Category Archives: outbreak

RASFF Alert – Foodborne Outbreak – Infant Formula

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by infant milk formula from Spain in France

USA – FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide Infections Linked to Pre-Cut Melons

FDA 

Fast Facts

  • The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide infections. CDC reports that fruit salad mixes that include pre-cut melons are a likely source of this outbreak.
  • FDA advises consumers not to eat recalled fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and fresh-cut fruit medley products containing any of these melons. Products have been distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers under several different brands or labels and distributed to Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, Whole Foods/Amazon. Other retail locations may be added to the list.
  • Caito Foods, LLC has voluntarily recalled fruit salad mixes that contain pre-cut melons to prevent further distribution of potentially contaminated products.
  • CDC reports that there are 70 cases in seven states. Illnesses occurred from April 30, 2018, to June 3, 2018.
  • Ill people range in age from less than 1 year to 97, with a median age of 67. Sixty-seven percent are female. Out of 63 people with information available, 34 (54%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
  • The FDA is working with CDC, along with state partners , to trace back the pre-cut melons to identify the source to determine the full distribution of pre-cut melons, and to learn more about the potential route of contamination.
  • As this is an ongoing investigation, the FDA will update this page as more information becomes available, such as product information, epidemiological results, and recalls.
  • Additional distribution information has been added that identifies retail locations organized by state that received potentially contaminated product. The FDA is advising consumers to discard any recalled products purchased at the listed locations. The FDA is sharing this information with consumers as soon as possible and additional distribution information may be added as it becomes available. It is possible that some stores may be mentioned more than once because they received more than one shipment or more than one product. Consumers may wish to ask a store directly if the recalled product was available for sale.
  • Consumers who have symptoms of Salmonella infection should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care. Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Most infections usually lasts 4 to 7 days and most people recover without treatment, however some people develop diarrhea so severe that they need to be hospitalized.

France – France E. coli O26 outbreak update

Outbreak News Today

In a follow-up on the Escherichia coli O26 outbreak in France, between February and May 2018, several children with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), some of whom were infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O26 bacteria with the same characteristics, were identified by the National Center for reference E. coli and its associated laboratory (Institut Pasteur, Paris, and Microbiology Laboratory of Robert Debré Hospital, Paris).

The investigations carried out by Santé Publique France have confirmed an epidemiological link between these cases and the consumption of raw milk reblochons produced at the Cruseilles (Haute-Savoie) site of Chabert.

These investigations led to the withdrawal of the sale and the recall of all raw milk reblochons manufactured on the Cruseilles site.

As of June 15, 2018, 15 children aged one to five years are included in the investigation of this outbreak. The fifteen children consumed Reblochon as part of the suspect lots. Among them :

  • Twelve were affected by the same strain of E. coli O26;
  • Of these 12 children, one had diarrhea and 11 had an HUS, one of whom died;
  • Of the other three children, two are infected with an E. coli strain O26 different from that of the other 12 children, and for one child no strain could be isolated.

USA – FDA Investigated Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup Linked to Shell Eggs from Rose Acre Farms – Appears to be Over.

FDA 

Fast Facts

  • The FDA advised consumers not to eat recalled eggs produced by Rose Acre Farms’ Hyde County farm. According to Rose Acre Farms’ recall notice and the subsequent recall from Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., these eggs are sold under multiple brand names, including Coburn Farms, Country Daybreak, Food Lion, Glenview, Great Value, Nelms, Sunshine Farms, Publix, and Sunups. Recalled eggs were also sold to restaurants.
  • CDC reported 45 cases in 10 states with 11 hospitalizations and no deaths.
  • After learning that all of the people who became ill ate eggs or egg dishes, the FDA was able to trace back the source of some of the eggs to the Rose Acre Farms’ Hyde County farm. FDA investigators then inspected the farm and collected samples for testing. FDA analysis of the samples revealed that the same strain of Salmonella Braenderup that caused the illnesses was present at the Hyde County Egg facility, tying the facility to the outbreak.
  • As a result of the findings and discussions between the FDA and the firm, Rose Acre Farms voluntarily recalled eggs from the farm in Hyde County, North Carolina. Following Rose Acre Farms’ recall, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. voluntarily recalled eggs purchased from Rose Acre Farms and produced at the Hyde County facility.

Canada- Salmonella outbreak shuts down Stoney Creek Mexican restaurant

Technostalls

Stoney Creek restaurant which boasts on social Websites that it is house to “Hamilton’s best tacos” was shut while health officials explore a salmonella outbreak that left many people ill.

Ole Gourmet on Regional Road 8 had been closed on May 17 following four individuals came back with salmonella from meals prepared there.

The Restaurant was started the next day following a re-inspection that revealed it had been compliant with all Ontario’s Food Premises regulation, according to a press release from town officials.

