A cilantro condiment cup has tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Oranienburg, according to the latest update on the mystery Salmonella outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the sample was then from a takeout condiment cup containing cilantro, lime, and onions. State and local officials have collected food items from one of the restaurants where sick people ate. But because multiple food items were ini the condiment cup and in the sample that was tested, it is "not possible" to know which food item was contaminated. Public health officials are using this information together with other information to help narrow the list of possible foods that may be linked to these illnesses. But in a dendrogram that was posted on the National … [Read more...]
Mystery Salmonella Outbreak Expands to 279 Sick and 26 Hospitalized
The mystery Salmonella outbreak has suddenly expanded to 279 sick and 26 hospitalized in 29 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That's an increase of 152 new patients and eight new hospitalizations in just the last four days, with four more states added to the total. The pathogen is Salmonella Oranienburg. The government still does not know what food has caused this massive outbreak. And since Salmonella illnesses are very underreported, with a multiplier used by epidemiologists of 29, there could be more than 8,000 people sick in just this particular outbreak. The patient case count by state is: Arkansas (7), California (5), Connecticut (5), Florida (2), Illinois (28), Indiana (1), Iowa (1), Kansas (6), Maryland (9), Massachusetts (10), … [Read more...]
Salmonella Oranienburg Outbreak Sickens 127, Hospitalizes 18
A Salmonella Oranienburg outbreak with an unknown food source that has sickened 127 people in 25 states has been announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While a specific food has not been identified, this outbreak is growing rapidly, according to the government. The outbreak was first announced on FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table on September 15, 2021. The case count by state is: Arkansas (2), California (3), Connecticut (3), Illinois (5), Iowa (1), Kansas (5), Maryland (4), Massachusetts (7), Michigan (2), Minnesota (13), Missouri (2), Nebraska (2), New Jersey (2), New Mexico (3), New York (1), North Carolina (1), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (7), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (45), Utah (1), Virginia (9), and … [Read more...]
Milwaukee Police Food Poisoning Outbreak Sickens Eleven
A Milwaukee police food poisoning incident allegedly sickened eleven police officers at a retirement party. Several officers had to seek treatment at local hospitals. According to news reports, the food was apparently prepared privately and didn't come from a restaurant and it was not catered. The officers work at Police District 5, which covers the area just north of the downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin area. The event was for the retirement of a police supervisor and promotion of another officer. People started getting sick hours after the party. While there is no word on exactly which pathogen may have made these officers sick, there are some clues in the timing of the outbreak. Food poisoning that occurs so soon after eating could be caused by several pathogens, including … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Salad Greens Salmonella Outbreak Updated by FDA
The BrightFarms salad greens Salmonella outbreak has been updated by the FDA. A new recall, for BrightFarms baby spinach, was issued on July 28, 2021. The last best by date for this product, through 7/26/21 (July 26, 2021), has ended so it should not be available in stores, but some people may still have it in their home refrigerators. The company is not producing or distributing any product from areas associated with environmental samples that tested positive for Salmonella bacteria. All of the salads that have been recalled were produced in the company's Rochelle, Illinois greenhouse farm that is located in Ogle County. After the FDA visited the facility and collected environmental samples, testing revealed that Salmonella Liverpool was present. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) … [Read more...]
FDA Weighs In On BrightFarms Salmonella Outbreak
The FDA is weighing in on the BrightFarms Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak that has sickened at least 11 people in three states. Two people have been hospitalized. The outbreak has grown from the eight patients mentioned in the first investigation outbreak notice on July 14, 2021. The eleven patients live in Michigan (1), Illinois (6) and Wisconsin (4). Illness onset dates range from June 10, 2021 to July 1, 2021. The FDA has visited BrightFarms farm where the salad greens were grown in a greenhouse, and has collected samples. The public will be informed about those sample results when available. And the government is working with the company to see if there are more products that may be involved in this outbreak, or if more "best by" dates have been affected. BrightFarms … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Salads Salmonella Outbreak Sickens 11 in MI WI and IL
The BrightFarms Salads Salmonella outbreak has now sickened at least 11 people in three states, according to a new update by the CDC. A new state, Michigan, has been added to the outbreak total, joining Illinois and Wisconsin. One more person has been hospitalized because they are so sick. The patient case count by state is: Illinois (6), Michigan (1), and Wisconsin (4). That includes one more patient each from Illinois and Wisconsin from the previous CDC update on July 16, 2021, and the new patient in Michigan. Illness onset dates range from June 10 2021 to July 1, 2021. That is an expansion of the previous illness onset date range, which was from June 10 to June 15, 2021. The patient age range is from 19 to 61 years. Two people have been hospitalized because thy are so … [Read more...]
Wisconsin BrightFarms Salad Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Four
The Wisconsin BrightFarms Salad Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least four people, not three, the number according to the CDC case count, in information in a news release that was issued by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Current data indicates that pre-packaged salad greens produced by BrightFarms of Rochelle, Illinois are the source of this outbreak. One person has been hospitalized. Five people are sick in Illinois. Since the investigation announcements by the FDA and CDC only have eight total patients with no hospitalizations, it may be that this new Wisconsin case has been hospitalized. Wisconsin Department of Health Services Communicable Diseases Supervisor Ryan Wozniak said in a statement, "At this time, DHS urges consumers not to purchase, eat, or … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Sunny Crunch Salad Salmonella Outbreak Sickens Eight
The BrightFarms Sunny Crunch Salad Salmonella outbreak has sickened at least eight people in two states, according to an investigation notice posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At least five people bought or ate this product before they got sick. The company has issued a recall for eight of their branded packaged salad products. The patient case count by state as of July 14, 2021 is: Wisconsin (3), and Illinois (5). Illness onset dates range from June 10, 2021 to June 15, 2021. The patient age range is from 31 to 61 years. This outbreak may not be limited to these states and is likely much higher than the number reported, according to the CDC. Many people contract Salmonella infections and do not seek medical care, so are not tested. Officials from … [Read more...]
BrightFarms Sunny Crunch Salad Linked to Salmonella Outbreak
One of the new outbreaks on the FDA Outbreak Investigations Table has already elicited an outbreak investigation notice. The consumption of BrightFarms Sunny Crunch Salad is linked to a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak. No one has been hospitalized in this outbreak and there are no deaths. The case count by state is: Illinois (5) and Wisconsin (3). The last illness onset date was June 15, 2021. This product was distributed in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Indiana. The BrightFarms Sunny Crunch Salad could have been distributed further, reaching more states. This product was made in the firm's Rochelle, Illinois facility. The outbreak investigation notice states that "Although it is early in the investigation, epidemiological and traceback evidence from sick people indicate that … [Read more...]
