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...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Table Updated With New E. coli Outbreak
The FDA has updated its CORE Outbreak Investigation Table to include a new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. There are currently four active outbreak investigations on the Table; one is unsolved. Four investigation have ended; all of those were unsolved. The FDA and CDC are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157 infections linked to an iceberg and romaine lettuce blend served at catering events, restaurants, and a school. A total of 69 people infected with the same strain of E. coli O157 have been reported from 10 states. FDA’s traceback investigation has identified an iceberg and romaine lettuce blend from a common supplier as the source of this outbreak; however, this product is past shelf life and no longer on the market. The supplier was not named. At this … [Read more...]
Deadly Boar’s Head Listeria Outbreak Over, 61 Sickened
The deadly Boar's Head Listeria outbreak is over, with at least 61 people sickened in 19 states and 10 deaths, according to the CDC. That's an increase of two more patients since the last update was issued on September 25, 2024. The two new patients live in New York. The final case count by state is: 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. One person got sick during a pregnancy and remained pregnant after recovering. The people … [Read more...]
