In the latest update to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, that agency stated that a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that has ended is linked to cantaloupe. This is not the first time that this fruit has caused illnesses. What is the history of food poisoning outbreaks linked to cantaloupe? While the outbreak is over, the FDA says that more information is forthcoming. We do not know the case count by state, but there are at least 87 people who are sick. We also do not know the patient age ranges, or illness onset dates. History of Food Poisoning Outbreaks Linked to Cantaloupe There have been six other multistate food poisoning outbreaks since 2011 that were linked to cantaloupe. Many of these outbreaks were deadly. Jensen Farms Listeria Outbreak In 2011, a deadly … [Read more...]
Old Europe Cheese Recall For Listeria Monocytogenes Expands
The Old Europe Cheese recall for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination has been expanded to include more products. A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak is linked to some of the company's products. The additional products include baked brie cheeses. The original recall, issued on September 23, 2022, included dozens of brands and types of brie and camembert cheese. The newly recalled products were sold from August 1, 2022 through September 28, 2022 and were sold at supermarkets, wholesale and retail stores nationwide and also in Mexico. The products have best by dates from September 28, 2022 to December 14, 2022. The cheeses were packaged in clamshells. The recalled items include Culinary Tour 8 ounce Plain Baked Brie with UPC number 011225005350, Culinary Tour 11 ounce … [Read more...]
FDA Says Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak Was Cantaloupe
The FDA says that the previously unidentified Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak was cantaloupe in an update to that agency's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. At least 87 people were sickened in that outbreak, which has ended. The investigation was closed recently, as it was still active in the last update issued on September 28, 2022. The FDA says that "more information will be forthcoming." We don't know the patient age range, illness onset date, or if anyone has been hospitalized. The outbreak case count has increased by one more patient since the last update. There is no ongoing risk to the public, according to the FDA, since these products are no longer available on the market. Still, learn how to protect yourself when preparing produce. There are still nine active outbreak … [Read more...]
FDA on Old Europe Cheese Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak
The FDA has weighed in on the Old Europe Cheese Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. The illnesses are linked to that company's brie and camembert soft cheese products. The Old Europe Cheese company is located in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The cheese was sold at various retailers and under multiple labels and brands including Reny Picot. The case count by state is: California (1), Georgia (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), New Jersey (1), and Texas (1). Five people have been hospitalized. The last illness onset date was August 5, 2022. The cheeses were sold nationwide. The affected cheeses have best by dates ranging from September 28, 2022 to December 14, 2022, and include all flavors and quantities. The recalled products include these brands: Reny Picot Black Bear Block … [Read more...]
Old Europe Cheese Recall For Possible Listeria Contamination
An Old Europe Cheese recall for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination has been issued. These soft cheeses are linked to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least six people in six sates. This voluntary recall covers products with best by dates through 12/14/2022. The cheeses were distributed in many stores nationwide from August 1, 2022 through September 28, 2022. The recalling firm, Old Europe Cheese, is in Benton Harbor, Michigan. These cheeses were sold at supermarkets, retail sorters, and wholesale outlets in the United States and Mexico. The stores that carried these cheeses include Albertsons, Safeway, Meijer, Harding’s, Shaw’s, Price Chopper, Market Basket, Raley’s, Save Mart, Giant Foods, Stop & Shop, Fresh Thyme, Lidl, Sprouts, … [Read more...]
Old Europe Cheese Listeria Outbreak Sickens 6, 5 Hospitalized
An Old Europe Cheese Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened at least six people in six states and has hospitalized five, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Brie and Camembert cheese, that were sold under multiple brand names, made by this company are linked to these illnesses. The patient case count by state is: California (1), Georgia (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), New Jersey (1), and Texas (1). The patient age range is from 56 to 83 years. Sick people's samples were collected from August 6, 2017, to August 5, 2022. This large date range is not uncommon in Listeria outbreaks, since not many people are sick in each outbreak and since the pathogen can exist in food manufacturing environments for years. The PulseNet system is used to … [Read more...]
What Are Common Food Poisoning Pathogen Incubation Periods?
Every time there is an outbreak and the cause or pathogen is not immediately apparent, investigators have several clues they can use to help them solve it. One is the incubation period, of the time between when a person eats contaminated food and they start getting sick. These facts are complicated by the fact that most people think the last thing they ate made them sick, which is often not the case. What are common food poisoning pathogen incubation periods? All pathogens have different incubation periods that can range from hours to days or even weeks and months. While there is always a range, these incubation periods are true across all outbreaks. Common Food Poisoning Pathogen Incubation Periods Bacillus cereus can cause illness especially in foods that have been sitting out … [Read more...]
New Listeria Outbreak Added to FDA CORE Investigation Table
A new Listeria outbreak has been added to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. This table lists active, current, and closed outbreak investigations, and provides little information until there is some concrete action that consumers can take to protect themselves. We don't know the states where ill people live, illness onset dates, or if anyone has been hospitalized. There are currently nine outbreaks that are under active investigation. The new Listeria outbreak has sickened six people, according to the table. A product has not yet been identified but FDA inspectors are conducting an inspection at an unnamed facility, and samples have been collected for analysis. The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that may be linked to romaine lettuce served on hamburgers and sandwiches at … [Read more...]
Two More Illnesses in Big Olaf Ice Cream Listeria Outbreak
Two more illnesses in the Big Olaf ice cream Listeria monocytogenes outbreak brings the total to 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-four people have been hospitalized, one person has died, and there has been one fetal loss. And there is a genetic match between the ice cream samples and patient isolates. The case count by state is: Colorado (1), Florida (13), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kansas (1), Nebraska (1), Massachusetts (2), Minnesota (1), New Jersey (1), New York (2), and Pennsylvania (1). The patient age range is from less than one to 92 years. Illness onset dates range from January 24, 2021 to June 24, 2022. It's possible that this outbreak will keep growing, since it can take up to 70 days, or more than two months, between when a … [Read more...]
New Cyclospora Outbreak, Two Outbreaks Ended Unsolved
A new cyclospora outbreak has been added to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, while two other outbreaks have ended unsolved. The new cyclospora outbreak has sickened at least six people. The food responsible has not yet been identified. And traceback has been initiated. This joins the other cyclospora outbreak that was announced last week, with at least 60 sick and no food, again, identified. Traceback has been initiated in that investigation, and samples have been collected for analysis. The two outbreaks that have ended are the Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ that sickened at least 14 people. Although traceback was conducted, no food was identified. And a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened at least 12 people has also ended unsolved. The only … [Read more...]
