A weekly update of outbreak investigations posted by the FDA shows one investigation has ended and another outbreak has one additional patient.
The Food and Drug Administration along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Florida state officials have been investigating an outbreak of infections from Listeria monocytogenes for months. The culprit was found to be ice cream from Big Olaf Creamery in Sarasota, FL.
As of Nov. 2 the CDC declared the outbreak over with 28 people sick, 27 hospitalized, one death, and one miscarriage. Health officials found the outbreak strain of Listeria in finished ice cream produced by Big Olaf and in equipment at its plant. The business was closed down by state officials.
In a different outbreak involving E. coli O157:H7 from an unknown source, the patient count has increased to 11, up from 10 reported a week ago. The Food and Drug Administration is continuing to investigate the outbreak. It has initiated traceback efforts but has not revealed what food or foods are being traced.
Other ongoing outbreak investigations
- For a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak from Brie and Camembert cheese an Outbreak Advisory was issued on Sept. 30. Recall information was updated on Oct. 28. It reported that seven patients from six different states have been confirmed ill. Five have been hospitalized, according to the CDC.
- The FDA has begun traceback and sample collection in an outbreak of E. coli O121:H19 linked to frozen falafel sold at Aldi stores in 36 states. At least 20 people had been confirmed sick as of Oct. 7. Sick people have been confirmed in Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The most recent illness onset was Sept. 13.
- An outbreak of infections from Cronobacter in at least four infants, two 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 here to go to the FDA page with links to specific outbreak details. 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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