Salmonella Contamination in US (and Canada)

The E. coli outbreak at McDonald's in the US in October 2024 was pretty scary. [Note: The first reported case of illness linked to this outbreak was actually on September 27]. 

According to an October 30, 2024 Update on Food Poisoning News, a total of 90 people were infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 across 13 states. Twenty-seven people were hospitalized and two persons developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe infection of the kidneys that can be life-threatening. One person died not from HUS. And additional cases of illness had already surfaced, but these occurred before McDonald’s and California's Taylor Farms acted to pull slivered onions from restaurants. Anyway, read my post "McD’s Quarter Pounder Back on the Menu in the US" published October 29. 

But this food safety issue wasn't a random event.

Not at all. Concerns about salmonella contamination have prompted the recall of cucumbers across multiple states on Monday, just days after two other major salmonella-related recalls affected whole cucumbers and organic eggs sold in more than two dozen US states. 

The recall of produce said to be from Sonora, Mexico now covers cucumbers sold in 35 states as well as five provinces of Canada. According to the FDA, 68 people across 19 states have been sickened by the salmonella outbreak linked to the cucumbers, 18 of whom have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. 

And then, last week, 10,000 cartons of organic eggs sold at Costco – sourced from New York’s Handsome Brook Farms – were also recalled over salmonella concerns. And earlier this year, more than 90 people were sickened and 34 were hospitalized across 12 states when eggs from Milo's Poultry Farms in Wisconsin were found to be contaminated with salmonella.

In case you didn't know, there are about 48 million cases of food-borne illness annually – the equivalent of sickening 1 in 6 Americans each year. And each year, these illnesses result in an estimated 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. 

Yesterday, Reo Hatate produced a brilliant finish to earn Celtic a 1-0 victory over nearest rivals Aberdeen and a seven-point lead in the Scottish Premiership. 

The Japan midfielder beat the offside trap, chested down Greg Taylor's lofted pass and dispatched a left-footed half-volley into the corner of the net in the 78th minute. 

The win saw the champions strengthen their grip on the title race – they have a game in hand over the Dons and stay 11 points ahead of Rangers.