The CDC is joining the FDA in warning the public: do not eat El Abuelito cheese because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. The cheese is linked, through whole genome sequencing testing, to the outbreak strain of Listeria that has sickened ten people in four states. Earlier this month Connecticut officials found the outbreak strain of Listeria in samples of El Abuelito queso fresco cheese that was taken from a store where an ill person bought that cheese. The government says that other El Abuelito cheeses that were made or handled in the same facility as the queso fresco cheese have not been recalled, but officials are concerned that they may be contaminated and could make people sick. Investigators are trying to determine whether or not all cheese products … [Read more...]
FDA Warns Against All El Abuelito Cheese In Listeria Outbreak Investigation
The FDA warns against all El Abuelito cheese in the most current Listeria monocytogenes outbreak investigation notice that was posted today. The notice states, "Out of an abundance of caution, and due to the severity of Listeria infection, the FDA is expanding its warning to include all El Abuelito brand cheeses until more information is known. According to the firm’s website, this includes queso fresco, Oaxaca cheese, cotija cheese, and crema." Whole genome sequencing has linked El Abuelito queso fresco cheese to the outbreak. On February 19, 2021, tests conducted by the Connecticut State Laboratory determined that the Listeria monocytogenes found in a sample of the cheese purchased at a grocery store in that state is a match to the outbreak strain. El Abuelito Cheese recalled … [Read more...]
El Abuelito Cheese Listeria Sample Matches Outbreak Strain
The El Abuelito cheese Listeria monocytogenes sample matches the outbreak strain, according to a notice from the FDA. The Connecticut Department of Public Health collected product samples of that cheese where a sick person who lives in that state bought cheeses. Sample analysis found the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in samples of El Abuelito Queso Fresco cheese that was sold in 10 ounce packages, marked as Lot A027 with an expiration date of 02/26/2021. On February 19, 2021, whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis that was conducted by the Connecticut State Laboratory found that the Listeria monocytogenes found in the samples is a match to the outbreak strain. On February 19, 2021, El Abuelito Cheese of Paterson, New Jersey recalled all Queso Fresco products with "sell by" … [Read more...]
New Listeria Outbreak Associated With Hispanic-Style Fresh Soft Cheeses
A new Listeria outbreak has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hispanic-style fresh and soft cheeses have allegedly sickened seven people in four states as of February 11, 2021. No recall has been issued yet. The patient case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Maryland (4), New York (1), and Virginia (1). All seven patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. No one has died. Illness onset dates range from October 20, 2020 to January 22, 2021. Six of those sickened got sick in 2021. The patient age range is from 45 to 75 years. Six of those sickened are of Hispanic origin. State and local public health officials are interviewing people about what they ate during the month before they started feeling sick. Of the four people who … [Read more...]
New Deadly E. coli Outbreak Causing Severe Illnesses and Hospitalizations
A new deadly E. coli outbreak has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of February 1, 2021, 16 people in five states are sick with E. coli O157:H7 infections. The investigation notice states that "CDC is concerned about the growing number of severe illnesses and hospitalizations in this outbreak. If you have E. coli symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider and report your illness to your local health department." The states where people are sick are Washington (2), Oklahoma (5), Arkansas (6), Virginia (2), and New York (1). Illness onset dates range from December 23, 2020 to January 7, 2021. Recent illnesses may not yet be reported since it can take two to four weeks to link illnesses to an outbreak. The patient age range is from 10 to 95 … [Read more...]
Deadly Deli Meat Listeria Outbreak Ends With 12 Sick in 4 States
The deadly deli meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has ended with 12 cases in 4 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One person who lived in Florida died. A specific type of deli meat or a common supplier was not identified in the investigation. The case count by state is: Florida (1), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (7) and New York (3). All twelve patients were hospitalized. The patient age range was from 40 to 89 years. Illness onset dates ranged from August 6, 2020 to October 30, 2020. Public health investigations used the PulseNet system to find people who were part of this outbreak. Whole genome sequencing was conducted on patient isolates. That genotyping showed that bacteria isolated from patients was closely related genetically, which … [Read more...]
FDA Declares Salmonella Paratyphi Outbreak Over With 18 Sick
On its Outbreak Investigation Table, the FDA has declared the Salmonella Paratyphi outbreak over after sickening 18 people overall. Ten illnesses were confirmed in Minnesota and the eight other illnesses are in three other states, according to the FDA. On that table, the product or products linked to illnesses are officially "not yet identified." The Minnesota Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin on November 19, 2020 that they only knew of the ten illnesses in Minnesota. The FDA told us that the CDC doesn't have enough evidence in their investigation of this outbreak to issue advice to the general public about any food or location to avoid. The patients who live in Minnesota told public health officials that they consumed juices and smoothies and bowls at a … [Read more...]
Thomson International Onion Salmonella Outbreak Number One of 2020
The Thomson International onion Salmonella Newport outbreak was the number one multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2020, sickening at least 1,127 people in 48 states. One hundred sixty seven people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The case count by state is: Alaska (25), Alabama (2), Arizona (39), Arkansas (2), California (128), Colorado (32), Connecticut (2), Delaware (2), Florida (8), Georgia (11), Hawaii (3), Idaho (43), Illinois (54), Indiana (4), Iowa (31), Kansas (3), Kentucky (3), Maine (6), Maryland (7), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (47), Minnesota (19), Mississippi (5), Missouri (11), Montana (72), Nebraska (10), Nebraska (10), Nevada (11), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (12), New Mexico (3), New York (14), North Carolina (6), North Dakota (9), Ohio (11), … [Read more...]
Wawona Peaches Salmonella Outbreak Number Three of 2020
The Wawona Peaches Salmonella outbreak was the number three multistate outbreak of 2020, with at least 101 sick in 17 states. There were many primary and secondary recalls of bagged and bulk peaches and peach products related to this outbreak. The patient case count by state was: California (1), Connecticut 91), Illinois (1), Iowa (11), Kansas (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (18), Minnesota (27), Missouri (2), New Jersey (8), New York (14), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (4), Vermont (1), Virginia (3), and Wisconsin (6). Illness onset dates ranged from June 29, 2020 to August 27, 2020. The patient age range was from 1 to 92 years. Of 90 patients who gave information about their illness to investigators, 28 were hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 31%, which is … [Read more...]
E. coli Clover Sprouts is the Number Five Multistate Outbreak of 2020
The E. coli O103 outbreak linked to clover sprouts is the number five multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2020. At least 51 people in 10 states were sickened. Most of the patients who were interviewed said they ate sprouts at a Jimmy John's restaurant before they got sick. The E. coli clover sprouts outbreak notice stated that those sprouts are no longer available at Jimmy John's restaurants as of February 24, 2020. The patient case count by state is: Florida (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (7), Iowa (3), Missouri (1), New York (1), Texas (1), Utah (34), Virginia (1), and Wyoming (1). Three people were hospitalized because they are so sick. Illness onset dates ranged from January 6, 2020 to March 15, 2020. The patient age range is from 1 to 79 years. No deaths were reported. In the … [Read more...]
