Monthly Archives: July 2015

USA – Cryptosporidium a Frequent Source of Waterpark, Pool Outbreaks – Texas Outbreak Update

Food Poisoning Bulletin 763px-Cryptosporidium_parvum_01

Cryptosporidium is a frequent source of waterpark and pool outbreaks according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Cryptosporidium is a parasite that causes watery diarrhea, cramps, nausea and other symptoms that last for 10 days.

The report looked at waterborne outbreaks reported from 32 states and Puerto Rico in 2011 and 2012. During that time period, 90 treated recreational water outbreaks  that caused 1, 788 illnesses, 95 hospitalizations and one death were reported.

Recreational water outbreaks happen when contaminated water is accidentally ingested. The source was determined in 73 of the outbreaks.  Of those, 37 were caused by Cryptosporidium, a parasite that can survive CDC-recommended chlorine levels and is not trapped in filters.  The settings for these outbreaks included hotels, spas, pools and waterparks.

There were also 21 outbreaks associated with untreated recreational water. These outbreaks sickened 479 people, hospitalizing 22 of them.  Just one of these outbreaks was caused by Cryptosporidium. Seven of these outbreaks were caused by E. coli O157:H7 or  E.coli O111.

Food Poisoning Journal

A recent surge in reports of illnesses due to the parasite Cyclospora has prompted DSHS to investigate the infections in hopes of determining a common source. DSHS has received reports of 182 Cyclosporiasis cases from around Texas this year.

USA – Salmonella – Salmonella – Salmonella – Salmonella!

Food Safety News Salmonellaa

Salmonella Typhimurium Sickens At Least 50 Oregon Conference Attendees –

Public health officials in Oregon are looking into what caused 50-some people to become sickened by Salmonella typhimurium after a conference in late June.

A spokeswoman for Multnomah County said several illnesses were confirmed after an Open Source Bridge Conference held June 23-26 at the Eliot Center in downtown Portland, and that there were reports of gastrointestinal problems from dozens of others.

Food Safety News

Raw Tuna ‘Likely Source’ of 60 Salmonella Infections in 11 States – As of July 14, 2015, 60 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Paratyphi B variant L(+) tartrate(+) have been reported from 11 states. Eleven ill people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

CDC

CDC, several states, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service are currently investigating two separate outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees. The two outbreaks are caused by different strains of Salmonella Enteritidis.

At this time, this outbreak has not been connected with an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees produced by Aspen Foods(http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/frozen-chicken-entrees-part2-07-15/index.html) and sold under many different brands.

Food Poisoning Journal

Consumers should check their freezers for recalled frozen chicken products and should not eat them. Retailers should not sell them and restaurants should not serve them.

Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to Antioch Farms brand cordon bleu stuffed chicken breast

The CDC, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees produced by Aspen Foods.

Three people infected with a strain of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from Minnesota. Two of these ill people have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.

The three illnesses in Minnesota occurred after people had eaten Antioch Farms brand cordon bleu stuffed chicken breast, which is produced by Aspen Foods.

On July 1, 2015, USDA-FSIS issued a public health alert due to concerns about illnesses caused by Salmonella that may be associated with raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken products.

On July 15, 2015, Aspen Foods issued a recall of approximately 1.9 million pounds of frozen, raw, stuffed, and breaded chicken products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis. Products subject to recall bear the establishment number “P-1358” on the packaging. Products were shipped to retail stores and food service locations nationwide.

Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees produced by Barber Foods

Food Poisoning Journal

4 Million Pounds of Frozen Chicken Products Recalled After 10 Sickened – The CDC, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to raw, frozen, stuffed chicken entrees produced by Aspen Foods.

Food Poisoning Bulletin – Outbreaks Linked to Frozen Food

Two simultaneous Salmonella outbreaks linked to frozen chicken entrees in Minnesota are the latest examples of how frozen food can cause illness. Frozn foods can be contaminated with Salmonella, E. coli, Hepatitis or Listeria or other dangerous pathogens.

Salmonella

Two current Salmonella outbreaks are linked to frozen, raw, pre-browned chicken Kiev by Barber Foods and frozen, raw, pre-browned chicken Cordon Bleu by Antioch Farms have sickened seven people, hospitalizing four of them. Illnesses in other states may also be linked to the outbreaks. Investigations are ongoing.

Canada – CFIA Recalls – Barber Chicken Update – Salmonella – Smoked Fish – Clostridium botulinum

CFIA CIFA

The food recall warning issued on July 14, 2015 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Industry is recalling Barber Foods brand uncooked stuffed chicken from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume and distributors, retailers and food service establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals and nursing homes should not sell or use the recalled product described in the link above.

