Category Archives: food bourne outbreak

USA – FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Salame Stick Products Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

FSIS USDA

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert because Euro Foods, a Freeland, Penn. establishment, produced ready-to-eat (RTE) Italian-style salame stick products that may be contaminated with Salmonella. A recall was not requested because FSIS has not identified a specific contaminated lot or lots, and it is believed that potentially affected products are no longer available to be directly purchased by retail consumers.

The Italian-style salame stick items were produced prior to October 25, 2021. The following product is subject to the public health alert.

FSIS has been working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners to investigate a multistate outbreak of 21 Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- illnesses in eight states with onset dates ranging from September 18, 2021 through October 3, 2021. The epidemiologic and traceback investigation identified that ill people consumed Citterio Italian-style Salame Sticks produced by Euro Foods Inc. FSIS continues to work with federal and state public health partners to determine if there are additional illnesses linked to these products.

USA – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Onions

CDC

White, yellow, and red onions

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 808  (156 new)
  • Hospitalizations: 157  (28 new)
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 37 and Puerto Rico  (1 new)
  • Recall: Yes
  • Investigation status: Active

USA – Third person dies of Hepatitis A linked to Famous Anthony’s Restaurant

Food Poison Journal

This afternoon, the Roanoke City and Alleghany Health Districts (RCAHD) announced that they learned that a third adult who was hospitalized with complications has died from hepatitis A. The RCAHD will disclose no further information about the individual to protect privacy and out of respect for the family.

“It is always with extreme sadness that we report the death of an individual,” said RCAHD health director, Cynthia Morrow, MD, MPH. “This heartbreaking loss of life illustrates how serious this outbreak is.  Unfortunately, in this situation, we have seen many individuals experiencing severe disease, and in some cases, their symptoms have continued to progress over weeks.”

Hepatitis A is a preventable disease. RCAHD urges everyone to consistently practice good hand washing and to consider getting vaccinated, especially if they fall into a high-risk population.

At this time, RCAHD staff have identified a total of 49 confirmed primary cases, including 31 hospitalizations. A small number of cases are still under investigation. No new cases have been reported to RCAHD this week.

Canada – Correction – Updated Food Recall Warning – Dorsey brand, MVP brand, Pier-C brand, and Riga Farms brand Onions, Product of Mexico recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Advisory details

Ottawa, October 29, 2021 – The food recall warning issued on October 28, 2021 has been amended to correctly identify the affected products. The corrections for these products are marked by an asterisk (*). This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Industry is recalling Dorsey brand, MVP brand, Pier-C brand, and Riga Farms brand Onions, Product of Mexico from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below or foods containing these raw onions. Retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and food service establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals, and nursing homes should not serve, use, or sell the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

These products may also have been sold in bulk or in smaller packages with or without a label and may not bear the same brand or product names as described below. The CFIA will continue its investigation into other possible importers and additional recalls may follow.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes Additional information
Dorsey Yellow Onions Mesh sacks:
10 lb / 4.54 kg
0 33383 60004 8* None – all products sold between July 7, 2021 and October 28, 2021, inclusively. Product of Mexico
MVP Yellow Onions 50 lb / 22.7 kg None 197*
208*
221*
Product of Mexico
Pier-C White Onions 2 lb / 0.907 kg 0 33383 60051 2 203*
209*
218*
228*
Product of Mexico. These onions may have been sold loose.
Pier-C White Onions 25 lb 0 33383 45101 5* 214*
215*
217*
221*
223*
224*
228*
Product of Mexico. These onions may have been sold loose.
Pier-C Yellow Onions 25 lb 0 33383 45095 7* 204*
210*
Product of Mexico. These onions may have been sold loose.
Pier-C Yellow Onions 40 lb /18.15 kg None 204*
208*
209*
210*
Product of Mexico. These onions may have been sold loose.
Riga Farms Yellow Onions 3 lbs / 1.36 kg 0 33383 60002 4 321621
323521
323621*
Product is labelled as Product of USA, although the onions are Product of Mexico

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home or establishment. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased. If you are unsure of the identity of the onions in your possession, check with your place of purchase.

Background

This recall was triggered by recalls in another country by Prosource Produce LLC of Hailey, Idaho and by Keeler Family Farms of Deming, NM. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses in Canada associated with the consumption of these products.

