Current Food Poisoning Outbreaks People Should Know.
With the state of the world today, staying informed about the growing COVID-19 pandemic is a must for people all over the U.S.A. But what many don’t realize is that there are other epidemiological risks they should be informed, including food poisoning outbreaks. Food poisoning outbreaks are invisible dangers that can affect people’s lives deleteriously, with many outbreaks linked to restaurants or products that are purchased and consumed on a daily basis. Food poisoning outbreaks, while often local, can also cross state lines.In either case, they can have very severe effects on those who ingest the pathogens.
Two of the more recent interstate outbreaks announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are the listeria outbreak linked to Enoki Mushrooms and the E. coli O103 outbreak linked to Clover Sprouts.
The Listeria outbreak linked to Enoki mushrooms was announced by the CDC in late February 2020, it has affected a total of 36 people in 17 states thus far and caused 4 deaths. Since the announcement of the outbreak three companies have issued recalls due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination found in their Enoki mushroom products. Out of the 36 reported cases linked to the outbreak, 30 have required hospitalization, and 2 cases have reported a fetal loss due to the outbreak. The last reported case of the listeria outbreak was announced on December 13, 2019, but the CDC is still advising consumers to avoid eating Enoki mushrooms. Green Co. of the Republic of Korea was placed on Import Alert 99-23 on April 7, 2020, due to the distribution of contaminated Korean Enoki Mushrooms. Consumers who have eaten any of the recalled Enoki mushroom products and are experiencing symptoms of listeriosis should contact a medical health care provider as soon as possible and inform them of the listeria exposure.
The second major outbreak being investigated by the CDC and FDA is the E. coli O103 outbreak linked to clover sprouts. The E. coli O103 outbreak reported 39 cases in 6 states, 2 of which required hospitalization. The outbreak was originally announced to be linked to clover sprouts served at Jimmy John’s restaurants this was reported after the sandwich franchise received a Warning Letter from the FDA due to their involvement in 5 previous outbreaks, which were linked to their adulterated produce. Since the announcement of the outbreak, the company Chicago Indoor Garden has issued a recall on their products which contain sprouts. Lawsuits have been filed against Jimmy Johns due to the E. coli O103 outbreak, the first lawsuit was filed by the National Food Poisoning Attorney Ron Simon on March 5, 2020. The outbreak has not ended and consumers have been advised to stay vigilant of E. coli symptom if they have consumed any clover sprouts.
Both the E. coli outbreak and Listeria outbreak are still being investigated by the CDC and FDA, people are advised to stay vigilant of recalled products. Those affected by the two outbreaks should contact a Food Poisoning Attorney for legal information and representation.
For more information on the current Food Poisoning Outbreaks, to speak to a Food Poisoning Lawyer, or to inquire about a Food Poisoning Lawsuit, call 1-888-335-4901.
https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2020/o103h2-02-20/
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ron-simon–associates-files-first-jimmy-johns-e-coli-o103-lawsuit-301018507.html
https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/jimmy-johns-franchise-llc-599962-02212020
