Manual on meat inspection for developing countries

Three Midland Infants Diagnosed With Rare Botulism, All While Living In The Same Neighborhood

There have been four reports of infant botulism in the state this year, according to Midland Health. Two of those were in that Midland neighborhood.

MIDLAND, Texas — The Midland Health Department said three infants within the last six months were diagnosed with rare infant botulism, a toxin caused by bacteria in the soil that attacks the body's nerves.

All of these infants, younger than six months old, lived in an unnamed northwest Midland neighborhood at the time, according to Midland Health.

The illness is so rare that in the state of Texas there have been only four cases reported in 2024.

Of those four, two of them are right in that Midland neighborhood.

The first case reported was back in August 2023. The second was reported in January 2024 and the third was in February 2024.

"Botulism is a bacteria that lives in the soil," Midland Health Epidemiologist Tyler Collins said. "It produces spores that if ingested by infants who don't have the gut bacteria built up to combat it can cause toxins to grow and can cause serious problems. It can also grow in improperly canned or preserved food, leading to people to ingest those toxins that are growing in those jars or cans and then getting sick. And so that's foodborne botulism, that's typically associated with adults."

Professionals have ruled out the possibility of the contraction being foodborne, however.

Midland Health also mentioned how it might happen when infants eat honey, which contains the spores. According to Midland Health, eating honey has been ruled out in these cases.

"We believe it to be an environmental source," Collins said. "So it could be due to dusty air, dirty air, could be a pacifier dropped in the dirt and then put in a child's mouth. It could be dirty hands, handling a bottle that a child then feeds upon. All of those we would consider 'environmental source' because it's contact with the dirt, the soil that the infant is getting the toxin from."

One thing might stand out in this data: of all places, why is that Midland neighborhood the home of half the cases in Texas this year? The Midland Health Department doesn't have an answer to that quite yet. It's something them and the state are monitoring.

Midland Health said even though they all were in the same area, they don't believe the cases are connected and caused by a common exposure.

Midland Health does believe the source is environmental, but it's still something they're investigating. According to Midland Health, they don't typically do environmental testing since the bacteria is common in a natural environment. Detecting it isn't a sure-fire method that indicates the source of exposure.

While this illness is rare...

"Most infants don't get it," Collins said. "It's something to be aware of, but it's not something that most infants have to deal with."

Parents can never be too careful though. 

Midland Health said don't feed your children honey, especially if they're under a year old. Gardeners should wash their hands before feeding their child. If it's a dusty or windy day, try to stay inside just to be safe.

Here are some symptoms to look out for:

Constipation

Poor feeding

Drooping eyelids

Weak cry

Sluggish reactive pupils

Poor head control

Breathing difficulty

All three infants have been released from hospital care at this time.

As soon as Midland Health is done with investigating the rest of the cases, NewsWest 9 will continue to keep everyone updated.

Watch the full press conference with the Midland Health Department here:

Botulism Risk. Old Sauce. Food Sinks Tied To Sewer. Wichita KS Restaurant Inspections

Six restaurants and a hotel in Wichita were out of compliance during food safety and lodging inspections conducted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture last week.

Their problems include dish washing machines that weren't sanitizing dishes, employees who didn't wash their hands, old tomato sauce and fruit ice cream, a risk of botulism from thawing seafood improperly, foods that weren't held at safe temperatures, sinks used for thawing meat and washing produce that had problematic connections to sewer systems, old mouse droppings in a storage area, dirty ice buckets, broken door locks, and bags of raw pork that were sitting above hot dogs, according to inspection reports.

Information about the seven food establishments and a summary of their violations appear below. The list was compiled Feb. 28 and includes inspections conducted in Sedgwick County from Feb. 18-24.

More than 50 establishments passed inspections during that time. Some may have been non-compliant in previous weeks.

Owners or managers can contact Eagle reporter Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.Com to comment on inspection results that appear in this story.

More details about the inspection results are in The Eagle's searchable database of non-compliant restaurant and hotel inspections at www.Kansas.Com/databases.

How establishments fail

Most violations are minor and are corrected during an inspection.

Businesses fall out of compliance when they have too many violations, issues that can cause foodborne illnesses or when a problem can't be fixed right away, such as bug and rodent infestations. Typically, establishments are re-inspected within 10 days.

