Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

According to DecaturDaily.com, a public lunch provided for elderly citizens has been linked to food poisoning cases in the Decatur-Morgan County region of Alabama. Although the investigation is still in its infancy, health investigators have identified approximately 20 victims of food poisoning, including one fatality linked to E. coli. A State Health Department official, commenting on the Morgan County outbreak, indicates that at least two of the victims have suffered E. coli poisoning, including the decedent. The other 16 victims, presenting at three local hospitals, have tested positive for salmonella. A State epidemiologist, Dr. Mary McIntyre, has indicated that the…

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) has revised upwards its official count of the number of salmonella victims linked to El Patron restaurant in Russellville, Alabama. As of June 20, 2014, 14 victims have been identified and confirmed in this outbreak. It remains unclear if that number will continue to climb as more and more people find out about the outbreak through the local media, and therefore seek medical attention and report their illnesses, but previous studies demonstrate that the number of victims is likely far greater than 14. Dr. Karen Landers, an Assistant State Health Officer for ADPH,…

In the late summer of 2012, the Netherlands experienced its largest food-borne bacterial outbreak in history. The pathogen was Salmonella Thompson, which traditionally appears annually in single or low double-digit numbers in Europe. But by August of 2012, approximately 60 cases of Salmonella Thompson had been identified; in September, over 120 more were identified; in October, nearly 900 tested positive; and in November and December, about another 100 were identified. By December, the count of new cases had slowed to about 20, and by January 2013, the outbreak was deemed over. As soon as investigators in the Netherlands recognized they…

The Jewel-Osco grocery store deli, located at 7117 Harlem Ave, Tinley Park, IL 60477, was closed on Wednesday after 9 potential salmonella outbreak victims were identified. The Cook County Health Department (CCHD) led the investigation and, based upon responses to its trace-back investigation questionnaires, have identified the Jewel-Osco deli as the likely source of the outbreak. And while only 3 of the nine potential victims are confirmed as of yet, the CCHD believed it should act proactively to protect the public health. “Out of an abundance of caution,” according to a Jewel Communications Officer Allison Sperling, the deli was temporarily…

El Patron Restaurant, located at 13655 Hwy 43, in Russellville, Alabama, has received an Emergency Order to Cease Operations, this according to James Congleton, the Environment Director of Area 6 of the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH). The restaurant was inspected by the ADPH following three confirmed salmonella cases, and nine suspected salmonella cases, on June 11 and 12 – the inspections led to the Emergency Order to Cease Operations being issued on June 12. The Emergency Order to Cease Operations was based upon a “potentially imminent health hazard.” Mr. Congleton has stated that El Patron is cooperating, but…

The Alabama Department of Health (ADH) is now on alert after a dozen individuals have been identified as possible victims of a salmonella outbreak. So far, three have been confirmed as salmonella victims, one child and two adults, while another nine are under investigation. At least two of the victims were hospitalized, but all three are reported to be recovering from their illness. Dr. Karen Landers, an Assistant State Health Officer, believes the ADH is close to identifying the entity at the heart of this outbreak (believed to be a single restaurant), and further believes the outbreak to have been…

The Appalachian District Health Department (ADHD) is now reporting 37 potential victims in an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning, with 7 having been laboratory confirmed and another 30 clinically indicative of salmonellosis but awaiting lab results. The Proper Restaurant, on South Water Street in Boone, North Carolina, is being investigated by health officials from the ADHD, but remains open at this time. The restaurant is located in Watauga County, where health investigators are asking anyone who ate at the restaurant on or after May 17th, who then got sick in the next few days, to contact the health department. According…

Coarse ground pepper, and Costco, is again at the center of a salmonella recall. On June 6, 2014, Olde Thompson Inc., a California company, issued a recall of its Kirkland Signature Coarse Ground Malabar Pepper, distributed to consumers in12.7 ounce plastic bottles. In conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has jurisdiction over spices sold in the U.S., Olde Thompson Inc. is recalling all of the Kirkland Signature Coarse Ground Malabar Pepper it has sold with a best by date of March 2017, bearing the Lot #: OT 065099, OT 065169, OT 065254, OT 065255, OT 065256,…

Proper Southern Restaurant, located at 142 South Water Street, Boone, North Carolina 28607, is at the center of a salmonella outbreak in Watauga County. At least 9 victims have been identified, with five laboratory confirmed by the Appalachian District Health Department (ADHD). Beth Lovette, the Health Director, told local reporters that the ADHD is leading the investigation and recommended that all potential victims seek medical attention and report their cases to ADHD. Proper Southern Restaurant, located in Boone’s oldest building, the jailhouse, boasts that is serves “locally sourced Southern cuisine” (signs in the restaurant state note many ingredients are “High…

Foster Farms Brand Chicken is one of the nation’s most popular in both supermarkets and for use in restaurant cooking. But over the last 15 months, at least 574 confirmed cases of Salmonella Heidelberg poisoning have been linked to consumption of this product. And the actual number of victims may be approaching twenty thousand, based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimation that only about 1 in 30 victims of food poisoning seek medical attention. A couple of months ago, NBC News’ Jonel Aleccia estimated the number of actual Foster Farms Brand Chicken salmonella victims to be…