There is a new Listeria outbreak on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Table, joining just one other actively investigated outbreak. The Table also has three other outbreaks that are still ongoing, but the investigations into them have ended. The new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened at least 34 people. We do not know illness onset dates, the patient age range, or if anyone has been hospitalized. Most Listeria outbreaks have high hospitalization rates. The FDA has initiated traceback to try to find the food or foods responsible for these illnesses, but has not inspected any facilities, has not collected or tested samples, and no recall has been issued. The second Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened at least 32 people. In its investigation, the FDA has initiated … [Read more...]
USDA Reveals Unsanitary Conditions in Boar’s Head Facility
The USDA is revealing unsanitary conditions in Boar's Head facility in a report in the wake of a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that occurred between May and November 2024. The outbreak was linked to liverwurst produced at that facility in Jarratt, Virginia. FSIS undertook a thorough review of the outbreak to identify contributing factors and evaluate responses in the future. The USDA conducted document reviews and in-person assessments at the Jarratt facility and at all establishments owned and operated under the Boar's Head Provisions Corporate umbrella. The reviews were for years 2022 through 2024. FSIs also reviewed its own practices and procedures, given that the conditions in the Jarratt plant were so bad, including sampling programs, inspector training, and … [Read more...]
Unsolved Romaine E. coli Outbreak Ends, in FDA CORE Table
The unsolved romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has ended, and three other outbreaks remain on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Table. Only one outbreak is ongoing. All of the investigations are still active. All of those outbreaks are unsolved. The romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreak sickened at least 88 people. The grower, supplier, and any grocery stores or restaurants that may have supplied the lettuce are unnamed. The FDA conducted traceback investigations, conducted inspections, and collected and tested samples, but no recalls were issued. For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is still ongoing, there are at least 31 patients sick. We do not know the patient age range, illness onset dates, or if anyone has been hospitalized or has died. The FDA has initiated traceback, has … [Read more...]
Top 10 Food Poisoning Outbreaks of 2024
These are the top 10 food poisoning outbreaks of 2024, in reverse order. There were quite a few outbreaks last year, with many illnesses and a few deaths. These are the top 10, in reverse order, with an addendum of five more outbreaks of interest. Addendum: Five Notable Outbreaks Five outbreaks that were important were added in an addendum this year. They were the Grimmway Farms carrot E. coli O121:H9 outbreak, the Infinite Herbs Salmonella outbreak, the deadly Rico Lopez soft cheese Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, the deadly Yu Shang Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, and the Gibson Farms walnuts E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. Number 10: Boar's Head The 10th outbreak of 2024 was the deadly Boar's Heat deli meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened at least 61 people in … [Read more...]
Five More Significant Outbreaks in 2024
There were so many notable food poisoning outbreaks this year that we decided to add a list of five more significant outbreaks of 2024. These outbreaks are notable because people died, because the situation was so unusual, or because the vehicle for the pathogen was unusual. Grimmway Farms Carrot E. coli O121:H9 Outbreak One person died in this outbreak that was linked to recalled Grimmway Farms carrots. The carrots were contaminated with E. coli O121;H9 bacteria. There were 48 people sick in 19 states and twenty people were hospitalized. The case count by state was: Arkansas (1), California (3), Colorado (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (5), Missouri (1), New Jersey (2), New York (5), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (3), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (2), … [Read more...]
New Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak on FDA CORE Table
There is a new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Table. There are only three active outbreaks on the table at this time; one has been partially solved, and one has been solved but is still growing. The new Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened at least 31 people. The FDA has initiated traceback, but has not issued a recall, inspected any facilities, or tested samples. The E. coli O145:H29 outbreak that sickened at least eight people has not been solved. The outbreak itself has ended, but the FDA is still investigating. That agency has initiated traceback but has not collected samples or inspected a faciity. For the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak the vehicle is romaine lettuce. The case count has increased from 86 to 88. But the FDA has not mentioned … [Read more...]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro Statements on Boar’s Head Listeria Outbreak
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has issued a statement on the deadly Boar's Head Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. The Congresswoman sent a letter to Boar's head in September 2024 regarding the horrific accounts of a USDA inspection at the company's Jarratt, Virginia plant. That outbreak sickened at least 61 people in 19 states and killed 10 people. The case count by state was: Arizona (1), Florida (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (3), Minnesota (1), Missouri (3), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (1), New York (19), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (1), Virginia (4), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates ranged from May 29, 2024 to September 13, 2024. Sixty people were hospitalized. The plant kept … [Read more...]
Top 10 2024 Outbreaks: Number 10 Boar’s Head Meat Listeria
It's time for the top outbreak list for 2024. This year, the number 10 outbreak is the deadly Boars Head meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. There were at least 61 people sick in 19 states. And ten people died. The final case count by state was: Arizona (1), Florida (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (3), Minnesota (1), Missouri (3), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (1), New York (19), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (1), Virginia (4), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates ranged from May 29, 2024 to September 13, 2024. Sixty people were hospitalized. In this outbreak, one person got sick during a pregnancy and remained pregnant after recovering. The people who died lived in Illinois, New … [Read more...]
Jack and the Green Sprouts Listeria Outbreak Sickens Four
A Jack and the Green Sprouts Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened at least four people, according to a note in the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. This outbreak was not mentioned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Becasue there was no official announcement of this outbreak, details about patients are sketchy. We do not know where the patients live, if anyone was hospitalized, illness onset dates, or the patient age range. We do know that the alfalfa sprouts and alfalfa onion sprouts were sold in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa at grocery stores and local coops. The sprouts were recalled in early October, 2024. At that time, the FDA says that there were no known illnesses associated with the sprouts. And when the FDA and CDC began investigating … [Read more...]
Deadly Yu Shang Listeria Outbreak Sickens 19, Kills 2
The deadly Yu Shang Listeria outbreak has now sickened 19 people in eight states and has killed two, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Seventeen people are hospitalized because they are so sick. That is an increase of eight new patients, eight new hospitalizations, one new death, and four new states. The case count by state is: California (10), Georgia (1), Illinois (2), Nevada (1), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Oregon (1), and Tennessee (2). The new states are Georgia, Nevada, Oregon, and Tennessee. The patient age range is from less than one to 86 years. All of the patients are Asian. Of 19 people who gave information to public health investigators, 17, or 89%, have been hospitalized. Sick person's samples were collected from October 24, 2021, to … [Read more...]
