Author: foodpoisoningnews

February 27, 2019 The United States Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Concord illnesses linked to tahini imported from an Israeli manufacturer, Achdut Ltd., located in Ari’el, Israel. As of February 27, 2019, there are eight illnesses associated with tahini products from Achdut Ltd. The CDC has announced that this outbreak appears to be over. Recommendation The FDA is advising consumers not to eat recalled Achva, Achdut, Soom, S&F, and Pepperwood brand tahini and Soom brand Chocolate Sweet Tahini Halva Spread…

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, investigated illnesses in a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7. As of January 6, 2022, CDC declared this outbreak over. FDA traced the supply chain for this positive product sample and deployed investigators to three farms in two separate states: California and Oregon. FDA conducted inspections, including sample collection and analysis, but inspections were limited because at the time the fields were fallow and no production activities were being conducted for spinach at any of the three farms. All samples collected were reported negative and no source or direct…

en Español (Spanish) The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to queso fresco cheeses made by El Abuelito Cheese, Inc. On 5/14/2021, the CDC announced that this outbreak is over. Recommendation Recalled Queso Fresco, Quesillo (Oaxaca, string cheese), or Requeson (ricotta) cheeses are past shelf life and should no longer be available. FDA recommends that anyone who received recalled products 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. Listeria can…

The FDA, along with CDC, state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to the consumption of Jule’s Cashew Brie, a vegan, or plant-based cheese alternative. On April 23, 2021, Jule’s Foods of Carlsbad, California, conducted a voluntary recall of all varieties of Jule’s Foods products. As of July 7, 2021, CDC announced that the outbreak is over. There are a total of 20 illnesses in four states. Two additional strains of Salmonella, Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Chester, have been linked to this outbreak. The illnesses of Salmonella Chester have the same genetic fingerprint as Salmonella…

On June 11, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a report on its investigation of the Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak in Peaches. The FDA and multiple state and federal partners investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections that were linked to the consumption of peaches during the summer of 2020. In total, the outbreak caused 101 reported illnesses across 17 states, including 28 hospitalizations. The FDA conducted this investigation in conjunction with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), state partners, and Canadian public health officials between August and October 2020. While investigators did not find the outbreak strain, and the strains…

November 1, 2018 This document provides an overview of factors that potentially contributed to the contamination of romaine lettuce with E. coli O157:H7 that was implicated in a 2018 multi-state foodborne illness outbreak. Background Environmental Assessment Team Approach Factors Potentially Contributing to the Introduction and Spread of E. coli O157:H7 Growing Environment Fresh-cut Produce Manufacturing/Processing Summary Recommendations for Prevention of E. coli O157:H7 and other Shiga Toxin Producing E. col (STEC) Contamination of Leafy Greens Based on these Findings Reference Relevant Links I. Background In early April 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in conjunction with the Centers for…

The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections in the fall of 2020. The epidemiology and traceback investigation have determined that the outbreak was linked to leafy greens. The epidemiological and traceback investigations were not able to determine a specific type of leafy green linked to illnesses. On 12/22/2020, the CDC announced that this outbreak appears to be over. This outbreak, announced by FDA and CDC on October 28, 2020, was caused by a strain of E. coli that is genetically related to a strain linked to the fall 2019…

The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, have completed the investigation on two of three multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections in the U.S. this fall.  One of these investigations, Outbreak Unknown Source 3, identified 18 reported illnesses in nine states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington.  FDA completed a traceback investigation of several potential food vehicles identified in patient interviews and although no single farm was identified as a common source of the outbreak, FDA and state partners also conducted on-site investigations on farms of interest. However, information and samples…

March 4, 2020 FDA, CDC, and state and local partners investigated an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods’ Gainesville, Georgia facility. Almark Foods announced an initial voluntary recall of hard-boiled and peeled eggs in pails on December 20, 2019, and then on December 23, 2019 expanded the recall to include all hard-boiled eggs produced at the Gainesville, Georgia facility. All recalled products are now past their “best by” dates. CDC has announced this outbreak is over. FDA’s investigational activities, including an inspection, are complete. At this time, the firm is no longer producing…

May 21, 2020 Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published the findings of an investigation into the contamination of romaine lettuce implicated in three outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 during the Fall of 2019. The investigation was conducted at several farms identified in the outbreak tracebacks, as well as at other businesses and public access areas and resulted in several key findings: Each of these three outbreaks, identified in the report as Outbreaks A, B and C was caused by distinctly different strains of E. coli O157:H7 as determined by whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis; Traceback investigations of multiple…