Category Archives: CDC

USA – CDC – Listeria Outbreak Linked to Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products

CDC

CDC and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to recalled Yu Shang Food ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. If you have any of these recalled products in your home, throw them out or return them to the store.

Recalled food

Yu Shang Food ready-to-eat meat and poultry products

  • All products with “Yu Shang” (establishment number “P46684” or “EST. M46684”) on the label.
  • Includes all products produced prior to October 28, 2024.

See recall notice for full product list.

What you should do

  • Do not eat recalled products. Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
  • Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the recalled foods. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
  • Call a healthcare provider right away if you have these symptoms after eating recalled products.
    • Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.
    • People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.

What Businesses Should Do

Symptoms of Listeria

  • Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems. This is because Listeria is more likely to spread beyond their gut to other parts of their body, resulting in a severe condition known as invasive listeriosis.
    • For people who are pregnantListeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in their newborn.
    • For people who are 65 years or older or who have a weakened immune systemListeria often results in hospitalization and sometimes death.
  • Symptoms usually start within 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after.
    • People who are pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.
    • People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.

USA-CDC says deadly Listeria outbreak traced to Boar’s Head deli meats is over; investigations continue

Food Safety News

The CDC has declared an outbreak of Listeria infections traced to Boar’s Head deli meats to be over.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began investigating the outbreak on July 19. Ultimately the outbreak sickened 59 people across 19 states, killing 10. The company closed its production plant in Jarratt, VA, and permanently stopped liverwurst production nationwide. Boar’s Head recalled more than 7 million pounds of deli meats because of the outbreak.

Even though the outbreak has been declared over, the CDC is continuing to warn against the consumption of deli meats for certain groups of people.

Food Poisoning in the United States: A Comprehensive Overview of Annual Cases, Economic Costs, and Preventive Efforts by Health Agencies and Food Poisoning Attorneys

Food Poisoning News

Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness, is a significant public health issue in the United States. Every year, millions of people suffer from foodborne illnesses, ranging from mild discomfort to life-threatening conditions. These illnesses arise from consuming contaminated food, which may harbor harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Beyond the personal toll on those affected, food poisoning has far-reaching economic implications, from medical costs to lost productivity. Various health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local health departments, work tirelessly to mitigate the impact of foodborne illnesses. This article will provide an in-depth examination of the annual cases of food poisoning in the U.S., the associated economic costs, and the roles of these agencies in safeguarding public health.

USA – CDC – Update – Listeria Outbreak Linked to Meats Sliced at Delis

CDC

Investigation start date: July 19, 2024
Investigation status: Open
Recall issued: Yes

Latest update: More illnesses and deaths have been reported in this outbreak. Listeria is a hardy germ that can remain on surfaces, like meat slicers, and foods, even at refrigerated temperatures. It can also take up to 10 weeks for some people to have symptoms of listeriosis. Do not eat recalled deli meats. Some of the products have sell by dates into October 2024.

Fast Facts

  • Cases: 57 (14 new)
  • Hospitalizations: 57 (14 new)
  • Deaths: 9 (6 new)
  • States: 18 (5 new)

USA – CDC Outbreak Over – Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O157:H7: Bulk Organic Walnuts (April 2024)

FDA

Current Update

July 9, 2024

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners,  investigated illnesses in a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to organic walnuts from Gibson Farms, Inc. of Hollister, California that were distributed to multiple natural food and co-op stores in AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, OR, SD, TX, and WA and sold in bulk bins.

As of July 9, 2024, CDC reports that the outbreak is over. CDC reports a total of 13 cases in two states. There has been a total of seven hospitalizations and zero deaths associated with this incident. The last illness onset was April 4, 2024. FDA’s outbreak investigation is closed.


Case Count Map Provided by CDC

Case Count Map Provided by CDC

USA -Cucumbers sicken 449 in 31 States with two strains of Salmonella

Food Poison Journal

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup infections. Epidemiologic, traceback and laboratory data show that cucumbers were contaminated with Salmonella and made people sick.

