A Listeria The outbreak, which resulted in 22 hospitalizations and one death, has been linked to an ice cream brand called Big Olaf Creamery Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (opens in new tab) 2nd July.
Big Olaf Creamery, based in Sarasota, Fla., is voluntarily contacting stores to “advise against selling their ice cream products,” the CDC said. These products are only sold in Florida. Additionally, “consumers who have Big Olaf Creamery-branded ice cream at home should discard any remaining product,” the CDC advised.
Meanwhile, the CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Florida Department of Health, and public health officials and regulators in several other states are continuing their investigations into the outbreak in case other products could be involved.
Listeria monocytogenesa bacterium which can cause an infection called listeriosis, has slipped into ice cream and has caused similar outbreaks in the past; for example, Blue Bell ice cream has been linked to a 2015 listeriosis outbreak and Nestlé drumsticks were connected in 2016. Ice cream isn’t the only food at risk, however L. monocytogenes Exposure – contaminated cheese, vegetables, fruit, hot dogs, poultry and seafood have also led to outbreaks in the US, according to the FDA (opens in new tab).
Related: 28 devastating infectious diseases
That current outbreak has so far affected 23 people in 10 states. The affected individuals became ill between January 24, 2021 and June 12, 2022, and 20 of the affected individuals reported having lived in or traveled to Florida in the month prior to becoming ill. (The symptoms of listeriosis typically appear within two weeks of exposure, although they can appear the same day or up to 10 weeks later, according to the CDC.)
The CDC worked with federal and state health officials to survey those affected by the outbreak and found that out of 17 people surveyed, 14, or 82%, said they ate ice cream in the month before they became ill. Of 13 people who recalled details about what type of ice cream they had consumed, six reported eating Big Olaf Creamery brand ice cream or ice cream at locations that Big Olaf Creamery may have supplied.
Based on the results of this investigation, the CDC has issued a food safety alert for Big Olaf Creamery brand ice cream, but again, the search for other potentially contaminated products continues.
L. monocytogenes can infect anyone, but the microbe poses the greatest risk to pregnant women, newborns, people aged 65 and over, and people with disabilities immune systems, notes the CDC. Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headaches, a stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions, as well as common foodborne symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
In elderly and immunocompromised people, the bacteria can infect the bloodstream and cause sepsis or infect the bloodstream Brainthat causes meningitis or encephalitis. Newborns with listeriosis can develop serious complications that require immediate treatment and can lead to lifelong health problems or death; and in pregnant women, the infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. One pregnant person in the current outbreak suffered a “fetal loss” due to the infection, the CDC reported.
“Until we learn more, CDC advises people at higher risk for severe cases Listeria illness to contact their doctor if they have any symptoms a Listeria infection,” the CDC website states. Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics.
“Healthcare providers should report listeriosis to their health departments,” the CDC said.
In a July 3 Facebook post, which has since been removed, Big Olaf Creamery stated: “Right now this is just speculation as this is an ongoing investigation, our brand has not been implicated as being associated with these cases , I’m not sure why only Big Olaf is mentioned and targeted”, after ABC7 (opens in new tab).
“6 out of 23 patients mentioned consuming Big Olaf ice cream, but nothing was proven. We have been working with the Florida Department of Health, FDACS, and the FDA as soon as we were made aware of the situation. We have been transparent and have answered all of their questions and provided them with all of the information we have requested as the health and welfare of the public is our top priority.”
Representatives from Big Olaf Creamery were not immediately available for comment on Tuesday (July 5).
Originally published on Live Science.
Listeria outbreak that sickened 23 people tied to ice cream brand Source link Listeria outbreak that sickened 23 people tied to ice cream brand
The post Listeria outbreak that sickened 23 people tied to ice cream brand appeared first on California News Times.
