Author: Tony Coveny, Ph.D

Kitty’s antipasto sickens 39 at restaurant in North Reading, Mass. A salmonella outbreak among patrons of Kitty’s Restaurant in North Reading, Massachusetts, has forced the restaurant to close. Illnesses were reported by restaurant customers on June 23 and again on June 25. Nine people have been confirmed to have salmonella and another thirty cases are suspected. The restaurant’s customers complained of food poisoning symptoms to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which has identified the probable source as the antipasto salad. After the initial closing, the restaurant re-opened on July 6. It has, however, closed again until further notice as…

4 ill after eating at Nintendo of America cafés An outbreak of e. coli has affected consumers of cafés located on the campus of Nintendo of America in Redmond, Washington. King County health investigators are reporting that four people became ill after eating at Café Mario on multiple days during June 18–22, 2018; one ill person also ate at I Love Sushi on June 19 and June 26, 2018, which is a food establishment that operates out of Café Mario once a week. Café Mario is not open to the public. One person has been hospitalized after eating at the…

Another kratom product recalled for salmonella The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed salmonella contamination in a kratom product made by Blissful Remedies. The company has subsequently recalled that product. This most recall follows a string of kratom products being recalled this year because of similar salmonella contamination issues. Blissful Remedies has recalled its kratom powder product known as Nevada, packaged in white foil pouches with Lot No.: 112710 and an expiration of 03/2019. These products were manufactured, processed, packed, and/or held, between March 1, 2018, and April 30, 2018, to the consumer level. The products were distributed…

33 people ill from contaminated food at neighborhood party in North Carolina Shigella Outbreak Food safety issues are the probable cause of a shigella infection that sent 33 people to the hospital after a neighborhood cookout in Charlotte, North Carolina. About 100 people attended the cookout and birthday party at Forest Hills Townhomes on Saturday, June 30. By the next day, almost half of the partygoers were complaining of stomach illnesses with shigella symptoms. Health officials determined that the source of the infection was most likely a lack of proper hygiene by the person or persons who handled and prepared the…

Cyclospora outbreak in Texas sickens 56 An outbreak of illnesses in Texas directly related to the parasite Cyclospora has state health officials searching for its cause. Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) investigators are working with local health departments to pin down the source of the outbreak that has resulted in 56 cases of food poisoning across the state of Texas since May 2018. DSHS issued a health advisory on June 21, 2018, urging healthcare providers to consider testing patients for the parasite Cyclospora if they have diarrheal illness lasting more than a few days or diarrhea accompanied by…

185 confirmed cases of illness related to Del Monte vegetable trays – Del Monte Cyclospora Lawyers The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 185 cases of cyclosporiasis in people who reportedly consumed the contents of pre-packaged Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable trays containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip. Illnesses were reported primarily in Wisconsin, with 131 cases. Additionally, Minnesota has reported 47, Iowa has reported 5, and Michigan has reported 2 cases of illness. Those in Michigan reportedly purchased the vegetable trays in Wisconsin. Of the 185 people who have become ill after eating the vegetables and…

Lettuce e. coli contamination apparently from canal water An outbreak of e. coli that began in March 2018 has potentially been traced back to canal water in the Yuma, Arizona, growing area. People who consumed romaine lettuce from the Yuma area began reporting illnesses from eating salads and other chopped lettuce products on March 13. The reports continued through June 6. To date, 210 people in 36 states have become ill from eating the contaminated romaine lettuce. There have been 96 hospitalizations and five deaths. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and…

An employee who handled food at a Hardee’s restaurant located in Charlotte, NC, has been diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Over 4,000 people ate at the restaurant during a 10-day period in which the employee worked with an active diagnosis of the disease. As a result, those customers who ate food at the Hardee’s location at 2604 Little Rock Road in Charlotte between June 13 and 23 may have been exposed to the serious liver disease. The Mecklenburg County Health Department has alerted customers that they should be vaccinated to prevent any potential health risks from the exposure. County officials have…

Illnesses at North Carolina restaurant increase to 100 The number of people who became ill after eating at Mexico Viejo in Taylorsville, NC, has risen to 100. Illnesses among restaurant patrons are apparently linked to e. coli contamination in a chicken dish at the restaurant, located in Alexander County. Environmental health officials have inspected the restaurant, but the exact cause of the e. coli outbreak has yet to be determined. Previous inspections of the restaurant by county health officials revealed no food safety issues and the restaurant had received a high score by inspectors. The restaurant is cooperating with health…

Restaurant customers in Taylorsville, NC, ill from e. coli Customers who ate chicken dishes at Mexico Viejo, a restaurant located in Alexander County, North Carolina, became very ill with apparent food poisoning. Restaurant customers who dined at the Mexican restaurant in Taylorsville on June 20 are thought to be victims of e. coli contamination. The Alexander County Health Department confirmed that one diner had tested positive for e. coli. About 30 other customers became ill with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea within several hours of eating at the restaurant. Health officials believe this to be an isolated incident, occurring…