Food Poison Journal - Food poisoning outbreaks and litigation: surveillance and analysis

The South Dakota Department of Health is "investigating a suspect food borne outbreak linked to a Tuesday evening basketball game in Pierre between Pierre and Mitchell."   It appears that the number ill is roughly 50.  The pathogen has not been identified, but it is said to be a diarrheal illness of "short duration."  

The health department has described the steps it is taking to identify the source of the outbreak:

An electronic food borne Illness questionnaire is being distributed today in the Pierre high school and middle school for staff and students. The questionnaire is intended to get a clear picture of how many people are ill, how severe the illness is and how long it lasts, the incubation period and the potential food source.

Schools have been the location of prior foodborne illness outbreaks.   In 1998, 11 students and children suffered E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to a taco-meal at the Finley Elementary School in Eastern Washington.   One child developed HUS.   Marler Clark's attorney's won a verdict of $4.6 million on behalf of the injured children.

The CDC reported that it is collaborating with Pennsylvania health officials on an investigation of Salmonella infections associated with pet turtles.  The strain of bacteria involved goes by the catchy name of "Salmonella enterica serotype Paratyphi B var. L (+) tartrate +" 

The report states:

During August 5, 2010–September 26, 2011, a total of 132 cases of human Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L (+) tartrate + infection were reported in 18 states. The median age of patients was 6 years (range: <1–75 years), 66% were aged <10 years, and 63% were female. No deaths were reported. Of the 56 patients interviewed, 36 (64%) reported turtle exposure. For 15 patients who could recall the type of turtle contacted, 14 identified turtles too small to be legally traded. Five samples of turtle tank water from patient homes tested positive for the outbreak strain (four from Pennsylvania and one from South Carolina). Investigation to trace the source of these turtles is difficult because the vendors are transient. These cases illustrate that small turtles remain a source of human Salmonella infections, especially for young children.

Outbreaks of Salmonella linked to turtles are not new.  In 2008, 135 people in 25 states were sickened in a an outbreak of Salmonella linked to turtles by the CDC. As a result, the sale or distribution of small turtles (those with carapace lengths <4 inches ) has been prohibited in the United States since 1975.  Still, they appear to remain available for illegal purchase through transient vendors on the street, at flea markets, and at fairs.

Greencore USA, a Cincinnati, Ohio establishment, is recalling approximately 23 pounds of chef salad products. The salads contain eggs that are the subject of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall due to concerns about contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:

5.6 oz. plastic containers of “Thornton’s Quick Café Chef Salad” with an “Enjoy By” date through“2/4/2012”, that bear the establishment number “P-38518” inside the USDA mark of inspection The products were distributed to retail establishments in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee.

The problem was discovered when Greencore USA was notified by one of its suppliers that hard-cooked eggs (a product inspected by the FDA) had tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, and are being recalled by Michael Foods Egg Products Co. The salads contain the recalled eggs and are the subject of this FSIS recall. FSIS, FDA, and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

Earlier today, online news source Food Safety News broke the story that Taco Bell was in fact the "Restaurant A" linked by  CDC to an outbreak of Salmonella that sickened 68 people in 10 states late in 2011.

Food Safety News stated that:

While suspected ever since the CDC's outbreak report was issued on January 19, confirmation that Taco Bell was central to the investigation comes in a document from the Oklahoma State Department of Health's Acute Disease Service titled, "Summary of Supplemental Questionnaire Responses Specific to Taco Bell Exposure of Oklahoma Outbreak associated cases Multistate Salmonella Enterititis Outbreak Investigation."

Their cover blown, Taco Bell finally admitted the obvious.  Reuters reports that:

Taco Bell said in a statement on Wednesday that investigators found that some of the people who became ill ate at Taco Bell, while others did not.  "They believe that the problem likely occurred at the supplier level before it was delivered to any restaurant or food outlet. We take food quality and safety very seriously," Taco Bell said.

Michael Foods, Inc. is recalling specific lot dates of hard-cooked eggs in brine sold in 10- and 25-pound pails for institutional use that were produced at its Wakefield, Nebraska facility because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled eggs were purchased by food distributors and manufacturers located in 34 states (AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, WI, WV). The recall is limited to hard-cooked eggs in brine in 10- and 25-pound pails prodced at its Wakefield, Nebraska facility, which are labeled under six brand names (Columbia Valley Farms, GFS, Glenview Farms, Papetti’s, Silverbrook, Wholesome Farms) and bearing lot codes of 1 LOT 1350W through 1 LOT 2025W and expiration dates ranging from 1/30/2012 to 3/10/2012.  Only lot codes immediately preceded by a “1” AND ending in a “W” are affected.

None of the eggs were sold directly by Michael Foods to retailers or consumers. However, food distributors and manufacturers who purchased the eggs could have used them in products that were sold to retail outlets or used in foodservice settings. Michael Foods is working with customers who purchased eggs from these lots to ensure that all product is removed from the market. Consumers who believe they might have purchased product affected by the recall, or those who are unsure, should contact the original place of purchase.