The CDC posted an interesting chart on its website. The chart describes foodborne sicknesses linked to U.S. outbreaks for the year 2007. During 2007, there were a total of 21, 244 foodborne illnesses linked to an outbreak and eighteen deaths. According to the chart, 34% of these illness are related to some form of bacteria. Salmonella and Norovirus topped the chart. Of the eighteen reported deaths,... [more]

Today, the CDC published its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). The main topic of this week’s edition was a summarization of 2007 foodborne illness data. The report outlined foodborne illnesses related to Salmonella, norovirus, E. coli, and a host of other food poisoning incidences from 2007. According to the report, there were 235 outbreaks related to one specific food item. Seventeen... [more]

By Magdalena Kendall, surveillance epidemiologist with the CDC Last week, my colleagues and I presented our research on foodborne outbreaks linked to salsa and guacamole. Recently, the number of these reported outbreaks has increased. Between 1998 and 2008, nearly 1 of every 25 outbreaks associated with restaurants or delis may have been caused by contaminated salsa or guacamole. We received a lot... [more]

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals’ Office of Public Health announced that Clostridium perfringens is the foodborne pathogen at the center of the Central State Hospital outbreak in Pineville, LA. The outbreak caused 40 illnesses and 3 deaths. State health officials determined that Clostridium perfringens, the third most common type of foodborne illness, was spread by tainted chicken... [more]

Louisiana’s state health secretary, Alan Levine, announced that norovirus is believed to be the pathogen at the center of a food poisoning outbreak that left 40 sickened and 3 dead at the Central Start Hospital in Pineville, LA. Health officials felt confident that the norovirus was at the center of the outbreak, but explained that further testing is necessary to determine why 3 victims died,... [more]

Over the weekend, 40 residents and employees of a Pineville, Louisiana state hospital presented with gastrointestinal symptoms after eating in the facility’s cafeteria. Some of the victim’s symptoms were so severe that hospitalizations were required, and three patients died shortly after being sickened. State health officials and investigators publicly stated that foodborne illness was a suspect... [more]

As I walked up and down the aisles of my local grocery store today, it was difficult not to think about the number of food recalls and alerts which have recently surfaced. Campylobacter in raw milk….  E. coli in ground beef…. Salmonella in HVP….. Listeria in deli meat….  Norovirus in oysters …. According to recent news articles, food poisoning related bacteria have hit grocery store shelves,... [more]

The summer is quickly approaching and with summer comes baseball season, summer concerts and numerous events that take place all across America’s arenas and stadiums. The warm weather allows for many of these outdoor venues to play host to thousands of people, providing not just entertainment, but also food and drink. As with any situation where food or drink is served, there is a risk of exposing... [more]

BATON ROUGE—The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Wednesday closed a Plaquemines Parish molluscan shellfish harvesting area. DHH also ordered a recall of all oysters harvested from the area since March 6, including shucked, frozen, breaded and post-harvest processed oysters, and oysters for the half shell market. Health Officer Dr. Jimmy Guidry signed the closure order when the Department... [more]

Recently, oysters may have been linked to Norovirus foodborne illness outbreaks. Two separate recalls of oysters harvested from Yaquina Bay in Oregon have been issued. OregonLive.com reported on February 26, 2010 that Oregon Oyster Farms, Inc. recalled oysters harvested in Yaquina Bay due to possible Norovirus food poisoning. On March 2, 2010, OregonLive.com also reported a second oyster recall due... [more]