New E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria outbreaks are on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. The two cyclospora outbreaks have ended, unsolved. There are currently eight outbreaks on the Table; six are not solved. The two cyclospora outbreaks ended unsolved; one had 61 patients, and the other 46. The FDA initiated traceback, collected and tested samples, and conducted inspections, to no avail. The new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak is linked to McDonald's Quarter Pounder beef sandwiches. There are 75 people sick, with 22 hospitalized and one death. Those patients live in 131 states. Taylor Farms has recalled their silvered onions from food service customers in relation to this outbreak, but the FDA has not yet determined that the onions are the source of contamination. A new … [Read more...]
Deadly McDonald’s E. coli Outbreak Sickens 75; Onions Recalled
The deadly McDonald's E. coli outbreak has now sickened at least 75 people in 13 states. That's an increase of 26 more patients in just three days. And Taylor Farms has recalled slivered onions sent to food service operators, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Everyone interviewed continues to report eating at McDonald's before they got sick. The most recent illness started on October 10. The case count by state is: Colorado (26), Iowa (1), Kansas (1), Michigan (2), Missouri (4), Montana (13), Nebraska (11), New Mexico (5), Oregon (1), Utah (5), Washington (1), Wisconsin (1), and Wyoming (4). The states added to the outbreak total are Michigan, New Mexico, and Utah. Illnesses started on September 27, 2024. The patient age range is from 13 to 88 … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder E. coli Outbreak
The FDA has weighed in on the McDonald's Quarter Pounder E. coli outbreak. That outbreak has sickened at least 49 people in 10 states. Ten people are hospitalized, one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and one person, who lived in Colorado, has died. The case count by state is: Colorado (26), Iowa (1), Kansas (1), Missouri (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (9), Oregon (1), Utah (4), Wisconsin (1), and Wyoming (1). Illness onset dates range from September 27, 2024 to October 11, 2024. The patient age range is from 13 to 88. One person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. And the person who died was an older adult who did not have HUS. A specific ingredient has not yet been confirmed, but reports are that investigators are zeroing in … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder E. coli Outbreak Sickens 49, Kills 1
A McDonald's Quarter Pounder E. coli Outbreak has sickened at last 49 people in 10 states, has hospitalized 10 of those patients, and has killed one person, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most of the sick people reported eating Quarter Pounder hamburgers from McDonald's. The case count by state is: Colorado (26), Iowa (1), Kansas (1), Missouri (1), Montana (1), Nebraska (9), Oregon (1), Utah (4), Wisconsin (1), and Wyoming (1). Illness onset dates range from September 27, 2024 to October 11, 2024. The patient age range is from 13 to 88. One person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. And the person who died was an older adult who lived in Colorado; that patient did not have HUS. The hospitalization rate for … [Read more...]
How Many Outbreaks Are Linked to Fast Food Restaurants?
In the past ten years, there have been many food poisoning outbreaks linked to fast food restaurants. The outbreaks slowed significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic, however. This year, there was only one fast food outbreak that was allegedly associated with Wendy's restaurants in several states that may have been caused by romaine lettuce. These outbreaks can be very large simply because there are so many restaurants in these fast food chains. Now that people are no longer staying at home, and are eating out more, will there be more food poisoning outbreaks linked to fast food restaurants? Only time will tell. How many outbreaks are linked to fast food restaurants? In 2022, an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was allegedly associated with romaine lettuce served on Wendy's hamburgers and … [Read more...]
Recent Cyclospora Outbreaks in U.S. Sicken Thousands Linked to Produce
It's just like clockwork. Every summer, at least one cyclospora outbreak is announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These outbreaks are always linked to fresh produce that does not go through a kill step such as heating before consumers eat it. Let's look back at the recent cyclospora outbreaks in the U.S. First, Cyclospora cayetanensis is a microscopic parasite that uses a human host to reproduce and travel. When a person ingests a major oocyst, it breaks apart in the intestine, causes damage, and uses human cells to reproduce. It is excreted in feces, where it matures in the environment, contaminates food through waste in the fields, contamination along the food chain, or contaminated irrigation water, and the process repeats. Cyclospora Outbreaks in … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Cyclospora Outbreak Was Number One in 2018
The McDonald's cyclospora outbreak was the number one outbreak of 2018, with 511 people in 16 states sickened. Twenty four people were hospitalized because they were so sick. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence found that salads purchased from McDonald's were "one likely source of this outbreak." The FDA did not name other sources. On July 26, 2018, the FDA completed analysis of an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix that was distributed to McDonald's by the Fresh Express processor in Streamwood, Illinois. They confirmed the presence of the cyclospora parasite in the sample. However, the FDA did not identify a single source of point of contamination for this outbreak. The patient case count by state was: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (99), Illinois (274), … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Fresh Express McDonald’s Cyclospora Outbreak
The FDA has weighed in on the Fresh Express McDonald's cyclospora outbreak. This outbreak appears to be over as of September 11, 2018. A total of 511 lab-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in people who ate salads ordered from the fast food chain. While the FDA did find that a sample of the Fresh Express romaine and carrot mix distributed to McDonald's restaurants was contaminated with the cyclospora parasite, they did not identify a single source of point of contamination in this outbreak. The case count by state is: Connecticut (1), Florida (1), Iowa (99), Illinois (274), Indiana (10), Kentucky (9), Michigan (2), Minnesota (11), Missouri (52), Nebraska (5), New York City (1), Ohio (16), South Dakota (18), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (10). The … [Read more...]
McDonald’s Fresh Express Salad Cyclospora Outbreak Ends; Lawsuits Filed
The McDonald's Fresh Express salad cyclospora outbreak appears to be over, according to the CDC. As of September 11, 2018, 551 people are sick in 15 states and New York City. They consumed "a variety of salads" from McDonald's restaurants in the Midwest. Twenty-four people were hospitalized because they were so sick. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence showed that salads purchased from McDonald's restaurants were the likely source of this outbreak. The salad supplier, Fresh Express, provided an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix that was distributed to McDonald's; FDA analysis confirmed the presence of the cyclospora parasite in that sample. No single source or point of contamination for this outbreak was found. The FDA investigated distribution and supplier … [Read more...]
Illinois Hit Hard by McDonald’s Fresh Express Cyclospora Outbreak; Lawsuits Filed
For some reason, Illinois is the state that is hardest hit by the McDonald's Fresh Express Cyclospora outbreak. At least 273 people out of the 507 sickened in this huge outbreak live in Illinois. In total, 24 people have been hospitalized because their symptoms were so severe. The rest of the people affected by this outbreak live in Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Officials have not explained why, even though McDonald's sells salads in their restaurants throughout the country, the outbreak has centered on the midwest. The FDA investigation has zeroed in on a Fresh Express salad mix containing romaine lettuce and carrots that was distributed to McDonald's. Investigators found cyclospora parasites in that sample. … [Read more...]
