A recurring E. coli O157:H7 strain linked to leafy greens outbreaks has been identified, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report was issued in the CDC's Dispatch for September 2023. Researchers found that this strain emerged in late 2015. The strain is emerging, reoccurring, or persistent (REP strain) and has caused illness over an extended time period. E. coli O157H7 causes about 63,000 domestically acquired foodborne illnesses in the United States every year, and causes 20 deaths. This illness causes symptoms including severe abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhea. A complication of this infection, called hemolytic uremic syndrome, can develop in children under the age of five, which is a ty-pe of kidney failure. Healthy cattle are the … [Read more...]
Simple Truth Power Greens E. coli Outbreak Ends With 10 Sick
The Simple Truth Power Greens E. coli outbreak, which also included Nature's Basket Power Greens, has ended with 10 people sick in four states, according to the FDA. Four of those patients were hospitalized and one person developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. The case count by state is: Alaska (2), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), and Washington (6). The last illness onset date was December 19, 2021. Consumer purchase data indicated that seven people bought Nature's Basket Power Greens or Simple Truth Organic Power Greens at grocery stores before they got sick. These products are past expiration and should no longer be available for purchase. But if you have frozen any of these products with a "Best if Used by" date through December 20, 2021, they … [Read more...]
Canada Imposes Import Restrictions on Romaine Imported From CA
Canada imposes import restrictions on romaine lettuce imported from one growing area in California again, after several outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses linked to that product. The requirements target one geographical area in that state: the counties of Santa Cruz, Santa Cara, San Benito, and Monterey in the Salinas Valley. Canada imports romaine lettuce from the Salinas Valley area in California during the months of September through December. Since romaine lettuce has been linked to many E. coli outbreaks over the past few years, it can be considered a risky food, especially for people who are at higher risk for complications from this type of infection. The Canadian 2020 import restrictions seemed to work last year. There were no outbreaks linked to or associated with … [Read more...]
FDA Starts Sampling Salinas Valley Lettuce For E. coli Contamination
The FDA has started sampling Salinas Valley lettuce for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Salmonella species as part of online surveillance efforts following recurrent outbreaks linked to the products grown in this region. E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks linked to these products, more specifically romaine lettuce, have occurred in 2020, 2019, and 2018. Romaine lettuce is uniquely susceptible to contamination because of the way it grows. The lettuce grows in a cup shape very close to the ground. That shape can collect and hold irrigation water, which can be contaminated with pathogens, especially if the farm field is located near factory cattle farms. There is a recurring strain of E. coli O157:H7 in the region that has been identified in leafy greens year after year. In this new … [Read more...]
FDA Investigation Into Three Fall 2019 Romaine E. coli O157:H7 Outbreaks
The FDA has released a report detailing their investigation into three fall 2019 romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks that sickened at least 188 people. That agency worked with the FDA and state officials to investigation how the romaine lettuce was contaminated. The romaine E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks began in September 2019 and were declared over in January 2020. Some clusters within each of these outbreaks were traced to a common grower with multiple ranches and fields in the Salinas, California growing region. That grower was not named. Investigators found one of the outbreak strains of E. coli O157:H7 in a sample taken from public land less than two miles upslope from a produce farm with multiple fields that was identified during traceback investigations. Other Shiga … [Read more...]
E. coli Salinas Romaine Outbreak Has Now Sickened 138; 13 With HUS
The E. coli Salinas romaine outbreak has now sickened 138 people in 25 states. Seventy-two people have been hospitalized. And 13 people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure. This is an increase of 36 more patients since the last update on December 4, 2019. The case count by state is: Arizona (3), California (4), Colorado (6), Florida (2), Idaho (3), Illinois (10), Iowa (1), Maryland (5), Michigan (1), Minnesota (5), Montana (1), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (9), New Mexico (2), North Carolina (2), Ohio (12), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (17), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (6), Virginia (6), Washington (4), and Wisconsin (33). Illness onset dates range from September 20 ,2019 to December 1, 2019. The patient age range … [Read more...]
