Category Archives: Foodborne Illness Death

Research – Listeria monocytogenes Illness and Deaths Associated With Ongoing Contamination of a Multi-Regional Brand of Ice Cream Products, United States, 2010–2015

Posted on August 29, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

Abstract

Background

Frozen foods have rarely been linked to Listeria monocytogenes illness. We describe an outbreak investigation prompted both by hospital clustering of illnesses and product testing.

Methods

We identified outbreak-associated listeriosis cases using whole-genome sequencing (WGS), product testing results, and epidemiologic linkage to cases in the same Kansas hospital. We reviewed hospital medical and dietary records, product invoices, and molecular subtyping results. Federal and state officials tested product and environmental samples for L. monocytogenes.

Results

Kansas officials were investigating five cases of listeriosis at a single hospital when, simultaneously, unrelated sampling for a study in South Carolina identified L. monocytogenes in Company A ice cream products made in Texas. Isolates from four patients and Company A products were closely related by WGS, and the four patients with known exposures had consumed milkshakes made with Company A ice cream while hospitalized. Further testing identified L. monocytogenes in ice cream produced in a second Company A production facility in Oklahoma; these isolates were closely related by WGS to those from five patients in three other states. These ten illnesses, involving three deaths, occurred from 2010 through 2015. Company A ultimately recalled all products.

Conclusion

In this U.S. outbreak of listeriosis linked to a widely distributed brand of ice cream, WGS and product sampling helped link cases spanning five years to two production facilities, indicating longstanding contamination. Comprehensive sanitation controls and environmental and product testing for L. monocytogenes, with regulatory over

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Research

Research – E. coli O104:H4 is similar to the 2011 outbreak strain found in Europe

Posted on August 22, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

A type of E. coli similar to what caused a large outbreak in 2011 has recently been detected in Europe, according to researchers.

Two cases of Shiga toxin-producing Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) O104:H4 were reported in the Netherlands in 2019 and 2020 and in one food isolate from 2017. There was also a patient from Austria in 2021.

In 2011, a huge outbreak caused by STEC O104:H4 occurred in Europe, mainly Germany and France, that was associated with sprouts grown from fenugreek seeds from Egypt. The outbreak resulted in more than 4,000 infections and 54 deaths from 16 countries, including six cases in the United States.

After this outbreak, only a few sporadic infections with EAEC O104:H4 were reported, most related to travel to Turkey or North Africa, said the study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

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Posted in E.coli O104, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Research, STEC, STEC E.coli

Research – 10 Deadly Food Poisoning Outbreaks in US History

Posted on August 21, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning News

Over the years, the United States has seen several foodborne illness outbreaks, some of which have been more lethal than others. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that contaminated food causes approximately 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths yearly. The number of cases is usually higher during an outbreak than in a normal year. Foodborne illness outbreaks typically occur when multiple people contract a similar illness after consuming a common food, and analysis of the food implicates it as the source of the disease.

In the early 1920s, the Public Health Service was responsible for reporting foodborne illness outbreaks in the US. In 1961, the CDC, then known as the Communicable Disease Center, took over the role, and in 2011, it began publishing annual summaries of food poisoning outbreaks online.

Check the link above for the top ten.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Research

USA – FDA Coe Investigation Table Update

Posted on August 18, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

An outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (ref# 1081) in an unidentified product was added to the table and FDA has initiated a traceback investigation. CDC has issued an Investigation Notice.
An outbreak of Salmonella Senftenberg (ref# 1087) in an unidentified product was added to the table.
An outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium (ref# 1095) in an unidentified product was added to the table and traceback has been initiated.
For the outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup (ref# 1075) in an unidentified product, the outbreak has ended.
For the outbreak of Cyclospora in an unidentified product (ref# 1084), the case count has increased from 77 to 98.
For the outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses linked to fresh strawberries (ref# 1066), the FDA investigation has closed and the outbreak is over.

