Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog,Outbreaks & Recalls on December 27, 2024
2024 has been a busy year for foodborne outbreaks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) typically coordinates between 17 to 36 foodborne illnesses involving multiple states at any given time. These are what the agency considers “active investigations.”
This year the CDC, in coordination with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has led 63 foodborne outbreak investigations. From onions on Quarter Pounders, a giant cucumber outbreak, and scandalous deli meat, the CDC has had a busy year indeed.
I won’t make you comb through the entire list. But if you are curious, you can find it here.
How about the top 13?
Follow along for the year in review!
The busy year of outbreak investigations started fresh and early in January 2024. Overall, the outbreak included 104 cases resulting in 27 hospitalizations across 33 states.
The majority of people interviewed indicated they ate a variety of charcuterie meats prior to becoming sick. Of the ones that remembered the specific brand, Fartelli Beretta was the brand indicated. This correlation was backed up by laboratory results finding the outbreak strain in a package of Fratelli Beretta charcuterie products.
A recall was issued for several brands, including Aldi, Beretta, Black Bear, Busseto, Culinary Tour, Dietz and Watson, Lidle, Publix, and Slumi Artigianali.
The next outbreak in the busy year of outbreaks was identified in February 2024. But cases dated all the way back to 2014!
In all, there were 26 confirmed cases with 23 hospitalizations across 11 states. Two deaths were linked to this outbreak. There were four pregnant individuals. One of which suffered pregnancy loss.
The true number of cases is likely much higher due to the length of time it took to identify an outbreak source. However, the 26 confirmed cases were sick with the same strain of bacteria.
Routine product sampling by Hawaii State Department of Health’s Food and Drug Branch identified Listeria contamination. The results indicated the same strain of bacteria found in outbreak patients.
This link identified dairy products from Rizo-Lopez Foods as the common link.
In response, certain cheeses, crema, and yogurts were recalled.
Despite this official outbreak investigation occurring in February, regulatory action still continues. In October 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California entered a “consent decree of permanent injunction against Rizo Lopez Foods Inc.”
This means that the California-based food manufacturer along with owners Edwin and Tomas Rizo are prohibited from “manufacturing and selling certain food products until the company complies with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), federal regulation and other requirements.”
Essentially, the company was required to shut down and cease operations until they became compliant. FDA approval is required before they are able to resume operations.
Rounding out a busy February in the busy year was an E. coli outbreak linked to Raw Farm brand cheddar cheese. There were 11 cases resulting in five hospitalizations across five states associated with the outbreak.
Epidemiological data pointed to Raw Farm brand raw cheddar cheese. Seven of the 11 people reported consuming Raw Farm brand cheddar cheese in the week before they got sick.
An FDA warning was issued for original and jalapeno cheddar blocks and shredded cheese packages with certain best by dates.
CDC and FDA investigators resumed the busy year in April 2024 when people began falling sick with Salmonella illnesses. A total of 36 cases resulting in four hospitalizations across 14 states with the same outbreak strain were identified.
Epidemiologic and traceback data indicated that Infinite Herbs brand organic basil sold at Trader Joe’s stores was associated with the outbreak.
In response, Trader Joe’s voluntarily removed all Infinite Herbs brand organic basil products packaged in the 2.5-oz clamshell packaging from their stores.
In April 2024, people began falling sick with E. coli illnesses. A total of 13 cases resulting in seven hospitalizations across two states were linked to the outbreak.
Epidemiologic and traceback data indicated that Gibson Farms, Inc. organic walnut halves and pieces were the common factor in these illnesses. Almost all sick people purchased organic walnuts from co-ops or natural food stores bulk bins in the states of California and Washington.
In response to this evidence, Gibson Farms, Inc issued a voluntary recall for select lot codes of bulk organic walnut products in the states of Alaska, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
By the middle of the busy year, the CDC and FDA had their hands full with a massive Salmonella outbreak. In all, 551 cases resulting in 155 hospitalizations across 34 states plus the District of Columbia were associated with this outbreak.
Based on epidemiologic traceback, and laboratory data, cucumbers were identified as the food source of the outbreak. While environmental sampling identified the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak strain in untreated canal water used by a Florida cucumber grower, there were additional cases that didn’t quite match up. Investigators identified an additional grower as another likely source of illnesses from this outbreak.
Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. issued a recall for their whole cucumbers due to potential contamination with Salmonella bacteria. However, recalled cucumbers did not account for all the illnesses in this outbreak.
In September 2024, a large, multi-state outbreak involving 93 illnesses resulting in 34 hospitalizations across 12 states prompted a CDC and FDA investigation.
Traceback data pointed to eggs distributed by Milo’s Poultry Farms LLC.
