Category Archives: Food Illness

Kyrgyzstan – Food poisoning victims in Kyrgyzstan increase to 282

News CN

BISHKEK, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) — The victims of food poisoning in a popular chain of cafes Pizza Empire in the capital of Kyrgyzstan have grown to 282, local media reported on Wednesday.

As of Wednesday morning, the total number of people who were poisoned in Pizza Empire chain of cafes reached 282, including 31 children, head of the food hygiene department of the Central State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service Makhamat Murzashev told Kabar News Agency.

He said that 60 of them receive inpatient care, and nine people were discharged from hospitals Tuesday.

“Also among the children, 18 were hospitalized. The condition of the hospitalized citizens is assessed as moderate and severe, but there is no one in the intensive care unit,” he added.

The first 12 victims of mass poisoning had asked for medical help on Oct. 23-24.

In the course of the epidemiological investigation, it was found that the victims had eaten rolls at Pizza Empire cafes located in four different parts of the city.

At the moment, all cafe chains are temporarily closed.

Hong Kong – Hong Kong investigating Group B Streptococcus infections linked to fish

Food Safety News

Officials in Hong Kong are investigating an outbreak of invasive Group B Streptococcus cases linked to handling freshwater fish.

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health asked the public to not consume raw freshwater fish or aquatic products, and to handle such items with caution to avoid contact with wounds, including small cuts and scratches.

This past week, the Hospital Authority, an agency that manages public hospitals, told the CHP that 88 patients had tested positive for invasive Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in September and October, and provided specimens of 68 patients for genetic sequencing analysis.

This has shown that, amongst the 68 patients, 32 of them belonged to a variety of sequence type 283 (ST283), 27 cases are other serotypes or another strain of ST283, while the results for the remaining nine cases are pending.

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan – Mass food poisoning at Imperiya Pizzy: 179 patients registered

24KG

The number of people who applied for help to medical institutions in Bishkek and Chui region after getting food poisoning at Imperiya Pizzy chain cafes increased to 179 people. Press center of the Ministry of Health of Kyrgyzstan reported.

According to the ministry, 18 of the patients are children. «At least 50 people receive inpatient care. There are 13 people in the Railway Hospital, 12 people — in the City Children’s Clinical Hospital of Emergency Medicine, 24 — in the National Hospital, and 1 — in the General Medical Practice Center in Issyk-Ata,» the ministry said.

Their condition is assessed by doctors as stable. The rest of the patients were sent for outpatient treatment at their place of residence after the provision of medical care.

All the cafes of the chain have been closed for the period of the epidemic investigation. The Ministry of Health reported that in connection with the mass food poisoning in Bishkek, specialists from the Centers for State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance will inspect foodservice outlets throughout the republic.

India – College closed after suspected food poisoning

The Hindu

The College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pookode, under the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University was closed on Saturday following suspected food poisoning among students.

As many as 15 students and four cooks of the ladies hostel of the college showed symptoms of food poisoning on Friday morning and they were provided medical treatment, Koshy John, Dean of the college, told The Hindu. They were discharged later.

The hospital authorities asked college to super-chlorinate the water resources to the college and hostels. Hence, the college would remain closed till October 31 but, the classes for postgraduate students would continue as usual, Dr. John said

The health authorities had collected the water samples and the exact source of the poisoning could be ascertained only after the test results, he said.

USA – Green Giant Fresh Onions Are Recalled For Possible Salmonella

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Green Giant Fresh onions are being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. The onions were sourced from ProSource Produce LLC (ProSource Inc.). Those onions that were imported from Chihuahua, Mexico are associated with a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 652 people in 37 states. There is no indication at this time that Green Giant Fresh onions are associated with any illness. The recalling company is Potandon Produce LLC of Idaho Falls, Idaho

USA- HelloFresh Recalls Products Containing Onions For Salmonella

Food Poisoning Bulletin

HelloFresh is recalling products containing onions that were provided to them by ProSource Inc. for possible Salmonella contamination. ProSource Inc. imported onions from Chihuahua, Mexico that are associated with a huge multistate Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 652 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no indication that HelloFresh onions are associated with illness at this time.