Date Posted	Ref	Pathogen	Product(s) Linked to Illnesses (if any)	Total Case Count	Status
8/17/ 2022	1081	E. coli O157:H7	Not Yet Identified	See CDC Investigation Notice	Active
8/17/ 2022	1087	Salmonella Senftenberg	Not Yet Identified	19	Active
8/17/ 2022	1095	Salmonella Typhimurium	Not Yet Identified	44	Active
8/3/ 2022	1080	Cyclospora	Not Yet Identified	6	Active
7/27/ 2022	1084	Cyclospora	Not Yet Identified	98	Active
6/29/ 2022	1076	Not Yet Identified	Frozen Food	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
6/22/ 2022	1075	Salmonella Braenderup	Not Yet Identified	74	Active
6/22/ 2022	1072	Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+	Not Identified	14	Closed
6/15/ 2022	1070	Listeria monocytogenes	Not Identified	12	Closed
6/8/ 2022	1068	E. coli O157:H7	Not Identified	10	Closed
6/1/ 2022	1066	Hepatitis A Virus	Strawberries	See Outbreak Advisory	Closed
5/25/ 2022	1067	Salmonella Senftenberg	Peanut Butter	See Outbreak Advisory	Closed
4/20/ 2022	1064	Not Yet Identified	Dry Cereal	558 adverse event reports	Active
4/13/ 2022	1057	Listeria monocytogenes	Ice Cream	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
3/30/ 2022	1060	None Identified	Meal Replacement Drink	6 adverse event reports	Closed
3/16/ 2022	1055	Salmonella Saintpaul	Not Identified	60	Closed
2/17/ 2022	1056	Cronobacter sakazakii	Powdered Infant Formula	See Advisory	Active (IMG)
2/9/ 2022	1040	Listeria monocytogenes	Not Identified	20	Closed
2/2/ 2022	1054	Enteroinvasive E. coli O143:H26	Not Identified	16	Closed
1/10/ 2022	1050	E. coli O121:H19	Romaine	4	Closed

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Posted in Cronobacter sakazakii, Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, E.coli O121, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Hepatitis A, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, O143:H26, outbreak, Salmonella

USA – Man Dead After Eating Raw Oyster at Seafood Restaurant in Dania Beach: Vibrio

Posted on August 17, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

NBC Miami

A man is dead after contracting a bacterial infection from eating a raw oyster at the Rustic Inn Crabhouse in Dania Beach, according to the Sun Sentinel.

His death was traced to the bacteria, Vibrio, which is typically found in raw or undercooked seafood, like oysters.

According to the Sun Sentinel, the manager of the Rustic Inn, Gary Oreal, said the man who died was a former employee who had dined there earlier this month when the restaurant served as many as 100 dozen oysters. He was the only person who became sick.

“He had that one in a billion that was bad,” Oreal told the Sun Sentinel. “I feel horrible.”

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Poisoning Death, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, Illness, Poisoning, Vibrio

Denmark – Health and Economic Burden of Seven Foodborne Diseases in Denmark, 2019

Posted on August 15, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

Mary Anne Liebert

We ranked seven foodborne pathogens in Denmark on the basis of their health and economic impact on society in 2019. We estimated burden of disease of infections with Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes, norovirus, and hepatitis A virus in terms of incidence, mortality, disability-adjusted life years (DALY), and economic burden in terms of direct and indirect health costs. These seven pathogens accounted for 268,372 cases, 98 deaths, and 3121 DALYs, and led to a total expenditure of 434 million Euro in 1 year in a country with 5.8 million citizens. Foodborne infections by Campylobacter, Salmonella, and norovirus caused the most DALYs, whereas Campylobacter, and norovirus and STEC had the higher costs. A combination of disease burden and cost of illness estimates is useful to inform policymaking and establish food safety priorities at the national level.

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Posted in Campylobacter, campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Death, food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning Death, Food Virus Death, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Norovirus, outbreak, Research, Salmonella, STEC, STEC E.coli, Yersinia, yersinia enterocolitica

USA – FDA Core Investigation Table Update

Posted on August 11, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

For the outbreak of Cyclospora in an unidentified food (ref # 1084) the total case count has increased from 60 to 77.

