California say that botulism toxin in nacho cheese sauce sold at Valley Oak Food and Fuel in Walnut Grove, California has killed one person and sickened nine others. All ten patients in this outbreak have been hospitalized in serious condition. The man who died has been identified by news sources as 37-year-old Martin Galindo-Larios Jr., a father of two. A GoFundMe page has been set up on behalf of his family. The California Department of Public Health has confirmed that the nacho cheese sauce sold at the gas station has tested positive for the botulinum toxin. And it is the same type of toxin identified in the 10 patients sickened in this outbreak. The press release from CDPH states that the department has "received reports of 10 cases of botulism linked to this … [Read more...]
Cheese Sauce Impounded after Valley Oak Food and Fuel Botulism Outbreak
The botulism outbreak at Valley Oak Food and Fuel in Walnut Grove, California may have caused a death. At least one lawsuit has been filed, and all of the patients in this outbreak have been hospitalized. Inspection reports stated that cheese sauce was impounded by a California Department of Public Health Officer. According to UPI, Martin Galindo, a 37-year-old father from San Francisco, died on May 18, 2017 from botulism poisoning. A GoFundMe page has been set up on his behalf. KGO-TV said he contracted the illness from nacho cheese sauce bought at Valley Oak Food and Fuel. The Sacramento Health and Human Services Department has not confirmed that botulism caused the man's death or that Mr. Galindo ate food from Valley Oak Food and Fuel. Because the gas station is located near a … [Read more...]
Valley Oak Food and Fuel Botulism Lawsuit Filed as Outbreak in CA Grows
The number of people sickened in the Valley Oak Food and Fuel botulism outbreak in Walnut Grove, California continues to grow. According to the Sacramento County of Health and Human Services, there are now 10 patients involved in the outbreak of botulism linked to nacho cheese sauce prepared and sold at the gas station. The updated case count includes 5 confirmed cases, 3 probable, and 2 suspected. The first botulism lawsuit was filed against Valley Oak Food and Fuel on Tuesday, May 16, 2017. This outbreak is unusual and tragic for several reasons. Botulism food poisoning is rare, with fewer than 200 cases every year in the United States. With 10 people potentially sickened, this is a relatively large outbreak of botulism poisoning for the U.S. Although there is an antitoxin that … [Read more...]
Botulism Lawsuit: Nacho Cheese Sickens 5 at CA Valley Oak Food and Fuel
The botulism outbreak at the Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station in Walnut Grove, California appears to have been caused by prepared food, "particularly nacho cheese sauce," according to the Sacramento County Department of Health and Human Services. Five people have been hospitalized with foodborne botulism after eating food purchased from that facility. And the press releases states there is a sixth patient who may also have botulism food poisoning. This conclusion is based on "preliminary data," according to the press release. The sale of prepared food at that gas station was ended by the Sacramento County Department of Environmental Management on May 5, 2017. Public health officials are asking that anyone who ate prepared food, especially nacho cheese sauce, from Valley Oak … [Read more...]
CA Warns About Botulism in U.S. Deer Antler Herbal Tea
Last week, a recall was issued for herbal tea produced by U.S. Deer Antlers Exports and Imports because of the risk of botulism food poisoning. The California Department of Public Health has issued a health warning about those products and is investigating two possible cases of botulism in Orange County residents. Both of those patients drank U.S. Deer Antlers Exports and Imports, Inc. herbal tea products in March 2017. There is no word on the condition of the patients, or if they have been hospitalized. U.S. Deer Antlers Exports and Imports of Los Angeles is voluntarily recalling all of their herbal tea products in plastic pouches. The 6" x 4" plastic tea pouches are labeled in Korean and do not include any lot codes or best by dates. These teas were sold to acupuncturists and … [Read more...]
Botulism Sickens Five at Valley Oak Food and Fuel in Walnut Grove, CA
A botulism outbreak at Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station in Walnut Grove, California is being investigated by the Sacramento County Department of Health, which has just released information about the situation. Public health officials are working with the California Department of Public Health and the Sacramento County of Environmental Management to stop the sale of prepared food items at that location. Public Health is asking that anyone who consumed prepared food from Valley Oak Food and Fuel in Walnut Grove from April 23, 2017 through today, May 8, 2017, and has been sick see a doctor immediately. Botulism food poisoning can be fatal. According to news reports, five people have been hospitalized in this outbreak, and all are in serious condition. Four of the five patients … [Read more...]
Botulism Outbreak at Valley Oak Food and Fuel in Walnut Grove, CA
A botulism outbreak has sickened five people who ate food from the Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station in Walnut Grove, California, according to the Sacramento Bee. Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye told the paper that five cases are under investigation. All of the patients are hospitalized in serious condition. Four of those sickened said they ate prepared food purchased from the gas station. The bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, that sickened those people produces a nerve toxin when it grows under anaerobic conditions (without oxygen). Improperly processed canned foods are the most common source of this type of food poisoning. When the bacteria grows, it releases a toxin called botulism. The toxin acts on a person's nervous system. Attorney Fred … [Read more...]
I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter E. coli O157:H7 HUS Outbreak Over
The E. coli O157:H7-HUS outbreak linked to recalled I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter products is over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after sickening 32 people in 12 states. Twelve people were hospitalized in this outbreak, and nine developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. Public health officials think that people may still have these recalled products in their home, so illnesses may "continue for some time." The CDC recommends that consumers do not eat, and childcare centers, schools, and other institutions do not serve, any of the recalled products, even if part of the product was consumed and no one got sick. Twenty-six, or 81%, of the patients in this outbreak were under the age of 18. The products were served at … [Read more...]
Vulto Creamery Raw Milk Cheese Listeriosis Outbreak Over
The multistate outbreak of listeriosis linked to Vulto Creamery soft raw milk cheese is over, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In all, eight people were sickened in four states. That is an increase of two more cases since the last update on March 13, 2017; both of those patients live in New York. All eight people were hospitalized because of their illness, and two people died, one from Connecticut and one from Vermont. One illness was reported in a newborn. The CDC is still recommending that consumers do not eat, restaurants do not serve, and retailers do not sell recalled raw milk cheeses made by Vulto Creamery. The raw milk cheeses from the Creamery were distributed nationwide. But most were sold at retail locations in the northeastern and … [Read more...]
