A norovirus-like outbreak at the Brave Horse Tavern in Seattle, Washington has sickened at least 43 people, according to an update by Seattle-King County Health Department. That restaurant is located at 310 Terry Avenue North in Seattle. Meal dates for those sickened were November 23 and November 24, 2019. Prior food safety inspections found areas where the restaurant needs to improve. There are no laboratory results for people who got sick, because testing is not typically done on people who present with these symptoms. The symptoms suggest norovirus. The people who are sick are suffering from vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, chills, and fever, which are typical symptoms for norovirus. Since November 27, 2019, 30 people from 5 meal parties said they got sick after consuming food … [Read more...]
Cornerstone Frozen Blackberries Recalled For Possible Norovirus
Cornerstone Frozen Blackberries are being recalled for possible norovirus contamination. The FDA started testing frozen berries for norovirus and hepatitis A in May 2019 after several outbreaks linked to those products sickened hundreds. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall. The recalled product is Cornerstone Frozen Blackberries packaged in 16 ounce packages. The UPC number on the product is 8 55104 00765 9, the lot number is GC 1 1092 9 and the expiration date is April, 2021. These berries were distributed from April 2, 2019 through August 7, 2019. These berries were sold in retail stores in New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maine, Florida, Alabama, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and West Virginia. Norovirus is very contagious. It causes symptoms … [Read more...]
Alleged Outbreak at Pita Hot in Fullerton, CA Closes Restaurant
Pita Hot, a restaurant in Fullerton, California, has been closed twice by the Orange County Health Agency in the last few weeks because of a suspected food poisoning outbreak. All information about this outbreak has been contained in restaurant inspection reports. The inspection report specifically names norovirus, but there is no information about whether or not any ill persons have tested positive for that pathogen. The site I Was Poisoned received many reports of illness by people visiting the restaurant. The restaurant was closed on June 19, 2019 by health inspectors. They were sent to the facility because of alleged foodborne illness complaints. The reason for the closure was: On-Going Foodborne Illness. One of the action items named in that report is: "Complete the … [Read more...]
Great Value, Tipton Frozen Blackberries Recalled For Possible Norovirus
Alma Pak of Alma, Georgia is recalling some lots of products containing frozen blackberries because they may be contaminated with norovirus. FDA testing of the blackberries was positive for the virus. The FDA initiated a berry testing program earlier this year. The recalled products are 16 ounce packages of Great Value Frozen Blackberries sold at Walmart. The UPC number on the product is 078742-431017. The lot numbers and associated expiration dates are AP1555 and 1/25/2021; AP1640 and 3/07/2021; and AP1655 and 4/08/2021. The berries were distributed from 1/31/2019 through 5/31/2019 in these states: Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Also recalled are 12 ounce packages of Tipton Grove Frozen Mixed Berries, sold at Save-A-Lot stores. The lot number of the recalled … [Read more...]
WinCo Frozen Red Raspberries Recalled For Norovirus
WinCo Foods of Boise, Idaho is recalling frozen red raspberries that were manufactured by Rader Farms of Bellingham, Washington, because the product may be contaminated with norovirus. Norovirus is highly contagious, and causes symptoms of vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall. WinCo Foods was told by the FDA that a sample of their product was tested and found to be contaminated with the virus. The FDA began a berry testing program earlier this year to test for norovirus. This product has been removed from store shelves. The recalled product is WinCo Foods Frozen Red Raspberries, packaged in 12 ounce bags. The UPC number on the bag is 0 70552 30501 4. The best by code is Feb/13/2021. And the … [Read more...]
Choco-Raspberry Crunchy Recalled in Canada For Norovirus
France Délices Inc. is recalling the candy France Délices Choco-Raspberry Crunchy from the marketplace in Canada because it may be contaminated with norovirus. The raspberries used to make the confection may be contaminated. The recall notice states that no illnesses are associated with this particular product. But the notice also states that "This recall was triggered by findings by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) during its investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak." Other products may be recalled; if that happens, the government will notify the public though updated warnings. The recalled product is France Délices Choco-Raspberry Crunchy, sold in 95 gram packages. The code on the product is 12919, and the UPC number is 7 74461 16122 7. The product was sold … [Read more...]
Vibrio Shigella E. coli Outbreak Linked to Raw Oysters in California
A Vibrio Shigella E. coli and norovirus outbreak linked to raw oysters from Baja California Sur, Mexico has sickened at least 12 people in California, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Those twelve patients reported illnesses in February, March, and April 2019 after consuming raw oysters that were sold by restaurants and retailers in Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara, and San Diego counties. The raw oysters were sold throughout the state. Lab testing was performed on isolates from eight cases. Officials identified Vibrio parahaemolyticus in three patients, Vibrio albensis in one, an unidentified species of Vibrio in one patient, Shigella flexneri serotype 1 in two patients, and norovirus. In addition, one of the people infected with Vibrio … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreak Associated with La Fuente in Renton, WA
A possible norovirus outbreak has been associated with La Fuente restaurant, located at 14400 South East Petrovitsky Road in Renton, Washington, according to a press release by the King County Public Health Department. Twenty-eight people are sick after eating food and drinking beverages there on January 25, 2019. The 28 people were all from one party. Previous restaurant inspections showed that the restaurant rated "okay." The last inspection was conducted on August 1, 2018. Patrons of the restaurant have been experiencing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Those are the classic symptoms of norovirus, which is a very contagious pathogen. Environmental Health visited the restaurant on January 29, 2019, and were told that a customer became ill at the restaurant on January 25, … [Read more...]
Norovirus Outbreaks Can Have Multiple Modes of Transmission
A new piece in the CDC's Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report (MMWR) has the results of a study on a norovirus outbreak that occurred in a Tennessee restaurant during Thanksgiving weekend in 2017. On November 28, 2017, the manager of restaurant A reported receiving 18 complaints from patrons who had dined there on Thanksgiving Day four days before. All were suffering from gastrointestinal illnesses. The Tennessee Department of Health conducted an investigation and recommended measures to prevent further growth of the outbreak. Investigators found that one person vomiting in a private dining room. An employee immediately used disinfectant spray that was labeled as effective against Norovirus to clean up. After washing his hands, the employee served family-style platters of food … [Read more...]
Possible Chipotle Outbreak at Restaurant on Sawmill Parkway in Delaware County, OH
A possible Chipotle outbreak at that company's restaurant at 9733 Sawmill Parkway in Powell, Ohio may have sickened more than 300 people, according to a Twitter update by the Delaware County General Health District. As of 4:00 pm on July 31, 2018, public health officials have received 368 inquiries related to possible foodborne illness. Between the close of business Tuesday and 8:00 am today, 45 more inquiries were received by the health department. The restaurant, located in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, was inspected the same day. Officials are investigating this Chipotle outbreak, pending lab test results. People who are sick apparently ate at that Chipotle restaurant between Thursday, July 26 through Monday July 30, 2018. They have been experiencing nausea, vomiting, and/or … [Read more...]