Public enquiries and media

Public enquiries
Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and U.S.)
Telephone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: information@inspection.gc.ca
Media relations
Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@inspection.gc.ca

USA – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Italian-Style Meats – The Outbreak is Over

CDC

Cold smoked meat plate with pork chops, prosciutto, salami and bread sticks

Recalled Food

Fratelli Beretta brand prepackaged Uncured Antipasto trays

  • “Fratelli Beretta Uncured Antipasto prosciutto, soppressata, Milano salami, & coppa” 24-oz trays containing two 12-oz packages with “best by” dates on or before February 11, 2022 (UPC code 073541305316)

Products have the establishment number “EST. 7543B” inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s mark of inspection. See recall noticeexternal icon for more details.

Additionally, CDC continues to advise people not to eat any Fratelli Beretta brand Uncured Antipasto trays with “best by” dates on or before February 11, 2022.

What You Should Do

Check your fridge for recalled products or any other Fratelli Beretta brand Uncured Antipasto trays with “best by” dates on or before February 11, 2022. If you have any left:

  • Do not eat or cook them.
  • Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
  • Wash surfaces and containers that may have touched the recalled product using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.

Always follow these four food safety steps to prevent getting sick from Salmonella: 

  • Clean: Wash your hands, utensils, and surfaces often.
  • Separate: Keep food that won’t be cooked separate from raw meat, poultry, and seafood.
  • Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure you have cooked your food to a temperature high enough to kill germs.
  • Chill: Refrigerate perishable food (food that goes bad) within 2 hours. If the food is exposed to temperatures above 90°F (like a hot car or picnic), refrigerate it within 1 hour. Thaw food in the refrigerator, not on the counter.

Fast Facts

  • Illnesses: 40
  • Hospitalizations: 12
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 17
  • Recall: Yes
  • Investigation status: Closed

USA – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Salami Sticks

CDC

Do not eat, sell, or serve Citterio brand Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks. They were sold at Trader Joe’s and Wegmans and may be sold at other grocery stores. This outbreak is especially concerning because most of the sick people are younger than 18.

Salami stick packaging

 

 

 

Fast Facts

  • Illnesses: 21  (1 new)
  • Hospitalizations: 6  (3 new)
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 8
  • Recall: No
  • Investigation status: Active

Contaminated Food

Citterio brand Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks

  • Sold at Trader Joe’s and Wegmans
  • May be sold at other stores

Fifteen people were interviewed about foods they ate before getting sick, and fourteen (93%) reported eating or maybe eating this product. Investigators are still working to determine if additional products may be contaminated.What You Should Do

  • Do not eat Citterio brand Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks with any best-by date. Throw them away.
  • Wash items and containers that may have touched the product using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.
  • Call your healthcare provider if you have any of these severe Salmonella symptoms:
    • Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102°F
    • Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
    • Bloody diarrhea
    • So much vomiting that you cannot keep liquids down
    • Signs of dehydration, such as:
      • Not peeing much
      • Dry mouth and throat
      • Feeling dizzy when standing up

What Businesses Should Do

  • Do not sell or serve Citterio brand Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks.
  • Wash and sanitize items and surfaces that may have come in contact with the product.

Symptoms of Salmonella

  • Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
    • Symptoms usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
    • Most people recover without treatment after 4 to 7 days.
  • Some people—especially children younger than 5 years, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems—may experience more severe illnesses that require medical treatment or hospitalization.
  • For more information about Salmonella, see the Salmonella Questions and Answers page.

UK – Listeriosis associated with pre-prepared sandwich consumption in hospital in England, 2017

Cambridge Org

A case of listeriosis occurred in a hospitalised patient in England in July 2017. Analysis by whole genome sequencing of the Listeria monocytogenes from the patient’s blood culture was identified as clonal complex (CC) 121. This culture was indistinguishable to isolates from sandwiches, salads and the maufacturing environment of Company X which supplied these products widely to the National Health Service. Whilst an inpatient, the case was served sandwiches produced by this company on 12 occasions. No other cases infected by this type were detected in the UK between 2016 and 2020. Between 2016 and 2020, more than 3000 samples of food, food ingredients and environmental swabs from this company were tested. Listeria monocytogenes contamination rates declined after July 2017 from 31% to 0.3% for salads and 3% to 0% for sandwiches. A monophyletic group of 127 L. monocytogenes CC121 isolates was recovered during 2016–2019 and was used to estimate the time of the most recent common ancestor as 2014 (95% CI of between 2012 and 2016). These results represent persistent contamination of equipment, food contact surfaces and foods at a food manufacturer by a single L. monocytogenes strain. Colonisation and persistent contamination of food and production environments are risks for public health.