Date Posted	Ref	Pathogen or Cause of Illness	Product(s) Linked to Illnesses (if any)	Total Case Count	Status
8/3/ 2022	1080	Cyclospora	Not Yet Identified	6	Active
7/27/ 2022	1084	Cyclospora	Not Yet Identified	77	Active
6/29/ 2022	1076	Not Yet Identified	Frozen Food	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
6/22/ 2022	1075	Salmonella Braenderup	Not Yet Identified	74	Active
6/22/ 2022	1072	Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+	Not Identified	14	Closed
6/15/ 2022	1070	Listeria monocytogenes	Not Identified	12	Closed
6/8/ 2022	1068	E. coli O157:H7	Not Identified	10	Closed
6/1/ 2022	1066	Hepatitis A Virus	Strawberries	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
5/25/ 2022	1067	Salmonella Senftenberg	Peanut Butter	See Outbreak Advisory	Closed
4/20/ 2022	1064	Not Yet Identified	Dry Cereal	558 adverse event reports	Active
4/13/ 2022	1057	Listeria monocytogenes	Ice Cream	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
3/30/ 2022	1060	None Identified	Meal Replacement Drink	6 adverse event reports	Closed
3/16/ 2022	1055	Salmonella Saintpaul	Not Identified	60	Closed
2/17/ 2022	1056	Cronobacter sakazakii	Powdered Infant Formula	See Advisory	Active (IMG)
2/9/ 2022	1040	Listeria monocytogenes	Not Identified	20	Closed
2/2/ 2022	1054	Enteroinvasive E. coli O143:H26	Not Identified	16	Closed
1/10/ 2022	1050	E. coli O121:H19	Romaine	4	Closed

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Posted in Cronobacter sakazakii, Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, E.coli O121, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Hepatitis A, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, O143:H26, outbreak, Salmonella

Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Ice Cream (July 2022)

Posted on August 5, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

FDA

The FDA, along with CDC, is assisting the Florida Department of Health (FL DOH) and Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) in investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to ice cream supplied by Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota, Florida. As of August 2, 2022, CDC reports 25 illnesses in 11 states.

This is an ongoing investigation, and the FDA is continuing to work with the FL DOH and FDACS to investigate. FDA will update this advisory should additional consumer safety information become available.

Recommendation

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve any recalled Big Olaf ice cream products and should throw the product away, regardless of the “Best By” or expiration date.

Listeria is most likely to sicken pregnant people and their newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you have these symptoms after eating Big Olaf ice cream products:

Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
People who are not pregnant may experience headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, in addition to fever and muscle aches.

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers who purchased or received any recalled Big Olaf ice cream products should throw the products away, follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and 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. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.

Product Images

The Big Olaf brand ice cream was sold to consumers in plastic pint size containers, plastic ½ gallon containers, and plastic 2.5-gallon tubs, scoopable are sold to the independent retail stores. All flavors, lots, codes, and all expiration dates through 6/30/2022 are included in this recall.

Case Count Map Provided by CDC

Outbreak Investigation of Listeria Monocytogenes in Florida-Based Big Olaf Ice Cream (July 2022) - CDC Case Count Map as of August 4, 2022

Map of U.S. Distribution of Recalled Big Olaf’s Ice Cream Products

Outbreak Investigation of Listeria Monocytogenes from Florida-Based Ice Cream - Map of U.S. Distribution of Recalled Ice Cream (July 13, 2022)

Case Counts

Total Illnesses: 25
Hospitalizations: 24
Deaths: 1
Fetal Loss: 1
Last illness onset: 6/24/2022
States with Cases: CO (1), FL (13), GA (1), IL (1), KS (1), NE (1), MA (2), MN (1), NJ (1), NY (2), PA (1)
Product Distribution*: FL, OH
*Distribution has been confirmed for states listed, but product could have been distributed further, reaching additional states

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Posted in Death, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food death, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak

USA – FDA Core Table – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on August 4, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

For the Cyclospora outbreak in an unidentified vehicle (ref# 1084), the number of cases has increased from 51 to 60 and sample collection and analysis has been initiated.
A new outbreak has been added to the table: Cyclospora in a not yet identified food (ref #1080). Traceback has been initiated.
For the Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ outbreak (ref# 1072) in a not identified food, FDA’s investigation status is now closed.
For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak (ref# 1070) in a not identified food, the outbreak status has ended and FDA’s investigation status is now closed.
For the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak (ref #1075), the number of cases has increased from 70 to 74.