USA – Citterio brand premium Italian-Style salame sticks linked to Minnesota Salmonella cases

Food Safety News

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) officials are warning Minnesota consumers not to eat Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks produced by Citterio and purchased at Trader Joe’s or other retailers after linking Salmonella infections to the product.

Three Minnesotans have been identified as part of this outbreak. The patients became ill between Sept. 20 and Sept. 29. One was hospitalized for two days, and all have recovered. All three cases report consuming Citterio Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks purchased at different Trader Joe’s locations. Health officials recommend not eating any Citterio Premium Italian-Style Salame Sticks they may have at home. Other brands of salami sticks and other Citterio products are not known to be affected at this time, but the investigation to determine the scope of the problem is ongoing.

USA- Maine Crabmeat linked to Salmonella illnesses

Food Poison Journal

According the the Maine CDC and press reports, two people were hospitalized after a salmonella outbreak linked to crabmeat from Hardie’s Crabmeat in Deer Isle, officials said. Maine CDC is investigating a total of five cases linked to the outbreak.

The cases include four Maine residents and one New Hampshire resident.

Maine CDC and the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry discovered the crabmeat was likely contaminated during preparation and packaging. Health officials recommend packages of Hardie’s Crabmeat purchased between June 15 and Aug. 15 be thrown away.

Freezing doesn’t destroy the bacteria that causes salmonella.

Hardie’s Crabmeat addressed concerns from investigators about the contaminated food, and Maine CDC said there’s no evidence crabmeat currently being sold poses a risk if eaten.

Crabmeat from Hardie’s was sold at multiple places across Maine, but packages should be clearly labeled as from that company.

Common symptoms of salmonella include diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, fever and headache, health officials said. And those symptoms typically start 6 to 72 hours after exposure. They can last up to a week, though some infected people don’t have any symptoms.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Oranienburg: Whole, Fresh Onions (October 2021)

FDA

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Oranienburg in Whole, Fresh Onions - Sample Product Images (October 2021)

FDA and CDC are investigating illnesses linked to whole, fresh onions. Do not eat, sell, or serve certain onions from ProSource Produce and Keeler Family Farms

The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infections linked to whole, fresh onions. FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing but has identified ProSource Produce, LLC (also known as ProSource Inc.) of Hailey, Idaho, and Keeler Family Farms of Deming, New Mexico, as suppliers of potentially contaminated whole, fresh onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico.

On October 22, 2021, Keeler Family Farms issued a voluntary recall of red, yellow, and white whole, fresh onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, from July 1, 2021, through August 25, 2021, when the last shipment of onions from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico was received by the firm. These onions contain a label that is marked as “MVP (product of MX)”. Additional details regarding the recalled product are available on the Keeler Family Farms’ recall announcement.

On October 20, 2021, ProSource Produce LLC issued a voluntary recall of red, yellow, and white whole, fresh onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, with import dates from July 1, 2021, through August 31, 2021. A full list of recalled product information is available in ProSource Produce LLC’s recall announcement.

These onions supplied by ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms were sold to restaurants, food service locations, wholesalers, and retail or grocery stores throughout the United States. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and if additional products or firms are linked to illness. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

Recommendation

Advice for restaurants, retailers and consumers: Do not eat, sell or serve recalled onions, or products containing recalled onions. All recalled onions were supplied by ProSource Produce LLC and Keeler Family Farms and imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico between July 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021. If your onion has a label and it is not from one of the brands listed below originating from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico imported during this timeframe, it is not part of the recalls. If you cannot tell if your onions were recalled, do not eat, sell, or serve them and throw them out.

Recalled onions were distributed under the following brands:

  • Big Bull
  • Peak Fresh Produce
  • Sierra Madre
  • Markon First Crop
  • Markon Essentials
  • Rio Blue
  • ProSource
  • Rio Valley
  • Sysco Imperial
  • MVP

Additional descriptors used for these recalled onion types may include, but are not limited to, jumbo, colossal, medium, summer, and sweet onions.

