The E. coli O26 outbreak that was associated with Cafe Mario at the Nintendo of America campus in Redmond, Washington state is over and is unsolved, according to the King County Health Department. The outbreak, which happened in 2018, sickens 22 people who developed symptoms consistent with a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infection. All 22 patients work at the Nintendo of American campus and all ate food from Cafe Mario on several days before they got sick. Four patients also ate at I Love Sushi, an establishment that operates out of Cafe Mario once a week. The outbreak appears to be over. After a thorough investigation was conducted by public health officials, there is not enough evidence to connect I Love Sushi to the outbreak. The 22 patients got sick between June 11 … [Read more...]
Le Pic Brand Saint-Félicien Cheese Recalled For Possible E. coli O26
Le Pic brand Saint-Félicien cheese is being recalled in Canada for possible E. coli O26 contamination by La Fromagerie Hamel. The product was sold in Quebec at the consumer level. No illnesses have been reported in Canada in connection with this recall, but there is a deadly outbreak in France that is linked to this product. The recalled product is Le Pic Saint-Félicien cheese, sold in 180 gram containers. All codes up to and including April 29, 2019 are included in the recall. The UPC number on the product is 0 20060641300 0. Symptoms of an E. coli O26 infection include severe and painful abdominal cramps, and watery and bloody diarrhea. Some people have a mild fever, and others can experience nausea and vomiting. Symptoms usually begin a few days to a week after exposure to this … [Read more...]
How Do You Know If You Have a Campylobacter Infection?
With the Center for Disease Control's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report report release detailing how foodborne illness increased by 65% in 2018 compared to 2015-2017, people are starting to think about the bacteria Campylobacter. This pathogen was the most common cause of bacterial foodborne illness in the United States in 2018, causing 19.5 illnesses per 100,000 people. How do you know if you have a Campylobacter infection? Most of these cases are not part of outbreaks, which are defined as two or more unrelated people sickened by the same strain of pathogen. About 14 cases are diagnosed per 100,000 people in this country every year. About 1,300,000 Americans are sickened by Campylobacter every year. In 2015, a Campylobacter outbreak in Northern California was associated … [Read more...]
North Star Imports Ground Beef Recalled For E. coli O103 Contamination
Grant Park Packing of Franklin, Illinois is recalling about 53,200 pounds of North Star Imports raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O103. The USDA notice states that "Further testing is ongoing to determine if the recalled ground beef products are related to the E. coli O103 outbreak." That outbreak has sickened at least 156 people in 10 states. The bulk raw ground beef was produced on October 30 - 31, 2018, and November 1, 2018. The recalled product is 40-pound bulk cardboard boxes of "North Star Imports & Sales, LLC. 100% ground beef bulk 80% lean 20% fat" marked "For Institutional Use Only." The product has the lot code GP.1051.18 and pack dates 10/30/2018, 10/31/2018, and 11/01/2018. The ground beef has the establishment number "EST. 21781" inside … [Read more...]
K2D Foods Recalls Ground Beef For E. coli O103 Contamination; No “Definitive” Link to Outbreak
K2D Foods, doing business as Colorado Premium Foods of Carrolton, Georgia, is recalling 113,424 pounds of raw ground beef products for possible E. coli O103 contamination. There is an unsolved ongoing E. coli O103 outbreak that is linked to ground beef, but the recall notice states, "Further testing is ongoing to determine if the recalled ground beef products are related to the E. coli O103 outbreak." These items were produced on March 26, March 29, April 2, April 5, April 10, and April 12, 2019. The recalled product is two 24-pound vacuum-packed packages in cardboard boxes containing raw "GROUND BEEF PUCK." The "Use Thru" dates on the product are 4/14/19, 4/17/19, 4/20/19, 4/23/19, 4/28/19, and 4/30/19. These products have the establishment number "EST. 51308" inside the USDA mark … [Read more...]
Kentucky E. coli O103 Outbreak Case Count Stands at 65, 8 Hospitalized
The Kentucky E. coli O103 outbreak that is linked to ground beef is now at 65 confirmed cases. Eight people have been hospitalized, and none have developed HUS. Barbara Fox, Public Information Officer for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in that state gave this information to Food Poisoning Bulletin. This outbreak started in Kentucky, when public health officials found that 20 people were sick with the same strain of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria in late March 2019. The outbreak has grown by leaps and bounds. With information we now have, we know that at least 131 people in 6 states are sick. The case count by state is: Indiana (1), Georgia (27), Kentucky (65), Ohio (7), Tennessee (28), and Virginia (2). The patient age range is from less than 1 to 83, but the … [Read more...]
Georgia E. coli O103 Outbreak: 27 Are Now Sick
The Georgia E. coli O103 outbreak that is linked to ground beef has now sickened 27 people, Nancy Nydam of the Georgia Department of Public Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. That is an increase of 10 cases since the last update by the CDC, which released on April 12, 2019. The press release about this outbreak issued by Georgia is from 12 days ago, and only lists 17 illness. Three people in Georgia are hospitalized. No one has developed HUS, and there are no deaths. This outbreak began with patients diagnosed in Kentucky in late March 2019, and has grown explosively over the past few weeks. Originally, 20 people were diagnosed in Kentucky, with a few in other states. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention got involved, the cases jumped up to 109. At first, the … [Read more...]
Caito Foods Recalls Fresh Cut Melon Linked to Salmonella Carrau Outbreak
Caito Foods in Indianapolis is recalling fresh cut watermelon, fresh cut honeydew melon, and fresh cut cantaloupe and fresh cut mixed fruit containing one or more of these melons, since the products are linked to a Salmonella Carrau outbreak. At least 93 people in 9 states are sick in this outbreak. Caito Foods has temporarily suspended producing and distributing these products while the government and the company investigate the issue. The products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers. They were distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The states where ill persons live are Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, … [Read more...]
CDC Says Ground Beef E. coli O103 Outbreak; 109 Now Sick
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released information today stating that preliminary information indicates that ground beef is the source of the E. coli O103 outbreak that started in Kentucky in late March 2019. And 109 people are now sick in this ground beef E. coli O103 outbreak; 17 have been hospitalized. In addition, Indiana has been added to the case count, with one person ill in that state. The case count by state is: Indiana (1), Georgia (17), Kentucky (54), Ohio (7), Tennessee (28), and Virginia (2). Illness onset dates range from March 2 to March 26, 2019. The patient age range is less than 1 year to 83, with a median age of 18. No cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure, have been reported yet. Ill persons … [Read more...]
Georgia Hard Hit by Mystery E. coli O103 Outbreak
Georgia has been hard hit by the mystery E. coli O103 outbreak that has sickened at least 96 people in 5 states. Public health officials still do not know what is causing these illnesses. At least 17 people are sick in Georgia, with three in the hospital because their illnesses are so serious. Others are ill in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. This outbreak was first announced by the Kentucky Department of Health on March 29, 2019, with 20 sick. It has grown very quickly, more than quadrupling in size in 11 days. Officials have not yet said if any food or restaurant or grocery stores is connected to this outbreak. Some news reports stated that fast food may be associated with the illnesses, or some type of food delivery system. Other rumors that have floated around … [Read more...]
