In northwest Missouri, one person has a confirmed case of E.coli 0103 infection and two others have suspected cases, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. None of the case patients has been hospitalized and a source of the outbreak has yet to be determined. The investigation is ongoing. In its January 11 announcement of the outbreak, the health department said the illnesses might be related to the consumption of “locally-produced, raw (unpasteurized) dairy products.” But a definite food source has not been confirmed. E. coli O103 is similar to the more common strain E. coli O157:H7 in that it is a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Up until last year, non 0157:H7 STEC were not classified as adulterants in beef, meaning it was legal to sell beef … [Read more...]
MO E. coli Outbreak: Raw Milk Suspected Source
Raw milk is the suspected source of an E.coli outbreak that has sickened several people in northwest Missouri. Raw milk, or milk that has not been pasteurized, can contain E.coli and other disease-causing bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listera, Yersinia and Brucella. For that reason, the sale of raw milk is illegal in many states. In Missouri, it is legal for a farmer to sell raw milk directly to customers of the farm. A bill has been put before the Missouri Legislature to slightly expand a farmer's ability to sell raw milk, allowing a farmer to sell up to 100 gallons of raw milk or raw cream at farmers' markets. Raw milk has not been identified as the definitive source of this outbreak but has been characterized by health officials as "a possible risk … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 12 In Missouri
At least 12 people in Missouri are now part of the cantaloupe Salmonella outbreak that has killed two people, sickened more than 140 others in 21 states and hospitalized 32, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The number of confirmed cases in Missouri has increased by three since the outbreak was announced on Friday. As Food Poisoning Bulletin reported today, this outbreak is the third to be linked to cantaloupe in the last 19 months. Last year, the cantaloupe Listeria outbreak linked to Jensen Farms in Holly, Colo., sickened at least 146 people and more than 30 people died. “We need appropriate control measures and the industry hasn’t delivered,’’ national food safety lawyer Fred Pritzker said in a press release today. “How many more people have … [Read more...]
