The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Has updated their investigation into an E. coli O157 (STEC O157) outbreak in Minnesota and Wisconsin linked to recalled Jack & the Green Sprouts alfalfa and alfalfa onion sprouts products. Seven people are sick in Minnesota, and two in Wisconsin. Two people in Minnesota have been hospitalized, but no one has reported hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. On February 25, 2016, Jack and the Green Sprouts voluntarily recalled all alfalfa and alfalfa onion sprout products. These products do not have a long shelf life, so hopefully consumers will not have them in their homes. If you do, throw them away and clean out your refrigerator with a mild bleach solution, then wash your hands thoroughly with soap and … [Read more...]
E. coli Sprout Outbreak in MN and WI: FDA Guidance
An E. coli O157:NM outbreak linked to recalled Jack and the Green Sprouts raw alfalfa sprouts and alfalfa onion sprouts has sickened seven people in Minnesota and two people in Wisconsin. Sprouts are a risky food that have been linked to at least 30 outbreaks in the past 20 years. In addition, many recalls of this product have been issued. The FDA has issued two about growing raw sprouts. In July 1999, the FDA issued an advisory to the public called "Consumers Advices of Risks Associated with Raw Sprouts," along with two guidance documents for sprout growers to try to deal with the problem. Sprouts include alfalfa, clover, sunflower, broccoli, mustard, radish, garlic, dill and pumpkin as well as mung, kidney, pinto, navy, soy beans and wheat berries (wheat grass). The most common … [Read more...]
Jack and the Green Sprouts Recall for E. coli Lawsuit in MN and WI
Jack and the Green Sprouts alfalfa sprouts and alfalfa onion sprouts are at the center of an E. coli O157:NM outbreak in Minnesota and Wisconsin that has sickened at least nine people. There have been many outbreaks linked to sprouts in the past 20 years; in fact, some food safety experts say that raw sprouts should be treated like raw meat. At least 30 outbreaks in the past 20 years have been linked to this product. While all fresh produce, when eaten raw, and for that matter all food eaten raw, carries the risk of pathogen contamination, sprouts are a special case. During the sprouting process, which occurs in moist and warm conditions, bacteria can multiply up to a million times the original amount that was on the beans, according to experts at the USDA. The makeup of the sprouts … [Read more...]
E. coli Sproutbreak in MN and WI: What is It About Sprouts?
An E. coli O157:NM outbreak in Minnesota and Wisconsin had been linked to alfalfa sprouts made by Jack and the Green Sprouts in River Falls, Wisconsin. The outbreak has sickened at least nine people so far. Two of those sickened have been hospitalized. The sprouts have been recalled and hopefully there will be no new illnesses reported. But there will be more recalls and outbreaks involving sprouts in the future, because these products are inherently risky. Just browse through all of the stories of recalls and outbreaks we've written about in the past four years. What is it about sprouts that makes them so prone to contamination? The answer lies in how the seeds are sprouted and how they are grown in the first place. The seeds themselves can be contaminated, from feces from animals, … [Read more...]
Unusual Advice for Those Who Bought Recalled Sprouts Linked to Outbreaks
Every time a food is recalled for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, the advice from food safety experts is to clean out the fridge with a mild bleach solution, since that bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures. Now, the FDA is recommending that anyone who bought alfalfa sprouts from Sweetwater Farms LLC should do the same. Their advice is to wash the inside walls and shelves of the refrigerator, cutting boards, and countertops, then sanitize them with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine bleach to one gallon of hot water; and dry with a clean cloth or paper towel that has not been previously used. Of course, cleaning your refrigerator regularly is important for food safety in general, but this advice is unusual with foods that may be contaminated with Salmonella … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Bill Back in Wisconsin Legislature
A bill to legalize the sale of raw milk is back in the Wisconsin legislature. Republican Representative Dave Murphy introduced a bill last week that would let dairy farms sell raw milk and raw milk products directly to customers where they are produced. The farmers would not need state milk producer licenses or permits, and state milk quality rules would not apply to these products. At this time, selling raw milk is illegal in Wisconsin. "Incidental sales" of raw milk directly to consumers at a dairy farm for consumption by that consumer, the consumer's family, or nonpaying guests, is exempted from the law. But if done on a regular basis, or if the sales involve advertising, those sales are deemed illegal. Dairy farmers who are considered "bona fide" owners can consume raw milk from … [Read more...]
Cyclospora Outbreak Over After Sickening 546 People
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that the Cyclospora outbreak that has sickened 546 people in 31 states this summer is over. The last illness onset date was August 22, 2015. Cyclospora cayetanensis is a single-celled parasite that causes an infection in the intestines. Clusters of illnesses were linked to restaurants or events in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia. The restaurants and events have not been named. Some of the illnesses just in those states, but not all, were linked to fresh cilantro imported from Puebla, Mexico. The food or drink that caused non-cluster-associated cases has not been identified. The FDA issued an import alert on that imported cilantro on August 27, 2015. In fact, the CDC identified annually recurring outbreaks in 2012, … [Read more...]
CDC Updates Barber Foods Chicken Salmonella Outbreak
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their investigation into the two Salmonella Enteritidis outbreaks in Minnesota and Wisconsin. One of the outbreaks is linked to Barber Foods frozen, raw, chicken products. In one outbreak, six people infected with this pathogenic bacteria are from Minnesota (5) and Wisconsin (1). Two persons have been hospitalized. In the other, three people infected with a different Salmonella strain in Minnesota have been reported. Two of those people have been hospitalized. Illness onset dates range from April 5, 2015 to June 23, 2015. No new illnesses have been reported since July 8, 2015. The recall of Barber Foods raw chicken products was expanded on July 12, 2015 to include more than 1.7 million pounds of food. The … [Read more...]
Barber Foods Chicken Kiev Salmonella Outbreak Grows
The Salmonella outbreak linked to Barber Foods frozen, raw, stuffed Chicken Kiev has sickened two more people according to the USDA. Based on epidemiological evidence and traceback investigations, six case-patients have been identified in Minnesota and Wisconsin. That is an increase of two patients since the last update 5 days ago. Those patients became ill from April 5, 2015 to June 23, 2015. They are sick with Salmonella Enteritidis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not updated their investigation report since July 8, 2015. Barber Foods has expanded the recall of their product to include more than 1.7 million pounds. The original recall on July 2, 2015 was for 58,000 pounds. The government is concerned that some product is still in consumer's … [Read more...]
Kenosha, Wisconsin Los Corrales Salmonella Outbreak Grows
According to the Kenosha County Division of Health, the Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 60 people may be associated with the Supermercado Los Corrales market in Kenosha, Wisconsin. That supermarket is at 3933 52nd Street in Kenosha. The source of the outbreak has not been definitively confirmed as of May 19, 2015. Those sickened purchased and ate food, particularly pork carnitas, from that market over Mother's Day weekend earlier this month. So far, two people have tested positive for the same strain of Salmonella bacteria. The investigation started on May 15, 2015 when the Division of health received positive Salmonella lab reports. Salmonella infections are reportable illnesses. Public health officials are currently interviewing patients and more lab testing is … [Read more...]
