The CDC is reporting that a number of infections from a persistent strain of Salmonella are linked to chicken. It is currently legal for producers, distributors and retailers to sell Salmonella contaminated poultry in the United States.

A citizen petition to make it illegal to sell poultry contaminated with any one of 31 strains of Salmonella — including the persistent strain referenced by this CDC report — has been filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but the department has not acted on it.

The persistent strain, Salmonella Infantis REPJFX01, “is a leading strain of Salmonella found in chicken produced in the United States,” according to information posted on a new web page set up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  

The agency says it designates strains of bacteria as persistent when they are known to have caused illnesses over months or years. 

Illness caused by the persistent strain of Salmonella Infantis REPJFX01 was first reported to PulseNet in 2012. As of Dec. 31, 2022, information from 2,900 patients with REPJFX01 infections had been reported to PulseNet. Sick people lived in all 50 states.

The median age of patients was 54 years, with 62 percent being female. Illnesses caused by this strain occur year-round but are most common in July and August, according to the CDC. In the past, REPJFX01 has spread to people through contaminated chicken in the United States and through exposures during international travel.

Among a subset of 251 patients with records in the Foodborne Disease Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) during 2018 to 2020, ten percent of patients traveled internationally in the seven days before their illnesses began. Most traveled to the Dominican Republic, with 45 percent having traveled there. Other countries of destination and the percentage of patients having traveled there included Peru with 25 percent, and Ecuador with 10 percent. 

Among the same subset of patients, 29 percent were hospitalized and 7 percent were admitted to intensive care units. Among 85 patients who received antibiotics recommended as first-line or alternative treatment for salmonella infection, 78 percent had an isolate that was resistant to that antibiotic.

“Bacteria from most sick people’s samples showed resistance to multiple antimicrobials, including several that are recommended for first-line or alternative treatment: ampicillin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole,” the CDC reports.

“. . . lab-confirmed cases comprise only a small portion of the true number of illnesses that occur because most people do not seek medical care and even fewer submit a clinical (e.g., stool) specimen,” according to the CDC.

The federal agency and local, state, and regulatory partners have investigated several clusters of Salmonella Infantis illness as possible outbreaks caused by the REPJFX01 strain.

Information from more than 6,000 REPJFX01 isolates from non-human sources has been reported to PulseNet, with the earliest in 2014. Most isolates are from chicken samples collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Although whole genome sequencing (WGS) data from U.S. Food and Drug Administration samples have not always been submitted to PulseNet, more than 1,000 food and environmental isolates collected through FDA sampling programs are highly related to REPJFX01 isolates by WGS, including many samples from retail chicken products.

romaine-lettuce_1524148914242_40146723_ver1.0_640_360_1524200509998_40189265_ver1.0-1.jpg

C&E Farms Inc., of Oxnard, CA, is recalling certain bins of romaine lettuce because the product may be contaminated with rodent droppings.

According to the details posted online by the FDA, the recall was initiated on June 16, 2023, and is ongoing.

The recalled product was distributed in Massachusetts and Minnesota.

Recalled products:

  • Romaine lettuce packed in bulk 45-pound mini-bins
  • 2580 mini-bins
  • Code: Tierrasol 23-26R08

Anyone who purchased the recalled product should immediately dispose of it and not consume it.

Food products exposed to filth, like rodents, can make you or your family members sick. Rodents can transmit disease through their waste.

Rats and mice carry two main types of disease in their waste: Salmonellosis and Leptospirosis.

I just got this email from a lawyer that I have worked with several times over the years. I hope all lawyers get an email like this once in their practice – mine is pushing 36 years.

Retirement has freed me of the political and financial strains of formal law firm culture, liberating my mind to see the practice, and the practitioners, as they are.  I wanted to reach out to you to tell you that in my view you stand out in the crowd for many reasons.  First, of course—expertise in your practice.  In a sea of posers, you walk the walk. Next—dedication—its is abundantly clear you care deeply about food safety and protecting the public. Finally—ethical compassion——you treat your clients as all lawyers should but most do not—that you are the best in class yet charge a lower percentage fee than you are permitted to says everything about you.  You truly do well by doing good. 

What is Listeria?

Listeria is a bacterium that causes a serious infection called listeriosis. Around 300 deaths in the United States are caused by Listeria infection each year, according to estimates from a 2011 CDC report. 

Listeria bacteria are most found in raw foods. Vegetables can be contaminated by soil and water carrying bacteria. Listeria is also found in raw animal products, such as meat and cheese. 

Babies can be born with Listeria if the mother eats contaminated food during pregnancy. The death rate among newborns with Listeria is 25 to 50 percent. 

Who is most likely to get seriously ill from Listeria bacteria?