It's rare for a facility to shut down over a failed inspection. But it can happen due to sewage backups, pest problems, and water or power outages, among other issues. Usually, closures are temporary.

You can search food and lodging inspection results in any Kansas county at www.Foodsafety.Kda.Ks.Gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.Aspx.

Out-of-compliance inspections

HomeGrown, 2835 N. Maize Road, Suite 195 in Wichita — Four violations on Feb. 22 during a routine inspection. Dish washing machine wasn't sanitizing dishes, pans and ladles in clean storage had sticker residue and food on them, cook didn't wash hands in between cracking a raw egg and touching a food container, holly sauce wasn't kept hot enough in hot holding. The follow-up inspection date wasn't listed in the inspection report.

Lima Nation, 2146 N. Collective Lane, Suite 102 in Wichita — Twelve violations on Feb. 22 during its first operational inspection after licensing. Raw seafood including calamari and shrimp were stored above ready-to-eat foods like cheese and cooked beef short ribs, restaurant was cooking octopus and meats using sous vide without having their process approved by the state, items served undercooked or raw weren't labeled on menu, bottle of oven cleaner wasn't labeled, cartons of cream weren't labeled with package opening dates, old tomato sauce and fruit ice cream, no paper towels at bar hand-washing sink, tuna steaks were thawing in intact vacuum packaging which can cause botulism, no preparation date on chimichurri, several foods including butter and rice weren't held at proper temperatures, metal pans and plastic food containers were soiled with sticker residue, chemical spray bottle was stored above sugar. Next inspection: March 3.

Merle's Place, 440 N. Seneca in Wichita — Two violations on Feb. 19 during a routine inspection. No probe food thermometer, several foods including sliced roast beef and cheeses weren't cold enough in refrigerated preparation table, items in walk-in cooler including chicken enchiladas and potato salad weren't cold enough. Next inspection: Feb. 29.

On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, 2347 N. Maize Road in Wichita — Five violations on Feb. 22 during a routine inspection. Sink used for raw meats had indirect connection to sewer, cooked peppers weren't kept hot enough, dish washing machine wasn't sanitizing dishes, plates and pitcher in clean storage had food and sticker residue on them, leaky atmospheric vacuum breaker at mop sink and hose hanging in sink basin. Next inspection: March 2.

Pho KC, 4875 E. Pawnee in Wichita — Nine violations on Feb. 21 during a routine inspection. Foods including beef and shrimp weren't kept cold enough in refrigeration, rice and tomatoes weren't cold enough, cracked and damaged collider in three-compartment sink, limes stored in bag that wasn't food grade, sink used for washing produce has direct connection to sewage system, food in cooler wasn't cold enough, raw pork stored above onions and carrots in cooler, old mouse droppings in storage area, bottle of cleaner wasn't labeled with contents, no thermometer. Next inspection: March 1.

Quality Inn, 4849 S. Laura in Wichita — Seven violations on Feb. 20 during a complaint inspection. Carbon monoxide detector in laundry room didn't work because it was missing a battery, no records showed CO and smoke detectors are checked every six months, dirty ice buckets in some rooms, standard outlets were installed by laundry water outlets and sink in laundry room, emergency lights don't work in some places, door latch locks were broken in two rooms. The follow-up inspection date wasn't listed on the inspection report.

Taqueria La Chona, 3415 E. Harry in Wichita — Six violations on Feb. 20 during a follow-up inspection. Bucket of birria sauce wasn't cold enough in refrigeration, bags of raw pork stored above hot dogs in cooler, dirty plate and glass in clean storage, dirty pans and greasy spoon in clean storage, employee didn't wash hands after touching dirty dishes, spatulas had deep cracks and cuts, cheese and pork weren't labeled with package opening or preparation dates. Next inspection: April 19.

How to complain

If you see problems at a food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint.

To notify the state about unsavory or questionable conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email kda.Fsl@ks.Gov or call 785-564-6767. You can also file a report at www.Foodsafetykansas.Org.

To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or www.Foodsafetykansas.Org.

