Articles Tagged with ''outbreak investigations''

Federal support for state-level foodborne illness surveillance programs, directed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), significantly improves participating states’ detection and reporting of foodborne illness outbreaks, a new study demonstrates.

A Salmonella outbreak linked to cage-free and organic eggs supplied by California-based August Egg Company has come to a close with 134 infections, 38 hospitalizations, and one death across ten states. All recalled eggs are now expired and should no longer be available in stores, per FDA.

USDA-FSIS and public health partners are investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that currently includes 17 ill people in 13 states. As of June 17, 2025, there have been three reported deaths and one fetal loss associated with this outbreak.

As of May 30, 45 people across 18 states have been infected, compared to 26 people across 15 states who had been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella as of May 19.

According to FDA, between 2018 and 2025, 42 people were sickened and 14 died across 21 states after consuming Listeria monocytogenes-contaminated Sysco Imperial and Lyons ReadyCare Frozen Supplemental Shakes that were served at long-term care facilities and hospitals. 

Consumer purchase records were successfully used for hypothesis generation in the outbreak investigation and provided a critical foundation for traceback activities.

At the 2025 Food Safety Summit, the much-anticipated Town Hall session on Thursday featured a candid discussion and attendee Q&A with officials from FDA, USDA-FSIS, CDC, and AFDO.

Initially launched in 2024, the investigation was reopened in April 2025. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis confirmed that the strain of Listeria found at Fresh & Ready Foods LLC matches the strain of Listeria causing illnesses in this outbreak.

Collaboration between the two agencies suggests that the suspected source of the outbreak involves products under the jurisdiction of both.

According to internal FDA and CDC reports uncovered by NBC News and attorney Bill Marler, in November 2024, a multistate Escherichia coli outbreak linked to lettuce sickened 89 people, resulting in 36 hospitalizations and one death. Mention of the outbreak was not made public until the investigation was closed, nor were any details shared openly.