Category Archives: Illness

USA – Infinite Herbs, LLC Voluntarily Recalls 2.5-Ounce Fresh Organic Basil Sold From February 1 Through April 6 Because of Possible Health Risk

Posted on April 22, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

“Image of UPC and Date Packed for Infinite Herbs Basil package”

April 18, 2024—Infinite Herbs LLC of Miami, Florida, is voluntarily recalling 2.5-ounce packages of Infinite Herbs fresh organic basil sold between February 1 and April 6, 2024, and bearing the UPC 8 18042 02147 7 (see photos below) because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Based on its food questionnaires and epidemiological data to date, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that 12 illnesses are likely related to this recall. Infinite Herbs initiated the voluntary recall after the FDA notified it of the CDC’s information.

The recalled product was shipped directly to Trade Joe’s retail distribution centers in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and to two Fruit Center Marketplace stores in Massachusetts.

No other products distributed by Infinite Herbs are affected by this recall—non-organic basil in any package and other package sizes of organic basil are not included in this recall. The company is conducting this recall with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) knowledge.

The recalled product is out of date and no longer available for sale, but consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and freezers and not consume the recalled organic basil if they have it. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 305-599-9255 x 148 or via email to customer_service@infiniteherbs.com, Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT.

Link to Expanded Press Release

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Posted in FDA, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Salmonella

Taiwan – Three test positive for norovirus after dining at sushi restaurant chain

Posted on April 18, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Focus Taiwan

Taipei, April 17 (CNA) Three of the 23 people who reported suspected food poisoning after dining at branches of the sushi restaurant chain Kura Sushi have tested positive for norovirus, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) said Wednesday.

At a press conference on Wednesday morning, TFDA Director-General Wu Shou-mei (吳秀梅) said the TFDA and local health bureaus have received reports of 10 suspected food poisoning cases involving 23 individuals who had meals at different branches of the sushi restaurant chain.

Of the 23, three have tested positive for norovirus, while testing of samples taken from the remaining 20 individuals is still underway, Wu said, adding that a chef tested negative for norovirus, without specifying the branch where the three dined or where the chef worked.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Norovirus, outbreak

Denmark reports fatal multi-year Listeria outbreak

Posted on April 18, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Danish officials are trying to find the source of a Listeria outbreak that has affected 17 people since 2019.

Two illnesses have provisionally been registered in 2024, said the Statens Serum Institut (SSI).

Patients have been infected with the same type of Listeria monocytogenes since the summer of 2019.

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Posted in Death, food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak

Researchers Estimate Leafy Greens Foodborne Illness Outbreaks Cost U.S. $5 Billion Annually

Posted on April 18, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety.com

A recent review authored by researchers from Ohio State University has established pathogen-specific foodborne illness burden estimates for leafy greens in the U.S. by combining three outbreak-based attribution models with illness incidence and economic cost models.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Microbiology Research, Food Pathogen, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Pathogen, pathogenic, Research

USA -FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on April 18, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses linked to a not yet identified product (ref #1221) has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback.
  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium (ref #1218) in a not yet identified food, the case count has increased from 11 cases to 12 cases.
  • For the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #1214) linked to queso fresco and cotija cheese, the advisory was updated on April 10, 2024. The outbreak has ended, and FDA’s investigation is closed.
  • For the investigation of elevated lead levels in Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches (ref # 1198), these products are off the market and no longer available for sale; however, they have a long shelf life. Consumers should check their pantries and discard any recalled products. FDA’s response has transitioned from this investigation to post-incident actions and activities. Future updates on lead-related actions and activities can be found on the FDA Post- Incident Response Activities: Elevated Lead & Chromium Levels: Cinnamon Applesauce Pouches page.

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Posted in CORE Investigation Table, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, FDA, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria in Cheese, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak, Salmonella

USA – 11 Norovirus Cases Reported In San Diego County – Oysters

Posted on April 18, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Patch

Eleven confirmed and probable cases of norovirus illness in San Diego County have been linked to frozen oysters imported from South Korea, public health officials announced Tuesday.

Customers who ate the oysters between March 31 and April 1 at 100s Seafood Grill Buffet in Mission Valley became sick, with one person going to the emergency room, according to the county.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Norovirus Oysters, outbreak

Singapore – Two companies fined for operating an unlicensed food business and food safety lapses respectively

Posted on April 18, 2024 by | Leave a comment

SFA

Angel’s Restaurant Pte Ltd fined for multiple food safety lapses
5 Angel’s Restaurant Pte Ltd was fined $3,300 for food safety lapses committed under
the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations.
6 In January 2023, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and SFA received reports of
gastroenteritis involving 19 persons after consuming catered food prepared by Angel’s
Restaurant Pte Ltd, located at 3017 Bedok North Street 5 #02-31, Gourmet East Kitchen,
Singapore 486121. None of the affected cases was hospitalised.

