The kosher chicken Salmonella outbreak that was associated with Empire Kosher brand has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with 25 patients in 6 states. Eleven people were hospitalized in this outbreak, which is a very high percentage for a Salmonella outbreak. The Salmonella that sickened those people is Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-. Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory evidence found that some kosher chicken products were contaminated with the outbreak strain. The outbreak strain was found in samples of raw chicken collected from two facilities, including one that processes Empire Kosher brand chicken. The case count by state is: Maryland (1)< Massachusetts (2), New York (16), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (4), and Virginia (1). Illness onset dates … [Read more...]
Kosher Chicken Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 25 Sick, Lawsuits Possible
E. coli O157:H7 Romaine Outbreak Grows to 43 Sick; 16 Hospitalized
The FDA has updated the E. coli O157:H7 romaine lettuce outbreak. Now 43 people in 12 states are sick. That's an increase of 11 patients since the last update on November 20, 2018. Sixteen people have been hospitalized, and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The case count by state is: California (11), Connecticut (1), Illinois (2), Massachusetts (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (7), New Hampshire (2), New Jersey (9), New York (5), Ohio (1), Rhode Island (1), and Wisconsin (1). The patient age range is from 1 to 74 years. Of the 38 people who were interviewed by officials, 16, or 42%, have been hospitalized. The illness onset date range is from October 8 to October 31, 2018. There is new evidence about where the romaine that sickened … [Read more...]
Long Phung Pork Products Linked to Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
Long Phung pork products, produced by 165368 C. Corporation, doing business as Long Phung Food Products of Houston, Texas, are linked to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least four people. The outbreak announcement was put into a recall notice issued by the USDA. There is zero tolerance for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in ready-to-eat food products. The four people were sickened between July 1, 2017 and October 24, 2018. FSIS was notified of the outbreak on October 22, 2018. On November 19, 2018, whole genome sequencing collected from the Long Phung Foods Establishment M13561 showed that the samples were closely related genetically to isolates taken from ill persons. Officials are working to see if there are more illnesses linked to these products. There is … [Read more...]
FDA Investigates New Romaine E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
The FDA is investigating the new Romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 32 people in 11 states. The Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, along with the CDC and state and local agencies in the U.S. are also investigating. Genetic analysis has found that the strains in this new outbreak are similar to the bacteria that sickened people in both countries in the fall of 2017. There is no link between this new outbreak and the outbreak that occurred in the U.S. in the Spring of 2018. The FDA is conducting traceback investigations to try to find the source of the lettuce that was contaminated. No agency identified a particular brand, supplier, or distributor in the 2017 outbreak, although they found that the romaine lettuce was … [Read more...]
Now 246 Sickened in JBS Tolleson Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
At least 246 people in 25 states are now sick in the JBS Tolleson ground beef Salmonella outbreak. Fifty-nine of those patients have been hospitalized, which is 35% of ill persons. That's an increase of 126 more patients since the last update on October 23, 2018. There more states reported patients: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Missouri. The case count by state is: Arizona (42), California (66), 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 (9), Nevada (3), Ohio (9), Oklahoma (4), Oregon (1), South Dakota (6), Texas (13), Utah (9), Washington (3), and Wyoming (4). Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 5, 2018 to October 16, … [Read more...]
Jennie-O Ground Turkey Recalled in Association with Salmonella Outbreak
Jennie-O Turkey Store of Wisconsin is recalling about 91,388 pounds or raw ground turkey products that may be associated with an outbreak of Salmonella Reading infections. At least 164 people in 35 states are ill in this outbreak. One person in California died. The raw ground turkey products were made on September 11, 2018. The recalled products include 1-pound packages of Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 93% LEAN | 7% FAT with use by dates of 10/01/2018 and 10/02/2018; 1-pound packages of Jennie-O TACO SEASONED GROUND TURKEY with a use by date of 10/02/2018; 1-pound packages of Jennie-O GROUND TURKEY 85% LEAN | 15% FAT with a use by date of 10/02/2018; and 1-pound packages of Jennie-O ITALIAN SEASONED GROUND TURKEY with a use by date of 10/02/2018. The products subject to recall bear … [Read more...]
CDC Posts Info About Potential Duncan Hines Cake Mix Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted information about the potential Duncan Hines cake mix Salmonella Agbeni outbreak that has sickened at least five people in three states. ConAgra recalled four varieties of that cake mix after officials in Oregon identified the outbreak strain of Salmonella bacteria in a box of Duncan Hines Classic White Fake Mix. Investigators are trying to determine if the illnesses are linked to the Duncan Hines cake mix. After officials found the pathogen in the cake mix, CDC reviewed the PulseNet database and found five people sickened with the same strain. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food labs coordinated by the CDC. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that the bacteria are closely related … [Read more...]
Shigella Outbreak Associated with Wake Robin Retirement Community in Vermont
A Shigella outbreak at the Wake Robin retirement community in Shelburne, Vermont is being investigated by the Vermont Department of Health. The notice from that department states that more than 50 people are sick, but news reports state that the patient case count is now at 67. Shigellosis is a bacterial infection that is usually contracted through eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. People can also contract this infection by touching contaminated surfaces or through sexual contact. The symptoms include diarrhea that is usually watery or may be bloody, fever, and stomach cramps. These symptoms usually begin one to seven days after infection. People can be sick for up to four weeks. Shigella bacteria are shed in an ill persons' stool while they are ill and up … [Read more...]
Duncan Hines Cake Mixes Potentially Linked to Salmonella Outbreak; Lawsuits Possible
The FDA is investigating a Salmonella Agbeni outbreak that may be linked to Duncan Hines cake mixes. A sample of Duncan Hines Classic White Cake Mix the contained the outbreak strain matched the bacteria collected from ill persons. Whole genome sequencing was used to identify the bacteria and match its DNA. Five people are sick with Salmonella Agbeni illnesses that have the same DNA fingerprint. We don't know anything about these illnesses at this time, where they live, the patient's age range, or if any of them have been hospitalized. Conagra Brands is working with the FDA to conduct a voluntary recall of Duncan Hines cake mixes from the marketplace. And the FDA is conducting an inspection at the facility that produced the mixes, collecting environmental and product … [Read more...]
Will Romaine Lettuce Be Safe to Eat This Year After Huge E. coli Outbreak?
Will romaine lettuce be safe to eat in 2019 after this year's huge and deadly E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that was linked to farms in Yuma, Arizona? Growers and processors in that state are taking some steps to try to prevent a repeat disaster, with the help of the FDA. Farmers are planting crops now in the Yuma area. Last year, 210 people in 36 states were sickened with E. coli O157:H7 infections after eating romaine lettuce. Ninety-six people were hospitalized, and 27 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. Five people died. And lawsuits were filed. Food safety attorney Fred Pritzker said, "This outbreak has been very difficult to solve, and in fact the government did not pinpoint the specific farm or farms where the contaminated lettuce was … [Read more...]
