FDA reports a new outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infection, bringing the agency’s number of public investigations to 10.
The FDA reports that it has begun – on-site inspections and sample testing, but has yet to find a specific source of Listeria. It has not started retrospective work. The agency reported that six confirmed patients were in the outbreak, but did not disclose their ages or the state in which they lived.
In other outbreak news, the number of patients in the outbreak caused by Salmonella Mississippi has increased to 102 from the 100 reported a week ago. The agency has not released the patient’s place of residence or age. The FDA has not yet determined the source of the pathogen, but has initiated traceability efforts. The agency has yet to report which foods or foods are being tracked.
Other outbreaks that the FDA is actively investigating
- for an outbreak of Salmonella Senftenberg caused by an as-yet-unidentified food, the number of patients stabilized at 27. Traceability has begun, but FDA has not reported what is being traced.
- For an outbreak of Salmonella typhimurium caused by an as yet unidentified food, the number of patients stabilized at 78. Traceability, on-site inspections, and sample analysis have been initiated, but FDA has not yet reported what is being tracked or tested or where inspections are being conducted.
- For the Cyclospora outbreak, the number of patients remained stable at 79. started, but the FDA has yet to report what is being tracked.
- For another Cyclospora outbreak, the number of patients remained stable at 42. The traceback has begun, but the FDA has yet to report what is being traced. Again, sample testing has begun, but the agency has yet to report what is being tested.
- Investigation of Adverse Effects Associated with Daily Harvest Brand Freezing Leeks and Lentil crumbles are in progress. The company has received more than 470 complaints of the disease, and as of the latest report on July 29, the FDA had received 329 complaints. Some patients developed liver failure and at least 25 had to have their gallbladder removed. FDA is working on traceability and has begun on-site inspections and product testing. Some testing has shown that tara powder is an ingredient specific to Daily Harvest crumb products and may be linked to illness.
- In an ongoing outbreak of infection caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7, FDA has initiated sample collection and analysis. The CDC reported that at least 84 people were sickened in the outbreak linked to lettuce in Wendy’s sandwiches. Outbreaks in four states have sickened more people, according to state counts, but none of the reports reach the CDC. Wendy’s has stopped serving romaine lettuce in sandwiches in several states, according to a statement from the company.
- FDA is conducting an on-site inspection at Big Olaf Creamery in Florida, believed to be behind listeria outbreaks in 11 states . The state of Florida shut down the business a few weeks ago after tests found multiple Listeria monocytogenes contamination at the plant. Tests also showed that 16 of the company’s 17 ice cream flavors contained Listeria. According to the latest statistics, the outbreak has sickened 25 patients and one of them died. A pregnant woman also miscarried. 24 patients required hospitalization.
- Outbreak of Cronobacter infection in 4 infants, 2 of whom died. The CDC has determined the outbreak is over, but is still investigating. The babies were fed infant formula produced at Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan facility.
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