Federal public health officials are investigating a new outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that there were 14 patients in the group outbreak. The institution did not report the patient’s age or place of residence. FDA investigators have begun tracking, but the agency has not reported which foods it is tracking.
In other outbreak news, the FDA has launched an on-site investigation into a botulism outbreak that occurred in Nara Organics infant formula. As of July 1, there are three patients in the group outbreak. All three experienced paralysis and all three required hospitalization.
The FDA update posted July 1 did not report which sites were being inspected. At least four companies are involved in the production and packaging of Nara’s powdered milk. Both companies are located in Europe.
Before learning about the disease, the FDA conducted inspections of two companies in Europe that manufacture and package Nara Organics whole milk organic infant formula. After both inspections, both facilities were found to be deficient. Both companies have submitted corrective action responses to the FDA and are currently under review.
Two American companies produce the milk and powdered milk used in our products. Milk was sourced from Organic West Milk and spray dried by Dairy Farmers of America.
Additional outbreak updates
The number of cases increased from 70 to 77 in a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to an as-yet-unidentified product. The FDA first reported the outbreak on June 10. The FDA has begun tracking but has not reported which foods are being tracked. The FDA did not report the patient’s age or place of residence.
The FDA has begun sampling for a Cyclospora outbreak associated with an as-yet-unidentified product. The agency did not report which foods or locations it was sampling. One of the outbreaks had eight confirmed cases and the other had two. This outbreak is separate from a Cyclospora outbreak that has infected 145 people in 17 states. The cause of these outbreaks has not been determined.
