The Victor Dog Food Salmonella Kiambu outbreak has sickened at least seven people, mostly infants, in seven states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Several brands and types of dog and pet food have been recalled in association with this outbreak. The recalling firm is Mid America Pet Food. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), California (1), Florida (1), Hawaii (1), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (1), and Oklahoma (1). Most of the patients (86%) are one year old or younger, and the remaining patient is under the age of 65. Illness onset dates range from January 14, 2023 to August 19, 2023. One patient has been hospitalized. State and local public health officials are interviewing patients and their families about pets or pet food that the sick … [Read more...]
Five Raw Milk Outbreaks Highlight the Inherent Risks
Five raw milk outbreaks occurring at the same time this fall highlight the inherent risks of this product. Raw milk is unpasteurized, that is, it is not heat treated to kill dangerous pathogens such as E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Brucella, Campylobacter, and Cryptosporidium. The issue is that a cow's udders are close to the anus. And ruminant animals such as cows can harbor pathogens and not appear sick. The pathogens are excreted in feces and can easily contaminate the udders and milk. All together, these outbreaks have sickened at least 51 people. And since the multipliers for Salmonella and Campylobacter alone are around 30, that means there could be 1500 people sick. The Outbreaks These outbreaks occurred in September and October, 2023. Two of the outbreaks … [Read more...]
Tony Downs Food Violated Child Labor Laws, Enters Consent Decree
Tony Downs Food violated child labor laws, according to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), and has entered a consent decree to comply with those laws. The company's production facilities are in Madelia, Minnesota. An investigation by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry of the company found that they employed at least eight children between the ages of 14 and 17 to operate meat-processing equipment. The children operated meat grinders, ovens, and forklifts during overnight shifts. One child was only 13 years old. State child labor laws prohibit minors from working in hazardous occupations. The audit period was from January 26, 201 through January 26, 2023. When the investigation began, DLI investigators asked the district court to issue a temporary … [Read more...]
Healthy Harvest Farm Raw Milk Outbreak in MN Sickens at Least 8
A Healthy Harvest Farm raw milk outbreak in Minnesota has sickened at least eight people, according to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Eight people are sick with cryptosporidiosis and one patient has cryptosporidiosis and an E. coli O111:48 infection at the same time. Healthy Harvest Farm and Kitchen is located in Hillman, Minnesota. Officials are urging anyone who bought milk from that farm to discard it and not drink it. The milk may be labeled as "natural A2 milk," and consumers may not be aware that the milk is unpasteurized, or raw. The people who are sick with Cryptosporidium parvum, a parasite commonly found in cattle, have related subtypes, suggesting a common source. All of those who are ill with this pathogen started getting sick in early August. They all … [Read more...]
Minnesota Raw Milk Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Five Children
A Minnesota raw milk Salmonella outbreak has sickened five children in the Twin Cities Metro area, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The pathogen sickening the children is Salmonella Typhimurium. One child was infected with two types of pathogenic E. coli in addition to the Salmonella. The families of two of the children have confirmed that they drank unpasteurized milk. Officials could not get information from the remaining families, but the bacteria from the cases is identical through lab analysis, which indicates the infections came from the same source. The patient age range is from 3 months to 10 years. The children got sick between the end of June and early July 2023. One child was hospitalized. Raw milk is milk that has not been heated to kill harmful … [Read more...]
Which Restaurant Chains Like Applebee’s Have Had Outbreaks?
Which restaurant chains like Applebee's have had outbreaks? More than you'd think, including Wendy's, McDonald's, and Jimmy John's. Just because a restaurant is famous or popular doesn't mean they don't serve contaminated food. Every year there are hundreds of outbreaks associated with restaurants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During the time frame from 2017 to 2019, 800 outbreaks associated with 875 retail food establishments were reported to NEARS, the National Environmental Assessment Reporting System that was set up to compliment surveillance. The most common pathogens were norovirus and Salmonella. About 40% of those outbreaks had at least one reported factor associated with contamination by a sick or infectious food worker. Contaminated … [Read more...]
Gold Medal Salmonella Outbreak Ends With 14 Sick
The Gold Medal Salmonella outbreak ends with 14 people sick in thirteen states, and three hospitalized, according to the FDA. That is an increase of one more patient in one more state since the last update was issued on May 1, 2023. That patient lives in Washington state. The case count by state is: California (1), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), Virginia (1), and Washington (1). The last illness onset date was May 2, 2023. General Mills recalled Gold Medal unbleached and bleached flour with "Better if Used by" dates of May 27, 2024 and March 28, 2024 on April 28, 2023. No other types of Gold Medal flour are affected by this recall at this time. The FDA is continuing to investigate … [Read more...]
Probable Norovirus Outbreak at Schulze Lake in Minnesota
A probable norovirus outbreak at Schulze Lake in Minnesota has state officials warning people not to go swimming at their local beach or pool if they are sick. Dozens of people reported getting sick after swimming at that lake in Dakota County's Lebanon Hills Regional Park in the last three days. More than 60 reports of illness after swimming at that lake have been received. Patients are experiencing diarrhea and vomiting. Trisha Robinson, waterborne disease supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health, said that officials are still determining the exact pathogen, but that incubation times and symptoms are consistent with norovirus. Robinson said in a statement, "These types of germs can spread quickly and widely if people who are or have recently been ill swim in the same … [Read more...]
2021 Chipotle and Panera Romaine E. coli Outbreak
In 2021, health departments in Washington and Minnesota did something that doesn't happen very often. They solved an E. coli outbreak linked to leafy greens. "It is rare to be able to identify the outbreak vehicle for commercially distributed food like romaine lettuce (much less link back to a farm source) with only four laboratory-confirmed cases who consumed the romaine lettuce at four different restaurant locations in two states," Doug Schultz, an information officer at the Minnesota Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. The outbreak was never announced because, by the time investigators identified the specific grower, there was no ongoing risk to the public, he said. Stream of Unsolved Outbreaks Leafy greens recently overtook ground beef to become the leading … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In On Gold Medal Flour Salmonella Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has weighed in on the Gold Medal flour Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 13 people in 12 states. Gold Medal unbleached and bleached all purpose flour with expiration dates of March 27 and 28, 2024 was recalled by the company on April 28, 2023, after testing found Salmonella Infantis in one type of flour. The case count by state is: California (1), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (1), New York (1), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), Tennessee (1), and Virginia (1). Illness onset dates range from December 6, 2022 to March 1, 2023. The patient age range is from 12 to 81 years. Of 13 people who gave information to investigators, three have been hospitalized. That is a hospitalization rate … [Read more...]
