Latest news with #Florida-based
NBC News
5 hours ago
- Health
- NBC News
Salmonella outbreak in cucumbers expands to 18 states, 45 sickened
A salmonella outbreak traced to a Florida-based cucumber producer has expanded to include 45 people reporting illness in 18 states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday. Target stores joined a growing list of retailers that sold recalled cucumbers or ready-to-eat products featuring the fruit, and it's warning that purchasers should throw them away. The retailer issued a list of recalled products, including a Greek-style chicken salad from Boar's Head and several types of sushi restaurant staples, such as maki rolls with tempura and California rolls, all sold under the Mai brand. Last week, grocery store chain Walmart was added to the list of retailers urging customers to put the possibly tainted products in the trash, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; its Marketside cucumber slices are a part of the recall. Patients connected to the outbreak have turned up in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, the FDA said on Friday. Of 45 people who have reported illness connected to the outbreak, 16 have been hospitalized, the agency said. No deaths have been reported. While investigators' focus has been on the strain salmonella montevideo, multiple other strains were detected in samples taken from a Pennsylvania distribution center belonging to Florida-based Bedner Growers, believed to be a source, the FDA said in its Friday statement. The FDA said that those different strains so far appear to be unrelated to the spring outbreak, but that it is investigating further alongside scientists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "CDC is working to determine if additional human illnesses match these additional strains," the FDA said. "Further analysis of the sample is pending." All the illnesses so far have been connected to cucumbers produced by Bedner and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, the agency said. The cucumbers and products that contained them were sold from April 29 to May 19, the FDA said. The first retailers noted for selling the potentially tainted cucumbers were three Bedner's Farm Fresh Market locations in Florida, but the list of public-facing sellers has continued to increase. Other distributors as well as eateries were told they may have also purchased the possibly tainted cucumbers, labeled for wholesale as 'supers,' 'selects,' or 'plains," the FDA said. FDA inspectors unearthed tainted cucumbers during an inspection last month of Bedner Growers' facilities, it said. The review was a follow-up to a Salmonella Africana outbreak linked to the producer last year, according to the agency. Bedner's did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Friday. A spokesperson for Fresh Start Produce Sales said last week that the company "is committed to protecting public health and helping Bedner Growers with its recall." Salmonella is a bacterium that can thrive amid animals and their fecal matter and contaminate nearby produce, which can reach the dinner table if unwashed, according to the FDA and CDC. Older people, children under 5, and those with compromised immune systems are particularly susceptible to the salmonella's worst symptoms and even death. Patients sickened by it can develop stomach cramps, diarrhea, nausea and the urge to vomit anywhere from six hours to six days after infection, the CDC says. Salmonella is 'a leading cause of foodborne illness, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States and worldwide," the CDC states.
Epoch Times
6 hours ago
- Health
- Epoch Times
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Recalled Cucumbers Sickens Dozens Across 18 States
A growing outbreak of salmonella infections tied to recalled cucumbers has sickened at least 45 people across 18 states, with 16 requiring hospitalization, according to federal health officials. The contaminated cucumbers, grown by Florida-based Bedner Growers Inc. and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc., were shipped to a variety of venues—including restaurants, grocery stores, hospitals, and cruise ships—between April 29 and May 19,
9 hours ago
- Health
Dozens sickened in expanding salmonella outbreak linked to recalled cucumbers
Nearly four dozen people in 18 states have been sickened in an expanding outbreak of salmonella food poisoning tied to recalled cucumbers sent to restaurants, hospitals, cruise ships and grocery stores, including Target stores, federal health officials said Friday. At least 16 people have been hospitalized after eating cucumbers produced by Florida-based Bedner Growers and distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The cucumbers were sold from April 29 through May 19. The outbreak includes reports of illness from people aboard six different cruise ships that departed from U.S. ports between late March and mid-April, the CDC said. The true number of sick people is likely much higher and the outbreak could affect additional states, officials said. Several companies have issued recalls for whole cucumbers and cucumbers used in a range of sandwiches, salsas and other foods linked to the outbreak. Target recalled dozens of products, including whole cucumbers, salads and vegetable rolls. The outbreak was detected during a follow-up inspection in April to a 2024 outbreak that sickened 551 people and led to 155 hospitalizations in 34 states and Washington, D.C. In that outbreak, investigators found salmonella bacteria linked to many of the illnesses in untreated canal water used at farms operated by Bedner Growers and Thomas Produce Company. As part of the new investigation, FDA officials found salmonella in a sample of Bedner Growers cucumbers at a distribution center in Pennsylvania. That sample matched the strain of salmonella that made people sick. In addition, 'multiple other strains' of salmonella were detected that match samples in a government database. CDC officials are working to determine whether additional illnesses in people match those strains. Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick recover within a week. Infections can be severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, who may require hospitalization. ___
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Attorney general targets 2 Florida hospitals over lack of price transparency
