Boise-Co-OpThere are now 100 confirmed cases of Salmonella infection linked to the Boise (Idaho) Co-op deli, according to the latest update from the Central District Health Department in Boise. Because food items from the co-op deli were sold at the local airport, it’s possible that some of the sickened individuals are from other states.

The co-op voluntarily closed the deli on Monday after preliminary test results indicated Salmonella contamination in raw turkey, tomatoes and onions. However, the health department stated Tuesday that additional lab tests are pending.

Boise-Co-Op“Upon receiving this new information, we voluntarily closed our Deli and disposed of all foods prepared herein. As an added precaution, any foods purchased from our Deli after June 1, 2015 should be discarded. Please see Customer Service for a refund,” noted a co-op statement posted June 16.

The co-op is devising a risk-reduction plan and will meet with health department officials to determine whether it can continue selling food at the deli. According to a department spokeswoman, the deli might be able to reopen this week if the plan is approved.

Screen-Shot-2015-06-15-at-8.45.06-PM-300x140Health officials in northwest Ohio are investigating a salmonella outbreak they say has sickened 18 people at an assisted living facility.  Two with Salmonella have died.

The Wood County Health District and the Ohio Department of Health began investigating the outbreak at Heritage Corner Health Care Campus in Bowling Green last week. Officials say reported symptoms began in late May.

Health officials say they haven’t pinpointed the source of the illness, but are interviewing sickened patients about the foods they’ve eaten other possible exposure to the bacteria. They’re advising the assisted living center to close common areas, clean and sanitize the facility and serve meals in takeout containers that be taken to residents’ rooms.

10603675_10152427502108038_6801830456749073672_n“The restaurant that made your food has a responsibility to you to not poison you.”

KBOI 2News reports that Idaho State health officials say the number of Salmonella cases reported at the Boise-Co-op have doubled since it first reported the outbreak over the weekend.

Christine Myron, spokeswoman with the Idaho Central District Health Department, told KBOI 2News on Monday that there have been 60 total cases linked by lab work to the deli.  40 more are under investigation.

Also on Monday, the Boise Co-op closed its deli.

“We are voluntarily closing our Deli due to the Salmonella outbreak investigation currently underway with the Central District Health Department (CDHD),” the co-op wrote on its Facebook page.

“These cases have now been confirmed as linked to food prepared in our Deli. As an added precaution, any foods purchased from our Deli after June 1, 2015 should be discarded. Please see Customer Service for a refund. ”

The first report of Salmonella came in June 9.

The state says in addition to interviewing those who became ill, health officials have taken multiple food samples and are awaiting those results, as well as the results of whether these confirmed cases to-date are the same strain of Salmonella.

Lawsuit Filed.

oboise-300x169Last night KTVB reported on an unnamed Boise restaurant linked to Salmonella illnesses, a few hours later it announced that Idaho Central District Health Department officials (who took Friday off for training) were investigating a number of confirmed Salmonella cases that may be related to the Boise Co-op.

There have been about 30 cases that have tested positive, CDHD said.

The CDHD is currently working to find the source and going over proper procedure and protocol with the Boise Co-op.

According to the CDHD, the Co-Op is fully cooperating with the investigation.

CDHD says it appears the time frame of exposure was between June 1 and June 7.

Christine Myron, spokeswoman with the CDHD, told KBOI 2News that the state is investigating the Boise Co-op after a Salmonella outbreak occurred during the first part of June.

“We are investigating the reported cases and are working to find the source – specifically how it got into food prepared and sold in their facility,” Myron said in an email.

The first report came in June 9.

The state says in addition to interviewing those who became ill, health officials have taken multiple food samples and are awaiting those results, as well as the results of whether these confirmed cases to-date are the same strain of Salmonella.

Here’s the full written statement from the Co-op.

“The Central District Health Department (CDHD) informed the Boise Co-op that there is a salmonella outbreak in the area. The CDHD performed inspections over a two day period at Boise Co-op and found no health code violations during this time.”

“The investigation is ongoing and we are taking it very seriously. We are working closely with the CDHD to ensure they have all the information they need. These incidents appear to be related to food consumed between June 1 and June 7, 2015.”

