Category Archives: food bourne outbreak

USA – FDA Investigated Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis Linked to Shell Eggs from Gravel Ridge Farms

FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners, investigated a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis illnesses linked to shell eggs.

Update – October 25, 2018

As of October 25, 2018, there are 44 illnesses associated with shell eggs from Gravel Ridge Farms, in Cullman Alabama. The CDC has announced that this outbreak appears to be over.

Recommendations

The FDA advises consumers not to eat recalled shell eggs produced by Gravel Ridge Farms. Consumers who have purchased these products should discard the eggs or return them to the store for a refund. For a complete list of stores, visit the recall notice.

Consumers should always practice safe food handling and preparation measures. Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces with hot, soapy water before and after handling raw eggs and raw egg-containing foods. Dishes containing eggs should be cooked to 160° F. For recipes that call for eggs that are raw or undercooked when the dish is use either eggs that have been treated to destroy Salmonella, by pasteurization or another approved method, or pasteurized egg products.

USA – JBS Ground Beef Salmonella Outbreak

Food Poison Journal Salm2

Sixty-three more ill people from 14 states were added to this investigation since the last update on October 4, 2018. Six more states reported ill people: Hawaii, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington.

As of October 23, 2018, 120 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Newport have been reported from 22 states.  Arizona 21, California 27, Colorado 23, Hawaii 1, Idaho 2, Iowa 1, Illinois 1, Indiana 1, Kansas 1, Kentucky 1, Minnesota 1, Montana 5, New Mexico 1, Nevada 3, Ohio 2, Oklahoma 4, Oregon 1, South Dakota 6, Texas 2, Utah 9, Washington 3, Wyoming 4.

Thirty-three people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

Food Poison Journal

Sixty-three more ill people from 14 states were added to this investigation since the last update on October 4, 2018. Six more states reported ill people: Hawaii, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington.

As of October 23, 2018, 120 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Newport have been reported from 22 states.  Thirty-three people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

USA – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pot ‘O Gold Dairy Raw Milk in Bear Lake, PA

Food Poisoning Bulletin Raw Milk Food Safety KSW Foodworld

A Salmonella outbreak has been linked to raw milk from Pot ‘O Gold Dairy Specialties in Bear Lake, Warren County. That dairy is located in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Department of Agriculture released information about the outbreak late yesterday.

So far, nine cases of Salmonella food poisoning have been diagnosed and confirmed. The press release did not state the ages of the patients, whether or not anyone has been hospitalized, or the illness onset dates.

The raw whole milk was sold in glass half gallon containers with the Pot ‘O Gold label at 16 stores in these counties: Erie, Crawford, McKean, Warren, and Venango. The milk that was sold from September 10, 2018 to the present is part of this recall.

The milk was sold at these Crawford County facilities: Buck and Kathy in Titusville, D&J Bakery in Cambridge Springs, MIller’s Country Store in Cochranton.It was sold there locations in Erie County: Corry Lumber in Corry, Duran’s Farm Fresh Products in Waterford, Edinboro Market in Edinburg, Orton’s Fruit Market in North East, and Sander’s Market in Corry. The raw whole milk was sold at Circle K Feeds in Kane in McKean County, and at Farmer’s Daughter’s Country Market in Venango County. Finally, in Warren County, it was sold at Kondak’s Markert in Clarendon, Lottsville Miling in Lottsville, Scandia General Store in Scandia, Shell Service Center in Warren, Town and Country Store in Sugar Grove, and Youngsville Hardware in Youngsville.

USA – Notes from the Field: Multiple Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks — United States, 2018

CDC Cyclospora_LifeCycle201

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by the parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis through ingestion of fecally contaminated food or water. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis might include watery diarrhea (most common), loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea, and fatigue. Typically, increased numbers of cases are reported in the United States during spring and summer; since the mid-1990s, outbreaks have been identified and investigated almost every year. Past outbreaks have been associated with various types of imported fresh produce (e.g., basil, cilantro, and raspberries) (1). There are currently no validated molecular typing tools* to facilitate linking cases to each other, to food vehicles, or their sources. Therefore, cyclosporiasis outbreak investigations rely primarily on epidemiologic data.

