Category Archives: foodbourne outbreak

USA – Unidentified Salmonella Newport Outbreak Sickens 125 in 15 States

Food Poisoning Bulletin

An unidentified Salmonella Newport outbreak has sickened at least 125 people in 15 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Twenty-four people have been hospitalized because they are so sick. This is the way foodborne illness outbreaks sometimes start; the government publicizes it, and more people come forward who may have information that helps solve it.

Japan and South Korea – Thousands sick in E. coli outbreaks

Food Safety News

Officials in Korea are investigating an E. coli outbreak that has affected 100 people while more than 3,000 students and teachers recently got food poisoning in Japan, according to media reports.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has been investigating an Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) outbreak with the local municipality and relevant ministries since mid-June. EHEC is also known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

The outbreak in a kindergarten in Ansan-si, Gyeonggi Province had 58 confirmed cases as of late June with 114 people showing symptoms. Most of these are students of the kindergarten but three are family members of pupils.

A total of 21 people — 19 kindergarten students and two family members — were in hospital for inpatient care. Sixteen people — 14 students and two family members — had onset of symptoms suspected to be hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure associated with E. coli infection, and four people were receiving dialysis treatment.

Hong Kong – Cross contamination, temperature abuse factors in sandwich outbreak

Food Safety News

Cross contamination and temperature abuse are factors that played a role in an outbreak of Salmonella in Hong Kong earlier this year.

In May, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health recorded 236 illnesses linked to consumption of sandwiches produced in a food factory with more than 50 people needing hospital treatment.

Cross contamination of raw eggs by food handlers at the factory, prolonged storage of sandwiches at improper temperatures during delivery and at retail were suspected to be contributing factors to the outbreak.

The most commonly consumed items included a ham, cheese and egg sandwich by 166 cases, ham and egg sandwich by 50 cases and a cheese and egg sandwich by 29 patients.

Scotland – Salmonella and STEC behind most outbreaks in Scotland

Food Safety News

There were 11 foodborne outbreaks in Scotland this past year with almost 50 people falling ill.

Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) were the most frequently reported organisms.

Findings come from the Health Protection Scotland (HPS), part of Public Health Scotland (PHS), annual surveillance report on bacterial, protozoal and viral outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease in 2019.

The 11 outbreaks and 49 illnesses in 2019 is down from the 14 outbreaks and 117 illnesses reported in 2018, but in line with the previous five-year average of 13 outbreaks per year. Figures from 2018 include a norovirus outbreak that affected 60 people.

RASFF Alert – Foodborne Outbreak Salmonella Enteritidis- Eggs

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RASFF – foodborne outbreak suspected (Salmonella Enteritidis) to be caused by eggs from France in France

USA – Same Fresh Express processing plant in Streamwood, Illinois implicated in 2020 and 2018 Cyclospora Outbreaks

Food Poison Journal

In 2018, CDC was notified of 511 laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infections in people from 15 states and New York City who reported consuming a variety of salads from McDonald’s restaurants in the Midwest.

On July 26, 2018, the FDA completed final analysis of an unused package of romaine lettuce and carrot mix distributed to McDonald’s by the Fresh Express processor in Streamwood, IL. The analysis confirmed the presence of Cyclospora in that sample.

UK -Salmonella outbreak linked to British eggs

Food Safety News

 

Almost 40 people are part of a Salmonella outbreak traced to eggs from the United Kingdom.

A spokesman for Public Health England told Food Safety News that it does not hold information on the date of onset of illness for all the patients.

“There have been 38 reported cases linked to this incident through analysis of whole genome sequencing data. Cases range in age from 6 months to 85 years; 19 are female and 19 are male. We are aware of two cases having been hospitalized,” the spokesman said.

A notification on the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) portal from early July shows that eggs contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis were subjected to physical or chemical treatment in the Netherlands, which was a commercial decision by the producer.

Finland -Finland searches for source of Listeria outbreak

Food Safety News

Authorities in Finland are investigating a Listeria outbreak that has affected eight people.

All patients have been hospitalized but no deaths have been recorded. The age range of those sick is 60 to 93 years old, five are female and they live in different parts of the country.

Ruska Rimhanen-Finne, a veterinary epidemiologist at the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), said all illnesses occurred within a month in May and June.

 

Norway – Yersinia enterocolitica outbreak linked to pre-washed spinach product

Outbreak News Today 

In a follow-up on the Yersinia enterocolitica O3 outbreak that started in mid-May in Norway, health officials are now saying based on an analysis of patient interviews and purchase information show that 22 of 23 cases (96%) state that they have eaten a pre-washed spinach product the week prior to illness. In one case, it has not been possible to conduct an interview.

RASFF Alert – Foodborne Outbreak – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis – Eggs

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RASFF – foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis in eggs from the United Kingdom in the UK