School No. 4 in Novocheboksarsk poisoned 205 people with expired food, including 6 children who were hospitalized. Norovirus RNA and an attempt to hide the expired food were found in the cafeteria.
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Category Archives: Foodborne Illness
Russia – Mass poisoning in a Russian school cafeteria: more than 200 victims – Norovirus
Posted in Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Norovirus
USA – Saint Louis County Department of Public Health Continues to Investigate E. coli O157 Outbreak as Cases Climb
The Saint Louis County Department of Public Health (DPH) is continuing to actively investigate an outbreak of Escherichia coli O157 (E. coli) affecting students, parents and guests of Rockwood Summit High School. As of 12:30 this afternoon, 69 cases have been identified, with some laboratory-confirmed and others presenting compatible symptoms and epidemiological links to confirmed cases.
Further investigation has revealed that individuals who tested positive for E. coli attended two separate events hosted at or catered through Andre’s Banquets and Catering in association with Rockwood Summit High School. Although current details are suggestive of salad being the source of illness, we have not identified a specific ingredient, nor do we have information on the nature or timing of the contamination (i.e., farm vs. later).
USA – E. coli O157 infections linked to consumption of burgers from Red Cow and Hen House restaurants
Health officials are urging people to contact their health care provider if they ate a hamburger, especially if undercooked, at a table-service restaurant since Oct. 31 and then developed diarrhea, particularly bloody diarrhea, in the following week.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has identified 10 cases of E. coli O157 infection in people who had eaten burgers at multiple locations of Red Cow, a table-service restaurant chain with locations in Hennepin, Ramsey and Olmsted counties. One additional case reported dining at Hen House Eatery in Minneapolis, which received the same ground beef product suspected in this investigation. The ground beef product was also distributed to other establishments, so additional cases from other locations could be identified.
So far, cases have reported meal dates of Oct. 31 through Nov. 7, and illness onset dates range from Nov. 4 through Nov. 9. Cases range in age from 9 to 70 years. Two cases have been hospitalized. Additional potential cases are under investigation.
USA – Great Falls Salmonella Illnesses might be linked to Multi-State Outbreak
At this time, ten cases have been confirmed. Nine of those confirmed cases are within four GFPS elementary schools. Additional test results are pending.
The MT State lab is performing genomic sequencing of test samples for each confirmed salmonella infection. These results would determine whether the Great Falls cases are linked to cases in other jurisdictions but will not confirm a specific food source. As of 11/15, we have not yet received those results.
UKHSA defends response to fatal E. coli case
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has explained its role in investigating the case of a woman who died following an E. coli infection after being criticized in a coroner’s report.
An inquest concluded that Laura Farmer died from a stroke caused by an E. coli infection.
Following a diarrheal illness about 10 days earlier, the 46-year-old was admitted to University College Hospital in April 2024. She was diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). When thought to be in the recovery phase, she suffered an unexpected stroke and died.
USA – Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O121:H9: Organic Carrots (November 2024)
Product
Grimmway Farms initiated a voluntary recall of multiple sizes and brands of bagged organic whole and baby carrots.
- Organic whole carrots were available for purchase at retail from August 14 through October 23, 2024 (365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments, Full Circle, Good & Gather, GreenWise, Marketside, Nature’s Promise, O Organic, President’s Choice, Simple Truth, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Wholesome Pantry).
- Organic baby carrots include specific best-if-used-by dates printed on the bags ranging from September 11 to November 12, 2024 (365, Bunny Luv, Cal-Organic, Compliments, Full Circle, Good & Gather, GreenWise, Grimmway Farms, Kroger, LIDL, Marketside, Nature’s Promise, O Organic, President’s Choice, Raley’s, Simple Truth, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, Wholesome Pantry).
A full list of recalled products is below. These products are likely no longer available for sale in stores but could be in people’s homes.
Symptoms of E. coli
Symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting. Symptoms begin anywhere from a few days after consuming contaminated food or up to nine days later.
The severity or presence of certain symptoms may depend on the type of pathogenic E. coli that is causing the infection. Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to life-threatening conditions, such as a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems.
Stores Affected
These products were sold nationwide but are likely no longer available for sale in stores.
Status
Ongoing
Recommendation
- Consumers should check their refrigerators and freezers and should not eat recalled bagged whole or baby carrots. If you have these products in your home, do not eat or use them, throw them away, and clean and sanitize surfaces they touched. If you purchased organic whole or baby carrots and stored them without the original packaging and don’t know what brand they are, you should not eat them and should throw them away.
- Retailers and distributors that purchased recalled bagged whole or baby carrots should not sell this product and should notify their customers. These products are likely past shelf-life and no longer available for sale in stores, but distributors and retailers should check their refrigerators and freezers and should not serve or sell recalled bagged whole or baby carrots.
- Retailers that are unsure if they received these products may need to contact their supplier. If you are unable to determine whether or not recalled product was received, you should discard the contents of the bins and use extra care to clean and sanitize the bins before refilling.
- Retailers, distributors, and consumers should follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra care in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
- Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of an E. coli infection after eating organic carrots.
Current Update
November 17, 2024
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O121:H9 infections linked to organic whole and baby carrots supplied by Grimmway Farms of Bakersfield, California.
State and local public health officials are interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 27 people interviewed, 26 (96%) reported eating carrots.
