The FDA states that WanaBana Applesauce acute lead poisoning has sickened at least seven children in five states. The product has excessively high lead levels. That number is an estimate, based on Consumer Complaint and CFSAN Adverse Event Reporting System reports received by the government. The FDA first issued an advisory about the WanaBana product in late October 2023. Two other brand names of applesauce pouches have been recalled: Weis and Schnucks. In response to this investigation, WanaBana has voluntarily recalled all WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Fruit Puree Pouches regardless of expiration date and lot code. These products were sold nationwide at the retail level. The investigation started when the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and the North … [Read more...]
WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Puree Has High Lead Levels
WanaBana Apple Cinnamon Puree has high lead levels, according to the FDA. Four children from North Carolina have elevated blood lead levels, indicating potential acute lead toxicity. The WanaBana product has been identified as a potential shared source of exposure. All lot codes and expiration dates of this product are included in this warning. The FDA has shared these results with the firm. The firm's representatives are cooperating with the FDA. WanaBana has agreed to voluntarily recall all WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches regardless of the expiration date. These pouches are sold nationally and are available through many retailers, including Amazon and Dollar Tree. If your child has consumed this product, the FDA is recommending that you contact your child's … [Read more...]
Cryptosporidium Outbreak in Caldwell County, North Carolina
A Cryptosporidium outbreak in Caldwell County, North Carolina has sickened an unnamed number of residents, according to the Caldwell County Health Department. No patient age range or illness onset dates were given in the press release, and there is no word on whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. Officials are also not saying if contaminated food or drink, contaminated recreational water, or contact with animals caused these illnesses. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium. The parasite is spread through person to person contact, through contact with surfaces, and also through food and water that has been contaminated with feces containing the parasite. Swallowing contaminated recreational water is the most common way of contracting this infection. In … [Read more...]
Three North Carolina Vibrio Deaths; One From Seafood
Three North Carolina Vibrio deaths are linked to going into brackish water, but one patient also ate seafood harvested in those waters that was personally caught and not shared or commercially distributed. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is urging caution. No links have been established between the cases or the areas where they were likely exposed to the pathogen. The press release did not state whether the illnesses were from Vibrio vulnificus or from Vibrio parahaemolyticus, but the were probably the former. Vibrio vulnificus infections are more severe, and one out of five patients infected with that pathogen die. Vibrio are bacteria that live in seawater or brackish water (which is mixed salt and fresh water). Anyone with open wounds, cuts, … [Read more...]
Listeria Outbreak Linked to Leafy Greens Ends With 19 Sick
The Listeria outbreak linked to leafy greens has ended with at least 19 people sick in 16 states, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This outbreak was not solved. No brand or type of product has been linked to these illnesses. This outbreak was last updated on April 21, 2023. The case count by state is: Arkansas (1), California (1), Colorado (1), Illinois (1), Louisiana (1), Michigan (2), Missouri (1), North Carolina (2), Nebraska (1), New York (1), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (2). Samples were collected from July 3, 2018 to March 31, 2023. The patient age range is from less than 1 to 96 years. Eighteen people were hospitalized because they were so sick. State and local public health … [Read more...]
Jif Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak Is Number Five of 2022
The Jif peanut butter Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak is the number five outbreak of 2022, with at least 21 people sick in 17 states. Four people were hospitalized because they were so ill. Several types of Jif peanut butter were recalled after the outbreak was first announced on May 21, 2022. The outbreak ended on July 27, 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The case count by state is: Arizona (1), Arkansas (1), Florida (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (2), New York (1), North Carolina (2), Ohio (1), South Carolina (1), Texas (2), Virginia (1), Washington (1), and West Virginia (1). Patients ranged in age from less than one year to 85. The hospitalization rate was 31%, with four out of 13 … [Read more...]
Jif Peanut Butter Salmonella Senftenberg Outbreak Ends
The Jif peanut butter Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak has ended, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with 21 people sick in 17 states. Four people were hospitalized. Jif issued a recall of several types of its peanut butter when the outbreak was announced on May 21, 2022, and there have been about a dozen secondary recalls issued. The five new states added to the outbreak total are Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, and West Virginia. The case count by state is: Arizona (1), Arkansas (1), Florida (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), Missouri (2), New York (1), North Carolina (2), Ohio (1), South Carolina (1), Texas (2), Virginia (1), Washington (1), and West Virginia (1). The patient age range is from less than … [Read more...]
How Does Peanut Butter Get Contaminated With Bacteria?
How does peanut butter get contaminated with bacteria? A Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak linked to recalled Jif peanut butter has sickened at least 16 people in 12 states; two patients have been hospitalized. The case count by state is: Arkansas (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (2), Ohio (1), South Carolina (1), New York (1), South Carolina (1), North Carolina (2), Texas (2), Virginia (1), and Washington (1). Many recalls have been launched, including some types of the Jif product itself and more than a dozen secondary recalls. While any product can be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria at any time during the supply chain, this outbreak is unusual because the outbreak strain of Salmonella Senftenberg was found in an environmental sample taken from the … [Read more...]
Jif Salmonella Outbreak Case Count Rises to 16 Sick, 2 Hospitalized
The Jif Salmonella outbreak case count has risen to 16 sick with two hospitalized according to the CDC. Those patients live in 12 states. Many types of Jif peanut butter have been recalled, along with more than a dozen secondary recalls. There is one more patient each in the states of Missouri and North Carolina since the last CDC update. The case count by state is: Arkansas (1), Georgia (2), Illinois (1), Massachusetts (1), Missouri (2), Ohio (1), New York (1), South Carolina (1), North Carolina (2), Texas (2), Virginia (1), and Washington (1). The patient age range is from less than one year to 85 years. Of nine people who gave information to investigators, two have been hospitalized. Illness onset dates range from February 19, 2022 through May 2, 2022. This Jif Salmonella … [Read more...]
California Hepatitis Cases Added to List of Severe Illness Reports
California has ben added to the list of states reporting severe child hepatitis cases, joining Alabama, Illinois, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. There are seven California hepatitis cases, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The World Health Organization has received reports of at least 169 cases of severe pediatric hepatitis, mostly from Europe. In the United States, there are least 25 cases: nine in Alabama, two in North Carolina, three in Illinois, four in Wisconsin, and seven in California. So far there has been one death in Wisconsin, and four of these children have needed liver transplants. In most of these cases, the children had gastrointestinal symptoms before jaundice appeared. No common exposure has been found, but doctors think that adenovirus is a cofactor. … [Read more...]
