No details on new outbreak of Listeria infections; FDA working on other outbreaks

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Federal authorities are investigating a new outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections but have not released any specific information.

The Food and Drug Administration announced the outbreak investigation in its weekly update, saying a source of the pathogen has not been identified.

Ten people have been confirmed as patients in the new Listeria outbreak. The FDA has not released any patient information such as their age or the states where they live.

The agency has not yet begun traceback efforts, on-site inspections or sample testing of any kind in connection with the outbreak of Listeria infections.

The new outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections is the second currently under investigation by the FDA in which a source has not been identified for the pathogen. This week, the number of patients rises to 21 in the other outbreak, announced on April 13. Tracing has begun, but the FDA has not disclosed which foods or foods are being traced.

In other outbreak news, the Food and Drug Administration continues to investigate an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections. Ten patients were identified in the outbreak of E. coli, but no information has been released on where they live or how old they are.

The FDA reports that it has begun tracing efforts, but has not disclosed which foods or foods are being traced. In recent days, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service reported that it was investigating an outbreak of E. coli, but did not release any details. The agencies did not say whether the investigations are linked.

E. coli is often found in ground beef, but has also been found in other meats as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. It is illegal for people to sell meat contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and several other strains of the pathogen, whether or not they are aware of the contamination.

Hepatitis A outbreak investigation
The FDA has launched a remote Foreign Supplier Verification Program inspection of strawberries imported from Mexico. Organic berries are linked to an epidemic of hepatitis A infections in the United States and Canada.

Canadian officials have launched a separate investigation.

The organic strawberries were imported into the United States from Baja California, a state in northern Mexico, and labeled FreshKampo and HEB by a common supplier. They were on sale between March 5, 2022 and April 25, 2022.

However, the FDA is urging consumers who purchased the organic strawberries and froze them for later use to throw them away. Freezing does not kill the hepatitis A virus.

The strawberries were distributed nationwide in the United States.

As of this week, the FDA is reporting 18 confirmed illnesses — 16 in California and one in Minnesota and North Dakota — and 12 hospitalizations in the United States. In Canada, 10 patients have been identified and four of them require hospitalization.

Infant formula epidemic
The FDA continues to investigate an outbreak of Cronobacter infections linked to infant formula produced by Abbott Nutrition’s plant in Sturgis, Michigan. According to redacted FDA documents obtained by eFoodAlert, nine infant deaths were associated with the investigation.

Abbott’s production facility, which makes Similac and Elecare formulas in addition to other brands, was shut down in mid-February after the FDA found five strains of cronobacter in the facility. At that time, the FDA was reporting only four babies associated with the outbreak, two of whom died.

FDA officials have agreed to allow production to resume at the plant on June 4 with strict controls in place.

Other active outbreak investigations
An outbreak of Salmonella infections attributed to Jif peanut butter continues to be investigated by the FDA. It has sickened 16 people in 12 states according to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Numerous Jif brand products have been recalled and dozens of products containing the implicated peanut butter have also been recalled.

An investigation into 558 “adverse event reports” of the dry cereal, Lucky Charms breakfast cereal, is ongoing. The FDA has launched at the General Mills production plant site and is conducting environmental and product testing. No further information regarding the outbreak of “adverse events” has been released.

Additional outbreak information
The table below provides information on outbreak investigations handled by FDA CORE response teams. The investigations are at different stages. Some outbreaks have limited information with active investigations underway, others may be nearing completion. The table below has been abbreviated to show only active surveys.

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

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

To view the FDA page with links to specific information on individual outbreaks, please click here.

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