A look at food poisoning outbreaks linked to bean sprouts in recent years shows what a great medium they are for bacterial growth.From 2009 through 2014, eight "sproutbreaks" were caused by seven strains of three pathogens. The three pathogens are Salmonella, Listeria and E.coli. By pathogen, the breakdown of sproutbreaks from 2009-2014 looks like this: Listeria 1, E.coli 3, Salmonella 5. In 2014, there were three sproutbreaks each caused by a different pathogen. A Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak sickened 115 people in 12 states, an E.coli O121 outbreak sickened 19 people in six states and a two-state Listeria outbreak killed two people and sickened three others. In 2012, an E. coli O26 outbreak linked to clover sprouts served at Jimmy John's sickened 29 people in 11 states. And … [Read more...]
Listeria in Sprouts Prompts Two Recalls
Listeria in bean sprouts has prompted two recalls so far this year, one from Go Hang brand sprouts, the other from Jack and the Beanstalk brand. Consumers who have purchased either of these brands should not eat them as Listeria can cause serious illness. At the time of the recall, no illnesses had been reported, but Listeria infections can take up to 70 days to appear. Recalled Jack and the Beanstalk soybean sprouts were distributed to Bay Area stores and restaurants in 1 pound bags with the bar code 7-27580-12366-9; 1.5 pound bags with the bar code 7-27580-12365-2, and 10 pound bags with the bar code 7-27580-12351-5. NATTO soybean sprouts with the bar code 7-27580-12367-6 are also part of this recall. The recalled items are Go-Hang Soybean sprouts were distributed inK O-MART … [Read more...]
FDA Shuts Down Hawaiian Bean Sprout Operation
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken action to shut down RZM Food Factory, a Hawaiian bena sprout producer for unsanitary conditions. The company has which prepared and distributed mung bean, alfalfa, radish and clover sprouts in Hawaii has ceased operations and cannot resume until it hires an independent sanitation expert and develops a program to eliminate unsanitary conditions at the facility. “The FDA repeatedly advised RZM Food Factory of unsanitary conditions at the facility,” said Melinda K. Plaisier, the FDA’s associate commissioner for regulatory affairs in a statement. “If and when the company is permitted to resume operations, the FDA plans to continue monitoring its operations and may require the company to recall products or cease production if the agency … [Read more...]
Sprout Salmonella Outbreak Includes 3 in Maine
Three people in Maine are part of a 10-state Salmonella outbreak. The outbreak has been linked to mung bean sprouts produced by Wonton Foods Inc. of Brooklyn has sickened 63 people in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Eleven people have been hospitalized. A recall has not been issued for the sprouts which were distributed to Asian restaurants and other establishments in nine states on the East Coast (all of the above except Montana. The single case patient there is believed to have contracted the infection while visiting the East Coast.) Wonton Foods stopped production and shipment of the sprouts on November 21, and made its last shipment it made was November 18. Consumers who have purchased these … [Read more...]
CDC Listeria Warning For Wholesome Soy Sprouts, Tofu, Noodles and Soy Milk
After a Listeria outbreak that killed two people and sickened three others, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning consumers not to eat products produced by Chicago-based Wholesome Soy Inc. These products include: bean sprouts, soft tofu, firm tofu, fried tofu, fried tofu pouches, white tofu, triangular tofu, soybean noodles, and soy milk. The company has not issued a public recall, instead telling investigators from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it plans to contact its customers by telephone. Consumers who have purchased these products should not eat them as they risk serious, life-threatening illness if they do. Consumers who have already eaten some of these products should take a photo of the packaging, dispose of the product following … [Read more...]
After Deadly Listeria Outbreak, Wholesome Soy Says it Will Close, Recall Sprouts
After being linked to a Listeria outbreak that killed two people and sickened three others, Wholesome Soy Products Inc. told the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it will halt production, cease distribution and issue a recall of mung bean sprouts identified as the source of the outbreak. Initially, agreed to halt production of some of its products, but not soy bean sprouts or the mung bean sprouts identified as the outbreak source. And said it would recall products except the sprouts, by notifying customers by telephone. The outbreak, which sickened four people in Illinois and one person in Michigan, was linked through whole genome sequencing and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to products produced by Wholesome Soy Products Inc. The FDA inspected the Wholesome Soy … [Read more...]
Listeria in Mung Bean Sprouts Kills 2, Sickens 3 Others
Listeria in mung bean sprouts produced by Wholesome Soy Products Inc. has killed two people and sickened three others, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports. Four of the illnesses were reported in Illinois, one was reported in Michigan between June and August. The company issued a recall in August. Investigators used whole genome sequencing on Listeria strains isolated from the mung bean sprouts, environmental samples from the facility and from the five cases patients an found them to be "highly related." All five case patients were hospitalized. Two of the surviving patients reported eating bean sprouts before they became ill. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected the Wholesome Soy Products facility in August and October and found … [Read more...]
FDA Inspects Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, Linked to E. coli Outbreak
The FDA has conducted an investigation of Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC in May and June of 2014 after an E. coli O121 outbreak was linked to their products. The inspection revealed problems at the facility, including irrigation water dripping from rusty valves directly into sprouting vats containing growing sprouts, and tennis rackets with "scratches, chips, and frayed plastic" being used to scoop mung bean sprouts from the harvester to the conveyer belt. The outbreak has sickened at least 17 people in four states. Forty-seven percent of ill persons have been hospitalized in this outbreak, although no one has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), one of the complications of an E. coli infection. The outbreak case count is as follows: Idaho (3), Michigan (1), Montana (1), Utah (1), … [Read more...]
Jimmy John’s Sprouts: 5 Food Poisoning Outbreaks in 5 Years
For the fifth time in five years, sprouts served at Jimmy John's sandwich shops are the source of a food poisoning outbreak. Seven people in Washington and Idaho have confirmed cases of E .coli poisoning and three others have probable cases, Washington health officials announced yesterday. Last fall, an E. coli outbreak linked to Jimmy John's in the Denver area sickened eight people. The source of that outbreak was identified as fresh produce other than sprouts. But sprouts have been such a repeat offender for the chain that the company said it was permanently pulling them from the menu after a 2012 E.coli outbreak. But six months after he announced the sprouts were gone for good, the company's founder, Jimmy John Liautaud, brought them back. “I am rolling out a new sprout. Costs … [Read more...]
In Canada, Sprouts Recalled for Possible Salmonella
In Canada, Aquafuchsia Foods is recalling alfalfa sprouts because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The sprouts were sold in Quebec. No illnesses associated with the consumption of this product have been reported to date. The recalled products is Aquafuchsia brand Salad Plus - Alfalfa with a touch of radish! in 125 gram containers. The code on the product is 041, and the UPC number is 0 551176 1. The recall was triggered by CFIA test results. A food safety investigation is being conducted. Foods contaminated with Salmonella bacteria will not look taste, or smell spoiled. Those at greater risk for illness include the very young, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems and chronic diseases. But anyone can become ill with salmonellosis. If … [Read more...]
