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...]
Hepatitis A Frozen Strawberries Outbreak Sickens 5 in WA
A hepatitis A frozen strawberries outbreak in Washington state has sickened at least five people, according to the FDA. Three of the cases are confirmed, and two are probable, as of March 17, 2022. Two patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. And two recalls of organic frozen strawberries have been issued. California Splendor recalled Kirkland Signature 4 pound bag of frozen organic strawberries sold in in California and Hawaii; and Scenic Fruit recalled certain lots of these brand names: Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Kirkland Signature, Made With, PCC Community Markets, and Trader Joe's Organic Tropical Fruit Blend. All are frozen organic strawberries. If you have any of these products in your home, discard them. More products may be recalled as the investigation … [Read more...]
Frozen Strawberries Hepatitis A Outbreak Announced by CDC
A frozen strawberries hepatitis A outbreak has been announced why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The outbreak has sickened five people who live in Washington state. The outbreak is linked to frozen organic strawberries that were imported from "certain farms" located in Baja California, Mexico by a common supplier. All five patients live in Washington state. Illness onset dates range from November 24, 2022 to December 27, 2022. The patient age range is from 38 to 61 years. Of five people who gave information about their illness to public health investigators, two, or 40%, have been hospitalized. Two recalls have been issued in response to this outbreak. The first is for Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries distributed by Costco in Los … [Read more...]
Now 32 Sick in Tamarind Tree Shigella Outbreak in Seattle
There are now 32 people sick in the Tamarind Tree Shigella outbreak in Seattle, Washington, according to King County Public Health. The case count has more than doubled, from 17 patients, since the last update on February 1, 2023. The restaurant is located at 1036 South Jackson Street A in Seattle. The patients ate at the restaurant on January 14, 15, 16, and 17 in 2023. Symptoms experienced include diarrhea, cramps, nausea, fever, chills, and vomiting. Symptoms starting manifesting from January 17 through the 20th in 2023. Ten of the 32 patients have tested positive for Shigella. Six cases have confirmatory testing indicating they were sickened with Shigella sonnei, a species of this pathogen. Symptoms among those who have not been tested are suggestive of a Shigella … [Read more...]
Food Poisoning Outbreak Associated with Tamarind Tree in WA
A food poisoning outbreak is associated with the Tamarind Tree Restaurant that is located at 1036 South Jackson Street A in Seattle, Washington, according to King County Public Health. At least 10 people are sick, and no one has been hospitalized. People who were sickened ate at that restaurant on January 15 and 16, 2023. The ten patients are from three different meal parties. No ill employees have been identified. The patients have been experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, fever, and chills. Those are typical symptoms of food poisoning that can be attributed to may pathogens, including norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli. No pathogen has been identified yet. A routine inspection was conducted on January 18, 2023. Investigators observed several risk … [Read more...]
HelloFresh Ground Beef E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak is Number Eight of 2022
The HelloFresh ground beef E. coli O157:H7 outbreak is the number eight outbreak of 2022, with at least seven people in six states. Six people were hospitalized because they were so ill. The ground beef was in some Hello Fresh meal kits and has the establishment number "EST. 46841" stamped inside the USDA mark of inspection. The kits were shipped from July 2 to July 21, 2022. The case count by state is: Maryland (1), New Jersey (2), New York (1), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (1), and Washington state (1). The patient age range is from 17 to 69 years, and illness onset dates ranged from June 8, 2022 to August 17, 2022. This is a long illness onset date range, but is explained by the fact that HelloFresh meal kits can be frozen up to two months. Some people may still have those kits … [Read more...]
Three Sick in E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in King County, Washington
Three people are sick in an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in King County, Washington, according to information from the King County Health Department. No one has been hospitalized and no deaths have been reported. And no source for the pathogen has been identified. Three people from three separate households have been sickened with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria (STEC). The illness onset dates range from October 4 through October 16, 2022. The patient age range is from 18 to 36 years. Confirmed cases are linked through whole genome sequencing, which means they likely have a common source of infection. Two out of those three patients reported eating dishes that were prepared with raw or undercooked beef before they got sick. But officials cannot rule out other possible sources … [Read more...]
