Category Archives: foodborne outbreak

USA – Raw Milk Cheese linked to E. coli illnesses in California, Utah, Colorado and Texas

Food Poison Journal

Organic Pastures Dairy Company (OPDC) & Raw Farm Recalls and Outbreaks 2006-2024

USA – Norovirus Outbreak Associated with Sushi 9 Restaurant – 2023 Report

Food Poison Journal

• A confirmed case for this outbreak was an individual who ate at Sushi Nine between 11/28/23 and the restaurant closing on 12/5/23, reported having symptoms of norovirus (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headaches, body aches) within 3 days of eating at Sushi Nine, and had a laboratory test result that was positive for norovirus.

• A probable case for this outbreak was an individual who ate at Sushi Nine between 11/28/23 and the restaurant closing on 12/5/23, reported having symptoms of norovirus (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, headaches, body aches) within 3 days of eating at Sushi Nine but did not have a laboratory test positive for norovirus.

USA- FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium illnesses linked to a not yet identified product (ref #1218) has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Queso Fresco and Cotija Cheese (February 2024) is over.

FDA

Current Update

April 10, 2024

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, investigated illnesses in a multi-year, multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to queso fresco and cotija cheeses manufactured by Rizo Lopez Foods, Inc., of Modesto, California.

As of April 9, 2024, CDC reports that the outbreak is over. CDC reports a total of 26 cases in 11 states. There have been a total of 23 hospitalizations and two deaths were reported. The last illnesses onset date was December 10, 2023. FDA’s outbreak investigation is closed.

Food safety is a shared responsibility. Producers of queso fresco type cheeses are responsible for producing safe food, including satisfying applicable food safety requirements. The FDA has developed a prevention strategy with the goal of reducing outbreaks and illnesses of listeriosis associated with soft fresh queso fresco cheeses.

USA – 2023 – Research – Multiple Salmonella Outbreaks linked to Boston Restaurant

Food Poison Journal

In the summer of 2023, an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections occurred in the Boston area. Public health officials from the Boston Public Health Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health conducted investigations into what would become three rounds of illnesses associated with food prepared at Los Amigos Taqueria located at 366 Washington Street in Brighton, Massachusetts. A total of 126 ill patrons were identified. Sixteen people were hospitalized. No one died.

USA – Alabama Cyclospora Outbreak 2023

Food Poison Journal

In the May of 2023, a significant increase in Cyclospora cases associated with a Mexican-style restaurant in Limestone County, Alabama was investigated by the Alabama Department of Public Health. An outbreak investigation was initiated on June 7, 2023. A case control study was launched on June 12. Exposures were reported between May 20 and June 6, 2023.

Research – Salmonella infections in Denmark from 2013–2022 with focus on serotype distribution, invasiveness, age, sex, and travel exposition

Springer Link

Purpose

To analyze the nationwide incidence of Salmonella infections in Denmark from 2013 to 2022.

Methods

Confirmed cases of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica were examined using the National Register of Enteric Pathogens during 2013–2022. Proportions, incidence rates (IR), relative risk (RR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess differences in serotypes, invasiveness, age, sex, and travel exposure.

Results

We identified 9,944 Danish Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica cases, with an average annual incidence rate of 16.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, declining during the COVID-19 pandemic. Typhoidal cases totaled 206, with an average annual IR of 0.35 per 100,000 inhabitants. Enteric fever patients had a median age of 24 years (IQR:17–36). Leading non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS) serotypes were S. Enteritidis (26.4%), monophasic S. Typhimurium (16.5%), and S. Typhimurium (13.5%). Median age for NTS cases was 42 (IQR: 18–62), with even sex distribution, and a third reported travel prior to onset of disease. The overall percentage of invasive NTS (iNTS) infection was 8.1% (CI: 7.6–8.7). Eleven serotypes were associated with higher invasiveness, with S. Dublin and S. Panama having the highest invasiveness with age and sex-adjusted RR of 7.31 (CI: 6.35–8.43) and 5.42 (CI: 3.42–8.60), respectively, compared to all other NTS serotypes. Increased age was associated with higher RR for iNTS infection.

Conclusion

During the decade, there was a limited number of typhoidal cases. The dominant NTS serotypes were S. Enteritidis and monophasic S. Typhimurium, whereas S. Dublin and S. Panama exhibited the highest invasive potential.

Research – Recorded outbreaks jump in Hong Kong in 2023

Food Safety News

The number of outbreaks almost doubled in Hong Kong in 2023 compared to the year before.

Officials reviewed food poisoning outbreaks related to food premises and businesses reported to the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) in 2023.

CFS and the Department of Health are responsible for investigating and controlling outbreaks related to local food premises.

Taiwan – Bongkrekic acid found in restaurant hit by food poisoning outbreak (update)

Focus Taiwan

Taipei, April 2 (CNA) A toxin believed to be the key to a lethal food poisoning outbreak in a Taipei restaurant has been detected in one of the environmental samples taken from the restaurant’s kitchen, confirming the presence of Bongkrecik acid in the restaurant, according to officials and experts on Tuesday.

At a press conference on Tuesday morning, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the toxin, Bongkrekic acid, was found on samples collected from a chopping board, two knives, and one of the chef’s hands in the Xinyi branch of Malaysian restaurant chain Polam Kopitiam on March 24.

USA – Fratelli Beretta Charcuterie linked to 104 Salmonella Illnesses

Food Poison Journal

A total of 104 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella were reported from 33 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 20, 2023, to February 10, 2024. Of 92 people with information available, 27 were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.