It's time for the Top 10 Multistate Food Poisoning Outbreaks of 2019! Number 10 is the Cavi papaya Salmonella Uganda outbreak that sickened 81 people in 9 states. Twenty-seven people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The case count by state in this outbreak was: Connecticut (15), Delaware (1), Florida (2), Massachusetts (6), New Jersey (22), New York (29), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). The illness onset dates ranged from January 14, 2019 to July 16, 2019. Most of the illnesses occurred in April 2019 to July 2019. The patient age range was from less than one year to 90 years. Of 48 people who identified their ethnicity to public health officials, 31, or 65%, were Hispanic. There was a very high hospitalization rate in this outbreak, at 53%. The … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs In on Cavi Papaya Salmonella Uganda Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has weighed in on the Cavi papaya Salmonella Uganda outbreak, declaring the outbreak over as of September 12, 2019, with 81 people sick in 9 states. That's an increase of 10 more illnesses and one more affected state since the last update. Twenty-seven people were hospitalized because they were so ill. No deaths were reported. The case count by state is: Connecticut (15), Delaware (1), Florida (2), Massachusetts (6), New Jersey (22), New York (29), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates range from January 14, 2019 to July 16, 2019. Most of the illnesses occurred since April, 2019. The patient age range is from less than one year to 90 years. Of 48 people who identified their ethnicity, 31, or 65%, … [Read more...]
Salmonella Uganda Outbreak Potentially Linked to Cavi Papayas Ends with 81 Sick
The Salmonella Uganda outbreak potentially linked to Cavi papayas imported from Mexico by Agroson's LLC has ended with 81 sick in 9 states, according to the CDC; the FDA's investigational activities are still ongoing. Twenty-seven people were hospitalized because they were so sick. That's an increase of 10 more illnesses and one more state since the last update in July 2019. No deaths have been reported. The patient case count by state is: Connecticut (15), Delaware (1), Florida (2), Massachusetts (6), New Jersey (22), New York (29), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). The last illness onset date was July 16, 2019. The papayas potentially linked to this outbreak are no longer available for purchase, so the FDA says that consumers no longer need to avoid or withhold … [Read more...]
FDA Calls on Papaya Industry to Improve Practices in Wake of Outbreak
The FDA is calling on all sectors of the papaya industry to improve practices to better protect consumers in the wake of a Salmonella Uganda outbreak linked to fresh imported papayas. Since 2011, there have been eight Salmonella outbreaks linked to imported, fresh papayas. The 2019 outbreak is ongoing, but the first seven outbreaks have sickened more than 500 people, has caused more than 100 hospitalizations, and caused two deaths. The FDA notice states, "This trend has to stop." In the current outbreak, at least 71 people in 8 states are sick with the same strain of Salmonella Uganda as of early July, 2019. Twenty-seven people have been hospitalized. In the current outbreak, the FDA has named Agroson's LLC, the distributor of Cavi brand papayas, and has requested that the … [Read more...]
Agroson’s Will Not Recall Cavi Papayas Likely Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA has updated the Salmonella Uganda outbreak likely linked to fresh papayas imported from Mexico, stating that they have asked Agroson's LLC, the distributor of the Cavi brand of papayas, to recall that product. Agroson's has refused to initiate a recall. The FDA has contacted the company's wholesale customers to make sure that the fruit is no longer for sale, has been discarded, or has not been further processed or frozen. The FDA is recommending that consumers in all states not eat Cavi brand whole, fresh papayas and should throw them away. If you can't determine the brand of papayas you purchased, discard them. And retailers, restaurants and other food service providers should not serve or sell whole, fresh papayas under the Cavi brand. The update also states that … [Read more...]
Cavi Papayas From Agroson’s Linked to Salmonella Uganda Outbreak
Cavi papayas from Agroson's LLC are now linked to the Salmonella Uganda outbreak that was just announced by the CDC. Now 71 people in 8 states are sick. Twenty-seven people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. The patient case count by state is: Connecticut (14), Florida (1), Massachusetts (5), New Jersey (18), New York (27), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates range from January 14, 1029 through June 16, 2019. The patient age range is from less than 1 year to 90. Of 45 people who have provided information to investigators, 60% have been hospitalized. This is three times the hospitalization rate in a typical Salmonella outbreak. This particular strain of Salmonella Uganda is resistant to several antibiotics, which may explain the … [Read more...]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro Criticizes FDA Over Salmonella Papaya Outbreak
Update: Cavi brand papayas distributed by Agroson's LLC of the Bronx are now linked to this outbreak. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) has released a letter she sent to the FDA this week regarding the multistate Salmonella Uganda papaya outbreak that has sickened at least 62 people in 8 states. She has "serious concerns that the Agency did not provide consumers with necessary information regarding this outbreak in a timely manner, which ultimately put lives at risk." A publication for the fresh produce industry had a story about the outbreak on the morning of Friday, June 28, 2019. The CDC did not publish a food safety alert until five hours later, and the FDA took six hours. Most major media outlets did not start reporting about the outbreak until late afternoon. She also … [Read more...]
In Wake of Papaya Salmonella Outbreak, CSPI Challenges FDA
Update: Cavi brand papayas distributed by Agroson's LLC of the Bronx are now linked to this outbreak, according to the CDC. In the wake of the Salmonella Uganda outbreak linked to fresh whole papayas imported from Mexico, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) says that the FDA needs to do more to protect consumers. At least 62 people in 8 states are sick after eating the produce, and 23 have been hospitalized. A statement from CSPI Deputy Director of Regulatory Affairs Sarah Sorcsher reads, in part, "The import protections FDA has in place are clearly not working. Rather than rely on third-party testing, the FDA should directly inspect the farms these fruits may have come from and ensure they are meeting food safety standards. If the safety of the farms cannot be … [Read more...]
Salmonella Uganda Outbreak Linked to Imported Papayas Sickens 62
Update: Cavi brand papayas distributed by Agroson's LLC of the Bronx are now linked to this outbreak. A Salmonella Uganda outbreak linked to fresh whole papayas imported from Mexico has sickened at least 62 people in 8 states. Twenty-three people have been hospitalized because they were so sick. No recall has been announced. The papayas were sold in retail stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The case count by state is: Connecticut (14), Florida (1), Massachusetts (5), New Jersey (12), New York (24), Pennsylvania (4), Rhode Island (1), and Texas (1). Illness onset dates range from January 14, 019 to June 8, 2019. Most illnesses have occurred since April 2019. The patient age range is from 1 to 86 years. Sixty-six percent of … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Imported Papayas Was 2nd Largest Food Poisoning Outbreak of 2017
The Salmonella outbreak linked to recalled imported Maradol papayas was the second largest food poisoning outbreak of 2017. At least 251 people across the country were sickened with nine different strains of Salmonella bacteria; that made this outbreak unique. The case count by strain was: Salmonella Thompson (144), Kiambu (54), Anatum (20), Agona (12), Gaminara (7), Urbana (7), Newport & Infantis (4), and Senftenberg (3). Seventy-nine of these patients were hospitalized, and two deaths were reported; one from California and one in New York City. People of Hispanic origin were disproportionately affected by this outbreak. This outbreak began on March 17, 2017, and ran through October 2017 and was comprised of four separate outbreaks. Four brands of Maradol papayas were … [Read more...]
