CDC Investigating Multiple Foodborne Outbreaks This Summer

CDC, other federal agencies, and state partners are investigating a number of foodborne illness outbreaks, including the following:

• Multidrug-resistant Salmonella infections linked to raw turkey products. This outbreak is a reminder to always handle raw turkey carefully and cook turkey to an internal temperature of 165?F to prevent food poisoning.
• Salmonella infections linked to Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salad. On July 17, 2018, Hy-Vee, Inc. recalled its Spring Pasta Salad sold in grocery stores in the Midwest. Do not eat recalled Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salad.
• Vibrio infections linked to fresh crab meat imported from Venezuela. Do not eat fresh crab meat unless you can confirm it is not from Venezuela. Read CDC’s advice to consumers, restaurants and retailers. Then, learn about Vibrio bacteria and how to lower your chance of infection. Also available in Spanish.
• Cyclospora infections linked to salads sold at McDonald’s restaurants. If you have eaten a salad from a McDonald’s restaurant in Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, or Wisconsin since May 13, 2018 and you developed diarrhea, see a healthcare provider to be tested for Cyclospora infection and to be treated if you are sick. McDonald’s has voluntarily stopped selling salads in more than 3,000 locations in 14 states.
• Salmonella infections linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal. People should not eat and retailers should not sell any Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal. Details about this outbreak are also available in Spanish.
• Cyclospora infections linked to Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable trays. Del Monte Fresh Produce recalled 6 oz., 12 oz., and 28 oz. vegetable trays containing fresh broccoli, cauliflower, celery sticks, carrots, and dill dip. Do not eat recalled vegetable trays. Throw them away.

A recall occurs when a food may cause consumers to get sick. Food manufacturers or distributors usually start a recall. In some cases, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) request a food recall.  You can sign up to get an email notice of food recalls from FDA or USDA.

A CDC study published in Epidemiology and Infection, concluded that the proportion of all foodborne outbreaks attributable to raw produce increased from 8% in 1998–2013 to 16% in 2010–2013. The study analyzed data reported to CDC’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System in describing raw produce outbreaks before the implementation of the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

These raw produce outbreaks were most commonly attributed to vegetable row crops (38% of outbreaks), fruits (35%), and seeded vegetables (11%). Vegetable row crops include foods such as lettuce, spinach, and celery; seeded vegetables include tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. The most common causes identified were norovirus (54% of outbreaks), Salmonella (21%), and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (10%). Food-handling errors were reported in 39% of outbreaks.

FSMA gives food safety regulators increased authority to require implementation of safety measures to reduce the contamination of produce. Evaluation of these measures should take into account trends occurring before FSMA implementation.