Attorney General James Uthmeier issued subpoenas Friday to Florida-based hospitals to ensure they comply with price transparency laws. 'Patients are still consumers, and they deserve transparency,' Uthmeier said in a video posted on X. 'The big healthcare industry complex continues to rake in billions off Americans in their most vulnerable moments. We must protect patients.' Uthmeier said under Florida law, a hospital's failure to provide price disclosure may constitute an unfair and deceptive trade practice. He said his subpoenas are related to patient charges, disclosures, billing practice, price transparency and surprise billing protections. The attorney general said his investigation is in line with President Donald Trump's price transparency executive order. Patient advocacy groups in Florida have been pushing for more price transparency. 'Hospitals have hidden their prices yet have forced patients to sign a blank check before they can get care,' said Cynthia A. Fisher, founder and chairman of a nonprofit focused on healthcare price transparency. 'As long as prices have been hidden, hospitals have been able to charge whatever they want. The attorney general's action aims to protect patients by providing actual, upfront prices. This investigation will protect Floridians from hospitals' predatory practices, prevent overcharges, and make bills accountable.' Uthmeier's subpoenas were delivered to Southern Baptist Hospital of Florida in Jacksonville and Adventist Health (Advent Health) in Central Florida, according to the advocacy group. released its seventh semi-annual Hospital Price Transparency Report in fall 2024, which examined 2,000 hospitals' compliance with the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule. The November 2024 report indicates that only 29% of hospitals in Florida were fully compliant with the federal price transparency rule, a drop from 41% in February 2024. Only 39 of 135 Florida hospitals reviewed were fully complying with the rule. 'By keeping their prices hidden, hospitals continue to block American consumers from their right to compare prices and protect themselves from overcharges,' Fisher said. 'During a patient's most vulnerable hour, all too often, hospitals require them to sign contracts accepting full financial responsibility without acknowledging any prices. Florida law clearly states that unfair and deceptive acts and practices are 'unlawful,' which include omitting material information like prices. Yet, that is exactly what Florida hospitals have been doing.' Florida Health Price Finder is a state-operated website developed by the Agency for Health Care Administration to show prices of common services. South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@
Miami Herald
12 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Major logistics and trucking company files Chapter 11 bankruptcy
The logistics and trucking industry has faced economic challenges over the last two years that have been known as the Great Freight recession. Financial distress among companies in the industry has been the result of a bad economy; decline in demand; low freight rates; rising costs of labor, fuel, and insurance driven by inflation; and fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, which created a glut of trucks and drivers in the U.S. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Several trucking companies shut down operations, suffering severe financial issues, but didn't file for bankruptcy, including LTI Trucking, with about 250 drivers, which shut down its operations on April 2. Related: Huge trucking company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy LTI's closing was followed by another trucking company, Davis Express Inc., which also didn't file for bankruptcy. Florida-based Davis Express revealed on its Facebook page that the company would shut down its business permanently after making its final deliveries on April 23 and returning all trucks to its terminal by April 30. Logistics and trucking companies also have filed for bankruptcy to reorganize their businesses and restructure debt, including AZA Transportation Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 14. Transportation and logistics company Balkan Express and its affiliate Balkan Logistics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to restructure their debts on April 30. Balkan Express operates 159 power units and employs about 166 drivers who ship general freight, including beverages. Also, major trucking and logistics company Elite Carriers and four affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on May 21 to restructure their debts. The company, which operates 70 trucks and employs 70 drivers, transports goods from the Midwest to the East Coast and Canada, according to its website. And now, a huge logistics and trucking company, KPower Global Logistics LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to reorganize its business almost four months after its affiliate Reliable Healthcare Logistics LLC filed for bankruptcy. Related: Another major internet company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The Memphis, Tenn.-based logistics and trucking provider filed its petition on May 8 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee listing $1 million to $10 million in assets and liabilities. The petition indicates that funds will be available to distribute to unsecured creditors. More bankruptcy: Iconic auto repair chain franchise files Chapter 11 bankruptcyPopular beer brand closes down and files Chapter 7 bankruptcyPopular vodka and gin brand files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy KPower Global Logistics' affiliate Reliable Healthcare Logistics filed its petition in the same court on Jan. 19, 2025, also listing $1 million to $10 million in assets and liabilities. Reliable Healthcare Logistics listed its largest unsecured creditors in its petition, including law firm Bass, Berry & Sims, owed over $1 million; FedEx Freight of Pittsburgh, owed over $632,000; and FedEx Ground of Dallas, owed over $632,000. Both KPower Global and Reliable Healthcare listed their headquarters at the same address on their petitions at 4105 S. Mendenhall in Memphis. Reliable Healthcare Management's website, however, lists an address and phone number in Boca Raton, Fla., but no one answers any of the phone extensions. KPower Global Logistics' website lists six facilities, in addition to its Memphis headquarters, which include McDonough, Ga.; Olive Branch, Miss.; North Brunswick, N.J.; Springfield, Tenn., Clarksville, Tenn.; and Arlington, Texas. The logistics, shipping, and trucking company, which has 5,000 employees, provides a variety of warehousing services, including bulk storage; cold storage; custom packaging, repack, and kit building; cross-dock and transload solutions; e-commerce order fulfillment; returns management; and sort and segregate, according to its website. The company also provides staffing services, transportation services, freight bill audit and freight payment services, warehouse management services, yard management services, transportation management services, consulting services, short- and long-term rental space, special projects, and other specialties. KPower Global Logistics did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Related: Major internet company files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
