The Stony Brook Japanese restaurant at the center of a foodborne illness investigation announced Saturday that it is closing.
Suffolk County officials said Kumo Japanese Steakhouse was cited for 15 violations after 28 customers got sick from eating improperly stored cooked rice on Sept. 9.
HUNTLEY, IL – The McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) and Huntley Community School District 158 are working collaboratively to respond to a recent outbreak of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) at Huntley High School. There are currently seven confirmed cases of STEC, all of which involve students. The first case was identified on Sunday, September 17. At this time, there is insufficient evidence to indicate the source of the illness. The MCDH is actively monitoring for potential cases; there are no other known McHenry County STEC cases outside of this outbreak.
Chicago’s Department of Public Health had identified 55 confirmed infections stemming from the outbreak at an Avondale taqueria, Carniceria Guanajuato, at 3140 N. California Ave., up from 20 last week.
At least 17 people have been hospitalized as of Friday.
An investigation into the source of the bacteria is ongoing. The restaurant remains closed as owners work with public officials to bring the eatery up to safety standards.
Carniceria Guanajuato was inspected September 8th after reports of food poisoning. City health inspectors found raw beef and raw shelled eggs stored above ready-to-eat lettuce and improper storage of hot and cold foods, among other violations. City officials gave guidance on safe food handling practice and proper cleaning to stop the spread, officials said. The restaurant was inspected again September 14th. Inspectors instructed restaurant owners to clean and sanitize certain food preparation areas, install working thermometers inside restaurant coolers, and correct labeling of prepared foods.
Anyone who bought food from the taqueria or from the prepared food section of the grocery store should throw it away and not eat it. People who ate at the taqueria or bought prepared food from the grocery since August 29th could also be exposed.
According to press reports, the Two Rivers Public Health Department and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) are working to investigate potential cases of Salmonella illness among people who attended a wedding reception near the Holdrege/Elm Creek area on Saturday, September 9.
Individuals should speak with their healthcare provider about any concerns they may have.
Posted in Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Salmonella
(Campbellsville, KY) – Due to multiple reports of illness, the Lake Cumberland District Health Department (LCDHD) and the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) are investigating a foodborne illness outbreak in Campbellsville, Kentucky. As of Friday, September 22, 2023, there have been 13 cases of illness reported. Six cases have been confirmed as Salmonella while the remaining seven are categorized as probable Salmonella.
According to the onset of symptoms, those who are ill were likely exposed between September 8-10, 2023. There have been no newly reported cases of illness within the past several days so it does not appear this is an ongoing outbreak.
County officials are reporting an outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses linked to a food truck in Kirkland, WA.
Thirty-four people reported having developed symptoms after consuming food from the food truck on Sept. 14. The truck was from Tacos El Guero and was catering a private event.
The symptoms mentioned by public health officials that were reported by those who became sick included diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and nausea. Anyone who has developed symptoms after eating at the restaurant’s food truck is asked to contact the public health department.
Officials with Public Health — Seattle & King County reported that the sick people developed symptoms the day after consuming food from the truck. The public health department did not report what event was involved.
Public health officials are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella infections associated with CrackleMi Café in Seattle, WA.
The restaurant closed on Sept. 20 because of the outbreak and the results of an inspection.
There are currently three patients confirmed with lab testing. All three have the same strain of Salmonella and all three reported eating at the restaurant before becoming ill. The patients reported eating banh mi sandwiches made with pork, chicken and egg. The restaurant is located at 709 N 35th Street in Seattle.
All three people developed one or more symptoms consistent with salmonellosis, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, bloody stool, and fever.
The health department did not identify any ill employees.
Patients range in age from 23 to 38 years old. None have required hospitalization and none have died.
Belgian authorities have temporarily closed an events venue linked to more than 50 Shigella infections.
The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) and the Flemish Departement Zorg reported that over recent weekends, people had been infected with Shigella after attending the Zandberghoeve venue in Beernem. The source of contamination may be an infected person or a contaminated food or object.
Earlier this year, Zorg en Gezondheid (The Flemish Care and Health Agency) merged with another body to form Departement Zorg.
At least five cases of Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (STEC) have been reported at suburban Huntley High School, officials say.
In a letter released to parents on Wednesday, officials said they had been contacted by the McHenry County Health Department about the outbreak.
Health officials are working to determine “common exposures” among the five individuals who have been diagnosed with the illness, but no definitive source has been identified at this time.
According to the press release, any child who experiences symptoms of E. coli must be kept home until they are symptom-free for at least 48 hours.
Summary
Public Health is investigating an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness associated with a private event catered by a Tacos El Guero food truck on September 14, 2023. Symptoms and timing of illness onsets were suggestive of a bacterial toxin, such as Clostridium perfringens or Bacillus cereus.
The exact food or drink that caused the illnesses has not been identified, though this is not uncommon for outbreaks associated with a bacterial toxin.
Illnesses
Public Health identified 34 sick people that developed one or more symptoms consistent with bacterial toxin, including diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and nausea. Illness onset dates ranged from September 14, 2023, to September 15, 2023.
Public Health actions
On September 15, 2023, a group reported the outbreak to Public Health after eating together on September 14, 2023. Public Health gathered information about symptoms and when people became ill.
Environmental Health investigators visited the mobile food trucks and restaurant on September 18, 2023. Investigators identified potential risk factors for bacterial toxin growth including inadequate refrigeration and improper cooling of food. We also observed inadequate equipment improper reheating, and lack of managerial oversight. Additionally, food at this event was served out of an unpermitted food truck. Corrective actions were discussed at the time of the visit. Based on unsafe food handling practices identified during the investigation, environmental health investigators closed the restaurant on September 18, 2023. Environmental Health investigators will revisit the facility to ensure adoption of safe food handling practices prior to allowing the restaurant to reopen.
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