Wendy's romaine lettuce has been named in the growing E. coli outbreak by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While this has not been confirmed, many sick people reported eating sandwiches made with romaine lettuce at Wendy's restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania before getting sick. Based on this information, Wendy's is removing the romaine lettuce used in those sandwiches from restaurants in that region. Wendy's uses a different type of romaine lettuce in their salads. Investigators are trying to confirm whether romaine lettuce is the source of this outbreak, and whether that lettuce was used in Wendy's sandwiches sold in other states. The case count by state is: Indiana (1), Michigan (15), Ohio (19), and Pennsylvania (2). Indiana and Pennsylvania … [Read more...]
History of Fast Food E. coli Outbreaks is Long and Complicated
There is a mystery E. coli outbreak that has sickened dozens of people in Michigan and Ohio. After days of counties reporting the illnesses, the CDC got involved in the investigation yesterday. At least 29 people in those states are sick, and nine patients have been hospitalized. What could be causing this outbreak? We started thinking about the history of fast food E. coli outbreaks over the years. Unfortunately, outbreaks and fast food restaurants are a fairly common combination. There have been many Salmonella, E. coli, and cyclospora outbreaks associated with those restaurants. The main fast food restaurant chains in this country include Wendy's, McDonald's, Jimmy John's, Jack in the Box, Burger King, and Hardees, among others. These are the E. coli outbreaks linked to fast food … [Read more...]
Three New Outbreaks on FDA CORE Investigation Table
Three new outbreaks have been posted on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. A new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak and two Salmonella outbreaks have been added. And two outbreak investigations have ended. This table doesn't tell us very much about these outbreaks. And unless there is some action that consumers can take, such as a recall, the FDA doesn't identify any probable cause. The new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak has sickened at least 29 people in Michigan and Ohio. Nine people are hospitalized. Traceback has been initiated in that investigation. A new Salmonella Senftenberg outbreak has sickened at least 19 people. No traceback has been initiated in that outbreak. And a new Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak has sickened at least 44 people. Traceback has been initiated in that … [Read more...]
Michigan and Ohio E. coli Outbreak Sickens 29 According to CDC
A Michigan and Ohio E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 29 people and has hospitalized nine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A food has not yet been identified. The government is calling this a "fast-moving outbreak." Officials in Wood county in Ohio and Ottawa county in Michigan have been reporting an alarming increase in E. coli illnesses in the past week. In fact, on August 17, 2022, Michigan officials said that there are 98 people sick with E. coli infections in Ottawa, Kent, and Oakland counties. Public health officials are using the PulseNet system to find people who may be part of this outbreak. Whole genome sequencing is being used on patient isolates to match patients to the outbreak strain. And this genetic sequencing is showing … [Read more...]
Almost 100 Sick with E. coli in Three Michigan Counties
Almost 100 people are sick with E. coli infections in three Michigan counties, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and three local heath departments. The counties affected are Kent, Ottawa, and Oakland. Ottawa county has been releasing statements about E. coli illness clusters in that area. According to the last update, 18 people are sick in that county alone, an increase from the last reported total of 12 sick. This case count allegedly includes an infant who is hospitalized. At least two people in Ottawa county have hemolytic ureic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of an E. coli infection. The health department has received reports of 98 cases of E. … [Read more...]
Wood County Ohio E. coli Illness Cluster Grows to 16 Sick
The Wood county Ohio E. coli illness cluster has grown to include 16 patients, with six hospitalized, according to 24 News. The patient age range is from 13 to 60. There is no word on whether or not any hospitalized patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure and a complication of an E. coli infection. Lab samples have been sent to the Ohio Department of Health. Genetic testing will be conducted on those isolates to see if the cases are connected and something the patients have in common made them ill. The results are expected this week. Until lab tests confirm that at least two or more unrelated people are sickened with the same strain of E. coli, an outbreak will not be named. Benjamin Robison, health commissioner for the Wood … [Read more...]
Ottawa County MI E. coli Outbreak Grows to 12 Sick, 2 HUS Cases
![[caption id="attachment_96425" align="alignright" width="249"] Food Safety Lawyer and Food Poisoning Bulletin Publisher Eric Hageman[/caption] Noted food safety attorney Eric Hageman, who has represented many clients in E. coli and HUS lawsuits, said, "We certainly hope that officials can solve these outbreak soon so people stop getting sick. Any E. coli illness is a tragedy, and it's especially tragic when children are sick and hospitalized."](https://foodpoisoningbulletin.com/wp-content/uploads/Kidney-150x150.jpg)
According to Wood TV 8, the Ottawa County MI E. coli outbreak has grown to include 12 sick people with five hospitalized. Derek Glashower of the Ottawa County Health Department told that outlet that two children have "serious kidney complications," which probably means hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Noted food safety attorney Eric Hageman, who has represented many clients in E. coli and HUS lawsuits, said, "We certainly hope that officials can solve these outbreak soon so people stop getting sick. Any E. coli illness is a tragedy, and it's especially tragic when children are sick and hospitalized." This Ottawa county MI E. coli outbreak is unusual because that area usually sees just two to three cases of E. coli infections every August. This number of illnesses is a significant … [Read more...]
Wood County Ohio E. coli Outbreak Sickens at Least 15
A Wood county Ohio E. coli outbreak has sickened at least 15 people and hospitalized five, according to news reports. That is three years' worth of those illnesses for that county that have been reported in one week. Genetic testing is underway to see if the cases are related, with results expected early next week. There is another ongoing E. coli outbreak in Ottawa county, Michigan. At least nine preple are sick in that outbreak, with four hospitalized. There is currently no indication that the illnesses in those two locations are related, but that could change depending on what investigators find. The patient age range is from 13 to 60. The five hospitalized patients range in age from 21 to 60. The Wood County Health Department is working with the Ohio Department of Health … [Read more...]
Big Olaf Who? Amid Outbreak Shops Ditch Ice Cream, Branding
For Big Olaf, the break-ups came quickly but not all at once. And not all of them quietly. In the two and half weeks since Big Olaf ice cream was linked to a deadly Listeria outbreak, licensed shops throughout Florida started switching to new suppliers. One owner has permanently changed the names of the two stores she operates. Although Listeria isn't as common as other foodborne pathogens. It is the most deadly. And it targets pregnant women, who can suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth if they develop an infection. "Five of the patients in this outbreak are women who contracted listeriosis while they were pregnant," said Eric Hageman, a Listeria lawyer, and Food Poisoning Bulletin Publisher. Hageman has extensive experience with Listeria lawsuits including one filed on behalf of a … [Read more...]
Big Olaf Ice Cream Linked to Listeria Outbreak Also Sold in Ohio
Big Olaf ice cream that is linked to a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak was also sold in Ohio in addition to Florida, according to an update by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ice cream was finally recalled today, July 13, 2022, after the FDA said that the product was still being sold even after a recall was allegedly issued by the company last week. The ice cream was sold or served at Big Olaf retailers, restaurants, and senior homes in Florida, and was also sold at one location in Fredericksburg, Ohio. That Ohio outlet was not named. The ice cream was sold in plastic pint-size containers, in plastic 1/2 gallon containers, and was sold to independent retail stores in plastic 2.5-gallon scoopable tubs. All flavors and lots of Big Olaf ice cream … [Read more...]
