The Salmonella outbreak linked to recalled Gravel Ridge Farms eggs has grown to include 38 people sick in 7 states, according to the CDC. Ten people have been hospitalized. That's an increase of 24 more ill persons added to the outbreak total since the last update on September 10, 2018. The case count by state is: Alabama (7), Colorado (1), Iowa (1), Kentucky (4), Ohio (4), Montana (1), and Tennessee (23). Illness onset dates range from June 17, 2018 to August 16, 2018. The patient age range is from one year to 94. Thirty-one percent of these people have been hospitalized, which is high for a Salmonella outbreak. The typical hospitalization rate is about 20%. Of the 29 people interviewed in this outbreak, 76% reported eating restaurant dishes made with eggs. The FDA and their … [Read more...]
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Gravel Ridge Farms Shell Eggs Grows; Lawsuits May Be Filed
Iowa Suspended Egg Facility Inspections After Bird Flu Outbreak
The Des Moines Register has discovered that Iowa suspended its egg facility inspections last year in the wake of the bird flu. Public health officials feared that inspectors could spread the virus as they traveled between egg facilities. The pathogenic outbreak that killed millions of birds nationwide started in December 2014. The height of the epidemic occurred in early spring 2015. This action is concerning for two reasons. One is that a Salmonella outbreak in Ohio at Lucky's Taproom and Eatery, that has sickened at least 80 people, is associated with shell eggs produced at Kenneth Miller Farms that are now being recalled for Salmonella contamination. Mayonnaise, made with eggs, at Lucky's Taproom tested positive for Salmonella contamination during the outbreak investigation. The … [Read more...]
U.S. Attorney Seeking Victims of Wright County Egg Salmonella Outbreak
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Iowa is looking for anyone who was sickened by Salmonella in 2010 by eggs produced by Quality Egg, LLC, also known as Wright County Egg of Galt, Iowa. Between early 2010 and August of that same year, about 2,000 people were sickened with Salmonella bacteria that was linked to eggs produced by that corporation. Environmental samples collected at the Wright County Egg facilities tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis. Positive samples were found in the walkways, equipment, in manure at the farm, and in other surfaces in and around the facility. More than 500,000,000 eggs were recalled in August of 2010 as a result of that outbreak. On June 3, 2014, Quality Egg LLC and two company officials, Jack DeCoster and his son, Peter … [Read more...]
Guilty Plea in 2010 Salmonella Egg Outbreak
Austin "Jack" DeCoster and his son Peter pleaded guilty this morning to charges stemming from a 2010 Salmonella outbreak linked to eggs their company produced and sold. Sentences for the DeCosters, who pleaded guilty to introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce, have not yet been decided but could include up to one year in jail, fines of up to $100,000 a piece and restitution for the 2,000 victims of the outbreak. Under a plea deal, their company, Quality Egg LLC, pleaded guilty to bribing a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspector, selling misbranded food and introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce and agreed to pay a $6.8 million fine. A judge has not yet ruled on the plea deal. The case, number 14-cr-3024, U.S. v Quality Egg, LLC, Austin DeCoster and … [Read more...]
