Food safety news has been dominated this week by the ongoing Salmonella outbreak linked to DeFusco’s bakery pastries in Rhode Island.  Reports today are that the case count has reached 43 people, with 22 hospitalizations, and one death.  This morning, marlerblog.com published the last several reports from Rhode Island Department of Health inspections at DeFusco’s.  Among other things, the March 25 report cites the bakery for serious handwashing and other food safety violations, and for operating without a license.

Also this week, the CDC updated the number of people sick in the Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupes, which has caused 13 illnesses in Oregon (5 cases), Washington (4 cases), California (2 cases), Maryland (1 case) and Colorado (1 case). The illnesses have been linked to Del Monte Cantaloupes. Del Monte has recalled nearly 5,000 cases.

Finally, Palmyra Bologna Company, of Palmyra, PA, has recalled approximately 23,000 pounds of Lebanon bologna products that may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7. 14 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli serotype O157:H7 have been reported from Maryland (3 cases), New Jersey (2 cases), North Carolina (1 case), Ohio (2 cases) and Pennsylvania (6 cases).  3 or 23%, reported being hospitalized, and none have reported hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is associated with E. coli O157:H7 infections. No deaths have been reported.