The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting that uncooked and undercooked morels were associated with a deadly outbreak at Dave's Sushi in Bozeman Montana in March and April 2023 that killed two people. Fifty-one people were sickened after eating at that restaurant. Three people were hospitalized. The issue is that while morel mushrooms are considered edible, little is known about the human health effects of the fungi. In the study, the consumption of raw morels was more strongly associated with illness than the consumption of cooked or partially cooked morels. After the outbreak the CDC issued an advisory about eating morel mushrooms, whether cooked or not, saying that wild mushrooms should be consumed at your own risk. Morels were the common food consumed … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Table is Updated With Outbreak Case Count Increases
The FDA CORE Table is updated with outbreak case count increases and the fact that two outbreak investigations have ended. There are five active outbreak investigations on that table. For the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in a not yet identified food, there are 12 people who are sick, an increase of one more case since the last update. Traceback has been initiated in that investigation. For the first outbreak of cyclospora, the case count has increased to 118 from 112 patients. In that outbreak, sample collection and analysis has begun. For the second outbreak of cyclospora, the case count has increased to 43 from seven 38 cases. The outbreak includes additional illnesses that are based on similarities in reported exposures, which were not named. In this investigation, … [Read more...]
Deadly Dave’s Sushi Morel Mushroom Outbreak Ends With 51 Sick
The deadly Dave's Sushi morel mushrooms outbreak has ended with 51 people sick, according to the FDA, although the Gallatin City-County Health Department and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services are conducting follow-up activities. The FDA said that there does not appear to be any further risk to the public. That is an increase of one more patient since the last update on May 18, 2023. There were two deaths in this outbreak. Toxicology reports and autopsy reports have not been released. Three people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The last illness onset date was April 21, 2023. Symptoms included abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and/or vomiting. The mushrooms sampled from the restaurant were true morels, not "false morels," which are toxic. … [Read more...]
New E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak on FDA CORE Outbreak Table
A new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has been listed on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, joining six other outbreaks that are currently being investigated. Four of the seven outbreaks have not been linked to any product. The new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least 11 people. The FDA has established traceback but there is no recall, on-site inspection, or sample collection and analysis. We do not know there the ill persons live, the patient age range, or if anyone has been hospitalized. In the first Cyclospora outbreak investigation, the case count has increased from 105 to 112. In that outbreak, sample collection and analysis has begun. In the second cyclospora outbreak, the FDA has initiated onside inspection along with sample collection and analysis. The … [Read more...]
New Cyclospora Outbreak Identified on FDA’s CORE Table
A new Cyclospora outbreak has been identified on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. This outbreak is added to five other active food poisoning outbreaks that are currently being investigated by the FDA. The new cyclospora outbreak, in a not yet identified product, has sickened at least 105 people. We do not know where those patients live, illness onset dates, or the patient age range. Sample collection and analysis has started. There is another cyclospora outbreak on the Table, with at least 37 people sick. That outbreak is also unsolved. Traceback has been initiated. There are two Salmonella outbreaks that are being investigated. The first is a Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ outbreak that has sickened at least 34 people. Traceback has been initiated, an … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Table Updated With Info About Cyclospora Outbreak
The FDA CORE Table has been updated with new information about one of the Cyclospora outbreaks and about the Salmonella Paratyphi outbreak. There are currently five outbreak investigations that are active on the table. The cyclospora outbreak that has sickened at least 20 people is over and the investigation into the outbreak has ended. Based on epidemiological investigations conducted by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention and state and local partners, the government has determined that imported broccoli was contaminated with the parasite. All samples that were analyzed were negative for cyclospora, so investigators were not able to confirm a specific type or producer of broccoli as the source of the outbreak. For the other outbreak of cyclospora, the case count has … [Read more...]
New Salmonella Outbreak Added to FDA CORE Table
A new Salmonella outbreak and a new cyclospora cluster have been added to the FDA's Core Outbreak Investigation Table. There are now six active outbreak investigations on that table. The new Salmonella outbreak is Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+. There are at least 31 people sick in this outbreak. Traceback has been initiated, but there is no information about what food is suspected, where ill persons live, the patient age range, or if anyone has been hospitalized. The new Cyclospora cluster has 28 ill persons. Once again, FDA has initiated traceback, but a product linked to those illnesses has not been identified. There is no patient age range or information about where ill persons live. The Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to raw cookie dough remains … [Read more...]
FDA Releases Morel Advisory After Dave’s Sushi Illnesses
The FDA releases Morel advisory after illnesses among patrons of Dave's Sushi in Bozeman, Montana. At least 50 people were sickened, and two customers died after eating at that establishment, although the manner of death has not been established. Morel mushrooms are most often foraged from the wild. While morel mushrooms are generally regarded as safe to eat, they may contain toxins that can cause health problems. The advisory states that the toxins that can cause illness are not fully understood. Cooking the mushrooms properly can reduce toxin levels, but the FDA says that people should eat morel and other wild-type mushrooms at their own risk. As of May 19, 2023, the outbreak at Dave's Sushi has sickened 50 people who ate at the restaurant between March 28 and April 27, 2023. … [Read more...]
Dave’s Sushi Outbreak Remains Unsolved; Restaurant Reopens
The Dave's Sushi outbreak in Bozeman, Montana remains unsolved and the restaurant has opened because the Gallatin City-County Health Department has rescinded the closure order. A new health officer order has been issued, with corrective actions required before reopening. As of May 17, 2023, there are 50 people sick; an increase of nine more cases since the last update a week ago. Two people have died after eating at the restaurant, although those deaths are being investigated and the manner and causes of the deaths are pending until autopsy results are available. Food samples, including salmon and morel mushrooms, which were suspected in this outbreak, have been collected and analyzed. All samples have come back negative for a series of pathogens and toxins. The Gallatin … [Read more...]
Import Alert For Morel Mushrooms Imported by a Company in France
The FDA issued Import Alert 25-02 for morel mushrooms imported from a company in France on May 23, 2022 because, in the past, shipments of canned and dried mushrooms were detained because of the presence of Gyromitra esculenta, or false morel. This species can produce monomethylhydrazine (MMH), which is a toxin that can cause severe gastrointestinal illnesses and, in some cases, death. The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) identified another species, Verpa bohemica, or early morel, which can also cause illness in some people. All morel mushrooms imported from that company and false morel mushrooms, also imported from that company, in the form of fresh, canned, and dried, are subject to this import alert until further notice. Morel mushrooms are a distinctive … [Read more...]