A check on the Boise Co-op safety violation record HERE, does not reveal much information, and Yelp seems quiet.

unnamed-one-10-stableIts the Boise Co-op.

I have always thought keeping information from the people (taxpayers) who pay your salaries is a bad idea – See, “Towards a Policy of Secrecy or Transparency in Public Health.”

KTVB reports that Idaho Central District Health Department officials are investigating a number of confirmed Salmonella cases that may be related.

There have been about 30 cases that have tested positive, CDHD said.

The investigation is narrowing in on one “unnamed food establishment” in Boise. The health department is working with that business and going over proper procedure and protocol.

CDHD says it appears the time frame of exposure was between June 3 and June 7.

Would “proper procedure and protocol” be not poisoning customers?

And, why is the food establishment “unnamed?”

If you knew the name of the restaurant, you could check on its safety violation record HERE.

Learning-Vine-daycareThe South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has provided the following update to a E. coli investigation at Learning Vine Daycare in Greenwood County:

  • DHEC has confirmed eleven (11) cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in Greenwood County.
  • As of today, 186 test results are negative for STEC. The three new laboratory-confirmed cases are in individuals who either previously had symptoms of diarrheal illness or were asymptomatic, but who are all now symptom-free.
  • There is no evidence of ongoing transmission related to this investigation, and there has been no new onset of illness in students or staff of the daycare since June 1, 2015.
  • DHEC is continuing to collect and test samples for laboratory analysis. Information resulting from this investigation will be provided as it is confirmed, and in accordance with state and federal law.

Learning Vine shut down voluntarily on Monday.  The closure followed the death of 2-year-old Myles Mayfield, of Greenwood, who died from hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition associated with E. coli.

Site reviews conducted by the state Department of Social Services’ Division of Early Care and Education June 4 found 12 violations at Learning Vine, according to results posted on the DSS website.

The violation areas pending correction are:

– Diaper changing, 24-month and younger room (x2)

– Improper medication practices

– Sanitation violations (x3)

– Facility restrooms (x2)

– Feeding, 24-month and younger room

– Food safety/menu

– Posted information

– Other health and safety

Learning Vine has a “C” in the DSS Division of Early Care and Education ABC Quality voluntary rating and improvement program, meaning it meets basic requirement, but C is the lowest of grades in the rating program.

listeria-monocytogenesUpdate from Jeni’s:

We have found Listeria in our production kitchen again. We have stopped making ice cream and are investigating where and how it may have re-entered the facility. Since resuming production on May 13, we have been testing every batch of ice cream we have made and holding it until we learned that the testing did not detect any Listeria. So it is with complete confidence that we can say all of the ice cream that has been served in our shops since reopening on May 22 has been safe and is 100% Listeria-free. We are closing our scoop shops temporarily because we don’t have enough ice cream to keep them stocked. We hope to be back very soon.

AR-150619885.jpg&updated=201506111146&MaxW=800&maxH=800&updated=201506111146&noborderAccording to press reports, the Kane County Illinois Health Department is investigating reports of possible food poisoning among people who ate at the Grumpy Goat Tavern in Elgin, Illinois.

Seventeen people have reported suffering from “gastrointestinal disorders” after eating at the restaurant at The Highlands of Elgin golf course Saturday, as part of a golf outing, health department spokesman Tom Schlueter said.

“There’s a possible food-borne outbreak in Elgin, and we’re doing what we call ‘food investigation,’ and finding out what people ate and when they ate, and if they feel sick or if they’re not feeling sick,” he said.

Grumpy Goat Tavern owner Greg Shannon said he was aware of the situation. “The health department is handling everything — both the city’s health department and the Kane County Health Department,” he said.

Screen Shot 2015-06-11 at 8.58.09 PMThe Cowfish restaurant in the Southpark Charlotte Mecklenburg County, North Carolina area has voluntarily closed for the rest of the week after two additional patrons and an employee developed stomach flu symptoms.

Cowfish management has been proactive and in constant contact with the Health Department since multiple customers and employees became sick last week. The restaurant was closed, cleaned and then reopened until today, when the restaurant received reports of new cases.

Health inspectors continue investigating the cause of the illness. While the reported symptoms resemble those caused by the Norovirus, there are no confirmed cases at this time.