CFIA

The Healthy Butcher is voluntarily recalling smoked fish from the marketplace because it may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The affected products were sold in variable weight packages at The Healthy Butcher retail locations in Ontario.

Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the affected products are advised to contact their retailer.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
The Healthy Butcher Smoked Fish – Wild Mackerel Variable Pkgd. on” dates up to and including 2015.JL.16 Starting with 0201230
The Healthy Butcher House Smoked Fish – Pickerel Variable Pkgd. on” dates up to and including 2015.JL.16 Starting with 0201231
The Healthy Butcher House Smoked White Sturgeon Variable Pkgd. on” dates up to and including 2015.JL.16 Starting with 0202149
The Healthy Butcher Smoked Fish – White Fish Variable Pkgd. on” dates up to and including 2015.JL.16 Starting with 0202150
The Healthy Butcher House Smoked Organic B.C. Chinook Salmon Variable Pkgd. on” dates up to and including 2015.JL.16 Starting with 0202151
The Healthy Butcher Smoked Fish – Pickerel Variable Pkgd. on” dates up to and including 2015.JL.16 Starting with 0202152
The Healthy Butcher Smoked Fish – Steelhead Trout Variable Pkgd. on” dates up to and including 2015.JL.16 Starting with 0202153
The Healthy Butcher Smoked Albino Rainbow Trout Variable Variable Pkgd. on” dates up to and including 2015.JL.16 Starting with 0202158

Phillipines – Philippines Outbreak Linked to Candy Caused by Staphylococcus

Food Safety News

The illness outbreak connected to fruit candies that sickened nearly 2,000 people in the Philippines was likely caused by poor worker hygiene at the production facility, resulting in contamination by Staphylococcus aureus, according to newly released test results.

UK – Suspected E.coli O157 Outbreak – Durham and Teeside Butchers

BBC News Ecoli Istock

Three children are in hospital after a suspected E. coli outbreak in County Durham and Teesside.

Public Health England (PHE) is warning people to not eat any cold pre-cooked meats and savouries bought since 25 June from Robinsons butchers in Wingate and Billingham.

Seven confirmed cases and one suspected one have been reported in the past week in both adults and children, PHE said.

A spokesman for Robinsons said it was discarding all ready to eat food.

PHE said the precautionary advice had been issued to residents in County Durham and North Tees after an investigation began into the possible source of an outbreak of E. coli O157.

Korea – Local Seaford – Norovirus

Focus Taiwan Eurofins

Taipei, July 16 (CNA) A recent diarrhea outbreak among 102 tourists on Green Island off Taitung was caused by a norovirus infection at a local seafood restaurant that had served contaminated raw oysters imported from South Korea, Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported Thursday.

Canada – CFIA – Updated Food Recall Warning – Gloria’s, Oven Pride Kitchen, Quality Fast Foods brands and Lunch Box sandwich products recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

CFIA CIFA

The food recall warning issued on July 10, 2015 has been updated to include additional distribution information. The additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

HQ Fine Foods is recalling Gloria’s, Oven Pride Kitchen, Quality Fast Foods brands and Lunch Box sandwich products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
None Lunch Box Ham, Turkey, & Swiss Cheese Multigrain Ciabatta Sandwich with Creamy Coleslaw 356 g Best Before / Meilleur Avant 15JL16 0 24904 47529 0
Gloria’s Ham & Cheese Sub 220 g Best Before / Meilleur Avant 15JL10 0 24904 38509 4
Gloria’s Turkey & Ham Club Sub 239 g Best Before / Meilleur Avant 15JL10 0 24904 38560 5
Gloria’s Our Super Loaded Sub 286 g Best Before / Meilleur Avant 15JL10 0 24904 38565 0
Quality Fast Foods Shaved Beef Dijon Mini Sub 146 g Best Before / Meilleur Avant EXP AUG 08 0 58578 37172 5
Oven Pride Kitchen Pastrami Swiss Baguette Sub 172 g Best Before / Meilleur Avant EXP AUG 08 and AUG 14 0 56040 68653 7
Quality Fast Foods Beef Swiss Baguette Sub 178 g Best Before / Meilleur Avant EXP AUG 08 0 58578 37175 6
Quality Fast Foods Pastrami Swiss Baguette Sub 172 g Best Before / Meilleur Avant EXP AUG 08 0 58578 37176 3

RASFF Alerts – Campylobacter – Chicken

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RASFF-Campylobacter jejuni in fresh whole chicken from Germany in Denmark

RASFF Alert – Listeria monocytogenes – Chilled pate

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RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (1500 CFU/g) in chilled pate from France in France

RASFF Alert – Ochratoxin – Raisins

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RASFF-ochratoxin A (11.83 µg/kg – ppb) in raisins from the Czech Republic, processed in Slovakia in Slovakia