Hepatitis A outbreaks associated with fresh, frozen, and minimally processed produce, worldwide, from 1983 to 2016—adapted and expanded from Sivapalasingam et al., 2004 and Fiore, 2004. Italics indicate instances where the food was locally sourced with respect to the cases. The implicated foods were raw unless listed otherwise.
See the table at the link above
Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Management, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Hepatitis A, Illness, outbreak
The Washington Department of Health (DOH), the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, and Thurston County Public Health and Social Services investigated an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in July and August 2023. Six cases of listeriosis were reported by August 9, 2023. This cluster was given the outbreak code 2306WAGX6-1.
Cases ranged from 43 to 79 years (median 63.5). Sixty percent (60%) were male. Five of the six cases had serious underlying health conditions, which put them at high risk for Listeria infection. All six were hospitalized, and three out of these six cases have died. Illnesses ranged from February 27 to July 22, 2023. These cases were residents of Pierce (5) and Thurston (1) County.
According to news reports, Miguel’s Cocina in San Diego’s 4S Ranch neighborhood had a “soft” reopening Friday night 10 days after voluntarily closing its doors in response to an E. coli outbreak that, as of Friday, has sickened at least 35 people including 10 who had to be hospitalized.
The news of the soft opening was confirmed Friday evening by San Diego County Health and Human Services (HHSA) Agency director of communications Tim McLain. The restaurant plans to return to normal operations Saturday.
Those who fell ill, or their families, reported eating at Miguel’s 4S Ranch location from October 6 to October 18 and developed symptoms from October 13 to October 19, according to the HHSA.
ActionSA in the Eastern Cape has called for an investigation into incidents of suspected food poisoning in parts of the province.
The call came amid reports that 120 learners from two schools in Komani were admitted to health facilities week after taking ill after eating snacks bought from spaza shops.
The Eastern Cape Health Department also reported on Thursday that 55 learners from a school in eDikeni, formerly Alice, were admitted to a hospital with a suspected food-borne disease, while 11 learners from a school in the Debe Nek area were treated in a Keiskammahoek hospital earlier this week.
Department spokesperson, Sizwe Kupelo, said tests were being done to determine the cause of their sickness.
Food and beverage catering company KG Catering was fined $6,000 on Wednesday (1 November) for multiple hygiene offences. This was after 92 people suffered food poisoning from consuming food prepared by the caterer.
According to a media release by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), none were hospitalised.
The gastroenteritis cases happened across three separate incidents, and were reported to the SFA and the Ministry of Health (MOH) between 20 September 2022 and 11 March 2023. The symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting.
Germany has reported an increase in outbreaks and people sick in them.
In 2022, the Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) and Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) received slightly more reports of foodborne outbreaks than in the previous year, according to a recent report.
A total of 211 outbreaks were recorded. At least 1,488 illnesses, 268 hospitalizations, and eight deaths were linked to them. As in previous years, the most common causes were Campylobacter and Salmonella.
In 2021, RKI and BVL reported 168 outbreaks with 1,179 cases, 196 hospitalizations, and two deaths.
| Date Posted |
Ref | Pathogen or Cause of Illness |
Product(s) Linked to Illnesses (if any) |
Total Case Count |
Status |
| 11/01/
2023 |
1195 | E.Coli O121:H19 |
Not Yet Identified |
37 | Active |
| 10/4/
2023 |
1190 | Salmonella Thompson |
Onions | See Advisory | Active |
There is still a serious outbreak caused by the stomach and intestinal bacteria E. coli (EHEC), which in the worst case can cause acute kidney damage in children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. Infection has so far been detected in 24 people. More than half of those infected are children under the age of 13, and 9 of these have developed serious illness.
The outbreak is still ongoing. Infection has so far been detected in 24 people. They fell ill from July to October 2023 and all are infected in Norway. They are aged 1 to 55 and live in Trøndelag (15), Viken (4), Vestfold and Telemark (2), Innlandet (1), Møre and Romsdal (1) and Nordland (1). 15 of the infected are under the age of 13. Nine of the children have developed the serious complication haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS).
There is close cooperation between the Institute of Public Health, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the Veterinary Institute and the concerned municipal chief medical officers. The outbreak bacterium has been found in hamburger, but other minced meat and stuffing products where the same raw materials have been used have also been withdrawn. The tracking work is complicated, and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority cannot rule out that more products may be withdrawn from the market. FHI clarifies that it is therefore very important that people follow the advice for good food hygiene.
The number of children who suffered a potentially fatal complication of E. coli infection in France reached a record high in 2022, influenced by the Nestlé pizza outbreak, according to statistics recently released.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can be a complication of E. coli infection, is a type of kidney failure that can result in lifelong, serious health problems and death.
In the outbreak caused by frozen Buitoni Fraîch’Up pizzas, 59 patients had a median age of 6. They fell ill between January and April 2022. Two children died.
Record HUS high
The 253 HUS cases in 2022 are the most since surveillance began in 1996. In 2021, 128 cases were reported. Santé publique France surveillance data on HUS only covers those younger than 15.
The sharp increase in incidence was partly driven by several outbreaks, including the one large Nestlé incident, but was also because of a lot of sporadic cases.
Onions are once again at the center of a nation-wide salmonella outbreak that is leaving victims sick for weeks and hospitalizing at least 15, so far. Many more are expected to be identified as the investigation unfolds.
FoodWorld 