Dole recalls iceberg lettuce salad mixes for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. There is a deadly multistate Listeria monocytogenes outbreak that is potentially linked to some Dole packaged salads, but no illnesses are linked to these specific products to date. The salads were produced at the company's Springfield, Ohio and Soledad, California production facilities. All Dole-branded and private label packaged salads described in the list at the FDA web site are included in this recall. Equipment used to harvest the iceberg lettuce used in those products tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The products from the Springfield, Ohio facility have a product lot code beginning with the letter "W" and a "Best if Used By" date that is between December 22, 2021 and … [Read more...]
FDA CORE Outbreak Table Has Six Active Investigations
The FDA CORE Outbreak Table has six active food poisoning investigations currently; all but one has been identified or solved. The Salmonella Javiana outbreak, which was announced on November 24, 2021, is still not identified, and the number of people sickened in that outbreak has increased to 64. No recall has been initiated, although traceback has begun, on-site inspection has been started, and sample collection and analysis has been initiated. When there is some concrete action that consumers can take, the FDA should update the investigation. The other five active outbreaks include: The E. coli O157:H7 9outbreak linked to Simple Truth and Nature's Basket Organic Power Greens, which has sickened at least 13 people in six states. Four people have been hospitalized, and one … [Read more...]
Simple Truth and Nature’s Basket Greens Associated With E. coli Outbreak
Simple Truth and Nature's Basket Power Greens are associated with an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 13 people in six states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Both brands are organic. Four people have been hospitalized, and one person has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The patient case count by state is: Alaska (2), California (1), Mississippi (1), Ohio (1) Oregon (1), and Washington (7). The patient age range is from four to 79 years. Illness onset dates range from November 27, 2021 to December 9, 2021. Of 12 people who gave information to investigators, four were hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 33%. And of those 12 people interviewed, all reported eating packaged salads … [Read more...]
Dole Recalls Bagged Salads For Possible Listeria Monocytogenes
Dole recalls bagged salads for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination as a result of a deadly listeriosis outbreak that has sickened at least 16 people in 13 states. The salads were processed in the company's Bessemer City, North Carolina and Yuma, Arizona facilities. The recalling firm is Dole Fresh Vegetables. The products all have a product lot code that begins with either the letter "N" or the letter "Y" in the upper right corner of the package. The best if used by dates on these products are between November 30, 2021 and January 8, 2022. The salads that tested positive for the pathogen were a single package of Dole brand Garden Salad that was produced in the Bessemer City facility, and a single package of shredded iceberg lettuce that was produced in the Yuma, Arizona … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Salad Salmonella Outbreak is Number Seven of 2021
The BrightFarms salad Salmonella outbreak is number seven on the list of top 10 multistate food poisoning outbreaks of 2021, with 31 sick in four states. Four people were hospitalized because they were so sick. The patient case count by state is: Illinois (18), Michigan (1), Pennsylvania (2), and Wisconsin (10). Illness onset dates ranged from June 10, 2021 to August 18, 2021. The patient age range was from less than 1 year to 86 years. The hospitalization rate was not given. Interview data and shopper card records show that 15 people ate or bought a variety of BrightFarms packaged salad greens before they got sick. The varieties they ate included 50/50 Spring & Spinach, Sunny Crunch, Harvest Crunch, and Butter Crisp. An FDA investigation found that BrightFarms greenhouse … [Read more...]
FDA Info on Deadly Dole Listeria Outbreak, With 16 Sickened
The FDA has released information about the deadly Dole Listeria outbreak that has sickened at least 16 people in 13 states and killed two as of December 22, 2021. The FDA says that the outbreak is "potentially linked" to those products. The CDC investigated this outbreak in 2019 and 2020 but was not able to gather enough information to name a brand or products. The investigation was reopened in November 2021 when four new illnesses were reported. In October 2021, the Georgia Department of Agriculture collected a product sample of prepackaged salad mix from a grocery store. That sample tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. A recall was issued by Dole in October 2021. Those products are now past their "Best if Used By" dates. That positive sample was sent for whole genome … [Read more...]
CDC Weighs in on Deadly Fresh Express Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak
The CDC is weighing in on the deadly Fresh Express Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to that company's bagged salads. Ten people are sick, all ten have been hospitalized, and one person, who lived in Pennsylvania, has sadly died. The patient case count by state is: Illinois (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (2), and Virginia (1). Illness onset dates range from July 26, 2016 through October 19, 2021. The patient age range is from 44 to 95 years. Whole genome sequencing performed on isolates from sick people showed that they are closely related genetically, which means that people in this outbreak likely got sick from eating the same food. Of the five people interviewed by public health investigators, four said they ate … [Read more...]
Two Deaths in a Dole Bagged Salads Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak
There are two deaths in a Dole bagged salads Listeria monocytogenes outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sixteen people in 13 states are sick, and twelve people have been hospitalized. The patient case count by state is: Idaho (1), Iowa (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nevada (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (2), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), Texas (2), Utah (1), and Wisconsin (1). Illness onset dates range from August 16, 2014 to October 17, 2021. The patient age range is from 50 to 94 years. Of fourteen people who gave information to investigators, 12 have been hospitalized. Two deaths were reported, from Michigan and Wisconsin. Of the eight people interviewed, seven said they ate packaged salads the month before they got … [Read more...]
Fresh Express Salad Listeria Monocytogenes Outbreak Sickens 10
A Fresh Express salad Listeria monocytogenes outbreak has sickened at least ten people in eight states and has hospitalized all ten patients. One person has died, according to the FDA. We do not yet know the patent case count by state or the patient age range, but the states where the patients live or lived include Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Illness onset dates range from July 26, 2016 to October 19, 2021. We will have more information when the CDC publishes their investigation report. The salads were distributed in North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, and … [Read more...]
Listeria Outbreak May Be Associated with Fresh Express Fresh Salad Items
A Listeria outbreak that may be associated with Fresh Express fresh salad items is referenced in a massive recall notice posted by the company. The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) has not announced the outbreak, but the FDA has. However, a December 18, 2021 press release issued by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development stated that they found Listeria monocytogenes in the company's Sweet Hearts Romaine Lettuce Sweet Butter Lettuce. At that point Fresh Express had notified grocery stores that salads packaged in their Streamwood, IL facility should be recalled. Fresh Express did not issue a public recall notice by press release until December 20th. In its recall notice Fresh Express stated that there are: "ten illnesses associated with the strain … [Read more...]
