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...]
Old Europe Listeria Monocytogenes Cheese Outbreak Ends
The Old Europe Listeria monocytogenes soft cheese outbreak has ended with six people sick in six states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Five people were hospitalized because they were so ill. That outbreak investigation was last updated on November 10, 2022. 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. There may be more patients in this outbreak because some people contract this infection and do not see a doctor, so are not diagnosed and entered into the government database. Patients were interviewed by government officials. Of the five … [Read more...]
Earth Grown Falafel E. coli O121 Outbreak Ends With 24 Sick
The Earth Grown Falafel E. coli O121 outbreak has ended with 24 sick in six states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is an increase of four patients since the last update on October 7, 2022. The case count per state is: Florida (2), Iowa (2), Kansas (1), Michigan (13), Ohio (1), and Wisconsin (5). The patient age range is from under the age of one to 77 years, and illness onset date ranged from July 13, 2022 to October 24, 2022. One person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. Officials interviewed patients about the foods they ate before they got sick. Of the 18 people interviewed, 15, or 83%, said they shopped at Aldi stores. Among those shoppers, 14 ate Earth Grown frozen falafel the week before they got … [Read more...]
Did Banned Enoki Mushrooms Make Their Way to Store Shelves?
On November 17, Green Day Produce of Vernon, CA issued a Listeria recall for enoki mushrooms imported from Korea. But why were they on store shelves in the first place? Due to widespread problems with Listeria contamination in enoki mushrooms from Korea, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a countrywide import alert for them four months ago. This action essentially bans the import of all enoki mushrooms from the Republic of Korea. Companies seeking an exemption can submit documentation that the product has been tested and is pathogen-free, but even this does not guarantee that the product will be admitted to the U.S., according to the FDA website's information about import alerts. Firms that meet the criteria for exemption from an import alert are added to a "green … [Read more...]
New Listeria Outbreak Linked to Enoki Mushrooms Sickens Two
A new Listeria outbreak linked to enoki mushrooms has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least two people in two states are sick. The case count by state is: Michigan (1) and Nevada (1). The patient age range is from 30 to 42. Illness onset dates range from October 5, 2022 to October 8, 2022. Both patients have been hospitalized. And both reported eating enoki mushrooms or eating at restaurants that served items containing enoki mushrooms before they got sick. Whole genome sequencing conducted on patient isolates showed that they likely both got sick from eating the same product, since they are closely related genetically. And in November 2021, the FDA found Listeria monocytogenes in one sample of enoki mushrooms that were collected at … [Read more...]
