Minnesota PFAS fish consumption guidance has been updated by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). PFAS is per- and polyfluralkyl substances that are found in some waters in 10 Minnesota counties. In the Twin Cities area, the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties are affected. In greater Minnesota, waters in Douglas, Martin, McLeod and St. Louis counties are affected. PFAS are chemicals that are harmful to human health. They are used to make products that are resistant to heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. These chemicals can accumulate in the body over time and can affect health. They are tied to developmental effects, including low birth weight in infants and a weaker immune system in children. Exposure to PFAS can cause changes in … [Read more...]
FDA Investigating One Salmonella and Four Listeria Outbreaks
The FDA is investigating one Salmonella outbreak and four Listeria outbreaks, according to an update on their CORE Investigation Outbreak Table. Four of the five outbreaks are unsolved. And one Salmonella outbreak ended. The Salmonella outbreak that was linked to recalled Sweet Cream mini pastries has ended, with at least 18 people sick in seven states. States with patients include California, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The CDC never released any information about this outbreak. The Listeria outbreak that is solved is linked to recalled Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco supplemental shakes. There are at least 36 people sick in this outbreak. Most of the patients lived in long term care facilities or were hospitalized when they got … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs in on Sysco ReadyCare Shakes Listeria Outbreak
The CDC weighs in on the Sysco ReadyCare shakes Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened 38 and caused 12 deaths. The supplemental nutritional shakes have been recalled. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), California (4), Colorado (1), Connecticut (2), Florida (2), Illinois (2), Indiana (3), Maryland (1), Michigan (2), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), North Carolina (2), Nevada (1), New York (3), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), Tennessee (2), Texas (5), Washington (1), and West Virginia (1). The patient age range is from 43 to 101 years. Sick person's samples were collected from August 17, 2018 to January 23, 2025. Twelve people have died, an increase of one more death since the last update was issued on February 21, 2025. Those people lived in California, … [Read more...]
Lyons and Sysco Shakes Listeria Outbreak Sickens 38, Kills 11
A Lyons and Sysco Shakes Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened at least 38 people and has killed eleven, according to the FDA. Ill persons live in 21 states. The products are Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes. The patients live in these states: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. We do not know how many patients live in each state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides that information, but they have not posted any info about this outbreak. We also do not know where the eleven people who died lived. These products have been voluntarily … [Read more...]
Minnesota Starts Testing Raw Cow Milk for H5N1 Bird Flu
Minnesota is starting to test raw cow milk for H5N1 bird flu, according to a press release from the Minnesota Department of of Agriculture (MDA). The testing will start beginning the week of February 24, 2025. This is intended to identify where the virus is present, to monitor trends, and prevent its spread to dairy herds and poultry flocks around the state. MDA Commissioner Thom Petersen said in a statement, "H5N1 is an emerging disease in dairy cattle, and conducting disease surveillance supports the state’s ability to effectively respond to outbreaks and limit the potential impact on the livestock and poultry industries, as well as on public health." The notice stated that there are no concerns about the safety of the public milk supply, since all milk sold in stores to the … [Read more...]
Number One Outbreak of 2024 Was Bedner Cucumber Salmonella
The number one outbreak of 2024 was the Bedner cucumber Salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 551 people in 34 states and the District of Columbia. The cucumbers were also sold by Thomas Produce Company. That outbreak ended in August 2024. The case count by state was: Alabama (6), Arkansas (1), California (1), Connecticut (8), Delaware (3), Florida (60), Georgia (48), Illinois (9), Indiana (4), Iowa (5), Kentucky (20), Maine (4), Maryland (17), Massachusetts (11), Michigan (12), Minnesota (10), Mississippi (2), Missouri (4), Nevada (1), New Jersey (22), New York (69), North Carolina (27), Ohio (20), Oklahoma (2), Pennsylvania (68), Rhode Island (8), South Carolina (22), Tennessee (22), Texas (2), Vermont (2), Virginia (48), Washington (1), West Virginia (7), Wisconsin (4), and … [Read more...]
Number Three Outbreak of 2024 is Deadly Cantaloupe Salmonella
The number three outbreak of 2024 is the deadly cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 407 people in 44 states. That outbreak was declared over in January 2024 and is included in this year's list because last year at this time there were only 302 people sick. The case count by state was: Alaska (1), Arizona (15), Arkansas (2), California (56), Colorado (11), Connecticut (2), Florida (4), Georgia (8), Illinois (22), Indiana (9), Iowa (12), Kansas (2), Kentucky (10), Maryland (9), Massachusetts (2), Michigan (7), Minnesota (29), Mississippi (1), Missouri (15), Montana (3), Nebraska (7), Nevada (5), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (8), New Mexico (2), New York (14), North Carolina (7), North Dakota (1), Ohio (14), Oklahoma (4), Oregon (8), Pennsylvania (5), Rhode … [Read more...]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro Statements on Boar’s Head Listeria Outbreak
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has issued a statement on the deadly Boar's Head Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. The Congresswoman sent a letter to Boar's head in September 2024 regarding the horrific accounts of a USDA inspection at the company's Jarratt, Virginia plant. That outbreak sickened at least 61 people in 19 states and killed 10 people. The case count by state was: Arizona (1), Florida (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (3), Minnesota (1), Missouri (3), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (1), New York (19), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (1), Virginia (4), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates ranged from May 29, 2024 to September 13, 2024. Sixty people were hospitalized. The plant kept … [Read more...]
Top 10 2024 Outbreaks: Number Nine is Milo’s Eggs Salmonella
The top 10 2024 outbreak list continues with the number nine outbreak: the Milo's eggs Salmonella outbreak, which sickened at least 93 people in 12 states. There were 34 people hospitalized because they were so sick. There were several recalls issued in relation to this outbreak. And it's wasn't only chicken eggs that were implicated in this outbreak; duck eggs were included in the recall. The case count by state was: Arizona (1), California (5), Colorado (1), Illinois (12), Iowa (2), Michigan (3), Minnesota (5), New York (1), Oregon (1), Utah (1), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (60). The patient age range is from 2 to 88 years. Thirty-four people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. That’s a hospitalization rate of 37%, which is much higher than the typical 20% … [Read more...]
Top 10 2024 Outbreaks: Number 10 Boar’s Head Meat Listeria
It's time for the top outbreak list for 2024. This year, the number 10 outbreak is the deadly Boars Head meat Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. There were at least 61 people sick in 19 states. And ten people died. The final case count by state was: Arizona (1), Florida (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (8), Massachusetts (3), Minnesota (1), Missouri (3), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (1), New York (19), North Carolina (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (1), Virginia (4), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates ranged from May 29, 2024 to September 13, 2024. Sixty people were hospitalized. In this outbreak, one person got sick during a pregnancy and remained pregnant after recovering. The people who died lived in Illinois, New … [Read more...]
