The FDA is weighing in on the cucumber Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 162 people in 25 states and the District of Columbia. Fresh Start Produce Sales has recalled cucumbers that were grown in Florida and distributed to wholesalers, food service distributors, and retail distribution centers in these states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia from May 17th through May 21st, 2024. This product should no longer be available for consumers to purchase in stores. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (2), Delaware (1), District of Columbia (1), Florida (18), Georgia (8), Indiana (1), Iowa (3), Kentucky (4), Maine (1), … [Read more...]
Cucumber Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 162 in 25 States
A cucumber Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 162 people in 25 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Fresh Start Produce cucumbers are implicated in this outbreak. The strain of Salmonella is Salmonella Africana. CDC and FDA are also investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup infections, with 158 illnesses in 23 states. The two outbreaks are similar, including where and when illnesses occurred and the demographics. Investigators are working to determine whether the two outbreaks could be linked to the same food. The case count by state is: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (2), Delaware (1), District of Columbia (1), Florida (18), Georgia (8), Indiana (1), Iowa (3), Kentucky (4), Maine (1), … [Read more...]
Have Cucumbers Caused Outbreaks in the Past?
In the wake of the recall of Fresh Start cucumbers for possible Salmonella contamination, have cucumbers caused outbreaks in the past? Yes, they have, and some have been deadly. The FDA is conducting testing to see if the cucumbers are related to an ongoing Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than 100 people. In 2013, a Salmonella Saintpaul outbreak linked to imported cucumbers sickened at least 84 people in 18 states. Illness onset dates range from January 12, 2023 to April 28, 2024. Twenty-eight percent of patients were hospitalized. In 2015 and 2016, a huge Salmonella Poona outbreak linked to cucumbers sickened at least 907 people in 40 states. There were 204 people hospitalized, and six deaths were reported, even though the Salmonella infection wasn't considered a … [Read more...]
Fresh Start Whole Cucumbers Recalled For Possible Salmonella
Fresh Start whole cucumbers are being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. The FDA states, "The FDA is conducting whole genome sequencing to determine if this sample is related to an ongoing Salmonella outbreak investigation." The recalling firm is Fresh Start Produce Sales of Delray, Florida. There is a Salmonella Africana outbreak on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table with 141 people sick. The FDA publicly announced on June 5th that they have opened an outbreak investigation connected to Fresh Start cucumbers. The cucumbers were shipped in bulk cartons from May 17 through May 21, 2024, directly to retail food distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in these states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New … [Read more...]
New Listeria Outbreak on FDA CORE Investigation Table
A new Listeria outbreak has been posted on the FDA's CORE Investigation Table. And the case count for the Salmonella Africana outbreak that is stil unsolved has increased to 141 patients. There are now four outbreak investigations on the table. The new Listeria outbreak has sickened at least two people. No recall has been initiated, but the FDA has started traceback. No inspections have begun, and no samples have been collected or analyzed. The Salmonella Africana outbreak has grown from 100 sick to 141 sick. The only action the FDA has taken so far has been traceback. No food has been linked to this outbreak. The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that is allegedly linked to recalled Gibson Farms organic bulk walnuts is unchanged. That outbreak has sickened at least 12 people in two … [Read more...]
Backyard Poultry Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 109 in 29 States
A backyard poultry Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 109 people in 29 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Any backyard poultry, including chickens and ducks, can carry Salmonella bacteria even if they look healthy and clean. The case count by state is: Alabama (6), Arizona (1), Arkansas (5), California (3), Colorado (3), Georgia (2), Illinois (4), Indiana (1), Kansas (4), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Minnesota (5), Mississippi (3), Missouri (19), Montana (2), Nebraska (6), New Mexico (2), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (11) Oregon (2), Pennsylvania (2), Rhode Island (2), South Carolina (1), Tennessee (1), Texas (14), Utah (1), Washington (3), and Wisconsin (2). There are 33 people hospitalized because they are so sick. The … [Read more...]
New Salmonella Outbreak on FDA Core Table Sickens 100
A new Salmonella outbreak on the FDA's Core Outbreak Investigation Table has sickened at least 100 people, according to the latest update. There are only two other outbreaks on the Table at this time: The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak allegedly linked to walnuts, and the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that is allegedly linked to organic fresh basil. The new Salmonella outbreak is caused by Salmonella Africana, a variant that has not caused any illnesses in the United States since at least 2011. There are 100 people sick. The FDA has initiated traceback, but has not started inspections, and has not collected or tested samples. The E. coli O157:H7 outbreak allegedly linked to organic Gibson Farms walnuts remains unchanged since the last update was issued on May 1, 2024. There are 12 … [Read more...]
Cracker Barrel Salmonella Outbreak in Illinois Sickens Eight
A Cracker Barrel Salmonella outbreak in a city in Illinois has sickened at least eight people, according to a press release from the Kankakee County Health Department. That restaurant is located at 50 Ken Hayes Drive in Bourbonnais. As of May 14, 2024, the patent case count is eight. The press release did not state whether or not any of the patients have been hospitalized. The restaurant voluntarily closed on May 4, 2024 and is cooperating with the health department to try to determine the source of the pathogen. Public health officials inspected the restaurant and provided an environmental assessment. They also gave employees guidance on safe food handling and cleaning. An alert has been issued to doctors in the area about this outbreak. Symptoms of a Salmonella infection … [Read more...]
Long History of Nut and Nut Product Outbreaks
In the wake of the current E. coli outbreak linked to organic walnuts, there is a long history of nut and nut product outbreaks. Nuts are an agricultural product, and just like leafy greens, herbs, and berries, can be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. And nuts, like other types of produce, are often eaten without a consumer "kill step," in other words, cooking. History of Nut and Nut Product Outbreaks The current E. coli O157 outbreak allegedly linked to Gibson Farms organic walnuts and walnut pieces has sickened at least 12 people in two states, California and Washington. Seven of those patients have been hospitalized, and two people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. The walnuts have been recalled. In 2022, a Salmonella Senftenberg … [Read more...]
Food Recalls Have Reached Highest Levels Since Covid
Food recalls have reached their highest level since before the Covid pandemic happened in 2020, according to U.S. PIRG. During the pandemic, food recalls dropped precipitously. The lead poisoning outbreak linked to WanaBana cinnamon applesauce products and the Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupe helped drive those recalls. At least 500 children were sickened in the WanaBana outbreak, and in the cantaloupe outbreak, at least 407 people were sickened, 158 people were hospitalized, and six people died. That agency has released a report, "Food For Thought 2024," which found that food and beverage recalls increased by 8% in 2023. Meat, poultry and egg recalls issued by the USDA hit the highest levels since before the pandemic. FDA recalls have been about the same for the least … [Read more...]
