Soft Serve on the Go Cups by Real Kosher Ice Cream are being recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Two people are sick; one person in New York and one in Pennsylvania. Both of these patients were hospitalized. The recalling firm is Real Kosher Ice Cream of Brooklyn, New York. The recalled soft serve ice cream and sorbet cups were sold at the retail level in these states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and in Washington DC. The ice cream was sold in canteens, convenience stores, and grocery stores. The recalled products are all Soft Serve on the Go brand packaged in clear … [Read more...]
Consumer Reports Issues Advice to Buy Safer Lettuce
Consumers Reports has issued advice telling consumers how to buy safer lettuce in the wake of serious E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks. Those outbreaks happen every year: earlier this year a Listeria outbreak was linked to Revolution Farms lettuce blends. And in fact, in 2018 Consumers Reports advised people to avoid romaine lettuce altogether until the FDA had a handle on that year's outbreaks. While it isn't possible to ensure that all lettuce or leafy greens you buy are perfectly safe, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of illness. There were 78 foodborne illness outbreaks linked to leafy greens between 2014 and 2021 that sickened hundreds of people and hospitalized many. Some of the outbreaks were solved and some weren't. The lettuce can become … [Read more...]
Deadly Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak in Western Washington
A deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in western Washington state has sickened five patients, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. Officials from that department are working with the Washington State Department of Health and the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department to investigate this outbreak. All of the patients were hospitalized and three have died. All the cases were patients with weakened immune systems who were in their 60s or 70s. Four of the patients are in Pierce county, and one is in Thurston county. Public health officials are interviewing patients or their families to try to identify common exposures. No food or common exposure has been identified yet. People who are most at risk for serious complications from a … [Read more...]
Cricket Creek Farm Feta Added to Listeria Monocytogenes Recall
Cricket Creek Farm Feta cheese is added to the recall of Sophelise, Tobasi, and Berkshire Bloom because of inadequate pasteurization. These cheeses are being recalled for possible Lsiteira monocytogenes contamination. There is one illness associated with the Sophelise cheese; that person has been hospitalized. That farm is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Sophelise, Tobasi, Feta and Berkshire Bloom cheeses were distributed in Massachusetts and New York through Wild Oats in Williamstown, Massachusetts; Provisions Williamstown in Williamstown, Massachusetts; Wells Provisions in Charlemont, Massachusetts; McEnroe Organic Farm Market in Millerton, New York; New Lebanon Farmers Market in New Lebanon, New York, at restaurants, and at farmers markets. The feta cheese has a … [Read more...]
Listeria Outbreak Linked to Leafy Greens Ends With 19 Sick
The Listeria outbreak linked to leafy greens has ended with at least 19 people sick in 16 states, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This outbreak was not solved. No brand or type of product has been linked to these illnesses. This outbreak was last updated on April 21, 2023. The case count by state is: Arkansas (1), California (1), Colorado (1), Illinois (1), Louisiana (1), Michigan (2), Missouri (1), North Carolina (2), Nebraska (1), New York (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (2). Samples were collected from July 3, 2018 to March 31, 2023. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 96 years. Eighteen people were hospitalized because they were so sick. State and local public health … [Read more...]
Cricket Creek Farm Cheese Recalled After One Listeria Illness
Cricket Creek Farm Cheese is being recalled after one Listeria monocytogenes illness was reported. The recalling firm is Cricket Creek Farm of Williamstown, Massachusetts. The recalled products are 165 pounds of Sophelise cheese and 149 pounds of Tobasi cheese. The cheeses were distributed in Massachusetts and New York through these stores: Wild Oats in Williamstown, Massachusetts; Provisions Williamstown in Williamstown, Massachusetts; McEnroe Organic Farm Market in Millerton, New York; New Lebanon Farmers Market in New Lebanon, New York; and at restaurants and farmers markets. You can see pictures of these cheeses at the FDA web site. Sophelise is a washed, pasteurized milk cheese with a soft rind and pinkish hue. The circular cheese is four inches in diameter and about one … [Read more...]
Dave’s Sushi Morel Mushroom Outbreak Sickens 41 in Montana
The Dave's Sushi morel mushroom outbreak has now sickened at least 41 people in Montana, according to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. The Table states that morel mushrooms are the suspect food in this outbreak. Two deaths have occurred in patrons of that establishment after eating there. The case count has increased to 41 from 30 since the last update was issued on May 3, 2023. In that investigation, traceback has been initiated, and sample collection and analysis has begun. The Gallatin City-County Health Department, which is also investigating the outbreak, says that ill persons ate at the restaurant between March 31 and April 17, 2023. Three patrons had "severe outcomes," including hospitalizations, and the deaths of two patrons are being investigated. No causative … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Investigation Table Updated With New Outbreak
The FDA CORE Investigation Table has been updated with a new outbreak and an increase in the number of cases in the hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen organic strawberries. There are currently four active outbreak investigations on that Table. The new outbreak has sickened at least 13 people. We don't know where those people live, illness onset dates, if anyone has been hospitalized, or the patient age range. We also do not know the pathogen, or if it was a food sold from a grocery store or served at a restaurant that caused these illnesses. In the hepatitis A outbreak, the case count has increased from seven to eight. Several bands of frozen organic strawberries, including Kirkland Signature, Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Made With, Meijer, PCC Community Markets, and Trader … [Read more...]
Mystery Listeria monocytogenes Outbreak Grows With 18 Cases
The mystery Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has grown with 18 cases and seven new hospitalizations in 15 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of seven more patients. Patients in five more states have been added to the outbreak total. This is the first update in this outbreak since the original notice was published on February 15, 2023. The case count by state is: Arkansas (1), California (1), Colorado (1), Illinois (1), Louisiana (1), Michigan (2), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New York (1), North Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (1), Washington (1) and Wisconsin (2). Samples were collected from July 3, 2018 to March 31, 2023. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 96 years. There is one pregnancy … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table Updated
The FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table has been updated with more informant about the Salmonella Infantis, the Salmonella Hartford, and the hepatitis A outbreaks. There are currently just three active outbreak investigations on that table. For the Salmonella Infantis outbreak that is linked to raw flour, an onsite inspection, sample collection, and sample analysis has been initiated. In that outbreak, there are 12 people in 11 states that are sick. The case count is: California (1), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (1). The outbreak investigation has not been updated since March 30, 2023. No specific brand of flour has been linked to these illnesses. The Salmonella Hartford … [Read more...]
