The CDC is MIA in Listeria and Salmonella Outbreaks

Food Safety Advocate Questions Why Foodborne Illness Outbreaks are Unreported by the
Premier Public Health Agency in the Time of Trump

SEATTLE, Feb. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "Two multi-state foodborne illnesses outbreaks have been reported by the FDA since the beginning of the year," William "Bill" Marler, owner of Marler Clark, Inc., PS, The Food Safety Law Firm. "However, contrary to how outbreaks have been publicly announced and posted on line for decades, the CDC has remained silent," added Marler.

Last month, the FDA announced that they were investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to Sweet Cream-brand mini pastries made in Italy and exported to the United States through a Canadian company.

One January 21, 2025, the FDA was notified by Canadian Food Inspection, that the same strain of Salmonella linked to Sweet Cream-brand mini pastries, was responsible for a United States Salmonella outbreak. A recall of this product was initiated with the two distributors in the United States. The FDA conducted a traceback investigation that indicated the Sweet Cream-brand pastries were consumed by one of those sickened at a restaurant which received product from one of the U.S. distributors. 

Facts about Salmonella Outbreak (as of January 29, 2025)

• Case count: 18 people infected with the outbreak strain, one person hospitalized, no deaths. 69 victims in five Canadian provinces
• 7 States reported cases - California, Illinois, Massachusetts North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania
• 60% of those sickened reported eating the pastries

On November 25, 2024, FDA was notified about an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in the United States, with many ill people residing in long-term care facilities (LTCF) prior to illness onset. FDA's traceback investigation identified that each of the LTCF who supplied invoice information for review from 2024 to present received a frozen supplemental shake of either Lyons ReadyCare or Sysco Imperial brand. As part of this investigation, FDA collected environmental samples and found the outbreak strain of Listeria.

Facts about Listeria Outbreak (as of February 22, 2024)

• Case Count: 38 Sick – 37 Hospitalized – 11 Deaths
• Illness Range: 2018 to the present
• 21 States with Cases: Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia
• Who is sick: 34 victims (89%) reported living in long term care facilities or were hospitalized prior to becoming sick

According to the FDA, this outbreak includes cases dating back to 2018, with 20 cases across 2024 and 2025, and is currently ongoing. Epidemiologic evidence in previous investigations were unable to identify a source of the outbreak. Certain Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes are being voluntarily recalled.

"The CDC site has not published anything about these two outbreaks or made an announcement of the recalls. It is imperative to have active reporting on recalls by our government officials to help prevent more illnesses. This is in the interest of public safety," said Marler. 

William "Bill" Marler has been a food safety lawyer and advocate since the 1993 Jack-in-the-Box E. coli Outbreak which was chronicled in the book, "Poisoned" and in the recent Emmy Award winning Netflix documentary by the same name. Bill work has been profiled in the New Yorker, "A Bug in the System;" the Seattle Times, "30 years after the deadly E. coli outbreak, A Seattle attorney still fights for food safety;" the Washington Post, "He helped make burgers safer, Now he is fighting food poisoning again;" and several others.

Dozens of times a year Bill speaks to industry and government throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, China and Australia on why it is important to prevent foodborne illnesses. He is also a frequent commentator on food litigation and food safety on Marler Blog. Bill is also the publisher of Food Safety News.

SOURCE Marler Clark, Inc., P.S.