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The Illinois Jimmy Johns Salmonella outbreak, believed to be linked to alfalfa sprouts, is just one of two outbreaks to salute what may be the final days of Congress’s attempt to pass much needed food safety legislation. (See "Food Safety Bill on Life Support"). Both outbreaks–Jimmy Johns in Illinois, and E. coli
FDA’s take on sprout safety: 46 ill from sprouts at Illinois Jimmy Johns
Sprouts . . . nutritionally dense, next to irresistable on sub sandwiches, and an exceptional medium for the proliferation of dangerous bacteria. Sprouts have been called one of the ten riskiest foods. They have been estimated to have caused 40% of foodborne illness outbreaks linked to fresh produce. And now they are implicated in a major salmonella outbreak linked to Jimmy John’s sandwiches in Illinois. Why? Unlike other fresh produce, seeds need warm and humid conditions to sprout and grow . . . conditions that are also ideal for the growth of bacteria, including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli.
In 1999, the FDA issued guidance documents to the sprout industry. The principles are non-binding:
All parties involved in the production of sprouts — seed producers, seed conditioners, and distributors, and sprout producers — should be aware that seeds and sprouted seeds have been recognized as an important cause of foodborne illness. The following recommendations identify the preventive controls that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes should be taken immediately to reduce the risk of raw sprouts serving as a vehicle for foodborne illness and ensure sprouts are not adulterated under the food safety provisions of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act). Failure to adopt effective preventive controls can be considered insanitary conditions which may render food injurious to health. Food produced under such conditions is adulterated under the act (21 U.S.C. 342(a)(4)). FDA will consider enforcement actions against any party who does not have effective preventive controls in place, in particular, microbial testing.
These recommendations are based on the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF, 1999) and elaborate on Compliance Policy Guide 7120.28 (CPG 7120.28).Continue Reading FDA’s take on sprout safety: 46 ill from sprouts at Illinois Jimmy Johns
Dallas company recalls 25,600 pounds of ground beef
According to a USDA press release, Winn Meats Co., a Dallas, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 25,600 pounds of ground beef products that were improperly labeled and potentially adulterated. Notably, the recalled products are being recalled from firms to which they were sent for "further processing." Question: because they were designated for further processing, were
Illinois foodpoisoning outbreaks past
The Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating salmonella contaminated alfalfa sprouts as the source of at least 46 confirmed salmonella illnesses in 9 counties. The outbreak cases were sickened at Jimmy John’s restaurants.
Illinois residents have been plagued by major foodpoisoning outbreaks in the last few years:
Subway, Salmonella Hvittingfoss, 2010
In May, Illinois
Salmonella outbreak linked to sprouts at Illinois Jimmy Johns restaurants
The Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating a large Salmonella outbreak possibly associated with alfalfa sprouts consumed at Jimmy John’s restaurants. The outbreak, which has sickened 46 people with the same strain of salmonella, has hit nine Illinois counties, including Will, Cook, Kankakee, McHenry, Adams, Champaign, Mclean, Peoria and Winnebago.
This is not the first
Sally Jackson cheese E. coli outbreak: illnesses in 4 states
Word is that Sally Jackson’s cheese E. coli recall comes on the heels of an epidemiological investigation linking at least 8 PFGE-matched illnesses in Oregon, Washington, Vermont, and Minnesota to Sally Jackson cheese products. One person has been hospitalized. To date, there are no recognized cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome in the outbreak.
Prior E. coli O157:H7 Outbreaks in Oregon and Washington
Since being ground zero for the infamous Jack-in-the-Box E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in 1993, the pacific northwest has had its share of E. coli O157H7 outbreaks. It appears another outbreak may be on the way. As reported here this morning, Sally Jackson cheese company, from Oroville, Washington, has recalled all of its cheese products due
A bad year gets worse for raw milk cheese
Sally Jackson cheese company, from Oroville, Washington, has recalled all of its cheese products due to contamination by E. coli O157:H7. The recalled cheeses, which are made from raw cow, goat, and sheep milk, have been identified as the source of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak amongst residents of Oregon, and possibly Washington State.
For
E. coli Prompts Recall of Sally Jackson Cheese Raw Milk Cheeses in Washington and Oregon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 17, 2010 – Sally Jackson Cheese of Oroville, WA is recalling all cheese products, including cow, goat, and sheep, because they may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacteria (E. coli O157:H7). E. coli O157:H7 causes a diarrheal illness, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely
Salmonella-free eggs: it can be done
Pockets in other parts of the world have been producing salmonella free eggs for years. The egg industry here in the US, however, took a big shot to the jaw this year after theWright County Egg recall and outbreak, which sickened approximately 1,900 with confirmed salmonella illnesses (and untold thousands with unconfirmed illnesses).