News and Stories

Since Markon’s last Food Safety Update on Thursday, January 4, 2018 no new information has been available regarding the E. Coli O157:H7 outbreaks in the U.S. and Canada.

Markon is closely following this outbreak investigation and will continue to update members when more information becomes available.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), several states and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to investigate a multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157 currently affecting 13 states in the U.S. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), along with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada continue to investigate an outbreak of Escherichia coli O157 that is linked to romaine lettuce affecting 5 provinces in Canada. To date, no product recalls have been initiated nor have the illnesses been traced back to a supplier, brand or region. Until more information is made available, Markon cannot issue recommendations regarding romaine product currently in the market. This is an active and ongoing outbreak investigation.

What we know:

• U.S.
  • CDC is performing whole genome sequencing on samples of bacteria making people sick in the United States to give us information about whether these illnesses are related to the illnesses in Canada.
  • Preliminary results show that the type of E. coli making people sick in both countries is closely related genetically, meaning the ill people are more likely to share a common source of infection.
  • The Public Health Agency of Canada has identified romaine lettuce as the source of the outbreak in Canada.
  • In the United States, state and local public health officials are interviewing sick people to determine what they ate in the week before their illness started.
  • CDC is still collecting information to determine whether there is a food item in common among sick people, including leafy greens and romaine.
  • Seventeen illnesses from 13 states have been reported, California (3), Connecticut (2), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Michigan (1), Nebraska (1), New Hampshire (2), New York (1), Ohio (1), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (1), Vermont (1) and Washington (1).
  • Illnesses started on dates from November 15 through December 8, 2017.

• Canada
  • To date, 41 people from 5 provinces, Ontario (8), Quebec (14), New Brunswick (5), Nova Scotia (1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (13), have been infected with the outbreak strain of E. Coli O157 
  • 17 of the ill persons have been hospitalized
  • One death has been reported
  • Illnesses occurred in November and December 2017
  • Individuals who became ill are between the ages of 3 and 85
  • The majority of the cases (73%) are female

Below please find links to information regarding the ongoing outbreaks and information about E. Coli.

CDC Media Release

CDC E. Coli General Information

Public Health Notice: Outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce

Epidemiological information: Outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce

E. coli (Escherichia) Infection information

Markon is closely following this outbreak investigation and will continue to update members when more information becomes available.

Please do not hesitate to let us know if you have any questions.

Lianna Kelly

Food Safety Director

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