The Alaska hospital outbreak was Clostridium perfringens, according to an article in the Anchorage Daily News. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services believe that the culprit was a Cubano sandwich, and may have been the pulled pork that was used to make that sandwich. Jeremy Ayers, section manager with the Food Safety and Sanitation Program within the Division of Environmental Health at the Alaska Department of Health told the paper that many of the signs during the investigation pointed toward the Cubano sandwich. Clostridium perfringens is a pathogen that commonly causes outbreaks when meat and gravies are cooled too slowly or held at improper temperatures in the danger zone of 40°F to 140°F. The pathogen produces a toxin as it grows in these protein rich … [Read more...]
Foodborne Illness Outbreak at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska
A foodborne illness outbreak at South Peninsula Hospital in Homer, Alaska has sickened almost 80 people, according to the Anchorage Daily News. State epidemiologists are investigating the outbreak that has sickened hospital employees. All patients developed symptoms on or around on the morning of August 7, 2021. Everyone who got sick ate food brought in as employee meals from a variety of local restaurants. Those restaurants have not yet been named. A post on the Alaska Health and Social Services Facebook page has a survey that anyone who lives in the Homer area can take to help officials solve this outbreak. No patients or hospital residents ate the food. The source of the outbreak is not known at the time. The agencies investigating the outbreak are the Alaska Department of … [Read more...]
How Do You Know If You Have a Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Infection?
How do you know if you have a Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection? This illness is caused by a type of bacteria that grows in marine water and can grow in shellfish. The pathogen causes an illness called vibriosis. Vibrio bacteria are found naturally in marine coastal waters, in saltwater, and in rivers and streams where freshwater meets saltwater. It is usually present in levels that are low enough to cause no problems, but it grows and multiples rapidly when water temperatures are high. Most vibrio illnesses and outbreaks occur in the summer months. Most cases of vibriosis are caused by eating raw and undercooked shellfish. Even fully cooked seafood can be recontaminated if rinsed with seawater after cooking. Other issues that can cause rapid bacteria growth include not keeping … [Read more...]
Real Water Ceased Operations After Non-Viral Hepatitis Outbreak
The FDA has announced that Real Water ceased operations after the non-viral hepatitis outbreak associated with their alkaline water may have sickened at least 16 people. According to a consent decree complaint, the company allegedly failed to comply with FDA manufacturing requirements. U.S. District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey entered a consent decree of permanent injunction on June 1, 2021 between the United States and AffinityListstyles.com Inc, which is the majority shareholder of Real Water Inc. According to the compliant filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FDA, the defendants allegedly violated the FD&C Act by operating facilities that failed to meet preventive controls requirements to control food hazards. The complaint also alleges that the products are … [Read more...]
New Salmonella Duisburg Outbreak; Salmonella Miami Outbreak Closed
On the FDA CORE Investigation table, a new Salmonella Duisburg outbreak has been identified, while the unsolved Salmonella Miami outbreak has been closed. Five people are sick in the new Salmonella Duisburg outbreak. Products and/or facilities linked to this new outbreak have not been identified. We do not know the patient age range, illness onset dates, or possible hospitalizations of the patients, nor do we have any clues to what the FDA may be investigating. No recall has been initiated, no traceback has been started, no on-site inspections have been initiated, and the government has not started sample collection and analysis. The FDA does not release any of this information unless they know of actions that consumers can take to protect themselves. So people have to follow the … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Real Water Alkaline Water Hepatitis Outbreak Investigation
FDA has updated its Real Water alkaline water hepatitis outbreak investigation with more information. The latest update, which is not dated, states, "Given a lack of cooperation by the firm, FDA investigators have been unable to complete investigations at the "Real Water" Inc. facilities in Henderson, Nevada and Mesa, Arizona and have not been provided with any records. As a result, on March 23, FDA issued a Demand for Records under section 414 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act." The FDA, CDC, and the Southern Nevada Health District are investigating a "number of reports" of acute non-viral hepatitis infections in the state of Nevada. These cases are associated with the consumption of Real Water alkaline water. The consumption of Real Water alkaline water is the only … [Read more...]
Real Water Alkalized Water Associated with Non-Viral Hepatitis Recalled
Real Water alkalized water is being recalled because it is associated with a non-viral hepatitis outbreak that has sickened at least five people in Nevada. This recall is the result of an investigation by the Southern Nevada Health District and the FDA, after cases were reported in November 2020. The company has ceased distribution and production of the product as the problem is investigated. Symptoms of all kinds of hepatitis, including non-viral hepatitis, can include fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, clay or gray-colored bowel movements, joint pain, yellow eyes, and jaundice. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see their doctor. The recalled products are Real Water Alkalized Water, which were sold in 1.5 liters, 1 liter, 500 mil, … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Gouda-Like E. coli O121 Outbreak in Canada Recommendations
A report on a raw milk Gouda-like E. coli O121 outbreak in British Columbia, Canada in 2018 has prompted recommendations for more controls on this type of product. The outbreak in 2018 sickened seven people. Four of the seven cases ate the same raw milk Gouda-type cheese between August and October 2018. The implicated cheese was aged longer than the minimum requirement of 60 days, and investigators found no production deficiencies at the facility. The dairy plant was compliant with current Canadian regulatory requirements. One sample of the cheese tested positive for E. coli O121. The investigators recommend that raw milk Gouda and Gouda-like cheeses should be labeled to increase consumer awareness of the potential risks in these types of products. They also recommend … [Read more...]
FDA Declares Salmonella Paratyphi Outbreak Over With 18 Sick
On its Outbreak Investigation Table, the FDA has declared the Salmonella Paratyphi outbreak over after sickening 18 people overall. Ten illnesses were confirmed in Minnesota and the eight other illnesses are in three other states, according to the FDA. On that table, the product or products linked to illnesses are officially "not yet identified." The Minnesota Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin on November 19, 2020 that they only knew of the ten illnesses in Minnesota. The FDA told us that the CDC doesn't have enough evidence in their investigation of this outbreak to issue advice to the general public about any food or location to avoid. The patients who live in Minnesota told public health officials that they consumed juices and smoothies and bowls at a … [Read more...]
Salmonella Stanley Wood Ear Mushroom Outbreak Number Four of 2020
The Salmonella Stanley wood ear mushroom outbreak is the number four multistate food poisoning outbreak of 2020. Wood ear mushrooms are also known as kikurage or dried fungus. At least 55 people in 12 states were sickened in this outbreak. Six people were hospitalized because they were so ill. The patient case count by state was: Arizona (1), California (33), Connecticut (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (5), Louisiana (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (2), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (2). The patient age range is from 2 to 74 years. Illness onset dates ranged from January 21, 2020 to September 19, 2020. These dried wood ear mushrooms were sold only to restaurants and not to consumers. On September 23, 2020, Wismettac Asian Foods recalled dried fungus for … [Read more...]
