A large outbreak with almost 200 cases in China was caused by poor hygiene at the producer and inadequate food storage at schools, according to a recent study.
An outbreak of acute gastrointestinal illness occurred at two middle schools in a rural region of Chongqing in 2021. The source was rice noodles contaminated with Bacillus cereus.
In May 2021, an outbreak was reported in the two schools. More than 100 students from the schools had symptoms of vomiting and nausea, prompting the Chongqing Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the local CDC to investigate and implement control measures.
As of November 17, 43 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from 15 states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from October 17, 2023, to November 6, 2023. Of 30 people with information available, 17 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
Public health investigators are using the PulseNet system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. CDC PulseNet manages a national database of DNA fingerprints of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses. DNA fingerprinting is performed on bacteria using a method called whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples are closely related genetically. This suggests that people in this outbreak got sick from the same food.
Canada is also investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupes. The strain causing the outbreak in Canada is the same as the US outbreak strain. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency found Salmonella in a sample of Malichita brand cantaloupe, and WGS showed that the Salmonella on the cantaloupe is closely related genetically to the bacteria from sick people in Canada. This suggests that people in the Canadian and US outbreaks likely got sick from eating cantaloupe.
On November 1, 2023, Malichita brand cantaloupes were recalled in Canada.
On November 8, Trufresh recalled Malichita brand whole cantaloupes that were sold to US businesses between October 16 and October 23. On November 15, Trufresh expanded their recall to include additional whole cantaloupes.
Additional products containing Malichita brand cantaloupes were also recalled. On November 14, Vinyard Fruit and Vegetable Company recalled pre-cut fruit products and ALDI recalled [PDF – 2 pages] its whole cantaloupe, cantaloupe chunks, and pineapple spears.
CDC is advising people not to eat, sell, or serve recalled fruit.
More information about recalled products and product images can be found in the recall links above.
Whole fresh cantaloupes with a label that says “Malichita”, “4050”, and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique” sold between October 16 and October 23.
ALDIExternal Link Disclaimer cantaloupe, cut cantaloupe, and pineapple spears in clamshell packaging with Best-by dates between October 27 and October 31.
Vinyard cantaloupe chunks and cubes, fruit mixes, melon medleys, and fruit cups containing cantaloupe. Most have a “Vinyard” label, and some have a red label with “Fresh” sold between October 30 and November 10 in Oklahoma stores.
Recalled cantaloupe was sold at retail stores in Arizona, California, Maryland, New Jersey, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Texas, Florida and Canada. This list may not include all states as the cantaloupes could have reached consumers through further retail distribution.
More information about recalled products and product images can be found in the recall links above.
FDA’s investigation is ongoing. Updates to this advisory will be provided as they become available.
Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and usually lasts four to seven days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.
Status
Ongoing: updates to this advisory will be provided as they become available.
Recommendation
Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled cantaloupe and products containing cantaloupe.
Some consumers freeze cantaloupe for later use. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should check their freezers and throw away recalled fresh or cut cantaloupe that was frozen for later use.
If you cannot tell if your cantaloupe is part of the recall, do not eat or use it and throw it away.
Follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra vigilance 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 a Salmonella infection after eating recalled cantaloupe.
50 students in two primary schools of the southern Kien Giang Province were hospitalized for having food poisoning symptoms after their school lunches on Wednesday.
Six students, from the Tran Van On and the Mac Dinh Chi primary schools in Rach Gia City, were taken to the Kien Giang Women and Children’s Hospital by their parents. The hospital then sent six ambulances to the two schools to take others with similar symptoms of stomach ache, vomiting and low blood pressure to the hospital as well.
Phuong said the student told her that there was a “weird smell” in the school’s noodles with minced meat.
Danh Ty, vice director of the hospital, said the students all showed signs of food poisoning. They have all gone under treatment and symptoms have improved. They are being monitored by doctors.
Both schools have been requested to seal off all the food as it is for an investigation.
A new outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref #989) linked to a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated sample collection and analysis. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
A new outbreak of E. coli O103 (ref #1192) linked to a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated a traceback investigation. FDA’s investigation is ongoing.
For the investigation of illnesses (ref #1198) linked to apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, the FDA has updated the advisory to include expanded recall information from the firm and additional reports of illness.
15 children from the same kindergarten in Plovdiv have foodpoisoning, Nova TV reported. 3 of them were examined in hospital.
Three children from the “Slavei” kindergarten were admitted last night to the Infectious Diseases Clinic at St. George hospital with food poisoning. They are around 4 years old and were brought in between 10 pm and 2 am. After the intervention of the doctors and the necessary care, the condition of the children improved.
The cause of the poisoning is not yet clear, the results of the samples taken are awaited.
According to local reports, the eldest person to fall ill in the Miguel’s Cocina Salmonella outbreak has died. This follow reports that the second eldest, an 84 year-old woman represented by Ron Simon & Associates, the national salmonella law firm that has filed all the lawsuits in this litigation so far, has finally been released from the hospital. Unfortunately, on the day of her release, her long-time husband also passed away. So far, several dozen victims have come forward, according to the Miguel’s Cocina E. Coli Lawyer Ron Simon, adding “my office is still receiving calls every day from Miguel Concina victims. We represent more than two dozen victims so far, and expect that number to grow. People who consume food at a restaurant have the right to expect that the food to be safe and wholesome. Obviously, it was not.”
A raw pet food Salmonella outbreak in Canada has sickened at least 40 people. Public Health Canada describes the pathogen as “extensively drug-resistant,” which means it is much more difficult to treat illnesses caused by this bacteria. The outbreak is also linked to contact with cattle.
As of November 11, 2023 there are 40 confirmed cases of XDR (extensively drug resistant) Salmonella in Canada. The case count by provinces is: Manitoba (1), Ontario (14), Quebec (21), New Brunswick (1), Nova Scotia (2), and Prince Edward Island (1). Illness onset dates are between July 2020 and September 2023. Thirteen patients have been hospitalized. The patient age range is between 0 and 91 years of age. About 43% of the patients are children under the age of five
Some 117 students living at the Turkish state dormitory in Isparta province were hospitalized due to food poisoning from the cafeteria dinner. The Isparta Governor’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident.
The governor’s report stated that 1,231 students were served dinner on Nov. 11 at the state-run dormitory. It also indicated that food samples from the dinner were taken for testing and that the Isparta attorney general’s office had initiated a judicial investigation in tandem with the Governor’s Office.
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