The Food and Drug Administration has closed investigations into two foodborne illness outbreaks without having found the source of the pathogens.
For an outbreak of infections from Listeria monocytogenes that was first posted on Sept. 4 the FDA reported 26 confirmed patients. The agency conducted a traceback investigation but did not report what food it traced.
For an outbreak of infections from Salmonella enteritis that was first posted on Aug. 27, the FDA reported 45 confirmed patients. The agency conducted a traceback investigation but did not reveal what food it traced. The FDA also conducted an onsite inspection and sample testing but did not make public what location it inspected or what it tested.
In other outbreak news, the FDA has determined that an outbreak of Salmonella Richmond is being caused by moringa leaf powder. The outbreak has sickened 11 people across seven states. Three of the patients have required hospitalization.
The moringa powder is marketed under the name Member’s Mark Super Greens and was sold at Sam’s Club stores nationwide. As FDA’s investigation continues to determine what additional products were made with the implicated lot of moringa leaf powder, additional stores may be added.
All Member’s Mark Super Greens dietary supplement powder has been recalled, regardless of lot codes and best by/use before dates.
As part of the investigation, the Virginia Department of Health collected an open sample of moringa leaf powder from an ill person’s home. The sample tested positive for Salmonella and based on whole-genome sequencing matches the strain causing illnesses in this outbreak.
Additionally, an open sample of Member’s Mark Super Greens dietary supplement powder was collected from an ill person’s home by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and analyzed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The sample tested positive for Salmonella and based on whole-genome sequencing matches the strain causing illnesses in this outbreak.
These sample results in combination with FDA’s traceback investigation, and a strong epidemiological signal for dietary supplements containing moringa leaf powder, support that moringa leaf from Vallon Farm Direct of Jodhpur, India, explain the illnesses in this outbreak.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)
