The Avanti shrimp Salmonella Weltevreden outbreak has ended after sickening nine people in four states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This investigation was closed on July 21, 2021, but reopened on August 13, 2021 when more illnesses were detected on PulseNet, the national database for pathogen isolates. The case count by state is: Arizona (2), Michigan (2), Nevada (4), and Rhode Island (1). Patient illness onset dates range from February 26. 2021 to July 17, 2021. The patient age range is from 30 to 80 years. Of six people who gave information to investigators, three have been hospitalized, for a rate of 50%, more than double the typical Salmonella outbreak hospitalization rate. State and local public health officials interviewed people about … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs in on Reopened Salmonella Weltevreden Shrimp Outbreak
The CDC is weighing in on the reopened Salmonella Weltevreden shrimp outbreak that has sickened at least nine people in four states. Three people are hospitalized because they are so sick. That is an increase of three new illnesses, one new hospitalization, and two new states since the last update in July 2021. This investigation was closed, but was reopened when more ill persons were discovered. The case counts by state are: Arizona (2), Michigan (2), Nevada (4), and Rhode Island (1). Illness onset dates range from February 26. 2021 to July 17, 2021. The patient age range is from 30 to 80 years. Of six people who gave information to investigators, three have been hospitalized. At least one of the newly diagnosed patients ate frozen cooked shrimp supplied by Avanti Frozen foods … [Read more...]
Shrimp Salmonella Outbreak Continues With Three More Sickened
The FDA says that the shrimp Salmonella outbreak continues because three more patients have been identified. Now nine people are sick. In addition, two more states, Michigan and Rhode Island, have been added. The outbreak was declared over on July 21, 2021. Avanti Frozen Foods issued a recall for their frozen cooked shrimp on June 25, 2021. The case count by state is now Nevada (4), Michigan (2), Rhode Island (1), and Arizona (2). The last illness onset date is July 20, 2021. In the previous investigation notice, which was on July 21, 2021, the last illness onset date was April 25, 2021. Since the shrimp originally identified as the cause of this outbreak should no longer be available for sale, that means people may still have the shrimp in their home freezers. In addition, at … [Read more...]
Salmonella Weltevreden Shrimp Outbreak Ends With Six Ill
The Salmonella Weltevreden shrimp outbreak has ended with six people sick in two states, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This outbreak was linked to a recalled product: shrimp imported from India by Avanti Frozen Foods. The patient case count is: Arizona (2) and Nevada (4). This case count has not increased since the initial investigation report was released almost a month ago. The patient age range is from 30 to 80 years of age. Of five people who gave information about their condition to the CDC, two were hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 40%, which is high for a Salmonella outbreak. And of those interviewed, all said they ate shrimp the week before they got sick. Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory evidence … [Read more...]
Cooked Shrimp Salmonella Outbreak: How is Seafood Contaminated?
The cooked shrimp Salmonella outbreak announced by the FDA last week is not the first time seafood has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak. But does seafood naturally contain Salmonella bacteria, like chickens and sometimes beef? If not, how is seafood contaminated with this pathogen? Seafood such as shrimp and tuna do not naturally carry Salmonella bacteria, unlike poultry and other warm-blooded animals, according to a 2005 National Library of Medicine study published in the Journal of Food Protection. That study states, "Salmonella is not part of the natural flora of the shrimp culture environment nor is it inherently present in shrimp grow-out ponds. The occurrence of Salmonella bacteria in shrimp from aquaculture operations is related to the concentration of fecal bacteria in … [Read more...]
FDA Investigation Into Shrimp Salmonella Weltevreden Outbreak
The FDA has released its initial investigation into the shrimp Salmonella Weltevreden outbreak that has sickened at least six people in two states. The frozen precooked shrimp was imported by Avanti Frozen Foods of India. A positive import sample, along with epidemiological and traceback evidence that has come out of the investigation, indicates that this outbreak is linked to that frozen cooked shrimp. The FDA has identified a common import of shrimp that could have been consumed by these patients. The shrimp was all sold thawed at retail and is no longer available for sale. On January 26, 2021, an import sample of Avanti Frozen Foods shrimp was collected as part of the FDA's Import Seafood Compliance Program. The shrimp tested positive for Salmonella Weltevreden. At that time, … [Read more...]
Frozen Cooked Shrimp Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 6 in NV and AZ
A frozen cooked shrimp Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least six people who live in Nevada and Arizona. Two people are hospitalized because they are so sick. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that frozen cooked shrimp supplied by Avanti Frozen Foods is contaminated with Salmonella Weltevreden. The case count by state is: Arizona (2) and Nevada (4). Illness onset dates range from February 26, 2021 to April 25, 2021. The patients age range is from 30 to 80 years. Of five people who gave information to public health officials, two have been hospitalized for a hospitalization rate of 40%, double the typical rate of 20%. State and local public health officials interviewed patients about the foods they ate the week before they got sick. Of the five people … [Read more...]
Hannaford Meijer 365 Shrimp Recalled in Salmonella Outbreak
The Salmonella Weltevreden outbreak announced by the FDA on their Outbreak Investigation Table last week now has product names associated with it. Six people who live in Nevada and Arizona are sick in this outbreak. Today, a recall was announced for Hannaford Meijer 365 shrimp, along with other brands, in association with this outbreak. The potential for contamination was identified by the FDA based on prior testing of frozen cooked shrimp imported by Avanti Frozen Foods. Avanti Frozen Foods did not distribute that prior batch of imported shrimp and destroyed it. The company has taken steps to eliminate the potential for future contamination. The recall is for different brands of frozen cooked, peeled, deveined shrimp, some packaged with cocktail sauce, that were sold in various … [Read more...]
Real Water Ordered To Stop Distributing Adulterated Real Water Products
Real Water ordered to stop distributing adulterated Real Water products by a federal court. The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada has permanently enjoined AffinityLifestyles Inc. and Real Water Inc. from preparing, processing, and distributing adulterated and misbranded bottled water. The water is allegedly the only common link between five children who developed non-viral hepatitis and acute liver failure in late 2020. The alkaline water products may also be associated with non-viral hepatitis cases in seven adults. The water products were marketed as a healthy alternative to tap water, but the government alleges that the products consisted of municipal tap water that the defendants processed with various chemicals in violation of good manufacturing practices, relevant … [Read more...]
Real Water Ceased Operations After Non-Viral Hepatitis Outbreak
The FDA has announced that Real Water ceased operations after the non-viral hepatitis outbreak associated with their alkaline water may have sickened at least 16 people. According to a consent decree complaint, the company allegedly failed to comply with FDA manufacturing requirements. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey entered a consent decree of permanent injunction on June 1, 2021 between the United States and AffinityListstyles.com Inc, which is the majority shareholder of Real Water Inc. According to the compliant filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FDA, the defendants allegedly violated the FD&C Act by operating facilities that failed to meet preventive controls requirements to control food hazards. The complaint also alleges that the products are … [Read more...]