The 2018 outbreak season is noteworthy for multiple outbreaks associated with different fresh produce items and the large number of reported cases. Two multistate outbreaks resulted in 761 laboratory-confirmed illnesses. The first outbreak, identified in June, was associated with prepackaged vegetable trays (containing broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots) sold at a convenience store chain in the Midwest; 250 laboratory-confirmed cases were reported in persons with exposures in three states (illness onset mid-May–mid-June) (2). The supplier voluntarily recalled the vegetable trays (3). The second multistate outbreak, identified in July, was associated with salads (containing carrots, romaine, and other leafy greens) sold at a fast food chain in the Midwest; 511 laboratory-confirmed cases during May–July occurred in persons with exposures in 11 states who reported consuming salads (4). The fast food chain voluntarily stopped selling salads at approximately 3,000 stores in 14 Midwest states that received the implicated salad mix from a common processing facility (5). The traceback investigation conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not identify a single source or potential point of contamination for either outbreak.

Japan – 28 suffer food poisoning at MOS Burger restaurants E.coli O121

Mainichi 

CDC E.coli

TOKYO (Kyodo) — A total of 28 people have suffered food poisoning after dining at MOS Burger restaurants in Tokyo and other locations in Japan, the operator and other sources said.

Twelve of the 28 were infected with the same O-121 strain of E. coli bacteria, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said Friday.

Those affected had dined at 19 restaurants in eight prefectures in eastern and central Japan between Aug. 10 and 23, the operator, MOS Food Services Inc., said.

One of the restaurants in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, suspended operations for three days through last Wednesday following an order from a local public health office, the company said.

“It is highly likely that (the illness) was caused by foodstuffs supplied (to the restaurants) by the headquarters of the chain,” it said.

RASFF Alerts – Histamine -Chilled Yellowfin Tuna – Skipjack Tuna – Chilled Tuna

RASFF-Logo

RASFF-foodborne outbreak caused by histamine (1358; 1565; 1739 mg/kg – ppm) in chilled yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) from Sri Lanka in Italy

RASFF-histamine (466 mg/kg – ppm) in frozen skipjack tuna (Euthynnnus pelamis) from Vietnam in Spain

RASFF-histamine (259 mg/kg – ppm) in chilled tuna from Italy in France

USA – FDA Investigation of Multistate Outbreak of Cyclospora Illnesses Linked to Del Monte Vegetable Trays Ends

FDA cyclo

The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials investigated a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis illnesses associated with Del Monte vegetable trays recalled from Kwik Trip/Kwik Star locations in the United States.

Update – September 6, 2018

As of September 6, 2018, a total of 250 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection were reported in people who reportedly ate recalled pre-packaged Del Monte vegetable trays. CDC reports that the numbers of reported cases of cyclosporiasis in the United States have returned to baseline levels.

FDA evaluated and reviewed the distribution and supplier information for each component of the recalled vegetable trays as part of the traceback investigation. The investigation did not identify a single source or potential point of contamination for any of the items that comprised the recalled vegetable trays. The traceback investigation is complete.

Recommendations

Consumers who have symptoms of cyclosporiasis should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care.

USA – FDA Investigated Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salad

FDA 

Salmonella

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners, investigated a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella illnesses linked to Spring Pasta Salad sold at Hy-Vee locations in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Update – September 5, 2018

On September 5, 2018, the investigational activities related to this outbreak concluded.

USA – Salmonella Honey Smacks now linked to 130 illnesses in 36 States

Food Poison Journal

As of August 30, 2018, 130 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Mbandaka have been reported from 36 states – AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI, WV.

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Illnesses started on dates from March 3, 2018, to August 7, 2018. Ill people range in age from less than one year to 95, with a median age of 57. Of ill people, 69% are female. Out of 98 people with information available, 34 (35%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Illnesses that occurred after August 4, 2018, might not yet be reported due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when their illness is reported. This takes an average of 2 to 4 weeks.

Europe – Rare Salmonella strain sickens 50 in five EU countries – Salmonella Mikawasima

Food Safety News

Around 50 people in five European countries have been struck down with a rare strain of Salmonella.

Salmonella Mikawasima has infected 15 people in Germany, 13 in Sweden, eight in both Denmark and the Czech Republic and six in Austria.