A hepatitis A case has been diagnosed in one employee who worked at two Snohomish County Taco Bell locations in Washington state, according to the Snohomish County Health Department. Anyone who ate food from the Taco Bell at 2727 Broadway on May 22 or May 23, 2023, or at the Taco Bell at 303 91st Avenue NE in Lake Stevens on May 23, 2023 may have been exposed and should contact their healthcare provider or public health. One food worker who teated positive for the virus worked at both locations while infectious. You should check to see if you are vaccinated against or immune to hepatitis A. If you have been vaccinated or if you had the virus in the past you do not need to take further action. If you are not vaccinated, talk to your doctor about getting a hepatitis A vaccination. … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On Papa Murphy’s Cookie Dough Outbreak
The FDA weighs in on the Papa Murphy's Cookie Dough Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 18 people in six states. The cookie dough is Chocolate Chip Cookie and S'Mores Bars. They were sold at Papa Murphy's franchises. Twelve of 14 patients told Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigators that they ate the raw dough before they got sick. Papa Murphy's has notified franchise owners about this issue nationwide and has stopped selling the product. They destroyed all of the doughs at all stores. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the contamination and whether more products are linked to illnesses. The case count by state is: California (1), Idaho (4), Missouri (1), Oregon (4), Utah (2) and Washington (6). Illness onset dates range from … [Read more...]
Papa Murphy’s Cookie Dough Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 18
A Papa Murphy's Cookie Dough Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least 18 people in six states and and has hospitalized two, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Two types of Papa Murphy's raw cookie dough are involved in this outbreak: Chocolate chip cookie dough and S'mores bar dough. Papa Murphy's has temporarily stopped selling those two types of cookie dough. The case count by state is: California (1), Idaho (4), Missouri (1), Oregon (4), Utah (2) and Washington (6). Illness onset dates range from February 27, 2023 to May 2, 2023. The patient age range is from 14 to 68. Of 14 people who gave information to investigators, two have been hospitalized, for a hospitalization rate of 14%. Public health officials interviewed people about the foods they … [Read more...]
2021 Chipotle and Panera Romaine E. coli Outbreak
In 2021, health departments in Washington and Minnesota did something that doesn't happen very often. They solved an E. coli outbreak linked to leafy greens. "It is rare to be able to identify the outbreak vehicle for commercially distributed food like romaine lettuce (much less link back to a farm source) with only four laboratory-confirmed cases who consumed the romaine lettuce at four different restaurant locations in two states," Doug Schultz, an information officer at the Minnesota Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. The outbreak was never announced because, by the time investigators identified the specific grower, there was no ongoing risk to the public, he said. Stream of Unsolved Outbreaks Leafy greens recently overtook ground beef to become the leading … [Read more...]
Nine Sick in Organic Strawberries Hepatitis A Outbreak
There are now nine people sick in the organic strawberries hepatitis A outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Three people have been hospitalized because they are so ill. That is an increase of one more patient since the last update that was issued on April 26, 2023. The case count by state is: California (2), Oregon (1), and Washington (6). The new patient lives in Oregon, and Oregon has been added to the list. And the new patient has been hospitalized. Illness onset dates range from November 24, 2022 to April 12, 2023. The patient age range is from 38 to 64. The hospitalization rate is 33%. The outbreak is linked to frozen organic strawberries that were imported from farms in Baja California, in Mexico. The strain of hepatitis A that is … [Read more...]
Frozen Strawberries Hepatitis A Case Count Increases to 8
The frozen strawberries hepatitis A outbreak case count has increased to 8 patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is an increase of one more patient since the last update on April 11, 2023. Several recalls of the strawberries have been issued, including the brands Kirkland Signature, Made With, PCC Community Markets, Trader Joe's, Meijer, Vital Choice, and Simply Nature. The berries were imported from Baja, California in Mexico. The case count by state is: California (2), and Washington (6). The new patient lives in Washington. Two people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. Illness onset dates range from November 24, 2022 to April 12, 2023. The outbreak strain is the same one that was linked to strawberries imported from Mexico … [Read more...]
Strawberry Hepatitis A Outbreak Grows to Seven Sick
The strawberry hepatitis A outbreak has grown to include two more patients from California, for a total of seven sick, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Several recalls of organic frozen strawberries have been issued in connection with this outbreak. The case count by state is: California (2) and Washington (5). Illness onset dates range from November 24, 2022 yo March 26, 2023. The patient age range is from 38 to 64 years. Of seven people who gave information about their illness to investigators, two, or 29%, have been hospitalized. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicates that frozen organic strawberries that were imported fresh from farms in Baja California, Mexico in 2022 are the likely source of this outbreak. Furthermore, the virus … [Read more...]
History of Hepatitis A Outbreaks Linked to Berries is Long
The history of hepatitis A outbreaks linked to berries is long. The current outbreak that has sickened at least five people in Washington state is linked to frozen organic strawberries branded Kirkland Signature, and Scenic Fruit Company strawberries that were sold at Costco, Trader Joe's, and other stores. Those products have been recalled. In 2019, the FDA launched a program to sample berries for both hepatitis A and norovirus in the wake of three hepatitis A outbreaks from 1997 to 2017 that sickened hundreds of people. Since then there have been two outbreaks linked to berries, one last year and the new outbreak. In 2013, there was a hepatitis A outbreak linked to Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen mixed berries. There were at least 162 people in 10 states … [Read more...]
Which Brands of Frozen Strawberries Are Recalled For Hepatitis?
Which brands of frozen strawberries are being recalled for possible hepatitis A contamination? There is a hepatitis A outbreak linked to these products that has sickened at least five people in Washington state. The newest recall is for Great Value and Radar Farms products sold at Walmart, Costco, and HEB stores. You can see the recalled products along with their lot code/best by date pairs here. Made-With Foods Frozen Strawberries that were sold in 10 ounce packages at Meijer Market Format locations only are recalled. The UPC number for this product is 8-14343-02139-0, and the use by date on the package is 11/20/2024. California Splendor is recalling Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries in 4 pound packages that were sold at Costco stores in Los Angeles, … [Read more...]
Mystery Salmonella Hartford Outbreak Grows to 50 Sick
The mystery Salmonella Hartford outbreak has grown to include 50 patients, according to the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. There are three other active outbreak investigations on that table. In the Salmonella outbreak, traceback has been initiated and on-site inspection has begun. The FDA has collected samples and has begun to analyze those samples. No recall has been initiated, we don't know the patient age range of illness onset date, or whether or not anyone has been hospitalized. The hepatitis A outbreak linked to recalled frozen organic strawberries remains the same. Five patients in Washington state are sick and two people have been hospitalized. Two recalls have been issued: one for Kirkland Organic Frozen Strawberries packaged in a 4 pound bag, and one for … [Read more...]