Some folks may become really seriously sick. Said Dr. Ninh Tran, Hamilton Public Health Services.

However, On May 22 the other individual became ill of Salmonella and analyzing of 10 food samples shown three which were positive for contamination.

The restaurant has been shut on May 25.

USA – Cyclospora Outbreak in Minnesota, Wisconsin Linked to Kwik Trip Del Monte Veggie Trays

Food Safety News 

A cyclospora outbreak in Minnesota and Wisconsin is linked to Del Monte Vegetable Trays that are sold at Kwik Trip stores in the two states. The Wisconsin Department of Health services has released a bulletin about this outbreak.

Eleven people in Wisconsin and three people in Minnesota are sick. They reported purchasing a vegetable tray from a Kwik Trip location before they got sick. The trays contained broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip. They may have also been available at other locations.

Consumers should not eat these products: Del Monte Vegetable Tray (containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip) in 6 ounce packages, and Del Monte Vegetable Tray (containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip) in 12 ounce packages. Kwok Trip is cooperating with officials and have removed this product from their stores.

Cyclospora is a parasite that is usually found in developing countries. But in the summer months, there is almost always a cylospora outbreak in the U.S. Past outbreaks have been linked to snow peas, cilantro, raspberries, and mesclun.

USA – FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide Infections Linked to Pre-Cut Melons

FDA 

Fast Facts

  • The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide infections. CDC reports that fruit salad mixes that include pre-cut melons are a likely source of this outbreak.
  • FDA advises consumers not to eat recalled fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and fresh-cut fruit medley products containing any of these melons produced at the Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. Caito Foods, LLC distributed products produced at this facility in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio. The products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers and distributed to Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, and Whole Foods/Amazon. Caito Foods, LLC has voluntarily recalled fruit salad mixes that contain pre-cut melons to prevent further distribution of potentially contaminated products.
  • The CDC reports that 60 people in five Midwestern states have become ill. Among 47 people with information available, thirty-one cases (66%) have been hospitalized.
  • The 60 illnesses occurred within the period of April 30, 2018 to May 28, 2018.
  • The FDA is working with CDC, along with state partners in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio to trace back the pre-cut melons to identify the source to determine the full distribution of pre-cut melons, and to learn more about the potential route of contamination.
  • As this is an ongoing investigation, the FDA will update this page as more information becomes available, such as product information, epidemiological results, and recalls.
  • Consumers who have symptoms of Salmonella infection should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care. Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Most infections usually lasts 4 to 7 days and most people recover without treatment, however some people develop diarrhea so severe that they need to be hospitalized.

Research – Lactalis of France ‘Salmonella was released from inside the buildings’

Barf Blog

The head of the French company at the centre of an international baby milk scandal denied Friday that it was responsible for the contamination that triggered a recall of formula in over 80 countries, calling it “an accident”.

Lactalis, one of the world’s biggest dairy groups, was forced to recall 12 million packages of powdered baby milk in 83 countries in December and January after being linked to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning in children.

French officials began investigating the company after at least 36 infants fell sick from drinking milk sold under the Picot or Milumel brands. Cases of suspected contamination were also reported among children in Spain and Greece.

USA/Canada – Salmonella outbreaks from raw frozen chicken not related

Food Safety News 

Salmonella Enteritidis outbreaks in Canada and the United States that have been traced to raw frozen chicken patties are likely not related, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The strain in Canada is not related genetically to the strain in the U.S., so the outbreaks do not appear to be related,” a CDC spokesperson told Food Safety News.

Between the two outbreaks, 65 people have been confirmed with salmonellosis, an infection caused by Salmonella bacteria. Thorough cooking to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F kills the bacteria.

In the U.S. outbreak, Ruby’s Pantry network of food pantries in Wisconsin and Minnesota distributed the raw frozen breaded chicken patties without realizing they were raw. Labeling did not indicate the chicken was raw. 

USA – Salmonella outbreak closes Georgia caterer until further notice By News Desk | May 22, 2018

Food Safety News kswfoodworld salmonella

County health officials continue to investigate a Salmonella outbreak linked to a Georgia caterer who provided food for recent events. At least 70 people reported becoming ill after the events, with at least four admitted to hospitals.

The Plain Nuts Catering & Deli of Covington, GA, closed voluntarily, according to the Gwinnett, Newton, & Rockdale County Health Departments. As of Monday evening the caterer’s website did not appear to have any information about the situation.

Sick people reported attending events on April 28 and May 9 that were catered by Plain Nuts. Another group of people who did not attend the events but did eat food from the caterer is also included in the outbreak count. 

Reports of the illnesses first reached the health department on May 4. With all of the sick people having attended the same invitation-only event on April 28, public health officials began investigating the caterer. On May 15, the department received word of illnesses among attendees of the May 9 event.