USA – Reports of Active Salmonella Outbreak Investigations

CDC

kswfoodworld Salmonella

Outbreak Investigations Linked to Food

Outbreak Investigations Linked to Animals

Other Outbreaks

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Dorsey brand, MVP brand, Pier-C brand, and Riga Farms brand Onions, Product of Mexico recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, October 28, 2021 – The food recall warning issued on October 27, 2021 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Industry is recalling Dorsey brand, MVP brand, Pier-C brand, and Riga Farms brand Onions, Product of Mexico from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below or foods containing these raw onions. Retailers, distributors, manufacturers, and food service establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals, and nursing homes should not serve, use, or sell the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

These products may also have been sold in bulk or in smaller packages with or without a label and may not bear the same brand or product names as described below. The CFIA will continue its investigation into other possible importers and additional recalls may follow.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes Additional information
Dorsey Yellow Onions Mesh sacks:
10 lb / 4.54 kg
0 33383 45093 3 None – all products sold between July 7, 2021 and October 28, 2021, inclusively. Product of Mexico
MVP Yellow Onions 50 lb / 22.7 kg None DN607
DP050
DP387
Produce of Mexico
Pier-C White Onions 2 lb / 0.907 kg 0 33383 60051 2 DP006 Pack date: 072221;
DP208 Pack date: 072821;
DP481 Pack date: 080621;
DP683 Pack date: 081621;
Product of Mexico
Pier-C White Onions 25 lb None DP331 Pack date: 080221;
DP366 Pack date: 080321;
DP448 Pack date: 080521;
DP516 Pack date: 080921;
DP567 Pack date: 081121;
DP597 Pack date: 081221;
DP681 Pack date: 081621;
Product of Mexico
Pier-C Yellow Onions 25 lb None DP058 Pack date: 072321;
DP253 Pack date: 072921;
DP259 Pack date: 072921;
Product of Mexico
Pier-C Yellow Onions 40 lb / 18.15 kg None DP059 Pack date: 072321;
DP144 Pack date: 072721;
DP188 Pack date: 072821;
DP254 Pack date: 072921;
Product of Mexico
Riga Farms Yellow Onions 3 lbs / 1.36 kg 0 33383 60002 4 321621
323521
324221
Product is labelled as Product of USA, although the onions are Product of Mexico

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home or establishment. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased. If you are unsure of the identity of the onions in your possession, check with your place of purchase.

Background

This recall was triggered by recalls in another country by Prosource Produce LLC of Hailey, Idaho and by Keeler Family Farms of Deming, NM. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses in Canada associated with the consumption of these products.

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • MVP Onions
  • inspection
  • Pier C Onions
  • No. 1 Onions
  • Riga Farms

Public enquiries and media

Public enquiries
Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and U.S.)
Telephone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: information@inspection.gc.ca
Media relations
Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@inspection.gc.ca

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Jongilpoom brand Enoki Mushroom recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, October 28, 2021 – The food recall warning issued on October 14, 2021 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Covic International Trading Inc. is recalling Jongilpoom brand Enoki Mushroom from the marketplace due to Listeria monocytogenes. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

Recalled products

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Jongilpoom Enoki Mushroom 200 g 8 807076 000321 CE 169D

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled product in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This recall was triggered by CFIA test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled product from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Jongilpoom - Enoki Mushroom - front
  • Jongilpoom - Enoki Mushroom - back
  • Jongilpoom – Enoki Mushroom – 200 grams (lot code)

Public enquiries and media

Company information
Covic International Trading Inc.
Telephone: 604-278-2104
Public enquiries
Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and U.S.)
Telephone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: information@inspection.gc.ca
Media relations
Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@inspection.gc.ca