The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports significant outbreaks of cyclospora and salmonella affecting numerous states. As of August 4, there have been 10,468 lab-confirmed cyclosporiasis cases since May 1. This includes cases linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce from Mexico. Additionally, more than 12,255 unconfirmed cases exist, with many in Michigan, where two fatalities occurred. Jalapeño peppers from Mexico are associated with 345 salmonella cases across 27 states, leading Chipotle and Qdoba to remove jalapeños from their menus.
Historic Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
The current outbreaks remind us of several historic foodborne illness cases:
Typhoid via Contaminated Oysters (1924)
In 1924, a deadly typhoid fever outbreak linked to Salmonella Typhi in oysters resulted in 150 deaths and sickened around 1,500 people. A company in West Sayville, New York, was believed to have distributed the tainted oysters. This incident led to the establishment of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program.
Mexican-Style Cheese Outbreak (1985)
In Los Angeles County, an outbreak caused by tainted, unpasteurized milk used in soft Mexican cheese resulted in 142 cases. More than half of those affected were pregnant women or their children. The outbreak resulted in 28 deaths, including 18 adults and 10 newborns, traced to products made by Jalisco Mexican Projects Inc.
Jack in the Box E. coli Outbreak (1992-1993)
Undercooked hamburgers at Jack in the Box caused an E. coli outbreak, leading to four child fatalities and over 700 illnesses across Washington, Idaho, California, and Nevada. The CDC linked the contaminated meat to several U.S. and Canadian slaughter plants. The outbreak prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point system to better control food production hazards.
Schwan’s Ice Cream Salmonella Outbreak (1994)
In 1994, approximately 224,000 people were sickened by salmonella from Schwan’s Company ice cream. Investigators found the source to be tanker trailers previously carrying non-pasteurized liquid eggs testing positive for salmonella.
E. coli in Spinach (2006)
A 2006 outbreak of E. coli linked to spinach infected 199 people across 26 states, causing three deaths. The contamination source was a California spinach field neighboring a cattle grazing area. Contaminated river water and animal feces samples supported this conclusion.
Peanut Butter Salmonella Outbreak (2008-2009)
Peanut Corporation of America’s salmonella-tainted peanut butter resulted in nine deaths and hundreds of illnesses. CEO Stewart Parnell received a 28-year prison sentence after misleading customers about contamination and falsifying safety documents.
Contaminated Cantaloupes (2011)
A listeriosis outbreak from Jensen Farms cantaloupes in Colorado led to 33 deaths and 147 illnesses. Farmers Eric and Ryan Jensen were convicted for improper melon washing, causing the outbreak, and were sentenced to probation.
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