Monical's Pizza, in Washington, Illinois, has temporarily closed after reports of illness, according to news reports. About 150 patrons reported symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, chills, and nausea, according to the Tazewell County Health Department. The Illinois Department of Public Health issued the closure. Patients are reportedly recovering within 12 to 24 hours. The restaurant is located at 6 Cherry Tree Shopping Center in Washington, Illinois. It closed on Saturday, November 26, 2022 and may open today. The closure will give the restaurant time to conduct a deep cleaning and discard food. The employees of Monical's Pizza will be retrained on personal hygiene, handwashing, and when to report illness. The cause of the illnesses has not yet been determined. Given … [Read more...]
Can You Tell if Deli Meats Are Contaminated With Listeria?
Can you tell if deli meats are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes or other pathogens? Some recent news articles claiming that you may be able to determine if the meats are safe to eat from appearance and smell had us examining this issue. Given the deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in 2020 that was linked to deli meats, and another in 2019, this information is important. A new study published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology, headed by Fernando Sampedro of the University of Minnesota found that deli meats are associated with 90% of listeriosis cases in the United Sates. Other potentially hazardous foods include soft and semi-soft cheeses, ready to eat seafood, and frozen vegetables. Listeria causes between 1,044 and 2,089 cases of illness in the United … [Read more...]
Traveling to Mexico? CDC Warns About Salmonella Newport Risk
Traveling to Mexico? The CDC is warning about a multi-drug resistant Salmonella Newport risk among people who have recently visited that country. Many travelers with these infections have reported eating beef, cheese, including queso fresco and Oaxaca, beef jerky, or dried beef, also known as carne seca, before they got sick. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella are not affected by drugs that are designed to eliminate them, so infections with this type of pathogen can be difficult to treat. Most people with a Salmonella infection suffer from fever, chills, muscle aches, diarrhea that can be bloody, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. These symptoms usually start within six hours to six days after eating food or drinking water contaminated with this pathogen. When traveling to … [Read more...]
Minnesota Enjoins Fay’s Homestyle Catering After Outbreak
The state of Minnesota has filed a compliant to enjoin Fay's Homestyle Catering LLC, preventing that company from operating as a food and beverage service establishment to protect the public health. The complaint was filed on September 13, 2o22 in the District Court of the State of Minnesota, Ramsey County. The complaint alleges that the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is investigating a large foodborne outbreak that occurred in White Bear Lake on August 27, 2022. That agency has a "high degree of confidence" that Fay's Homestyle Catering prepared and served the food that led to the outbreak. Doug Schultz, Information Officer for the Minnesota Department of Health, told Food Poisoning Bulletin that "We can confirm that we are investigating a private event catered by that … [Read more...]
McHenry County Outbreak Linked to D.C. Cobb’s Updated
The McHenry County outbreak in Illinois that is linked to D.C. Cobb's restaurant has been updated, according to the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH). That restaurant is located at 1204 North Green Street in McHenry. The owner of the restaurant is fully cooperating with the investigation. According to the last update, on September 15, 2022, at least 16 people are sick after eating at that restaurant. The case count has not been updated. The newest update also said that MCDH launched their investigation after getting a call from the restaurant's owner and receiving complaints of illness from people who ate at the restaurant five to seven days earlier. That incubation period, if accurate, does provide some clues to the possible pathogen. Pathogens with that incubation time … [Read more...]
Food Poisoning Outbreak in McHenry County, IL at D. C. Cobb’s
A food poisoning outbreak in McHenry County, Illinois at D. C. Cobb's restaurant has sickened at least 13 people, according to the McHenry County Health Department. That restaurant is located at 1204 North Green Street in McHenry. The outbreak was identified when public health officials reviewed complaints of people who got sick after eating at that establishment. An investigation into the pathogen that caused these illnesses, and the possible source of the pathogen has been launched. We do not know the patient age range, or if anyone has been hospitalized. Those sickened ate at D. C. Cobb's restaurant in McHenry from August 29 through September 13, 2022. A survey was posted by the health department, asking for information about anyone who ate there during that time frame, but … [Read more...]
Best of Baltimore Party Illnesses Affect at Least 20 Attendees
People are apparently sick after attending the Best of Baltimore party sponsored by Baltimore Magazine that was held August 18, 2022 at the American Visionary Arts Museum in Baltimore. At least 20 people have been sickened, according to posts on Facebook and news reports. Some went to the emergency room to be treated. This event offered food samples from several restaurants who won the Best in Baltimore contest, including Cosima, Clavel, Ekiben, Foraged, Gunther & Co., Gertrude's Chesapeake Kitchen, Ice Queens, JBGB's, Italian Disco, La Barrita, Linwood's, La Scala, Maximon, Magdalena, Motzi Bread, Royal Farms, Ouzu Bay, THB Bagels, Sally O's, The Food Market, The Local, Waterfront Hotel, and others, according to the Baltimore Sun. Baltimore DOH Survey The Baltimore Department … [Read more...]
Big Olaf Ice Cream Recalled For Possible Listeria Contamination
Big Olaf ice cream recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This ice cream is linked to a deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but the recall notice states, "No formal complaints were filed with the Florida Department of Health as of July 1st, 2022," and "Based on epidemiological information shared by the CDC and State Officials, Big Olaf may be a potential source of illness in an ongoing Listeria monocytogenes outbreak." Big Olaf Creamery is located in Sarasota, Florida. The product was sold at Big Olaf retailers in Florida, to consumers in restaurants, and in senior homes. It was also sold at one location in Fredericksburg, Ohio, which was not named. The ice cream was sold in plastic pint … [Read more...]
Daily Harvest French Lentil Crumbles Recalled After Consumer Illnesses
Daily Harvest French Lentil + Leek Crumbles is being recalled after consumers reported gastrointestinal "discomfort," according to news reports. The French Lentil + Leek Crumbles meal must be "heated to 165°F" according to package instructions. That means we don't know if it's a problem with the lectins in the lentils, or a pathogen that is causing the illnesses. While the report from Daily Harvest says consumers have experienced "discomfort," other posts on social media claim that some have been hospitalized with severe pain. Some patients are concerned about long term health problems such as liver damage. If the problem is that the lentils are not thoroughly cooked, compounds called lectins can be present in the legumes and can cause gastrointestinal distress. A study published … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table Updated Again
The FDA CORE Outbreak Investigation Table has been updated again with more information about the incidents the agency is investigating. Three of the investigations have changed. The reports of adverse reactions possibly related to dry cereal have increased to 555 from 529 in the last update issued on May 4, 2022. On the website iwaspoisoned, there are more than 7,000 reports of illness since late 2021. An on-site inspection has been initiated, and samples have been collected and analysis on a product has begun. One of the two active Listeria monocytogenes outbreaks has also been updated; the number of illnesses has increased to 20 cases from 19. That investigation was launched on February 9, 2022; no source has been identified. For the investigation of "Cronobacter illnesses … [Read more...]