Healthy adults and children hardly ever become seriously ill from Listeria. However, people at increased risk of illness from Listeria bacteria include:

  • Pregnant women – Pregnant women are 20 times more likely to get listeriosis than the average healthy adult
  • Newborns
  • People with weak immune systems
  • People with cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease
  • People with AIDS – People with AIDS are 300 times more likely to get sick from Listeria than people with normal immune systems
  • People who take gluticocorticosteroids, such as cortisone
  • Elderly people

Symptoms of Listeria

Listeria symptoms appear anywhere between 3 and 70 days after infection, but usually around 21 days later. Typical symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Muscle aches
  • Nausea or diarrhea (less common)

If infection spreads to the central nervous system, symptoms can include:

  • Headache
  • Stiff neck
  • Confusion
  • Loss of balance
  • Convulsions

Symptoms for those with Weakened Immune Systems

If a patient has a weak immune system, Listeria bacteria can invade the central nervous system and cause meningitis or a brain infection. 

Symptoms for Pregnant Women and Newborns

Infected pregnant woman experience mild, flu-like symptoms. However, infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, infection of the newborn, or stillbirth. Symptoms usually appear in newborns in the first week of life but can also occur later on. A newborn’s Listeria symptoms are often subtle, and include irritability, fever, and poor feeding.

Diagnosis of Listeria

Doctors can determine whether patients have listeriosis by taking a blood or spinal fluid sample.

Treatment of Listeria

Patients who present with symptoms of listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics.

How to Prevent Listeria

  • Thoroughly cook raw food from animal sources, such as beef, pork, or poultry
  • Wash raw vegetables before eating them
  • Keep uncooked meats separate from vegetables and cooked foods 
  • Avoid products made with unpasteurized milk
  • Wash hands and cooking utensils after handling uncooked foods
  • Consume perishable and read-to-eat foods as soon as possible

Foods to Avoid

  • Do not eat hot dogs or lunch meats unless they are heated to a temperature sufficient to kill Listeria bacteria
  • Avoid getting liquid from hot dog packages on other food
  • Wash hands after handling hot dogs and lunch and deli meats
  • Do not eat soft cheeses (e.g., feta, Brie, Camembert, blue cheese, and queso blanco) unless the label clearly states that they are pasteurized
  • Do not eat refrigerated pâté or meat spread, only canned or shelf-stable ones
  • Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, sometimes labeled as “nova-style,” “lox,” “kippered,” or “jerky.” Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood is ok

Additional Resources:

Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of Listeria outbreaks. The Listeria lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of Listeria and other foodborne illness outbreaks and have recovered over $850 million for clients.  Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation.  Our Listeria lawyers have litigated Listeria cases stemming from outbreaks traced to a variety of foods, such as lettuce, polony, deli meat, cantaloupe, cheese, celery and milk.  

If you or a family member became ill with a Listeria infection after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark Listeria attorneys for a free case evaluation.

Pierce

“Genetic fingerprinting results (whole genome sequencing) indicate that these patients likely have the same source of infection. Patients became ill between February 27 and June 30, 2023.” (Tacoma News Tribune)

Tacoma-Pierce County Department of Health reports that it is working with Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Thurston County Public Health and Social Services to investigate 5 cases of the foodborne illness listeriosis in Western Washington. 

Four of the cases are in Pierce County. One is in Thurston County. All 5 patients were hospitalized and 3 died. All the cases were in patients with weakened immune systems in their 60s or 70s.

Investigators are interviewing patients or their proxies to help identify any common exposures.

Listeriosis is an infection caused by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. We see about 10-25 cases in Washington each year. Those most at risk for listeriosis are people who have a weakened immune system or are pregnant, newborn, or elderly. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it is rare for people outside of these groups to get sick with Listeria infection.

The most common way people get listeriosis is by eating food contaminated with Listeria. Symptoms usually develop between 3-70 days after exposure. About half of those infected see symptoms within 3 weeks.

To protect yourself from listeriosis:

  • Avoid unpasteurized or raw milk, or food made from unpasteurized milk.
  • Thoroughly cook raw meat like beef, pork, or poultry.
  • Wash raw vegetables well before eating.
  • Keep uncooked meats away from vegetables and from cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
  • Wash your hands, knives, and cutting boards after you handle uncooked foods.
  • Eat perishable and ready-to-eat foods as soon as possible.  

People most at risk of infection should avoid:

  • Unpasteurized soft cheeses like queso fresco and brie.
  • Unheated hot dogs, lunch meats or deli meats. 
  • Refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads. 
  • Refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is in a cooked dish like a casserole. 
  • Leftover foods or ready-to-eat foods unless heated or reheated to steaming hot before eating.
  • Premade deli salads like potato, tuna or chicken salad, or coleslaw.
  • Getting fluid from hot dog packages on other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces.  