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Safety, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Foodborne Illness, Illness

USA – FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Certain Frozen, Raw, Half-shell Oysters from Republic of Korea Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus

Posted on April 17, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Oysters Farm Raised Lable from South Korea

Audience

  • Restaurants and food retailers in California that have recently purchased Lots B231126, B240103, and B240214 of frozen, raw, half-shell oysters processed by JBR (KR 15 SP) in Tongyeongsi, Republic of Korea on 11/27/2023, 1/4/2024, and 2/15/2024.
  • Consumers and retailers in California who have recently purchased lots B231126, B240103, and B240214 of frozen, raw, half-shell oysters processed by JBR (KR 15 SP) in Tongyeongsi, Republic of Korea on 11/27/2023, 1/4/2024, and 2/15/2024.

Products

Frozen, raw, half-shell oysters Lots B231126 and B240103, harvested from Designated Area No. 1 on 11/26/2023 and 1/3/2024, and Lot B240214 harvested from Designated Area No. 2 on 2/14/2024, and processed by JBR (KR 15 SP) in Tongyeongsi, Republic of Korea on 11/27/2023, 1/4/2024, and 2/15/2024. Lots B240103 and B240214 may be labeled with Amazing Sea Brand. The oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in California and may have been distributed to other states as well.

The photos below are included as an example of product tag and case labeling from one (1) of the three (3) lots identified above and include information specific to Lot B231126, harvested from Designated Area No. 1 on 11/26/2023 with production date 11/27/2023. The tag and label information for Lot(s) B240103 and B240214 would include similar corresponding details appropriate to each Lot.

Summary of Problem and Scope

On 4/9/2024, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) notified the FDA of an outbreak of norovirus illnesses associated with consumption of oysters from the Republic of Korea. On 4/15/2024, authorities at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries in the Republic of Korea advised the firm to voluntarily initiate a recall of the distributed lots of frozen, raw, half-shell oysters due to possible norovirus contamination. The distributed lots include frozen, raw, half-shell oysters Lots B231126 and B240103, harvested from Designated Area No. 1, and Lot B240214, harvested from Designated Area No. 2, and processed by JBR (KR 15 SP) in Tongyeongsi, Republic of Korea on 11/27/2023, 1/4/2024, and 2/15/2024, and shipped to distributors in California. The product may have been distributed to other states as well.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Norovirus, Norovirus Oysters, outbreak

Denmark – Outbreak of invasive Listeria infection Sequence Type 1607

Posted on April 16, 2024 by | Leave a comment

SSI

The Statens Serum Institut is currently investigating a protracted disease outbreak with Listeria monocytogenes in collaboration with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the Norwegian Food Institute DTU.

Listeria infection is a foodborne illness that can cause blood poisoning or meningitis in people who have a weakened immune system. The disease can also be dangerous for pregnant women and their unborn child.

Listeria outbreaks are often long-lasting, the infection can occur for a period of up to several years. The current outbreak includes 17 people who have become ill over a six-year period. Two cases of illness have provisionally been registered in 2024.

A total of 17 people have been infected with the same type of listeria since the summer of 2019. The patients are 13 women and 4 men with a median age of 73 years, with one patient in their 20s and four in their 80s. The patients live throughout the country. All have been hospitalized. Two people have died within 30 days of detection of the infection.

The bacteria is of the type Listeria monocytogenes . By whole-genome sequencing of the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria isolated from the patients, it can be seen that they are very closely related and belong to sequence type 1607.

No source has been identified yet.

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Posted in Death, food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes

India- One dead, more than 75 ill due to food poisoning in Chandrapur

Posted on April 16, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Varthabharati

One person died and more than 75 took ill due to food poisoning in Majri colliery area in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district on Sunday, a health official said.

The incident occurred after more than 400 people had ‘prasad’ on Saturday evening during a religious function on the eve of Chaitra Navratri Mahotsav in a Kali temple, he said.

“Some of them started feeling unwell after reaching home and 79 arrived at Warora civil hospital past midnight. The condition of six persons was critical and they were shifted to Chandrapur district hospital. Of these, a man identified as Gurufem Yadav died,” the official said.

The other patients are stable and are under treatment, he added.

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Posted in Death, food death, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Poisoning Death, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, Illness, Poisoning