FDA’s traceback investigation identified Grimmway Farms as the common supplier of organic whole and baby carrots in this outbreak. On November 16, 2024, Grimmway Farms initiated a voluntary recall of multiple quantities and brands of bagged organic whole and baby carrots and contacted their distributing customers. The retail-packaged organic whole carrots were in stores for purchase from August 14 through October 23, 2024. The organic baby carrots have different best-if-used-by-dates ranging from September 11 through November 12, 2024. A full list of recalled products is below.
Although product is likely no longer on the market, carrots can last a long time when refrigerated or frozen. Consumers should check their refrigerators and freezers and discard these recalled products. Distributors and retailers that may have received recalled bagged organic whole and baby carrots should follow the recommendations above and contact their customers.
FDA is working with the firm to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products are affected. This advisory will be updated as information becomes available.
USA – Great Falls school children hit with Salmonella
The Montana State lab is performing genomic sequencing of test samples and has notified CCHD that it expects results on Friday 11/15. These results would determine whether the Great Falls cases are linked to a multistate outbreak but will not confirm a specific food source.
At this time, ten cases have been confirmed. Nine of those confirmed cases are within four GFPS elementary schools. Three additional test results are pending, one of which is associated with another secondary school.
Because foodborne illnesses are commonly linked to fresh fruits and vegetables, GFPS is temporarily removing those items from all school menus as a cautionary measure, and alternative canned and dried fruit options will be made available. A GFPS notification has been sent to student families.
USA- FDA- Update – Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O157:H7: Onions (October 2024)
November 13, 2024
FDA, CDC, and state partners continue investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to slivered onions served on Quarter Pounder burgers at McDonald’s restaurants in certain states. As of November 13, 2024, 104 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 14 states. Of 98 people with information available, 34 have been hospitalized, and 4 people developed HUS, a serious condition that can cause kidney failure. One death has been reported from an older adult in Colorado. This person is not one of those who developed HUS. Of the 81 people interviewed, 80 (99%) report eating at McDonald’s. Seventy-five people were able to remember specific menu items they ate at McDonald’s. 63 of 75 people (84%) reported a menu item containing fresh slivered onions.
FDA, Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) have collected onion and environmental samples from McDonald’s stores, distribution centers, and firms of interest for laboratory analysis. At this time, one FDA sample of recalled onions has tested positive for E. coli, but it is a non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and does not match the outbreak strain or any other clinical illnesses. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis determined that the sample is positive for E. coli O168:H8 and contains the Shiga toxin gene stx2a. Additional sample results are pending. More information will be provided in this update as it becomes available.
FDA has completed onsite inspections at a Taylor Farms processing center in Colorado and an onion grower of interest in Washington state.
McDonald’s stopped using slivered onions on Quarter Pounder burgers in affected states, and Taylor Farms recalled yellow onions on October 22, 2024. Food service customers were notified by Taylor Farms that they should not sell or serve recalled yellow onions. FDA continues working with Taylor Farms and their direct customers to determine if additional downstream customer recalls are necessary. Food service customers should not be further distributing recalled onions. According to available information, recalled onions should not be available for purchase in grocery stores. McDonald’s has reintroduced slivered onions from a different onion supplier into their full menu. At this time, there does not appear to be a continued food safety concern related to this outbreak at McDonald’s restaurants.
Prolonged multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Strathcona ST2559 linked to consumption of tomatoes in the EU/EEA and the UK
Abstract
A cross-border outbreak of Salmonella Strathcona ST2559 is ongoing in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) and the United Kingdom (UK). From 1 January 2023 to 5 November 2024, 232 confirmed cases of S. Strathcona ST2559 have been identified in 16 EU/EEA countries according to the European case definition: Austria (33), Croatia (3), Czechia (10), Denmark (9), Estonia (1), Germany (62), Finland (3), France (23), Ireland (1), Italy (67), Luxembourg (2), the Netherlands (2), Norway (3), Slovakia (5), Slovenia (2) and Sweden (6). Twenty-nine cases were also identified in the UK. Among the travel-associated cases, the most frequently visited country was Italy.
Tomatoes were identified as the vehicle of infection in several national epidemiological investigations undertaken in response to this multi-country outbreak. Whole genome sequencing cluster analyses suggest that the outbreak strain from multiple affected countries has a recent common origin.
The epidemiological, microbiological and traceability investigations in the 2023 Austrian outbreak and 2024 Italian outbreak confirmed that small tomatoes from the Sicily region of Italy were the vehicle of infection in these two outbreaks. The same conclusion was confirmed for a historical S. Strathcona ST2559 outbreak in Denmark in 2011.
Human and food sectors should continue to conduct investigations to verify whether small tomatoes from Sicily are the vehicle of infection in all EU countries that have reported or continue to report cases in this multi-country outbreak, as other foods could also be involved in the transmission. The environment’s role in the contamination of the tomatoes should also be investigated, as the outbreak strain was also identified in a farm animal in the region. Investigations to identify the point of entry of S. Strathcona – including of irrigation water – should be conducted so the appropriate corrective measures are taken to stop the contamination from spreading and prevent possible new cases.
Research – Preventing E. coli Contamination of Leafy Greens: Advanced Sanitation Practices and Exposure Reduction
The recurring contamination of leafy greens with pathogenic Escherichia coli bacteria is a critical public health issue that has impacted consumers and the food industry alike. The high susceptibility of leafy greens to E. coli contamination is exacerbated by various factors, from field exposure to processing practices. This article delves into the technical aspects of E. coli contamination in leafy greens processing facilities, including environmental control measures, sanitation practices, and strategies to mitigate bacterial load.
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