Learn more on CDC’s website.

If you think you have a foodborne illness or serious infection, contact your healthcare provider, especially if you are at risk of severe infection.

You can report suspected foodborne illnesses or concerns in Pierce County on our website and in Thurston County here. 

DOH is leading this investigation and will continue to update information on its webpage. You can direct media inquiries to doh-pio@doh.wa.gov.

Federal public health officials continue to identify more patients in ongoing outbreaks of foodborne illnesses – E. coli, Salmonella, Cyclospora and Hepatitis A.

In an outbreak of E. coli infections from an unknown source, the patient count has grown to 12, up from 11 a week ago. Investigators have initiated traceback efforts, according to an FDA notice, but the agency has not reported what food or foods are being traced. The FDA has not released any patient information, including where the patients live.

The hepatitis A outbreak increased by one to ten and has been linked to frozen strawberries. The Salmonella outbreak has not been linked to a food product.

For an outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis, the case count has increased from 38 to 43 cases in the past week. This incident now includes additional illnesses based on similarities in reported exposures, according to the FDA, however, the agency has not reported what those exposures are. The FDA has initiated onsite inspections and has begun sample collection and analysis, However, the agency has not reported what location is being inspected or what food is being sampled. The FDA has not released any patient information, including where the patients live.

In a separate outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis, the case count has increased from 112 to 118 cases. Cyclospora parasites are often associated with various types of fresh produce, including basil, cilantro, mesclun lettuce, raspberries, and snow peas. Food safety experts say washing products does not remove the parasite.

In the third outbreak from the Cyclospora parasite at least 210 people across 22 states have been sickened. Public health officials have not yet determined the source of the parasite.

I have been warning against this since at lease 2005:

See also, www.fair-safety.com

Now from our friends at MMWR:

On June 22, 2022, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) was notified of a child hospitalized with Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 after attending a farming camp at farm A. Three days later, TDH was notified of a second hospitalized child with hemolytic uremic syndrome, whose brother had attended the same camp, prompting an investigation. During the summer, farm A held three week-long summer camps teaching animal husbandry to children aged 6–10 years by assigning campers a baby goat (kid) to care for. STEC resides in the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants such as cattle, goats, sheep, and deer without causing illness in the animal* (1). Outbreaks among humans associated with petting zoos are well documented (2–5).

Investigation and Outcomes

On June 28 and 29, TDH conducted an environmental assessment at farm A. In addition to an onsite interview with the farm owners and employees, the assessment included facility observations of animal pens, public petting areas, areas where children cared for the animals, food service facilities, handwashing and sanitizing facilities, play areas, and toilets. Health department staff members collected camp attendee registration and goat assignment records and conducted environmental sampling, including the collection of 41 samples from animals, animal feces, animal pens, water sources, and toilets.

TDH also sent an online survey to the parents and guardians of all 82 children who had attended camp at farm A during June 6–24 to ascertain dates of attendance, illnesses and outcomes, foods consumed, and camp activities. The outbreak-specific survey was completed by parents or guardians of 53 (65%) campers.

Survey responses facilitated conduct of a case-control analysis. Cases were defined in terms of 1) the person who was ill (primary versus secondary) and 2) the symptoms and laboratory results (probable versus confirmed). A primary case was defined as an illness in a person who attended any of the three camps during June 6–24; a secondary case was a compatible illness within 10 days of exposure to a primary case in the same household or to a close contact of a summer camp attendee (irrespective of illness in the attendee). Probable cases included the onset of diarrhea within 10 days of attending the summer camp (primary cases) or within 10 days of exposure to a secondary case; confirmed outbreak cases were defined as a positive polymerase chain reaction or enzyme immunoassay Shiga toxin test result from a specimen collected after June 6.† Twelve primary cases (including two confirmed and 10 probable) and two secondary cases (one confirmed and one probable) were identified (patient age range = 2–38 years) (Figure). One patient each with a primary and secondary case was hospitalized; one death occurred in a child aged 2 years with a secondary confirmed case.

The case-control analysis included 12 ill camp attendees as case-patients and 58 healthy children identified from the camp attendee list as controls. Chi-square analysis was used to calculate odds ratios; 95% CIs that excluded 1 were considered statistically significant. Because the camp’s food and activity schedules did not change between weeks, and no contributing factors were identified in farm A’s food service establishment, neither a specific activity nor food was considered to be associated with illness. Attendance during the first week of camp, however, was significantly associated with illness (odds ratio = 13.1; 95% CI = 2.59–66.57). Camp operators reported being aware of the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Animal Contact Compendium§ and reported incorporating handwashing stations, observing children during animal interactions, and keeping the animal areas clean and disinfected.

