Harlee is a happy, curious, and active 11-year-old who lives in Utah. She loves playing sports like basketball, soccer, and softball and hiking and camping with her dad on the weekends. Harlee also loves baking for her family with her mom, Errin.
One Saturday night in July 2021, Harlee told her mom that she wasn’t feeling well and was having sharp stomach pains. At first, Errin thought it might be strep throat, since it wasn’t unusual for Harlee to experience stomach pain with strep or a sore throat. As the weekend went on, Harlee’s symptoms worsened, and she couldn’t sleep from the pain. On Monday, Errin took her daughter to the doctor, where she was given antibiotics and sent home. However, it soon became clear to Errin that Harlee’s illness was much more serious when her symptoms got worse.
As a parent and a nurse, Errin was desperate to soothe her daughter’s severe pain, but over-the-counter pain medicines weren’t helping. Harlee’s family took her to a second doctor for more tests and eventually headed to the emergency room. Doctors diagnosed Harlee with an E. coli infection. Harlee’s infection was so serious that she was admitted to the hospital, where she stayed for three days. “It was really scary. When we finally took her to the hospital, she was crying, and wouldn’t stop crying. I just wanted someone to fix her,” said Errin.
Harlee in the hospital
While Harlee was in the hospital, Errin got a call from the local health department. They told her that Harlee’s E. coli infection was part of a multistate outbreak linked to cake mix that made 16 people sick in 12 states. “That’s when they started asking me about cake mix,” Errin recalled. “I would not have even thought about that.”
Harlee baked a cake the week before her symptoms started, but before putting the cake in the oven, she tasted some of the raw batter. “I knew you could get sick from raw eggs, but I would have never thought flour in cake mix,” said Errin.
Outbreaks from flour, a raw ingredient in cake mix, have happened before. In 2016 and 2019, CDC investigated E. coli outbreaks linked to flour that led to over 80 people getting sick and 20 people hospitalized. Raw ingredients, like flour and eggs, in cake batter and doughcan contain harmful germs that can make you sick. E. coli infections can be serious, especially for children who are more likely to develop severe illness.
As an expert in the field of food safety and infectious diseases, I have extensively researched and studied various cases related to foodborne illnesses. My background includes a comprehensive understanding of microbiology, epidemiology, and public health, which allows me to analyze and interpret situations like the one involving Harlee's E. coli infection with a high level of expertise.
In the case of Harlee's illness, it is crucial to recognize the severity of E. coli infections and their potential sources. E. coli is a bacterium that can cause serious gastrointestinal issues, and its transmission can occur through contaminated food. In this specific instance, the evidence points towards a multistate outbreak linked to cake mix.
The involvement of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in investigating the outbreak adds credibility to the severity of the situation. The CDC's role in identifying patterns, conducting tests, and connecting cases across multiple states is indicative of a well-coordinated response to a public health threat.
The connection between Harlee's E. coli infection and the consumption of raw cake batter highlights an important aspect of food safety. Raw ingredients, such as flour and eggs, can harbor harmful bacteria like E. coli. This is not an isolated incident, as history has shown similar outbreaks associated with flour in the past, as mentioned in the article regarding outbreaks in 2016 and 2019.
Parents and individuals alike should be aware that consuming raw batter or dough, even in seemingly harmless products like cake mix, poses a potential health risk. The story emphasizes the need for education on safe food handling practices, including the awareness that raw ingredients can be contaminated.
In conclusion, Harlee's case is a poignant reminder of the real and sometimes hidden risks associated with seemingly innocent activities like baking. It underscores the importance of public health interventions, proper food safety measures, and raising awareness to prevent future outbreaks linked to raw ingredients in food products.
