Category Archives: foodborne outbreak

USA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1171) in a not yet identified product has been added to the table. There are currently 39 cases. FDA and state partners have initiated sample collection and testing and FDA has initiated traceback.
  • A new outbreak of E. coli O26 (ref #1165) with 13 cases linked to a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1163), the case count has increased from 118 to 121 cases and FDA has initiated traceback.
  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ (ref #1157), the case count has increased from 34 to 35 cases.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1159), the case count has increased from 43 to 68 cases.
  • For the outbreak of hepatitis A virus (ref #1143) linked to frozen strawberries, the advisory was updated on July 20, 2023 to include one additional case. FDA reminds consumers to check their freezers and not eat recalled frozen strawberries.

USA – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef

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CDC

Investigators are working to identify the source of the ground beef sick people ate in this outbreak. Any ground beef can have germs, like Salmonella. Always cook ground beef to an internal temperature of 160°F.

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 16
  • Hospitalizations: 6
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 4
  • Recall: No
  • Investigation status: Active
Two ground beef patties on a white background.
 
Source of the Outbreak

All of the people who remembered the type of ground beef they ate and where they bought it reported eating 80% lean ground beef purchased from ShopRite locations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York before they got sick. Ground beef is the only common food people reported eating. Investigators are working to identify the source of the ground beef sick people ate.

Salmonella in Ground Beef

Ground beef is a known source of Salmonella illnessesSalmonella germs live in the intestines of people and animals and can be spread through contaminated food, water, food preparation surfaces, and unwashed hands. Salmonella germs are killed when ground beef is cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Eating raw or undercooked ground beef can make you sick.

Research – A Novel Foodborne Illness Detection and Web Application Tool Based on Social Media

MDPI

Abstract

Foodborne diseases and outbreaks are significant threats to public health, resulting in millions of illnesses and deaths worldwide each year. Traditional foodborne disease surveillance systems rely on data from healthcare facilities, laboratories, and government agencies to monitor and control outbreaks. Recently, there is a growing recognition of the potential value of incorporating social media data into surveillance systems. This paper explores the use of social media data as an alternative surveillance tool for foodborne diseases by collecting large-scale Twitter data, building food safety data storage models, and developing a novel frontend foodborne illness surveillance system. Descriptive and predictive analyses of the collected data were conducted in comparison with ground truth data reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The results indicate that the most implicated food categories and the distributions from both Twitter and the CDC were similar. The system developed with Twitter data could complement traditional foodborne disease surveillance systems by providing near-real-time information on foodborne illnesses, implicated foods, symptoms, locations, and other information critical for detecting a potential foodborne outbreak.

UK records hundreds of Salmonella cases after travel to Turkey

Food Safety News

kswfoodworld salmonella

Almost 250 Salmonella infections in the United Kingdom since the start of 2023 have been linked to travel to Turkey.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has shared steps to reduce the risk of common infections when going abroad in summer.

The agency has detected a number of clusters of gastrointestinal illness in people returning from Turkey, the majority of whom had been to the Antalya region. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has revealed some clusters are related, which indicates a likely common source of infection.

Between mid-January and July 19, there have been 241 confirmed cases of Salmonella Enteritidis, the majority with specimen collection dates from April onward.

Fifty-six percent of cases are male and the median age is 29 years old. Of the 93 cases for which travel information is available, people reported staying in different hotels in Turkey and most ate a variety of foods at their hotel resort as part of an all-inclusive holiday package.

UKHSA issued a warning ahead of the school summer holidays as the source of illness has not been identified. UKHSA, Turkish health authorities and other international public health agencies are involved in ongoing investigations.

USA – Breaking news: Listeria outbreak sickens 5, kills 3 in Washington

Food Safety News

A deadly outbreak of infections from Listeria is under investigation by state and local officials in Washington.

As of late today five patients had been identified. All five required hospitalization and three have died, according to the Tacoma-Pierece County Health Department.

All of the patients are or were in their 60s or 70s and all had weakened immune systems, according to the health department, which is working with Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Thurston County Public Health and Social Services.

The Tacoma News is reporting that “genetic fingerprinting results (whole genome sequencing) indicate that these patients likely have the same source of infection. Patients became ill between February 27 and June 30, 2023.”

State and local public health officials have not yet discovered a source for the bacteria. They are interviewing patients and their representatives to develop a profile.

The state of Washington generally logs 10 to 25 cases of Listeria infection annually, according to the Tacoma health department.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Hepatitis A Virus Infections: Frozen Strawberries (February 2023)

FDA

Product

Willamette Valley Fruit Recall:

  • Great Value Mixed Fruit 4-lb bags, Great Value Sliced Strawberries 4-lb bags, and Great Value Antioxidant Fruit Blend 2-lb bags sold at Walmart.
  • Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend 48-oz. bags sold at Costco.
  • Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio 3-lb bags sold at HEB stores.

Wawona Frozen Foods Recall: Wawona brand Organic DayBreak Blend 4-lb. bag with “Use By” dates of 9/23/2023, 9/29/2023, 9/30/2023 and 10/18/2023.

