Patient counts increase in Salmonella outbreaks; other investigations ongoing - Food Safety News

The number of patients in two outbreaks of infections attributed to different types of Salmonella continues to increase, according to the FDA.

Three more patients have been identified in an outbreak of infections from Salmonella Senftenberg, bringing the total to 22, the Food and Drug Administration reported on Aug. 24. The agency has not yet identified a food source in the outbreak, which was first reported this past week. Traceback efforts have begun, but the FDA has not reported what food or foods it is tracing.

In another Salmonella outbreak, this one caused by Salmonella Typhimurium, the patient count has increased to 62, up from 44 reported this past week. Traceback efforts have begun, along with sample collection and analysis, but the FDA has not reported what food or foods are being traced or tested.

For an outbreak of E. Coli infections linked to Wendy's sandwiches with romaine lettuce, the FDA has begun on-site inspection but has not indicated what locations are being investigated. The inspection process could involve restaurants, producers, packers or distributors of the suspected romaine lettuce.

Two outbreaks of infections from the Cyclospora parasite have been grouped into one investigation based on genomic data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No product or products have been identified as the cause of the infections.

"For the outbreaks of Cyclospora in not yet identified products, cases from the Cyclospora outbreak reference # 1084 (in the below table) have been re-grouped into the other Cyclospora outbreak reference #1080," according to an update from the FDA. "For the outbreak of Cyclospora reference # 1080, the case count has been adjusted from 6 cases to 70 and for the outbreak of Cyclospora reference # 1084, the case count has been adjusted from 98 cases to 41 cases." 

Other ongoing outbreak investigations as of Aug. 24

• An investigation related to adverse effects associated with Daily Harvest brand frozen Leeks & Lentils Crumbles. The company has received more than 470 complaints of illnesses and as of its last report on July 29 the FDA had received 329 complaints. Some of the patients have gone into liver failure and at least 25 have had to have their gallbladders removed. The FDA is working on traceback efforts and has begun on-site inspection and product testing. Some testing has revealed that tara flour is an ingredient unique to the Daily Harvest crumbles product and could be related to the illnesses.
• An outbreak of "adverse events" involving 558 patients who ate Lucky Charms cereal. The investigation is ongoing and the FDA is conducting on-site inspections and testing.
• An outbreak of infections from Listeria monocytogenes was traced to Big Olaf ice cream produced in Florida. A total of 25 confirmed patients have been reported with one death and one fetal loss. The patients are spread across 11 states and many of the sick people reported traveling to Florida before becoming ill. Testing has shown Listeria in the manufacturing plant and in 16 of 17 flavors of Big Olaf ice cream. The company has been closed down by the state until further notice.
• An outbreak of infections from Cronobacter in four infants, one of whom died. The outbreak has been determined to be over by the CDC but is it still under investigation. The babies consumed infant formula made by Abbott Nutrition's plant in Sturgis, MI.

Click table to enlarge. Use link below to view entire table with links to details about specific outbreaks.

Click here to go to the FDA page with links to specific outbreak details. The table above has been abbreviated. To view the entire outbreak table from FDA click here. The investigations are in a variety of stages. Some outbreaks have limited information with active investigations ongoing, others may be near completion.

A public health advisory will be issued for investigations that have resulted in specific, actionable steps for consumers to take to protect themselves, according to the FDA. Please direct your attention to those pages for the most up-to-date information on the investigation and for consumer protection information.

Outbreak and adverse event investigations that do not result in specific, actionable steps for consumers may or may not conclusively identify a source or reveal any contributing factors. Adverse event investigations rely on self-reported data. Although these reports may name a particular product, FDA will only indicate a product category in the table and will not publicly name a specific product until there is sufficient evidence to implicate that product as a cause of illnesses or adverse events. If a cause and/or contributing factors are identified that could inform future prevention, FDA commits to providing a summary of those findings.

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