Additional information about each recall can be found in the ProSource Produce LLC’s recall announcement and the Keeler Family Farms recall announcement.

Onions may last up to three months if stored in a cool, dry place. Restaurants, retailers, and consumers who suspect having purchased such onions may still have them in storage and should not eat, sell, or serve them, and should throw them out.

FDA recommends that anyone who received or suspects having received recalled onions use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. This includes cleaning and sanitizing cutting boards, slicers, countertops, refrigerators, and storage bins.

Consumers who have symptoms of Salmonella infection should contact their health care provider. Most people with salmonellosis develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. More severe cases of salmonellosis may include a high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, a rash, blood in the urine or stool, and in some cases may become fatal.

Suppliers and Distributors: Do not use, ship, or sell red, yellow, or white onions recalled by ProSource Produce LLC or supplied by Keeler Family Farms that were imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, or food products containing such onions. Suppliers and distributors that re-package raw onions should use extra vigilance in cleaning any surfaces and storage areas that may have come into contact with these products. If there has been potential cross contamination or mixing of onions from other sources with these products, suppliers and distributors should discard all comingled and potentially cross-contaminated product.

Recall Information

ProSource Produce LLC has voluntarily recalled red, yellow, and white onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, with import dates from July 1, 2021, through August 31, 2021. Additional descriptors used for these onion types may include, but are not limited to, jumbo, colossal, medium, summer and sweet onions. Additional recall information will be made public as soon as it is available from ProSource Inc.

The onions were distributed to wholesalers, broadline foodservice customers, and retail or grocery stores in:

  • 50 lb., 25 lb., 10 lb., 5 lb., 3 lb., and 2 lb. mesh sacks
  • 50 lb., 40 lb., 25 lb., 10 lb., and 5 lb. cartons

And by the following distributors and/or under the following brands:

  • Big Bull
  • Peak Fresh Produce
  • Sierra Madre
  • Markon First Crop.
  • Markon Essentials
  • Rio Blue
  • ProSource
  • Rio Valley
  • Sysco Imperial

Keeler Family Farms has recalled red, yellow, and white whole, fresh onions imported from the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, with import dates from July 1, 2021, through August 25, 2021. The onions were distributed in 25lb and 50lb mesh sacks. They contain a label that is marked as “MVP (product of MX)”.

Additional details regarding the recalled products are available on the Keeler Family Farms recall announcement.


Case Count Map Provided by CDC

Outbreak Salmonella Onions Case Count Map Oct 20 2021

Case Counts

Total Illnesses: 652
Hospitalizations: 129
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: September 30, 2021
States with Cases: AL, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV
Product Distribution: Nationwide

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Gwillimdale Farms brand Onions, Product of Mexico recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Gwillimdale Farms - Onions - label, front

Recall details

Ottawa, October 22, 2021 – The food recall warning issued on October 21, 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.

Gwillimdale Farms is recalling Gwillimdale 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 and Quebec and may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes Additional information
Gwillimdale Farms Onions 2 lbs (907 g) 6 28250 41454 7
  • 07/09/21
  • 07/13/21
  • 07/14/21
  • 07/15/21
  • 07/16/21
  • 07/19/21
  • 07/20/21
Product of Mexico
Gwillimdale Farms Onions 3 lbs (1.36 kg) 6 28250 41455 4
  • 07/16/21
  • 07/19/21
Product of Mexico
Gwillimdale Farms Onions 5 lbs (2.27 kg) 6 28250 41456 1
  • 07/13/21
  • 07/15/21
  • 07/16/21
  • 07/19/21
Product of Mexico

Background

This recall was triggered by a recall in another country by Prosource Produce LLC of Hailey, Idaho. 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

  • Gwillimdale Farms - Onions - label, front
  • Gwillimdale Farms - Onions - 5 lbs (2.27 kg) - label, back
  • Gwillimdale Farms - Onions - 3 lbs (1.36 kg) - label, back
  • Gwillimdale Farms - Onions - 2 lbs (907 g) - label, back

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