Investigators were able to isolate STEC by culture in six samples collected at farm A; these were further subtyped into three STEC serotypes by core genome multilocus sequence typing: H14 (one rectal swab [kid] and one stool swab [kid]), O157:H7 (one stool swab [kid] and one wood swab [inside kid barn]), and O26:H11 (two stool samples [kids]).¶ Only STEC O157:H7 was associated with clinical illnesses. The two farm A STEC O157:H7 isolates were closely related by whole genome sequencing to the three outbreak-associated STEC O157:H7 patient isolates.

Preliminary Conclusions and Actions

In response to the outbreak, farm A voluntarily closed the camp, expedited the demolition of the kid barn, euthanized two kids with positive STEC test results, and moved the kid herd off the property. During closure, farm A independently consulted with veterinarians and other petting zoos to identify additional methods for reducing disease transmission. Based on recommendations provided, the facility discontinued the animal husbandry portion of the camp, increased signage encouraging handwashing after touching animals or objects throughout the facility, and increased messaging on their website about zoonotic diseases, populations at highest risk, and ways to mitigate risk for infection. On July 18, farm A reopened their summer camp without the goat husbandry component.

TDH concluded that this outbreak was associated with STEC O157:H7-infected kids and involved secondary transmission. Hand-to-mouth contact has been observed to occur almost three times per hour among children aged 6–10 years,** supporting the potential for STEC ingestion from contaminated environmental surfaces. The hypothesis of prolonged contact between campers and kids resulting in illness is strengthened by the finding that, after conducting routine monitoring of pathogen and case report forms as well as complaint surveillance systems, STEC was not identified by patrons of the farm apart from camp attendees and their household members. Animal farms, petting zoos, and other environments where small children might have direct contact with ruminant animals should be aware of the risk for zoonotic STEC transmission and make efforts to mitigate these risks by promoting proper hand hygiene during and after animal contact.

Acknowledgments

Tennessee Department of Health Communicable and Environmental Diseases and Emergency Preparedness Food Outbreak Team; Tennessee Department of Health Public Health Laboratory Team; Tennessee Department of Health Environmental Health Team; Nathan Miller, Mark Morgan, University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension; Eric Coffey, Tennessee Department of Health Southeast Regional Office; Mary-Margaret Fill, Tennessee Department of Health.

References

  1. Schlager S, Lepuschitz S, Ruppitsch W, et al. Petting zoos as sources of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections. Int J Med Microbiol 2018;308:927–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmm.2018.06.008 PMID:30257809
  2. CDC. Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 infection associated with a day camp petting zoo—Pinellas County, Florida, May–June 2007. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2009;58:426–8. PMID:19407735
  3. Laughlin M, Gambino-Shirley K, Gacek P, et al. Notes from the field: outbreak of Escherichia coli O157 infections associated with goat dairy farm visits—Connecticut, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2016;65:1453–4. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm655051a6 PMID:28033314
  4. CDC. Outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 associated with petting zoos—North Carolina, Florida, and Arizona, 2004 and 2005. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2005;54:1277–80. PMID:16371942
  5. Daly RF, House J, Stanek D, Stobierski MG; National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians Animal Contact Compendium Committee. Compendium of measures to prevent disease associated with animals in public settings, 2017. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2017;251:1268–92. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.251.11.1268PMID:29154705
172708047
Frozen Strawberries

Ten people in Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii have contracted Hepatitis A linked to the consumption of frozen strawberries. Epidemiologic and traceback evidence indicate that frozen organic strawberries, imported fresh from certain farms located in Baja California, Mexico in 2022, are the source of this outbreak. The hepatitis A virus strain causing illnesses in this outbreak is genetically identical to the strain that caused a foodborne hepatitis A outbreak in 2022, which was linked to fresh organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico, and sold at various retailers.

In response to this investigation, California Splendor, Inc. of San Diego, California voluntarily recalled certain lots of 4-lb. bags of Kirkland Signature Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries that were sold at Costco stores in Los Angeles, California; Hawaii; and two San Diego, California business centers. The lots subject to this recall include: 140962-08, 142222-23, 142792-54, 142862-57, 142912-59, 142162-20, 142202-21, 142782-53, 142852-56, 142902-58, 142212-22, 142232-24, 142842-55. In response to this investigation, Scenic Fruit Company of Gresham, Oregon voluntarily recalled frozen organic strawberries, sold to Costco, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in certain states.

Other products subject to this recall include: 

California Splendor, Inc. Recall

Scenic Fruit Company Recall

Meijer Recall

Wawona Recall

Willamette Valley Fruit Co. Recall