The number nine food poisoning outbreak of 2022 is the Old Europe Cheese Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that sickened at least six people in six states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory data showed that cheeses made by that company made people sick. This outbreak was declared over on December 9, 2022. The case count by state is: California (1), Georgia (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), New Jersey (1), and Texas (1). The patient age range is from 56 to 83 years, with a median age of 78. Five people were hospitalized because they were so sick. In interviews, patients were asked about the foods they ate the month before they got sick. Eighty percent said they ate brie or camembert cheese. Most did not … [Read more...]
Mystery Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak Grows Again
The mystery Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak has grown again according to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. There are four other active outbreak investigations currently on the Table. The Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak, which was first posted on November 16, 2022, has now sickened 270 people, up from 269 people the last time the Table was updated. This is a very large outbreak to not be associated with a food. The government has initiated traceback and also sample collection and analysis, so perhaps an outbreak investigation notice is coming soon. There is no informantion about illness onset dates, patient age ranges, or if anyone has been hospitalized. For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is linked to Enoki mushrooms that were imported from Korea, the case … [Read more...]
FDA Issues Final Rule on Food Traceability Under FSMA
The FDA has issued the final rule on food traceability under the Food Safety and Modernization Act of 2011 (FSMA). Traceability is the ability to identify foods that may be contaminated, especially if that food is suspected as being part of an outbreak. The rule establishes traceability record keeping requirements for anyone who manufacturers, processes, packs, or holds foods that are on the Food Traceability List. Companies and people subject to this rule must maintain records containing Key Data Elements associated with specific Critical Tracking Events. They must provide information to the FDA within 24 hours or some other time frame to which the FDA has agreed. Foods that are on the Food Traceability List include: cheeses other than hard cheeses, specifically soft and … [Read more...]
FDA Adds Salmonella Outbreak; USDA Adds E. coli Outbreak
FDA adds Salmonella outbreak to its CORE Outbreak Investigation Table, while the USDA adds an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak to theirs, which may be associated with beef. Very little information has been provided for these new outbreaks. For the new outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium on the FDA site, the food has not yet been identified. There are currently 264 cases, which is a very high case count for an unidentified outbreak. The FDA is working with partners to investigate "multiple food items of interest" to try to determine the cause of this outbreak. Traceback has been initiated. The new E. coli O157:H7 outbreak on the USDA table is suspected to be linked to beef. There is no information about patient case counts, patient ages, states where ill persons live, or what type of beef … [Read more...]
Recall of Old Europe Soft Cheeses For Listeria Expands
The recall of Old Europe soft cheeses for Listeria monocytogenes has expanded to include more products and retailers that carried the cheeses. Some of these cheeses, which include Brie and Camembert, are linked to a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that has sickened at least six people in six states and has hospitalized five. The ill persons live in California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, and Texas. The cheeses were sold nationwide at the retail level. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled products listed below and should throw them away; this includes Best By Dates ranging from September 28, 2022 to December 14, 2022, and all flavors and quantities. The products were sold from August 01, 2022 through September 28, 2022, … [Read more...]
ALDI Falafel Outbreak Investigation Added to FDA CORE Table
The new ALDI falafel outbreak investigation has been added to the FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table with at least 20 people sick with E. coli O121:H19 infections in six states, and five hospitalized. The case count by state is: Florida (2), Iowa (1), Kansas (1), Michigan (11), Ohio (1), and Wisconsin (4). The falafel was sold at ALDI stores in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The … [Read more...]
Old Europe Cheese Recall For Listeria Monocytogenes Expands
The Old Europe Cheese recall for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination has been expanded to include more products. A Listeria monocytogenes outbreak is linked to some of the company's products. The additional products include baked brie cheeses. The original recall, issued on September 23, 2022, included dozens of brands and types of brie and camembert cheese. The newly recalled products were sold from August 1, 2022 through September 28, 2022 and were sold at supermarkets, wholesale and retail stores nationwide and also in Mexico. The products have best by dates from September 28, 2022 to December 14, 2022. The cheeses were packaged in clamshells. The recalled items include Culinary Tour 8 ounce Plain Baked Brie with UPC number 011225005350, Culinary Tour 11 ounce … [Read more...]
FDA Says Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak Was Cantaloupe
The FDA says that the previously unidentified Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak was cantaloupe in an update to that agency's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. At least 87 people were sickened in that outbreak, which has ended. The investigation was closed recently, as it was still active in the last update issued on September 28, 2022. The FDA says that "more information will be forthcoming." We don't know the patient age range, illness onset date, or if anyone has been hospitalized. The outbreak case count has increased by one more patient since the last update. There is no ongoing risk to the public, according to the FDA, since these products are no longer available on the market. Still, learn how to protect yourself when preparing produce. There are still nine active outbreak … [Read more...]
St Louis Brie in Secondary Old Europe Cheese Listeria Recall
St Louis Brie has been recalled as part of a secondary recall related to the Old Europe Cheese recall for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The notice states, "This is part of a voluntary broader recall by the manufacturer. The recalling firm is Swiss American. The recalled products are St Louis Domestic Brie Wedge in 7 ounce containers. The UPC number is 041563 263709. All dates up to and including 12/14/2022 are included. Also recalled is St Louis Domestic Cut Brie Wedge - 6 pounds RW in variable weight sizes. The UPC number for that product is 041563 370018 and all dates up to and including 12/14/2022 are included. St Louis Brie in variable weight sizes is recalled, with UPC number 21107100000 and all dates up to and including 12/14/2022. St. Louis Brie Pre Cut … [Read more...]
FDA on Old Europe Cheese Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak
The FDA has weighed in on the Old Europe Cheese Listeria monocytogenes outbreak. The illnesses are linked to that company's brie and camembert soft cheese products. The Old Europe Cheese company is located in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The cheese was sold at various retailers and under multiple labels and brands including Reny Picot. The case count by state is: California (1), Georgia (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), New Jersey (1), and Texas (1). Five people have been hospitalized. The last illness onset date was August 5, 2022. The cheeses were sold nationwide. The affected cheeses have best by dates ranging from September 28, 2022 to December 14, 2022, and include all flavors and quantities. The recalled products include these brands: Reny Picot Black Bear Block … [Read more...]
