Breaking news – Jif brand peanut butter has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak.
It is not unusual for a food to get recalled.
Many have to do with undeclared eggs, gluten, peanut, or milk, things that can trigger food allergies, but some are because of potential bacterial contamination.
“When two or more people get the same illness from the same contaminated food or drink, the event is called a foodborne disease outbreak.”
CDC on Reports of Selected Salmonella Outbreak Investigations
And some lead to outbreaks that get people sick.
In fact, since 2006, there have been between four and fourteen multistate foodborne outbreaks each year, involving everything from ground beef and cantaloupes to sprouts and peanut butter.
The Latest Foodborne Disease Outbreaks
Do you remember hearing about any of these outbreaks?
Unfortunately, many people don’t know about these recalls and outbreaks until it is too late – when they are or someone they know gets sick.
That’s why it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest food recalls and outbreaks, including:
- an ongoing Salmonella outbreak that has been linked to recalled Jif brand peanut butter (lot codes 1274425 – 2140425 – next to Best if Used by date…) sold at stores nationwide and which has gotten at least 14 people sick, including 2 hospitalizations.
- a resolved Listeria outbreak that was linked to recalled packaged salads produced by Fresh Express and which got at least 10 people sick in 10 states, including one death
- a resolved Listeria outbreak that was linked to recalled packaged salads produced by Dole and which got at least 18 people sick in 13 states, including 3 deaths
- a resolved Salmonella outbreak that has been linked to recalled seafood sold at seafood counters in Albertsons, Safeway, and Sprouts grocery stores in Colorado and which has gotten at least 115 people sick in 15 states
- a resolved Salmonella outbreak that has been linked to recalled onions imported from Mexico and sold at grocery stores throughout the United States and which has gotten at least 1,040 people sick in 39 states
- a resolved Salmonella outbreak that has been linked to recalled Fratelli Beretta brand prepackaged Uncured Antipasto trays which has gotten at least 40 people sick in 17 states
- a resolved E.coli outbreak that has been linked to raw cake batter and has gotten at least 16 people sick in 12 states
- a resolved E.coli outbreak with no known source and which has gotten at least 22 people sick in 7 states, including one death
- a resolved Cyclosporiasis outbreak that was linked to recalled bagged salads produced by Fresh Express that got at least 701 people sick in 14 states
- a resolved Cyclosporiasis outbreak that was linked to fresh Basil imported from Mexico that got at least 241 people sick in 11 states
- a resolved Salmonella outbreak that was linked to raw turkey products that got 358 people sick in 42 states
- a resolved Vibrio parahaemolyticus outbreak that was linked to fresh crab meat from Venezuala that got 26 people sick in 8 states
- a resolved Salmonella outbreak that was linked to recalled Spring Pasta Salad from Hy-Vee grocery stores that got 101 people sick in 10 states
- a resolved Cyclosporiasis outbreak that was linked to salads sold at McDonalds that got at least 511 people sick in 16 states
- a resolved Salmonella outbreak that has been linked to recalled Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal that got at least 135 people sick in 36 states.
- a resolved Salmonella outbreak that has been linked to pre-cut melons from Caito Foods in Indiana that has gotten at least 77 people sick in 9 states.
- a resolved Salmonella outbreak that has been linked to recalled shell eggs from Rose Acre Farms’ Hyde County farm of Seymour, Indiana and has gotten at least 45 people sick in 10 states. Over 200 million eggs are being recalled that were sold in restaurants and stores (Target, Food Lion, and Walmart) in Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- a resolved E.coli 0157:H7 outbreak that has been linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region and has gotten at least 210 people sick in 36 states, including 5 deaths. Although there has been no official recall, we have been warned to not buy or eat romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region (it is no longer being sold, but some product may still be in homes) or if you don’t know where it is from.
- a resolved Salmonella outbreak that has been linked to recalled bulk packages of International Harvest, Inc. brand Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw that has gotten 134 people sick in 8 states
If your child is sick and has eaten any of the foods listed in an ongoing outbreak, be sure to call your pediatrician or seek medical attention.
How can you avoid these outbreaks?
“Since 1996, there have been at least 30 reported outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with different types of raw and lightly cooked sprouts. Most of these outbreaks were caused by Salmonella and E. coli.”
Sprouts: What You Should Know
Although proper cooking and food handling can help keep your family from getting sick in some cases with these recalled foods, it likely won’t with others, such as when fruits and vegetables, that you eat raw, are contaminated with bacteria.
That’s why you have to be aware of food recalls and be sure that you don’t eat foods that have been recalled, especially if anyone in your family is considered to be at high risk to get sick (younger children, anyone with a chronic illness, anyone who is pregnant, etc.). Many experts suggest avoiding those foods that are at high risk of contamination for high risk people, including raw sprouts, uncooked and undercooked beef, pork, and poultry, eggs that aren’t pasteurized, and of course, raw milk.
Also be sure to seek quick medical attention if you have eaten them and get sick (diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever, etc.).
What to Know About Food Recalls and Foodborne Outbreaks
It is important to be aware of food recalls and foodborne disease outbreaks, whether they are caused by Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria, so that you can take steps to avoid those foods and keep your family from getting sick.
More on Food Recalls and Foodborne Outbreaks
- The Numbers Behind Keeping Food Safe
- What is Causing your Child’s Diarrhea?
- How Are Vaccines Related to News About Food Recalls and Food Poisoning?
- Current USDA Food Recalls and Alerts
- Current FDA Recalls and Alerts
- 10 High Risk Foods More Likely to Cause Food Poisoning
- Sprouts: What You Should Know
- How can I reduce my chance of getting a Salmonella infection?
- FDA – Outbreaks: Investigation, Response & Evaluation
- CDC – CDC Current Outbreak List
- CDC – List of Selected Multistate Foodborne Outbreak Investigations
- CDC – Reports of Selected Salmonella Outbreak Investigations
- CDC – Reports of Selected E. coli Outbreak Investigations
- CDC – Listeria Outbreaks
- CDC – Hepatitis A Outbreaks
- Symptoms of Food Poisoning
Last Updated on May 22, 2022 by Vincent Iannelli, MD
