A Summary of Recent Food Outbreaks

 Posted on March 30, 2023 in Food borne illness

Foodborne illness, otherwise known as a food outbreak, occurs when two or more people fall sick from consuming the same contaminated beverage or food. Food outbreaks can cause severe illness, hospitalization, and death of hundreds of people if not dealt with immediately. From all-natural vegetables and fruits to processed food and drink, food outbreaks can occur in any food product made or handled with negligence.

Foodborne illnesses are usually caused by parasites, viruses, bacteria, and toxins and can affect people of all ages. Here is a summary of recent food outbreaks.

2023 – Hepatitis A | Frozen Strawberries

Found in the blood or stool of infected people, Hepatitis A is a virus that causes a contagious liver infection. Symptoms of Hepatitis A include yellow eyes or skin, joint pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and loss of appetite.

On March 12, 2023, a Hepatitis A outbreak was reported in Washington. According to the report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the food outbreak affected 5 people, out of which 2 were hospitalized. The Epidemiologic and traceback evidence concluded that frozen strawberries imported from a farm in Baja, California in 2022 were the source of the outbreak.

CDC advises citizens to avoid eating frozen strawberries, and in case they have eaten the recalled strawberries in the last 2 weeks, they must contact their local health department.

2023 – Listeria Monocytogenes | Unknown Source

Even though it’s rare, Listeria can result in medical complications and even death. Listeria Monocytogenes is a bacterium found in decaying animals, vegetation, water, soil, and moist and damp environments. Listeriosis can contaminate food and transmit itself from one person to another via animals. People at a high risk of foodborne illness include pregnant women, people older than 65, and those with weak immune systems.

While the source of the food outbreak hasn’t been identified by the CDC, Listeriosis has made 11 people sick and 10 hospitalizations.

2022 – Salmonella Typhimurium | Alfalfa Sprouts

Salmonella is a common bacterial disease that can be found in several food products such as eggs, chicken, sprouts, frozen pot pies, nut butter, and vegetables. Salmonella is contagious and can affect your intestinal tract. People with Salmonella display the following symptoms within 8 to 72 hours of exposure: stomach ache, chills, vomiting or nausea, blood in stool, diarrhea, fever, and headaches.

Spread over eight states; the Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak caused 63 illnesses and 10 hospitalizations. According to the CDC report, 70% (35) of the people reported eating Alfalfa Sprouts from the brand SunSprout Enterprises. The company recalled products, including raw alfalfa sprouts sold in 2.5 lb packages with best dates between 12/October/2022 to 1/July/2023.

2022 – Listeria Monocytogenes | Enoki Mushrooms

Sold in a sealed plastic bag, Enoki Mushrooms are white in color and have long, thin stems. They are a popular food in Korea, Japan, and China and are an important component of hot pots, stir-fried dishes, and soups.

The first-ever Listeria outbreak due to enoki mushrooms was reported in 2020. Since then, CDC, FDA, and the local food authorities have been working together to collect samples, resulting in 20 recalls. As per reports, Enoki Mushrooms by Utopia Foods INC is the common source of the recent food outbreak. The organizations have asked people to avoid eating contaminated or recalled enoki mushrooms and return them to the stores. Three cases have been reported, and three people have been hospitalized due to foodborne illness.

2022 – Salmonella Litchfield | Fish

Fresh fish sold by Mariscos Bahia, Inc. was the source of the Salmonella Litchfield outbreak in four states: California, Arizona, Texas, and Illinois. The total number of cases reported was 39, of which 15 people were severely sick and hospitalized. During the investigation, 13 people reported eating poke, sushi, or raw fish. Whereas 10 said that they ate raw salmon. All of these people ate at one of the three renowned restaurants in the states, and the case came to a conclusion when Mariscos Bahia, Inc was determined as their primary raw salmon supplier.

On October 20, 2022, Mariscos Bahia, Inc recalled the fresh tuna, halibut, Chilean sea bass, swordfish, and salmon sold on the market.

2022 – E. Coli O121 | Frozen Falafel

E. Coli is a bacteria that lives in our intestines. Even though most E. Coli species aren’t dangerous, some of them can cause severe illnesses like seizures, kidney failure, bleeding, fever, and confusion. Common symptoms of foodborne illness are abdominal cramps, nausea, constant fatigue, and diarrhea. It is advised to follow good hygiene habits and wash your hands before and after eating.

Traditional Falafel manufactured by Earth Grown Vegan was reported to contain E. Coli strains that caused food poisoning to 24 people and 5 hospitalizations. The food outbreak happened in five states; Florida, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio, and Kansas. While the company recalled all items, CDC advised users to check their fridges for frozen falafels and return them to the seller.

Hire a Food Poisoning Attorney Today!

Food outbreaks can have severe consequences on not just public health but the food industry as well. If you have been a victim of a recent food outbreak, the attorneys at Newland & Newland, LLP can help you sue the responsible party, ensuring that this doesn’t happen again. Our attorneys will file a claim to get you fair compensation for missed workdays and any medical bills you had to pay due to the foodborne illness. Want to discuss your case with the best food poisoning attorney in Illinois? Contact us today!