What are the current food poisoning outbreaks? The FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table says that there are four outbreaks being investigated; two Salmonella outbreaks, one hepatitis A outbreak, and a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. Only two have foods attached to them. And then there is another Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that was announced by the FDA in a recall notice that is not on the chart. The Salmonella infantis outbreak linked to raw flour has sickened at least 12 people in 11 states. Three people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The case count by state 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). No specific brand of flour has been linked to … [Read more...]
Revolution Listeria Outbreak: How Are Greens Contaminated?
In the Revolution Listeria outbreak, how are greens contaminated? The outbreak, which was just announced by the FDA in a recall notice, is linked to Revolution Farms brand lettuces and salad mixes. The multi-state outbreak has not been mentioned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so we don't know how many people are sick, the patent age range, or illness onset dates. Listeria gets onto lettuces, other leafy greens, and vegetables and fruits in a variety of ways. The pathogen occurs naturally in soil and water, so the plants could be contaminated in the field. Some animals can carry the bacteria and not get sick. If they poop on plants in the field, the pathogen can easily grab onto the plant and grow. Animal manure used as fertilizer can also be contaminated. And … [Read more...]
Enoki Mushrooms Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Ends
The enoki mushrooms Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Utopia Foods and Sun Hong Foods products has ended with five people sick in four states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the last update released in January 2023, there were three people sick. The case count by state is: California (2), Michigan (1), Nevada (1), and New Jersey (1). The new state added to this outbreak is New Jersey, and one more patient in California was added to the case count. Ill person's samples were collected from October 5, 2022 to February 3, 2023. The patient age range is from less than one to 63 years. There were two strains of Listeria monocytogenes that made people sick in this outbreak. Two of the patients reported eating enoki mushrooms or eating at … [Read more...]
FDA Offers Tips to Prevent Listeria Monocytogenes Illness
The FDA is offering tips to prevent Listeria monocytogenes illnesses. There is a mystery Listeria outbreak on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table that has sickened at least 11 people in 10 states, as well as an ongoing listeriosis outbreak that is linked to Utopia Foods and Sun Hong Foods enoki mushrooms. It's important to know that some foods are more likely to be contaminated with this dangerous and often deadly pathogen. They include ready to eat refrigerated foods such as deli meats and cheeses, unpasteurized milk, and foods made with unpasteurized milk. The people most at risk for serious complications from this food poisoning infection include pregnant women and their fetuses, the elderly, anyone with a compromised immune system, and anyone with a chronic illness, … [Read more...]
Consumer Reports Lists 10 Risky Recalled Foods From 2017-2022
Consumer Reports lists 10 risky recalled foods from 2017 to 2022 that you should know about. These foods were recalled because of bacterial contamination and many were linked to foodborne illness outbreaks. The 10 risky recalled foods that are listed in rank order include: Leafy Greens. These types of vegetables were linked to 50 outbreaks and recalls. There were 614 illnesses and 11 deaths as a result of E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes bacterial contamination on these products, including the deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Fresh Express packaged salads that sickened and hospitalized 10 people in 10 states, and the Wendy's E. coli romaine outbreak that sickened at least 109 people in six states. Contaminated water used to irritate crops is one source of these … [Read more...]
Deadly Listeria Deli Meat Outbreak Ends With 16 Sick
The deadly Netcost Listeria deli meat and cheese outbreak has finally ended after 4-1/2 months with no update, with 16 people in six states sick. Thirteen people were hospitalized because they were so ill. The case count by state is: California (1), Illinois (2), Maryland (3), Massachusetts (2), New Jersey (1), and New York (7). This case count has not changed since the outbreak was first announced on November 9, 2022. The patient age range is from 38 to 92 years. Sick people's samples were collected from April 17, 2021 to September 29, 2022. Of 14 people who gave information about their illnesses to officials, 13 were hospitalized. One death was reported from Maryland, and there was one pregnancy loss. Of 12 people interviewed, 11 said they ate meat or cheese from deli counters. … [Read more...]
New Mystery Salmonella Infantis Outbreak Sickens 12
A new mystery Salmonella Infantis outbreak has sickened at least 12 people, according to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. There are now five active outbreak investigations on that table. For the new mystery Salmonella Infantis outbreak, there is no recall, we don't know where ill persons live, there is no patient age range, and we don't know if anyone has been hospitalized. The only action that the government has taken so far is traceback. In the mystery Salmonella Hartford outbreak in a not yet identified product, the case count has increased from 50 to 53 cases. In that investigation, traceback has begun, an on-site inspection has begun, and samples have been collected and analyzed. The hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen organic strawberries remains unchanged, … [Read more...]
Mystery Salmonella Hartford Outbreak Grows to 50 Sick
The mystery Salmonella Hartford outbreak has grown to include 50 patients, according to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. There are three other active outbreak investigations on that table. In the Salmonella outbreak, traceback has been initiated and on-site inspection has begun. The FDA has collected samples and has begun to analyze those samples. No recall has been initiated, we don't know the patient age range of illness onset date, or whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. The hepatitis A outbreak linked to recalled frozen organic strawberries remains the same. Five patients in Washington state are sick and two people have been hospitalized. Two recalls have been issued: one for Kirkland Organic Frozen Strawberries packaged in a 4 pound bag, and one for … [Read more...]
FDA Strategy Enhances Safety of Soft Queso Fresco Cheeses
The FDA has released a prevention strategy to try to enhance the safety of soft Queso Fresco cheeses (QFT) after several foodborne illness outbreaks. From 2014 to 2017 there were five listeriosis outbreaks in the United States that were linked to the consumption of soft fresh Queso type cheeses. There were 12 more outbreaks of listeriosis in the United States during the time period of 1998 to 2014 that were associated with soft cheeses made from pasteurized milk. Most were associated with soft Queso Fresco type cheeses. And in 2021 the FDA investigated a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to El Abuelito Cheese products that sickened at least 13 people in four states and killed one person who lived in Maryland. Historically, these outbreaks have been associated with … [Read more...]
Salmonella Hartford Outbreak Case Count Grows to 47 Sick
The Salmonella Hartford outbreak that is listed on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table has grown from 31 to 47 cases since the last update was issued on March 8, 2023. There are three other active outbreak investigations on that table. The Salmonella Hartford outbreak has not been linked to any specific food. Traceback has been initiated, but no on-site inspection has taken place, there is no recall, and no sample collection and analysis has started. We do not know where the patients live, their age range, or illness onset dates. And we do not know if anyone has been hospitalized. The other outbreak investigations are unchanged. The hepatitis A outbreak in a not yet identified food, which has sickened at least five people, is unchanged. In that investigation, traceback … [Read more...]