California Splendor Recall: Kirkland Signature 4-lb. bag Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries in certain states with specific lot codes.

Scenic Fruit Recall: Recalled brands include Simply Nature, Vital Choice, Kirkland Signature, Made With, PCC Community Markets frozen organic strawberries and Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend with specific best by dates.

Additional recall information is available below.

Stores Affected

Great Value Mixed Fruit, Sliced Strawberries, and Antioxidant Fruit Blend were sold in Walmart stores in AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV, and WY.

Rader Farms Organic Fresh Start Smoothie Blend was sold in Costco stores in CO, TX, CA, and AZ.

Rader Farms Organic Berry Trio was sold in HEB stores in TX.

Wawona Frozen Foods distributed recalled packages of Organic DayBreak Blend to Costco Wholesale stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, and Washington.

California Splendor supplied recalled product to Costco stores in Los Angeles and Hawaii, and to two San Diego business centers. Scenic Fruit supplied recalled product to Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in specific states, and to Trader Joe’s nationwide.

On March 17, 2023, the retailer, Meijer, also issued press to voluntarily recall Made-WithExternal Link Disclaimer brand frozen organic strawberries from certain market store locations.

This is not an exhaustive list of products or stores. FDA is continuing to work with the firms to identify potential additional product information.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Illness usually occurs within 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool. In some instances, particularly in children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection may be asymptomatic.

Status

Ongoing

USA – CDC – Cyclosporiasis Illnesses in the United States, 2023

CDC

CDC, along with state and federal health and regulatory officials, monitor cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States in the spring and summer months to detect outbreaks linked to a common food source. Cyclosporiasis is a diarrheal illness caused by a parasite called Cyclospora cayetanensis.

Fast Facts

  • Illnesses: 581
  • Hospitalizations: 55
  • Deaths: 0
  • States reporting cases: 31
  • Investigation status: Active (first posted on May 25, 2023)

Cyclosporiasis illnesses are reported year-round in the United States. However, during the spring and summer months there is often an increase in cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States. The exact timing and duration of these seasonal increases in cyclosporiasis can vary, but reports tend to increase starting in May. This year, cases were reported starting in April. It is too soon to tell if this timing indicates a change in the seasonality of cyclosporiasis in the United States.

In previous years, the reported number of cases peaked between June and July, although cases can be reported as late as September. The number of infections or hospitalizations and the number of identified outbreaks linked to a common source also vary from season to season.

USA – 10 in Washington, California, Oregon and Hawaii linked to Hepatitis A tainted Strawberries

Food Poison Journal

CDC, state public health and regulatory officials, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating an outbreak of hepatitis A linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from certain farms located in Baja California, Mexico, by a common supplier. Frozen organic strawberries may be sold to a variety of retailers under multiple brand labels. Traceback and epidemiological investigations show that people with outbreak-associated cases purchased the same retail brand of frozen organic strawberries prior to becoming ill.

As of July 18, 2023, a total of 10 outbreak-associated cases of hepatitis A have been reported from 4 states.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 24, 2022, to June 4, 2023. Ill people range in age from 38 to 64 years, with a median age of 56.5 years. Thirty percent of ill people are female. Of 10 people with available information, 4 (40%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

USA – FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • For the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (ref #1166), the case count has increased from 11 to 12.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1163), the case count has increased from 112 to 118 cases.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1159), the case count has increased from 38 to 43 cases. This incident now includes additional illnesses based on similarities in reported exposures.
  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis (ref #1156) linked to raw cookie dough, the advisory was updated on July 13, 2023. The outbreak has ended and FDA’s investigation is closed.
  • For the investigation linked to Morel mushrooms (ref #1152), the advisory was updated on July 19, 2023. The outbreak has ended, and FDA’s investigation is closed.

Research -Fermenting a place in history: The first outbreak of Escherichia coli O157 associated with kimchi in Canada

Cambridge Org

Abstract

A Canadian outbreak investigation was initiated in January 2022 after a cluster of cases of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 was identified through whole genome sequencing (WGS). Exposure information was collected through case interviews. Traceback investigations were conducted, and samples from case homes, retail, and the manufacturer were tested for STEC O157. Fourteen cases were identified in two provinces in Western Canada, with isolates related by 0–5 whole genome multi-locus sequence typing allele differences. Symptom onset dates ranged from 11 December 2021 to 7 January 2022. The median age of cases was 29.5 (range 0–61); 64% were female. No hospitalisations or deaths were reported. Of 11 cases with information available on fermented vegetable exposures, 91% (10/11) reported consuming Kimchi Brand A during their exposure period. The traceback investigation identified Manufacturer A in Western Canada as the producer. One open and one closed sample of Kimchi Brand A tested positive for STEC O157, with isolates considered genetically related by WGS to the outbreak strain. Napa cabbage within the kimchi product was hypothesised as the most likely source of contamination. This paper summarises the investigation into this STEC O157 outbreak associated with kimchi, the first reported outside of East Asia.