Following onsite inspection and sample collection, Salmonella Enteritidis bacteria was identified in samples collected from the farm’s packing facility and poultry house. Specialized whole genome sequencing revealed that the samples obtained from the farm matched the outbreak strain.
In response, Milo’s Poultry Farm, LLC issued a voluntary recall for all eggs supplied by their farm. This included products distributed to retailers and foodservice distributors in the states of Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Tony’s Fresh Market brand eggs were also included in this recall.
In June 2024, illnesses involving an unusual outbreak was investigated by the CDC, the FDA, and America’s Poison Centers. People began falling sick with severe acute illnesses linked to psychotropic mushrooms.
A total of 180 people (118 reportedly at Diamond Shruumz products, 36 reported consuming a mushroom chocolate bar of an unspecified brand, and 26 reported eating a mushroom chocolate bar of a non-Diamond Shruumz brand) were identified in this outbreak. There were 73 associated hospitalizations and three potentially associated deaths.
Adverse effects were caused by multiple substances, including O-acetyl psilocin, psilocin, kavalactones, pregabalin, and muscimol. Among others. These compounds were found in product samples, many of which are controlled substances and illegal over the counter.
People reported acute symptoms including seizures, decreased level of consciousness, and respiratory failure. Other symptoms included nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, hallucinations, uncontrolled movements, abnormal heart rate (too fast or too slow), high or low blood pressure, excessive sweating or secretions, and/or flushed skin.
The busy year continued through the summer with a Listeria outbreak sickening 61 people. These severe illnesses hospitalized all but one associated case. The outbreak would claim 10 lives before the source was tracked down, product recalled, and outbreak investigation ran its course. Patients spanned 19 states.
While outbreak patients had meats sliced at deli counters in common, the nature of contamination risk in a deli counter complicates traceback investigations. It wasn’t until the Maryland Department of Health identified the outbreak strain in Boar’s Head Provisions Co liverwurst products that a breakthrough was made.
An initial recall was announced on July 26, 2024, followed by a larger facility-wide recall on July 30, 2024. Eventually inspection reports painting a horrific picture of plant conditions were made public. The Jarratt, Virginia facility where the problem began eventually closed with no plans to reopen it.
Coming closer to the end of the busy year, a strange E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s fast food burgers came about. In all, there were 104 cases with 34 hospitalizations across 14 states. One death was associated with the outbreak.
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder burgers were the common food. However, it was initially unclear whether the ground beef patties were to blame, or another ingredient. It turned out to be the slivered yellow onions that were associated with the outbreak.
The supplier, Taylor Farms, initiated a voluntary recall for certain yellow onions that were sent to McDonald’s and other food service customers. McDonald’s also pulled the ingredient from the menu temporarily.
An E. coli outbreak linked to organic carrots sickened 48 people, resulting in 20 hospitalization and one death across 19 states.
Interviews with outbreak patients overwhelmingly pointed to carrots. A significant 96% of those interviewed reported eating carrots in the week prior to becoming sick. Traceback data connected outbreak patients to Grimmway Farms as the common supplier of organic whole and baby carrots.
Shortly after, Grimmway Farms initiated a voluntary recall for multiple sizes and brands of bagged organic whole and baby carrots. The recall was expanded a few days later to include additional organic whole carrot products.
The CDC and FDA continue to actively investigate this Salmonella outbreak associated with cucumbers that began last month. So far there are 100 cases (32 newly added with the last update) and 25 hospitalizations (seven new) across 23 states (including four newly added states).
Outbreak patient interview data pointed to cucumbers.
So far, several companies have recalled whole fresh cucumbers grown by Agrotato, S.A. de C.V. in Sonora, Mexico. These recalls have expanded to other cucumber products using these recalled products. For example, sliced cucumbers and products using them as ingredients like wraps and salads have been added to the ever-expanding recall list.
The investigation is ongoing.
As December comes to a close, another active investigation continues to be monitored. So far, 19 cases (8 newly added with the recent update) resulting in 17 hospitalizations (8 new) and two deaths (one new) across eight states have been included in this outbreak.
More information is becoming available. Another strain of Listeria has been added to the outbreak database after the new strain was identified in product and environmental testing.
Various Yu Shang Food ready-to-eat meat and poultry products were voluntarily recalled in response to this outbreak. All Yu Shang products produced prior to October 28, 2024 are subject to this recall.
The investigation is ongoing.
If you have become sick in an outbreak this year and wish to make a legal claim, The Lange Law Firm, PLLC can help!
An experienced food poisoning lawyer can help you successfully navigate the legal process and get you the justice you deserve.
We expect the foods we eat to be safe. When lapses in safety protocols happen, people suffer. The Lange Law Firm, PLLC helps hold those people responsible for that suffering accountable.
Call (833) 330-3663 or fill out the online submission form today for a free, no obligation consultation.
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)