Marler Blog - Providing commentary on food poisoning outbreaks & litigation

And, for that matter other amphibians and reptiles.

CDC just released a new report entitled “Outbreak of Salmonellosis Associated with Pet Turtle Exposures — United States, 2011”. This report describes an outbreak of 132 human Salmonella infections between August 2010 and September 2011 associated with exposure to small turtles (those with shell lengths < 4 inches). Many of these infections occurred in young children, whose illness can be severe and cause hospitalization. Despite a three decade ban on the sale of small turtles, these infections continue to occur. CDC reported similar outbreaks in 2007 and 2008.  Increasing enforcement of existing regulations, increasing penalties for illegal sales and emphasizing regulations can assist in decreasing infections acquired from these reptiles. Turtles are not appropriate pets in households with young children or other high risk individuals (pregnant women, older persons and the immune-compromised).

Please follow this link to educational materials on human Salmonella infections associated with small turtles and other reptiles.  Also, a web-friendly flyer is located at the following website so other organizations can link to it online: http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/posters.htm

The CDC is asking for your help to further distribute this educational flyer to help convey the important prevention messages to any individuals, groups, or organizations involved with turtles and other pet reptiles. We recommend that these flyers be displayed where young children may come into contact with small turtles, like pet stores, flea markets, day care centers, and schools. 

Michael Foods, Inc. is recalling specific lot dates of hard-cooked eggs in brine sold in 10- and 25-pound pails for institutional use that were produced at its Wakefield, Nebraska facility because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled eggs were purchased by food distributors and manufacturers located in 34 states (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WV). The recall is limited to hard-cooked eggs in brine in 10- and 25-pound pails prodced at its Wakefield, Nebraska facility, which are labeled under six brand names (Columbia Valley Farms, GFS, Glenview Farms, Papetti’s, Silverbrook, Wholesome Farms) and bearing lot codes of 1 LOT 1350W through 1 LOT 2025W and expiration dates ranging from 1/30/2012 to 3/10/2012

Only lot codes immediately preceded by a “1” AND ending in a “W” are affected, please see the following example:

Here is an example of the lot codes on the packaging: USE BY 11 FEB 12    1  LOT 1362 W – Product Labels

USE BY 11 FEB 12 = Use by Date
1 = line impacted by recall
LOT 1362 = Lot Number
W = Wakefield 

None of the eggs were sold directly by Michael Foods to retailers or consumers.  However, food distributors and manufacturers who purchased the eggs could have used them in products that were sold to retail outlets or used in foodservice settings.  Michael Foods is working with customers who purchased eggs from these lots to ensure that all product is removed from the market.  Consumers who believe they might have purchased product affected by the recall, or those who are unsure, should contact the original place of purchase.        

There have been no confirmed reports of illness in connection with this product.

The recall was initiated after lab testing revealed that some of the eggs within the recalled lot dates may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  A recall of three lot dates was announced on Thursday, January 26.  As a precautionary measure, the recall was expanded today to include additional lot dates.  Michael Foods reached the decision to expand this recall after a thorough investigation which indicated a specific repair project that took place in the packaging room as the likely source of the

Oklahoma State Department of Health
Acute Disease Service 

Summary of Supplemental Questionnaire Responses Specific to
Taco Bell Exposure of Oklahoma Outbreak-associated Cases
Multistate Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak Investigation
November 2011 – January 2012 

Summary Demographic information

• 16 cases in 5 Oklahoma counties - Cleveland (10), Bryan (2), Lincoln (2), Pottawatomie (1), and Greer (1)

• Onset date range: 10/21/2011 – 11/18/2011 - 1 onset date unknown but believes around Thanksgiving

• Hospitalizations: 4

• Gender distribution: 10 (63%) females and 6 (37%) males

• Age range: 5 to 78 years (median 23 years)

Taco Bell exposure summary of Oklahoma cases from supplemental case-control questionnaire responses

• Total Oklahoma cases: 16

• Total interviewed: 12/16 (4 refused or were lost-to-follow-up)

• Consumed food from Taco Bell: 8/11

Like I said to MSNBC:

But food safety advocates had been putting pressure on state and federal agencies to reveal the name of firms involved in outbreaks in this case -- and those in the future.

"I think it just proves the point that it is always better to be transparent," said Bill Marler, a Seattle food safety lawyer who used his blog to lobby vigorously for the release of the name. "Taco Bell could have looked like a hero by coming out and saying that it was a supplier problem and they are going to work hard to make sure it never happens again."

And, Taco Bell's response:

In response Taco Bell said in a statement that investigators found that some of the people who became ill ate at Taco Bell, while others did not. "They believe that the problem likely occurred at the supplier level before it was delivered to any restaurant or food outlet. We take food quality and safety very seriously," Taco Bell said.

According to press reports, the number of people confirmed sickened by raw milk from a Franklin County Pennsylvania store is on the rise. Last week, the Pennsylvania and Maryland State Health Departments issued an advisory that raw milk sold by The Family Cow store in Chambersburg may contain harmful bacteria.

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized. The number of cases becoming infected with Campylobacter has doubled from six to 12 in Pennsylvania and Maryland. All the confirmed cases were people who drank milk purchased at The Family Cow. The store sells directly to consumers in an on farm retail store and at drop off locations and retail stores. The farm has voluntarily suspended raw milk production.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is reporting multiple Campylobacter infection cases associated with consumption of raw (unpasteurized) milk from the Family Cow dairy store in Chambersburg, PA. DHMH, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, advises consumers that milk recently purchased from this store may contain harmful bacteria.

To date, there are six confirmed campylobacteriosis cases: three in Maryland and three in Pennsylvania, all of whom consumed raw milk from this farm. Maryland DHMH recommends consumers discard any product purchased from this farm since January 1, 2012.

Campylobacter is a bacterial cause of diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and can progress to more serious illness, such as a bloodstream infection and other complications. Illness generally occurs two to five days after exposure. In 2011, Maryland reported nearly 600 Campylobacter infections.

The implicated milk is labeled “raw milk” (meaning, not pasteurized) and is sold under “The Family Cow” label in plastic gallon, half gallon, quart and pint containers. The Family Cow dairy sells directly to consumers at its on-farm retail store and at multiple drop-off locations and retail stores in the following Pennsylvania counties: Bucks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Lebanon, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties.

Raw milk and products made from raw milk (including certain cheeses, ice cream, and yogurt) can pose severe health risks. Pasteurization is performed by briefly heating raw milk to kill disease-causing germs (e.g., Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Campylobacter) that can be found in raw milk. Maryland state law prohibits the sale of unpasteurized milk.