More than 70 people have fallen sick in France in a Salmonella outbreak linked to cheese.
The 72 salmonellosis cases are linked to the consumption of Le Chasteau soft cheeses produced in Cantal by GAEC Deflisque between the beginning of March and the start of August.
Institut Pasteur and Santé publique France identified monophasic Salmonella typhimurium cases with similar characteristics in late July to early August.
Cucumbers linked to illnesses of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup
August 14, 2024
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Africana and Salmonella Braenderup infections with 449 illnesses in 31 states and the District of Columbia. While originally reported as two separate outbreaks, CDC and FDA combined these two outbreak investigations as they shared several similarities, including when and where illnesses occurred, the demographics of ill people, and the foods they reported eating before they became sick. Laboratory, epidemiological, and traceback data have determined that cucumbers from Bedner Growers, Inc., of Boynton Beach, Florida, and Thomas Produce Company, of Boca Raton, Florida, are likely sources of illnesses in this outbreak; however, these growers do not account for all the illnesses in this outbreak.
Based on traceback information collected, Thomas Produce Company supplied cucumbers to multiple points of service where ill people reported eating cucumbers. As part of the investigation, FDA conducted an onsite inspection at Thomas Produce Company and collected samples. Salmonella Braenderup was detected in samples of canal water used by Thomas Produce Company. Whole Genome Sequencing analysis determined that the water used by Thomas Produce Company contained the Salmonella that is a match to a strain of Salmonella Braenderup that is causing some of the illnesses in this outbreak.
Additional types of Salmonella were detected in both soil and water samples collected at both Bedner Growers, Inc. and Thomas Produce Company. Multiple other strains of Salmonella, unrelated to this outbreak investigation, found at Bedner Growers, Inc. matched clinical isolates from illnesses in the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI) database that occurred in previous years. CDC and FDA are working to determine whether other positive samples from Thomas Produce Company match historical clinical isolates.
Bedner Growers, Inc.’s and Thomas Produce Company’s cucumber growing and harvesting season is over. There is no product from these farms on the market and likely no ongoing risk to the public.
Food safety is a shared responsibility that involves growers, packers, distributors, retailers, and regulators. While FDA’s traceback investigation is complete, FDA is committed to working with all stakeholders to advance this critical work to improve prevention of future outbreaks.
In mid-July 2024, 2 Washington residents in different counties were infected with the same, highly related strain of Campylobacter jejuni. Both drank Jim’s Jerseys raw milk produced by Old Silvana Creamery (Arlington, WA) shortly before becoming ill.
Raw milk is a high-risk food for causing illness because it is not heat treated (pasteurized) to kill germs that can make people sick. Campylobacter jejuni and other bacteria may naturally be in cattle manure which can contaminate milk during production.
A popular gourmet burger chain in Madrid, Spain, is at the center of a food poisoning outbreak that has affected 17 people, with two individuals hospitalized. The incident occurred at two Hundred Burgers locations in the Spanish capital.
The outbreak, which is suspected to be caused by salmonella, has been linked to a truffle egg yolk sauce served at two of the restaurant’s branches. Customers who dined at these locations on August 4 and 5 reported symptoms including fever, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to Express.
A spokesperson for the region stated that public health services are investigating the incident, focusing on the possibility of “contaminated sauces.” As a precautionary measure, health officials are checking approximately 150 people who may have been exposed to the product during the two-day period.
A recall first initiated in June 2024 by Lipari Foods Operating Company, LLC for a number of pre-packaged sandwiches due to potential contamination with Salmonella remains ongoing. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause serious infections, especially in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems
It has been found that two people in Washington drank raw milk from Jim’s Jerseys before becoming infected with Campylobacter jejuni.
The patients became ill in July after drinking the unpasteurized milk produced by Old Silvana Creamery located in Arlington, WA, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
“Raw milk is a high-risk food for causing illness because it is not heat treated (pasteurized) to kill germs that can make people sick. Campylobacter jejuni and other bacteria may naturally be in cattle manure which can contaminate milk during production. . . Consumers who drink milk are encouraged to drink only pasteurized milk.” according to the health department.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has confirmed an outbreak of cyclosporiasis that has affected more than 100 people in Wake County, according to WRAL. The outbreak was identified in July, though the specific contaminated food item has not yet been identified.
According to DHHS, the outbreak appears to be over, but the investigation is ongoing into the source of the Cyclospora parasite. A spokeswoman for the department stated, “We have not identified the specific contaminated food item, and the outbreak appears to be over.”
August 12, 2024: Update
This outbreak investigation is ongoing. The public health notice will be updated as the investigation evolves.
Do not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute various recalled plant-based refrigerated beverages
| Illnesses | 20 |
|---|---|
| Provinces and territories with illnesses (number of illnesses) |
|
| Hospitalizations | 15 |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Gender | 65% female |
| Age range | 7-89
70% of cases are 50 years of age or older |
| Food Recall | Yes, various Silk and Great Value brand plant-based refrigerated beverages recalled nationally |
| Investigation status | Active |
Food recall warnings have been issued for plant-based refrigerated beverages from:
For more information on the recalled products, please consult the Canadian Food inspection Agency (CFIA) recall notice on the Government of Canada Recalls and Safety Alerts website.
Listeriosis is a foodborne bacterial illness that can affect anyone exposed to a contaminated food product, including the recalled products.
While healthy individuals can fall ill from a Listeria infection, the disease can be fatal for unborn babies, newborns, individuals over age 60, and those with weakened immune systems.
The following advice applies to individuals across Canada:
Those who are most at risk of becoming sick with severe listeriosis include:
If you have severe listeriosis, you can develop meningitis (a brain infection) and/or blood poisoning. Severe listeriosis can be fatal.
Although people infected while pregnant may only experience mild, flu-like symptoms, listeriosis can spread to their unborn baby, and it can cause:
Symptoms of listeriosis can start as early as 3 days after eating contaminated food. You may have the following symptoms:
In severe cases, the bacteria can spread to the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord and nerves). Symptoms of severe listeriosis include:
Symptoms of severe listeriosis may appear up to 70 days after you have been exposed to Listeria.
There are 20 laboratory-confirmed cases of Listeria monocytogenes illness linked to this outbreak in:
People became sick between August 2023 and mid-July 2024. Of the cases reported to us, fifteen people have been hospitalized and three individuals have died. Many people who became sick reported drinking recalled plant-based beverages before their illnesses occurred.
People who became sick are between 7 and 89 years old. Most of them are:
More recent illnesses may continue to be reported in the outbreak because there is a period between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported to public health officials. For this outbreak, the illness reporting period is between 9 and 29 days.
This outbreak may not be limited to the provinces or territories with known illnesses because the recalled plant-based beverages were distributed nationally.
A Listeria outbreak traced to Boar’s Head deli meats has claimed another life and sickened more people.
As of Aug. 8, there were 43 confirmed patients across 13 states. All of the patients have required hospitalization. Three of the patients have died. The patients range in age from 32 to 94 years old.
“Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that meats sliced at deli counters, including Boar’s Head brand liverwurst, are contaminated with Listeria and are making people sick,” according to an update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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