The CDC has weighed in on the Listeria monocytogenes enoki outbreak that has sickened at least three people in three states. Two brands of enoki mushrooms are linked to this outbreak. Utopia Foods mushrooms with bar code 8928918610017, and Sun Hong Foods Shandong mushrooms are the products in question. Both were imported from China. There are two strains of Listeria monocytogenes that have sickened people in this outbreak. The Maryland Department of Health found both outbreak strains in Sun Hong Foods mushrooms that were produced by Shandong Youth Biotechnology Company in China. The case count has not changed in the last two weeks. It remains: California (1), Nevada (1), and Michigan (1). All three patients have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The government … [Read more...]
More Enoki Mushrooms Linked to Listeria Outbreak
More enoki mushrooms have been linked to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened and hospitalized three patients, according to the FDA. This outbreak, which was first reported in November 2022, was first linked to recalled Utopia Foods enoki mushrooms that were imported from China. In addition, two strains of Listeria monocytogenes have been identified in this outbreak. The bacteria was found through whole genome sequencing. The second brand of mushrooms are produced by Shandong Youth Biotechnology with an address in China, which were distributed by Sun Hong Foods, Inc. A safety alert was issued about these mushrooms on December 17, 2022 after a positive product sample was collected by officials in Missouri. At that time, the mushrooms were not linked to this … [Read more...]
Two Listeria Strains in Utopia Enoki Outbreak, Says FDA
There are two Listeria strains in Utopia enoki mushroom outbreak, according to the FDA. And there are three people sick in this outbreak as of January 18, 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The FDA states, "Through ongoing sampling efforts, FDA and state partners have been collecting and testing samples of enoki mushrooms. An import sample of enoki mushrooms branded as Utopia Foods, Inc. was collected by FDA and was reported as being positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis determined that the strain of Listeria found in this sample matches the strain of Listeria linked to two illnesses in this outbreak. FDA also detected an additional strain of Listeria monocytogenes in this sample, which is linked to one … [Read more...]
Three Sick in Utopia Enoki Mushrooms Listeria Outbreak
There are three sick in Utopia enoki mushrooms Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of January 18, 2023. That is an increase of one more case since the last update on November 17, 2022. All three patients have been hospitalized. The case count per state is: California (1), Michigan (1), and Nevada (1). Samples from patients were collected from October 3, 2022 to October 8, 2022. The patient age range is from 30 to 56 years. Two of the patients are Hispanic, and one is Asian. Two of the patients told investigators that they ate enoki mushrooms or ate at restaurants with menu items containing enoki mushrooms before they got sick. The third patient did not report eating enoki mushrooms but did shop at various Asian … [Read more...]
Alleged Wendy’s E. coli Outbreak Was Number One in 2022
The alleged Wendy's E. coli outbreak was the number one outbreak of 2022, with at least 109 people sick in six states, and 52 patients hospitalized. The CDC says that they were unable to confirm a food source, but more than 80% of patients who were interviewed by public health officials said they ate at a Wendy's restaurant, choosing burgers and sandwiches made with romaine lettuce, before they got sick. The case count by state was: Indiana (11), Kentucky (2), Michigan (67), New York (1), Ohio (24), and Pennsylvania (4). The Wendy's restaurants where sick people ate were in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The patient age range was from 1 to 94 years. Illness onset dates ranged from July 26, 2022 to August 17, 2022. Fifty-two people were … [Read more...]
Earth Grown Falafel E. coli Outbreak Was Number Four of 2022
The Earth Grown Falafel E. coli O121 outbreak was the number four outbreak of 2022, sickening at least 24 people in six states according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Frozen Earth Grown Vegan Traditional Falafel and Garlic & Herb Falafel were both recalled after the outbreak was announced. Those products were sold at Aldi stores. The case count by state was: Florida (2), Iowa (2), Kansas (1), Michigan (13), Ohio (1), and Wisconsin (5). The patient age range was from under the age of one to 77 years, and illness onset date ranged from July 13, 2022 to October 24, 2022. One patient did develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. Public health officials interviewed 18 patients about what they ate before they got sick. … [Read more...]
FDA Adds NE Salmonella Alfalfa Sprout Outbreak to CORE Table
The FDA has added the Nebraska Salmonella alfalfa sprout outbreak to its CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. At least 15 people are sick, an increase of three more patients since the Nebraska advisory was released on December 23, 2022. The pathogen is Salmonella Typhimurium. The FDA states, "A multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium (reference #1137) has been added to the table. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture issued an advisory regarding illnesses in their state. Preliminary information gathered by state partners indicates that patients consumed alfalfa sprouts prior to becoming ill. FDA’s investigation is underway to confirm the product causing illnesses and additional information will be provided when it becomes … [Read more...]
Old Europe Cheese Listeria Outbreak Is Number Nine of 2022
The number nine food poisoning outbreak of 2022 is the Old Europe Cheese Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened at least six people in six states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory data showed that cheeses made by that company made people sick. This outbreak was declared over on December 9, 2022. The 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, with a median age of 78. Five people were hospitalized because they were so sick. In interviews, patients were asked about the foods they ate the month before they got sick. Eighty percent said they ate brie or camembert cheese. Most did not … [Read more...]
Top 10 Food Poisoning Outbreaks for 2022: Number Ten Enoki
It's time for the top 10 food poisoning outbreaks of 2022. There were not many multistate outbreaks this year; just a few more than the pandemic year of 2020 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But there were still hundreds of Americans sickened by contaminated food. And the case counts for these outbreaks are likely far lower than the actual number sickened because any people aren't diagnosed and not included. Most of these outbreaks have ended, but a couple are still ongoing. Number ten is the newest outbreak, the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is linked to enoki mushrooms imported from Korea. (By the way, enoki mushrooms were the most recalled food of 2022.) This outbreak investigation has not been updated for more than a month. The last … [Read more...]
Cryptosporidium Outbreak in Michigan Linked to Sick Calves
A cryptosporidium outbreak in Michigan is linked to a group of sick calves, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). A total of 12 people between the ages of 19 and 56 have been identified in this outbreak. One person has been confirmed with the infection, four people are probable cases, and there are seven suspect cases. The patients live in Livingston, Ingham, and Oakland counties in Michigan. The location of the calves was not identified in the outbreak notice. The patients got sick between November 15, 2022 and November 21, 2022. They experienced diarrhea and other symptoms of cryptosporidiosis, including nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps or pain, dehydration, fever, and weight loss. These symptoms can last for several weeks. There is treatment … [Read more...]
