Apple Valley Creamery raw milk has sickened at least one person in Pennsylvania with a Campylobacter infection, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. That dairy is located at 531 Germany Road in East Berlin, Pennsylvania. Public health officials are warning consumers to discard raw milk from Apple Valley Creamery that was sold under the Pure Pastures Dairy label. The sell by dates for this unpasteurized milk are from April 3, 2024 through May 2, 2024. The milk is packaged in quart and half gallon glass containers. Samples of the raw milk were tested by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and were positive for the pathogen. Apple Valley Creamery raw milk was sold at these locations in south central, central, and eastern counties in Pennsylvania: Adams … [Read more...]
Cracker Barrel Employee in PA Worked While Infectious
A Cracker Barrel employee in Erie, Pennsylvania worked while infectious, according to news reports. The Erie County Department of Health said that anyone who ate there during a certain time frame should consider getting vaccinated against the virus. That Cracker Barrel restaurant is located at 7810 Interstate Drive in Erie, Pennsylvania. Anyone who ate or drank at that restaurant during the time frame of January 30, 2024 to February 21, 2024, including anyone who ordered takeout, may have been exposed to the virus. Breanna Adams, director of environmental health services for the Erie County Department of Health. told YourErie, "Because Hepatitis A can be very contagious through food and other products then the protocol is to notify people who might have eaten there or had takeout … [Read more...]
Outbreak at Carnegie Mellon University Stack’d Sickens Students
A food poisoning outbreak at Carnegie Mellon University Stack'd restaurant has sickened "numerous students," according to news reports. Stack'd is the university's on-campus restaurant that is located in the basement of Morewood Gardens Hall. Allegheny County's Health Department in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is investigating. The reports state that "numerous students" reported experiencing symptoms that are consistent with food poisoning. The pathogen was not named, and no foods were named. And there was no mention about whether or not any of the students were hospitalized. The health department inspected the restaurant on Thursday, February 15, 2024, and allegedly found several high and low risk violations of the food code. The problems included temperature maintenance of … [Read more...]
Conoco View Dairy Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak in PA
A Conoco View Dairy raw milk Campylobacter outbreak in Pennsylvania has sickened at least 11 people, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Officials are warning consumers to immediately discard all of this milk. The Department ran tests after 11 reports of illness in December 2023 and January 2024 were received. Campylobacter contamination was confirmed in the dairy's products. The press release states that, "While the source of the bacteria is clear, every specific production date could not be pinpointed. All products, including those in consumers' freezers, should be discarded." The press release mentions eight several different counties where the milk was sold or dropped off at different points in the memo. The quotes are: "raw milk sold in Cumberland, … [Read more...]
ShopRite Hepatitis A Exposure on Oxford in Northeast Philadelphia
A possible ShopRite hepatitis A exposure on Oxford Street in Northeast Philadelphia has prompted a warning from the Philadelphia Department of Health. A person who worked at that store, located at 6301 Oxford Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was contagious. No more reports of illness have been received by officials to date. Anyone who handled raw beef or pork or who ate undercooked raw beef or pork that was purchased from the store's meat counter between January 4 and January 21, 2024 may have been exposed to the virus. Anyone who has completed the hepatitis A vaccine regimen, or who has had the disease in the past should be protected. The vaccine will protect if it is given within two weeks of exposure. Since the first potential exposure occurred 22 days ago, anyone who … [Read more...]
Pennsylvania Sues Farmer Amos Miller For Illegal Raw Milk Sales
The state of Pennsylvania sues farmer Amos Miller to stop the illegal distribution of raw milk and other products, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry and the state's Department of Agriculture. The complaint is against Miller's Organic farm, its owners, and related businesses. Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture searched the farm after two people were sickened with E. coli infections after allegedly consuming eggnog made with raw milk from that facility. The lawsuit was filed after "years of attempts by state and federal officials to bring the farm into compliance with the law," according to the Attorney General. The complaint outlines violations of Pennsylvania’s Milk Sanitation Law, Food Safety Act, Retail Food Facility … [Read more...]
Charcuterie Salmonella Outbreak Grows to 47 Sick in 22 States
The charcuterie Salmonella outbreak has grown to include 47 patients in 22 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Ten people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. That is an increase of eight more states, 23 new patients, and five new hospitalizations since the original notice of the outbreak was issued on January 5, 2024. The case count by state is: Arizona (2), Colorado (1), Connecticut (1), Idaho (1), Illinois (1), Kentucky (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Missouri (1), Nebraska (3), New Jersey (1), New York (4), Ohio (11), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (3), Texas (3), Utah (1), Vermont (1), Virginia (1), Washington (5), and Wisconsin (2). The patient age range is from one to 91 years. Illness onset dates range from November … [Read more...]
PA Ag Department Searches Amos Miller Farm After illnesses
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has searched the Amos Miller farm in Upper Leacock Township after illnesses were reported when people allegedly consumed raw dairy products from that facility, according to news reports. The search took place on Thursday, January 4, 2023. Mr. Miller has been in litigation with the federal government for years because of alleged violations in food safety guidelines and food and meat inspection. Last year a consent decree was filed against the farm for allegedly avoiding USDA inspections and selling uninspected, misbranded meat. At that time the company was permanently enjoined, and, "Miller’s acknowledges that it has violated the injunction and agrees to pay fines for denying access to inspectors, and will either adhere to procedures for … [Read more...]
Top 10 Outbreaks Of 2023: #10 Ice Cream House Listeria
It's time for the Top 10 Outbreaks of 2023. Number 10 is the Ice Cream House Listeria Monocytogenes outbreak that took place in the summer of 2023. It sickened at least two people; one lives in New York, the other in Pennsylvania. Both patients were hospitalized. The median age in this outbreak was 77 years. People over the age of 65 are much more likely to suffer serious complications from a Listeria monocytogenes infection. In fact, one of the patients lived in a long term care facility where they were likely served this product. The other patient ought "Soft Serve on the Go" ice cream cups from a grocery store. Whole genome sequencing showed that the bacteria from patient isolates were closely related genetically. This means that they likely got sick from eating the same … [Read more...]
May Be 22 Lead Poisoning Cases in WanaBana Applesauce Recall
There are may be 22 lead poisoning cases in the WanaBana applesauce recall issue, according to the FDA. This is an increase of 15 more cases since the last update last week. The FDA and state partners are collecting and analyzing more produce samples of fruit puree and applesauce pouches. So far, the FDA has found no problems with any non-recalled products. The case count by state is: Alabama (12), Arkansas (1), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (1), North Carolina (5), New Mexico (1), New York (2), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Carolina (2), Tennessee (1), Texas (1), Washington (1), and unknown (1). The illness report date ranges are from October 17, 2023 to November 7, 2023. We do not know the patient age ranges, although the initial report from North Carolina indicated … [Read more...]