Complaints about conditions at hotels and motels can be submitted at https://agriculture.Ks.Gov/kda-services/complaint-form/food-safety-and-lodging-complaint.

For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.Foodsafety.Gov.

These businesses passed inspections

3B Lodge IV operating as Twin Peaks, 8310 E. 21st St. In Wichita

AFC Sushi inside Dillons, 8828 W. 13th St. In Wichita

Arby's, 11419 E. 21st St. In Wichita

BD's Mongolian Grill, 111 S. Rock Road in Wichita

The Belmont, 3555 E. Douglas, Suite 35 in Wichita

Blue Way Inn & Suites Wichita East, 7321 E. Kellogg Drive in Wichita

Bricktown Brewery, 2035 N. Rock Road in Wichita

Chipotle Mexican Grill, 1700 N. Rock Road in Derby

Chisholm Trail Elementary School, 6015 Independence in Park City

Chopstix, 1615 E. 61st St. North in Park City

Colwich Elementary School, 401 S. Marion in Colwich

Concordance Healthcare Solutions, 1970 S. West St. In Wichita

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, 995 E. 61st St. North in Park City

Crusader Cafe at Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School, 8506 E. Central in Wichita

Dave & Buster's, 2644 N. Greenwich Court in Wichita

Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Wichita, 4875 S. Laura in Wichita

Dillons, 3707 N. Woodlawn in Wichita

Dillons, 640 N. West St. In Wichita

Dollar General Store, 4211 W. Central in Wichita

Downtown Nutrition, 108 S. Emporia in Wichita

Gotta Stop, 5600 W. MacArthur in Wichita

Great Wall Chinese Restaurant, 407 E. Pawnee, Suite 101 in Wichita

Guelaguetza Market, 2835 S. Hydraulic in Wichita

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Wichita Airport, 1236 S. Dugan in Wichita

IHOP, 4870 S. Washington in Wichita

Juarez Bakery, 1068 N. Waco in Wichita

Jump Start, 911 E. 53rd St. North in Park City

Kensler Elementary School, 1030 N. Wilbur Lane in Wichita

La Campesina Mexican Food (mobile vendor/food truck), 2209 W. Rita in Wichita

McCollom Elementary School, 1201 N. Waddington in Wichita

McDonald's, 3527 N. Rock Road in Wichita

Minisuper Aquascalientes, 3363 E. 47th St. South in Wichita

Minneha Elementary School, 701 N. Webb in Wichita

Mustang Deli inside Rusty Eck Ford, 7310 E. Kellogg Drive in Wichita

Noodles & Company, 3300 N. Rock Road in Wichita

Oaklawn Elementary School, 5000 S. Clifton in Wichita

Paul B. Cooper Elementary School, 4625 Juniper in Wichita

Premier Food Service at Derby Public Schools Administration Center, 1550 E. Walnut Grove in Derby

Premier Food Service at Hornet Cutting Systems, 430 W. Clay in Valley Center

Pizza Hut, 1725 E. 61st St. North in Park City

PP Station, 2601 N. Broadway in Wichita

Price-Harris Communications Magnet Elementary School, 706 N. Armour in Wichita

QuikTrip, 1623 E. 47th St. South in Wichita

Rico's Tacos El Torito (mobile vendor/food truck), 1935 N. Broadway in Wichita

Sharetea, 8025 E. Peach Tree Lane in Wichita

Silvia's Authentic Mexican Cuisine, 2345 N. Broadway in Wichita

Snowfruit 49 inside Dillons Marketplace, 10222 W. 21st St. In Wichita

Spangles, 1601 N. Rock Road in Derby

SpringHill Suites by Marriott Wichita East at Plazzio, 1220 N. Greenwich in Wichita

Starbucks, 583 S. West St. In Wichita

Subway, 3451 S. Meridian in Wichita

Taco Bell, 1255 N. Rock Road in Mulvane

Target, 7575 W. Maple in Wichita

Tex Consolver Golf Course, 1931 S. Tyler Road in Wichita

Umi Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, 11233 E. 13th St. In Wichita

Wendy's, 160 S. Rock Road in Wichita

Note: Sometimes addresses listed — especially for mobile vendors and food trucks — are not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations.

Botulism "isolated" As NT Vet Probes Outbreak

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