Listeriosis Outbreak in Texas Kills Two
A listeriosis outbreak in Texas has sickened seven people. Two of them died. Listeriosis is an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne bacteria. Analysis of Listeria isolates collected from those sickened found that the isolates were genetically identical, suggesting that the same food source is responsible for the illnesses and deaths.
The seven people who contracted listeriosis are from Bexar County (5), Travis County (1) and Hidalgo County (1).
According to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, the victims of this listeriosis outbreak were fragile, elderly people ranging in ages 66 to 93. It is likely that several others were also infected with Listeria but did not get sick or only had flu-like symptoms.
Illnesses were reported from January through May 6 of this year.
The food source of the Listeria bacteria is being investigated. Below are recent Listeria recalls and public health alerts (none of these products have been implicated in this outbreak):
- Casa Italia Prosciutto Public Health Alert – May 11, 2010 – Canadian ready-to-eat deli products produced by Zadi Foods Ltd., CFIA Establishment 665, located in Brampton, Ontario and distributed nationwide: Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto, Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Boneless, Casa Italia Gastronomia Prosciutto Mattonella, Casa Italia Prosciutto Boneless, Casa Italia Prosciutto Boneless Sliced, Casa Italia Prosciutto Ham Sliced and Emma Dry Prosciutto. All lots and production dates for the above-listed products were subject to the public health alert.
- Manouri Cheese Recall – May 6, 2010 - Mt. Vikos, Inc., Marshfield, MA 02050 recalled all size packages and all lot numbers of Mt. Vikos Brand Manouri – Sheep & Goat’s Milk. The cheese is distributed in clear plastic packaging for the retail market in 4oz portions with the Mt. Vikos Manouri label. In addition the cheese is distributed in approximately 1 Kilogram logs in clear plastic packaging with the Mt. Vikos Manouri label. Recalled products include 1) retail portions of Mt. Vikos Manouri – Sheep & Goat’s Milk Cheese, Net Wt. 4 oz, UPC# 6-65291-00201-2, all Best Before dates and 2) food service portions of Mt. Vikos Manouri – Sheep & Goat’s Milk Cheese, Random Wt. logs (approximately 1 Kilogram) – all Best By dates. Mt. Vikos Manouri cheese was distributed nationwide to customers for the retail and food service markets.
- Parker Farm Recall of Various Products - January 15, 2010 - Parkers Farm, Inc. of Coon Rapids, Minnesota expanded the previously announced recall of products to include all date codes. The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the following retail stores: Hy-Vee, Cub, Rainbow, Byerlys, Lunds, Target, Whole Foods, Jewel, Dominicks, Marsh, Price Chopper, Shop Rite, Nash Finch, Sams Club, Costco, Safeway, Kroger, Wal-Mart, Aldi. The following recalled products were sold under the Parker Farm or Parkers label:
~~~12 ounce & 16 ounce peanut butter in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), regular and organic varieties are creamy, crunchy, honey creamy and honey crunchy with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~34 ounce peanut butter in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are creamy and crunchy with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
~~~7 ounce bagel spreads in white plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are garden veggie, wild berry, strawberry, apple cinnamon and honey walnut with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
~~~12 ounce & 14 ounce dips & spreads in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varities are jalapeno nacho, pimento and salsa con queso with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
~~~8 ounce, 12 ounce and 16 ounce cold pack cheese in round or square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, bacon, onion, smoked cheddar, Swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~16 ounce salsa in square plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are hot, mild, garlic, black bean and fire roasted with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
~~~32 ounce salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieites are hot, mild, garlic, and black bean with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
~~~128 ounce salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieites are hot, fire roasted, mild and garlic with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
~~~8 ounce, 9 ounce, 10 ounce Balls & Logs (in film overwrap), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, smokey bacon, ranch, garlic, jalapeno, pimento, spinach, jajik, beer and chorizo with sell by dates on or before 01/05/2011.
~~~5#, 5.5#, 10#, 30# Parker Farm cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, onion, bacon, smoked cheddar, swiss almond, horseradish, garlic, port wine, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
~~~16 ounce Happy Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~8 ounce Kroger cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~8 ounce Central Markets cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~14 ounce Central Markets salsa con queso in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid) with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
~~~16 ounce Central Markets salsa in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
~~~8 ounce Dutch Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish, and swiss & cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~7 ounce Dutch Farms cream cheese spreads in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are strawberry, wild berry, honey walnut & apple cinnamon with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
~~~8 ounce Crystal Farms cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, bacon and jalapeno cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~8 ounce Heluva Good cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine and horseradish cheddar with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~8 ounce Amish Classic cold pack cheese in round plastic containers (tub with snap on lid), varieites are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 12/31/2010.
~~~10 ounce Amish Classic cheese balls & logs (in film overwrap), varieties are cheddar, port wine, ranch, smokey bacon, beef n onion with sell by dates on or before 01/05/2011.
~~~128 ounce San Pablo salsa in plastic jugs (clear jug with screw cap), varieites are fire roasted and mild with sell by dates on or before 04/30/2010.
~~~12 ounce Century Resources cold pack cheese food (tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, horserdish, bacon with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9).
~~~12 ounce Century Resources pimento spread (tub with snap on lid) with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9.
~~~8 ounce and 12/12 ounce Century Resources cheese ball & log (in film overwrap) sharp cheddar with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9).
~~~12 ounce Century Resources salsa con queso (tub with snap on lid) with a sell by date of xxx9 (the first 3 digits aren’t important, but the last digit must be a 9).
~~~4#, 5.5# Block & Barrel cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, swiss almond, horseradish, port wine and pimiento spread with packed on dates on or before 12/30/2009.
~~~30# Block & Barrel sharp cheddar cold pack cheese (white pail with snap on lid) with packed on dates on or before 12/30/2009.
~~~5# Cobblestone cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, swiss almond, horseradish with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
~~~30# Cobblestone sharp cheddar cold pack cheese (white pail with snap on lid) with sell by dates on or before 06/30/2010.
~~~5# Biery label cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar and port wine with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
~~~~~~5# Dierks Waukesha cold pack cheese (white tub with snap on lid), varieties are sharp cheddar, port wine, horseradish, swiss almond with sell by dates on or before 09/30/2010.