Date Posted	Ref	Pathogen or Cause of Illness	Product(s) Linked to Illnesses (if any)	Total Case Count	Status
8/3/ 2022	1080	Cyclospora	Not Yet Identified	6	Active
7/27/ 2022	1084	Cyclospora	Not Yet Identified	60	Active
6/29/ 2022	1076	Not Yet Identified	Frozen Food	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
6/22/ 2022	1075	Salmonella Braenderup	Not Yet Identified	74	Active
6/22/ 2022	1072	Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+	Not Identified	14	Closed
6/15/ 2022	1070	Listeria monocytogenes	Not Identified	12	Closed
6/8/ 2022	1068	E. coli O157:H7	Not Identified	10	Closed
6/1/ 2022	1066	Hepatitis A Virus	Strawberries	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
5/25/ 2022	1067	Salmonella Senftenberg	Peanut Butter	See Outbreak Advisory	Closed
4/20/ 2022	1064	Not Yet Identified	Dry Cereal	558 adverse event reports	Active
4/13/ 2022	1057	Listeria monocytogenes	Ice Cream	See Outbreak Advisory	Active
3/30/ 2022	1060	None Identified	Meal Replacement Drink	6 adverse event reports	Closed
3/16/ 2022	1055	Salmonella Saintpaul	Not Identified	60	Closed
2/17/ 2022	1056	Cronobacter sakazakii	Powdered Infant Formula	See Advisory	Active (IMG)
2/9/ 2022	1040	Listeria monocytogenes	Not Identified	20	Closed
2/2/ 2022	1054	Enteroinvasive E. coli O143:H26	Not Identified	16	Closed
1/10/ 2022	1050	E. coli O121:H19	Romaine	4	Closed

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Posted in Cronobacter sakazakii, cross contamination, Cyclospora, E.coli O121, FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Hepatitis A, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, O143:H26, outbreak, Salmonella

China – Research – Vital Surveillances: Epidemiological Analysis of Foodborne Botulism Outbreaks — China, 2004–2020

Posted on July 22, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

China CDC

kswfoodworld

Abstract

IntroductionFoodborne botulism is a rare, potentially fatal illness resulting from the ingestion of foods contaminated with preformed botulinum neurotoxin types A, B, E, or F, produced by Clostridium botulinum. The descriptive epidemiology of foodborne botulism outbreaks in China during 2004−2020 was performed to inform public health response strategies.

Results

During 2004−2020, a total of 80 foodborne botulism outbreaks occurred in China, involving 386 illnesses and 55 deaths; most outbreaks were reported between June and August, with a sharp peak in January; 22 out of 31 PLADs reported foodborne botulism outbreaks, Xinjiang reported the largest number of outbreaks (20), followed by Qinghai (13); the most commonly implicated food was home-prepared traditional processed stinky tofu and dried beef, accounting for 51.25% events. Improper processing and improper storage in contributing factors accounted for 77.50% outbreaks. Initial misdiagnosis occurred in 27.50% of cases.

Conclusions

Outbreaks of foodborne botulism had a high case-fatality rate. Targeted food safety and popularization education to farmers and herdsmen in Xinjiang and Qinghai related to botulism prevention should be carried out, and timely outbreak investigation and hospital surge capacity should be improved.

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Posted in Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Research

Category Archives: Foodborne Illness Death

Research – Listeria monocytogenes Illness and Deaths Associated With Ongoing Contamination of a Multi-Regional Brand of Ice Cream Products, United States, 2010–2015

Abstract

Research – E. coli O104:H4 is similar to the 2011 outbreak strain found in Europe

Research – 10 Deadly Food Poisoning Outbreaks in US History

USA – FDA Coe Investigation Table Update

What’s New

USA – Man Dead After Eating Raw Oyster at Seafood Restaurant in Dania Beach: Vibrio

Denmark – Health and Economic Burden of Seven Foodborne Diseases in Denmark, 2019

USA – FDA Core Investigation Table Update

What’s New

Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Ice Cream (July 2022)

Recommendation

Product Images

Case Count Map Provided by CDC

Map of U.S. Distribution of Recalled Big Olaf’s Ice Cream Products

Case Counts

USA – FDA Core Table – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

What’s New

China – Research – Vital Surveillances: Epidemiological Analysis of Foodborne Botulism Outbreaks — China, 2004–2020

Abstract

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Category Archives: Foodborne Illness Death

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