Recalled Bean Sprouts Linked to 2 Listeria Deaths, 3 Hospitalizations

Two people have died and three others have been hospitalized after eating Listeria-contaminated bean sprouts produced by Wholesome Soy Products of Chicago, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The victims became ill between June and August 2014, but this is the first announcement of the outbreak. It was detected retroactively using whole-genome sequencing, a new technology for detecting outbreaks which utilizes DNA sequencing of bacteria.  Whole Soy Products recalled its mung bean sprout products on August 28 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.  During FDA inspections of the company’s facilities in August, investigators cited the company for 12 instances of unsanitary conditions, and they isolated 25 samples of Listeria contamination during environmental testing.  The company shut down the facility from August 28 to September 15, and the FDA did not find any contamination on products after that date.  Another inspection in October, however, found another nine environmental samples with Listeria contamination and another 12 instances of unsanitary conditions, nine of which were the same problems from the August inspections.  The FDA is working with the company to ensure they don’t produce sprouts until they have adequate assurance that the products are no longer contaminated with Listeria. The Illinois Department of Public Health is also working to embargo all products from the company.  Whole-genome sequencing of infections in all five patients were found to be connected to the Listeria isolated from the production plant. The illnesses included four people from Illinois and one from Michigan.  The CDC, FDA and state health departments are continuing to work on this investigation and will release new information as it becomes available.