USA – FDA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Cucumbers (June 2024)

FDA

July 2, 2024

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup infections with 449 illnesses in 31 states and the District of Columbia. While originally reported as two separate outbreaks, CDC and FDA combined these two outbreak investigations as they shared several similarities, including when and where illnesses occurred, the demographics of ill people, and the foods they reported eating before they became sick. Laboratory, epidemiological, and traceback data have determined that cucumbers from Bedner Growers, Inc., of Boynton Beach, Florida, are a likely source of illnesses in this outbreak; however, this grower does not account for all the illnesses in this outbreak.

As part of the investigation, FDA conducted an onsite inspection at Bedner Growers, Inc., a grower that supplies Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc. FDA collected samples as part of this inspection and Salmonella Braenderup was detected in samples of untreated canal water used by Bedner Growers, Inc. Whole Genome Sequencing analysis determined that the Salmonella found in the water used by Bedner Growers, Inc. is a match to a strain of Salmonella Braenderup that is causing some of the illnesses in this outbreak. Additional types of Salmonella were detected in both soil and water samples collected at Bedner Growers, Inc. CDC and FDA are looking to see if these strains have caused illness in people.

Additionally, based on traceback information collected, Bedner Growers, Inc. supplied cucumbers to multiple points of service where ill people reported purchasing or eating cucumbers. FDA is continuing to conduct traceback to identify other possible points of contamination.

As of July 1, 2024, a total of 449 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup have been reported from 31 states and the District of Columbia. Of these illnesses, 215 people were infected with the newly added Salmonella Braenderup. Of the 188 people interviewed, 129 (69%) reported eating cucumbers.

Bedner Growers, Inc.’s cucumber growing and harvesting season is over. There is no product from this farm on the market and likely no ongoing risk to the public. Additionally, this grower does not account for all the illnesses in the outbreak.

FDA’s investigation is ongoing. This advisory will be updated as additional information becomes available.

USA – CDC – Active Investigations of Multistate Foodborne Outbreaks

CDC

WHAT TO KNOW

  • CDC typically coordinates between 17 and 36 investigations of foodborne illnesses involving multiple states each week. The table below shows the number of active CDC investigations for Campylobacter, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella. It also includes links to any current CDC outbreak notices.
An illustration of what Salmonella looks like under a microscope.

Active multistate outbreaks

Germ Number of Active Multistate Investigations Current CDC Investigation Notices or Food Safety Alerts
Campylobacter 0
  • No active notices or alerts
E. coli 1
Listeria 5
  • No active notices or alerts
Salmonella 13

USA – Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O157:H7: Raw Cheddar Cheese (February 2024) – Is Over.

FDA

Raw Cheddar 8 oz block

FDA’s Outbreak Investigation is closed. CDC declares outbreak over.

Current Update

March 26, 2024

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to all sizes of RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar cheese blocks (with best by dates through 10/4/2024) and shredded cheese (with best by dates through 5/10/2024).

As part of this investigation, officials in CO, CA, and UT collected various RAW FARM-brand products for testing, and all samples were negative for E. coli. While E. coli has not been found in product samples, epidemiologic evidence shows that RAW FARM-brand Raw Cheddar cheese made by RAW FARM, LLC is the likely source of this outbreak.

As of March 26, 2024, CDC announced that the outbreak is over. CDC reports a total of 11 illnesses in five states. There has been a total of five hospitalizations; two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure. No deaths were reported. The last illness onset date was February 5, 2024. FDA’s outbreak investigation is closed.

FDA and CDC will continue to monitor for additional illnesses, and this investigation may be reopened if additional cases are identified.

USA – Nearly 100 Holland America cruise passengers become ill in Norovirus outbreak

USA Today

Nearly 100 Holland America Line passengers got sick in a norovirus outbreak.

Among 2,522 guests on the cruise line’s Koningsdam ship, 98 reported being ill, along with 12 crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their main symptoms were diarrhea and vomiting.

Koningsdam is currently sailing a round-trip cruise visiting Hawaii and French Polynesia that departed from San Diego on Feb. 17, according to CruiseMapper. Holland America and the ship’s crew increased cleaning and disinfection and isolated sick passengers and crew following the outbreak, among other steps, the CDC said.