Multistate E. coli O26 outbreak linked to flour

Flour manufactured by ADM Milling and sold by Aldi has been linked to 17 cases of E. coli O26 illness in eight states.

Three people have been hospitalized.

ADM Milling and Aldi have jointly recalled all lots and date codes of the following product:

Bakers Corner All Purpose Flour (5-lb bag; UPC 041498130404)

The recalled product was sold in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia.

According to CDC, illnesses associated with this outbreak have been reported in California (1), Connecticut (1), Missouri (1), New Jersey (1), New York (5), Ohio (5), Pennsylvania (2), and Rhode Island (1).

Illnesses started on dates ranging from December 11, 2018 to April 18, 2019. Ill people range in age from 7 to 86 years, with a median age of 23. Sixty-five percent of the outbreak victims are female.

DNA analysis of an E. coli O26 recovered from an unopened bag of flour revealed a close genetic relationship to the outbreak strain, according to FDA.

Individuals infected with E. coli O26 may experience symptoms that include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting. Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and lead to life-threatening conditions, such as a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), or the development of high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems.

Symptoms may not develop until as long as nine days follwoing infection.

Anyone experiencing symptoms of E. coli O26 infection should consult a healthcare provider.

FDA offers the following recommendations to consumers and food handlers:

DO NOT use or eat flour from five-pound bags of Baker’s Corner All Purpose Flour packed for ALDI, that includes all lot codes and all Best If Used By Dates distributed in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia.
DO NOT eat any raw cake mix, batter, or any other raw dough or batter product that is supposed to be cooked or baked.
WASH hands, work surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after contact with flour and raw batter or dough products.
KEEP raw foods separate from other foods while preparing them to prevent any contamination that may be present from spreading. Be aware that flour or cake mix may spread easily due to its powdery nature.

Caito Foods sanitation problems extend back to at least 2016

The following story by Phyllis Entis first appeared in Food Safety News and is reposted here with permission

The Food and Drug Administration found multiple sanitation issues during a 2016 inspection of the Caito Foods fresh produce facility that prepared pre-cut melon products currently implicated in a Salmonella outbreak.

According to the Indianapolis company’s website, Caito specializes in fresh produce distribution and fresh food processing, selling to customers nationwide.

The September 2016 FDA inspection was undertaken following detection of Listeria monocytogenes in a sample of cut butternut squash by the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA), according to documents obtained from FDA in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

The company decided not to recall the squash from the sampled lot, because the product was intended to be cooked by the consumer. Also, the company did not learn about the contamination until Sept. 9, 2016, which was five days after the “BEST IF SOLD BY” date for the batch.

FDA investigators spent two days on a “directed inspection” in response to the Listeria monocytogenes finding. Their inspection focussed on the processing of raw fruits and vegetables, including butternut squash.

The “Establishment Inspection Report” noted several observations, which were provided to management at the completion of the inspection.

Condensate dripping onto uncovered asparagus spears on the over-wrap line during the, even though the pre-operation sanitation checklist indicated “No condensation” for that date.
Pre-operation sanitation check list for the date during which the butternut squash sample was produced identified three locations as “unsatisfactory” with no corrective actions indicated.
During the inspection, an employee on the production line was observed placing “. . . waste into a trash can under the product line, pushing the waste down into the can with their hand, until their arm from the elbow down was fully in the trash can.” The employee immediately returned to handling cut watermelon chunks without changing or sanitizing gloves.
Condensate water formed a puddle on the floor at one of the entrances to the receiving cooler, a potential reservoir for Listeria, which could be tracked into the rest of the facility.

Caito’s production facility was inspected again by FDA in 2018, in response to an outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide infections linked to freshcut melon products. That outbreak sickened 77 individuals in nine states.

On April 12 this year, Caito recalled various pre-cut melons and fruit medley products after the products were linked to cases of salmonellosis. As of April 24, there were 117 confirmed patients in the 10-state outbreak. At least 32 of the patients have been admitted to hospitals, according to an update this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The FDA is conducting an on-going investigation to determine the cause of the outbreak, including a traceback investigation to determine, if possible, a farm of origin for the melons. According to an agency spokesperson, FDA’s inspection of Caito’s production plant is still in progress.

US Salmonella outbreak linked to frozen raw tuna from Vietnam

The CDC and FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport linked to frozen, raw ground tuna supplied by Jensen Tuna of Louisiana and imported from J K Fish Co. Ltd. of Vietnam.

Thirteen outbreak cases have been reported from seven states, including: Connecticut (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (1), Minnesota (1), New York (1), North Dakota (4), and Washington (4).

Two people have been hospitalized.

The outbreak began in January 2019, with the most recent case having been reported on March 20th.

Nine (75%) of 12 outbreak victims that were interviewed reported eating sushi from a restaurant or grocery store, according to CDC.

On April 16th, Jensen Tuna recalled frozen ground raw tuna that was imported from J K Fish Co. Ltd. of Vietnam. The recalled tuna was individually packaged in clear plastic one-pound bags, and sold in white wax 20 lb. boxes. The product is only sold as a wholesale case with twenty bags in each case. The lot numbers are z266, z271 and z272.

The recalled product was supplied to wholesale distributors in Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, and Washington for further distribution to restaurants and retail locations.

CDC recommends that consumers who order sushi made with raw tuna, including “spicy tuna,” should ask the restaurant or grocery store if the tuna is from Jensen Tuna, and should avoid eating this tuna.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection may include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps 12 to 72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria, and typically last from 4 to 7 days. Individuals who consumed raw tuna and develop these symptoms should consult a health care provider.

In some people, the illness may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the bloodstream and then to other places in the body.

Children, the elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems are more likely to experience severe symptoms.

Restaurants and retailers should check with their suppliers and not sell or serve the recalled ground tuna from Jensen Tuna. They should also be sure to wash and sanitize locations where the recalled ground tuna was stored or prepared.