Monthly Archives: March 2018

USA- Norovirus – Indiana and Vermont

Posted on March 27, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal Norwalk_Caspid

The Vermont Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of norovirus at The Windjammer Restaurant and its affiliated Upper Deck Pub in South Burlington, following more than 50 reports of illness and nine lab-confirmed cases of norovirus infection.

Health officials said the restaurant’s management has been cooperating in the investigation and has voluntarily closed for 48 hours to conduct a thorough cleaning of the establishment, including discarding prepared food items. According to The Windjammer’s management, several employees were out sick with similar symptoms. The restaurant is working closely with the Health Department to ensure the employees have the opportunity to be tested for norovirus and receive information about hand washing and glove use policies.

Food Poison Journal

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) is working with local health departments in southern Indiana to respond to a recent increase in hepatitis A cases, many of which are tied to a large outbreak in Kentucky.

In the last month, 17 cases of hepatitis A have been confirmed statewide, including 11 in Clark and Floyd counties. Since Jan. 1, ISDH has confirmed 40 cases of hepatitis A statewide. Typically, fewer than 20 cases are confirmed each year in Indiana.

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Norovirus, outbreak, Uncategorized

USA- A single lot of Blue Ridge Beef BRB Complete frozen dog food is being recalled because of the potential for contamination with Salmonella and Listeria.

Posted on March 27, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Petful

Maker: Blue Ridge Beef
Cause: Potential for salmonella and listeria
Announcement: FDA report dated March 26, 2018
What was recalled: 2 lb. chubs of BRB Complete dog food, Lot #GA0131, manufactured Jan. 31, 2018

According to the FDA announcement, “There has been no consumer or pet illnesses in association with this product. Blue Ridge Beef is voluntarily recalling this product lot as a commitment to consumer and pet health and safety.”

 

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Posted in Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Pet Food, Salmonella, Salmonella Dog Food, Uncategorized

USA – Darwin’s recalls more raw dog food for dangerous bacteria E.coli O128

Posted on March 27, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News 

Arrow Reliance, doing business as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, is again recalling fresh, raw dog foods because testing by the Food and Drug Administration found Salmonella and/or E. coli O128 in samples of the products.

Pet foods that are contaminated with bacteria, viruses or parasites pose a risk to people who handle the foods as well as their pets. Also, surfaces and items in homes, stores and veterinarians’ offices can become contaminated when people are handling contaminated pet foods.

The lab testing of the Darwin’s products that spurred Monday’s recall was undertaken by FDA as part of the agency’s investigation into prior complaints of illness and/or death in animals that were fed Darwin’s Natural Selections or Darwin’s ZooLogics products.

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Posted in E.coli O128, Pet Food, Recall, Uncategorized

USA – King Arthur Flour Company, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls Organic Coconut Flour (16 Oz.) Because of Possible Health Risk – Salmonella

Posted on March 26, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FDA 

 

King Arthur Flour Company is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity (6,300 cases) of Organic Coconut Flour (16 oz.), after testing revealed the presence of Salmonella in 1 pouch of Organic Coconut Flour (16 oz.).

The recalled Organic Coconut Flour (16 oz.) was distributed through retailers and distributors nationwide.

The only product affected by the recall is Organic Coconut Flour (16 oz.) with Best If Used By Dates of 10/25/2018 LOT: CF22017E and 12/04/2018, LOT: CF22017E which can be found on the back of the pouch, near the bottom of the panel. UPC: 0 71012 10702 5

Consumers who have any of these affected products should not consume them and should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase for credit or refund.

Other Best If Used By Dates and LOTS are not affected by this recall. There have been no reports of any injuries or illnesses associated with this recall.

King Arthur Flour issued a voluntary recall for Organic Coconut Flour (16 oz.) after testing revealed the presence of Salmonella in 1 pouch of Organic Coconut Flour (16 oz.). King Arthur Flour has commenced an investigation as to the source of the problem in the Supply Chain.

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Posted in Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA- Poppies International, Inc. Recalls Delizza Belgian Custard Cream Mini Eclairs 30 Count, Due to Potential Health Risks – Listeria monocyotgenes

Posted on March 26, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Poppies International, Inc. of Battleboro, NC is issuing a voluntary recall of selected products that were made during March 5-9, 2018 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term symptoms such as fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

They can be identified by the following lot number (L1M1018 Best Before 09/09/19)  which can be found on the side of each tub by the lid as shown below.

The recall was a result of a routine sampling program by the company which revealed that finished product ran on the same line contained the bacteria. The company did not release any product that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and as a precautionary measure is recalling all product ran on the line during that production week. No illnesses or adverse health effects resulting from these events have been reported to date.

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Posted in FDA, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Recall, Uncategorized

Canada – Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak in Canada Linked to Poultry Sickens 30

Posted on March 26, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in four provinces. These illnesses are linked to poultry, including frozen raw breaded chicken products.

 

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – PDX Aromatics Issues Second Expanded Recall of Kratom Products for Possible Salmonella – Tamarack Inc. Recalls Eclipse Kratom

Posted on March 26, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

PDX Aromatics, doing business as Kraken Kratom, Phytoextractum, and Soul Speciosa is issuing a second expanded recall of their products because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The company is aware of four confirmed cases of Salmonella associated with the consumption of red and white vein products.

FDA

Tamarack Inc. of Roy, Utah is voluntarily recalling Eclipse Kratom-containing powder products because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

The affected powder products are packaged in plastic heat sealed pouches or plastic sealed bottles sold in one gram capsules and powder. Distribution of an estimated 120 units were sold directly to five retailers in Utah.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Australia – Vaccines work even at fancy food places: Hepatitis A case linked to Melbourne restaurant

Posted on March 26, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Barf Blog

Hundreds of people who dined at one of Melbourne’s best restaurants will be contacted by the health department after a food handler was diagnosed with a highly contagious liver infection.

The Age reports the staff member at Cumulus Inc., in the fine-dining hotspot of Flinders Lane, was recently found to have hepatitis A.

An alert issued by Victoria’s Department of Health on Thursday afternoon said anyone who ate at the restaurant between February 26 and March 19 should visit their GP for a free hepatitis A vaccine, and seek urgent medical attention if they feel unwell.

The department is also contacting anyone who booked at the restaurant during the same time period.

It is not yet clear how the male staff member contracted hepatitis A.

However, Victoria has been recently experiencing a local outbreak of the infectious disease, which has already claimed one life.

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Posted in Uncategorized

Australia – Recall: Washed Rind cheeses Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 26, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Authority NSW

The NSW Food Authority advises:

Washed Rind Pty Ltd has recalled a variety of cheeses made in France from IGA and Supa IGA in NSW, independent retailers in QLD and ACT, Foodworks and independent retailers in VIC, Foodlands IGA and independent retailers in SA and IGA, Supa IGA and independent retailers in WA due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Product details:

  • Saint Simeon 200g, Plastic container, Best before 08-04-201
  • Brie de Nangis 1kg, Wrapped in cheesepaper/plastic and set in ½ wooden box, Best before 08-04-2018
  • Le Vignelait Brillat Savarin 500g, Plastic container, Best before 8-04-2018
  • Coulommiers Truffe 800g, Wrapped in cheesepaper/plastic and set in ½ wooden box, Best before 08-04-2018 and 22-04-2018
  • Le Coulommiers 500g, Wrapped in cheesepaper/plastic and set in ½ wooden box, Best before 08-04-2018 and 22-04-2018
  • Brie de Brie Pasteurise 2.8kg, Wrapped in cheesepaper/plastic and set in ½ wooden box, Best before 08-04-2018 and 22-04-2018

Consumers should not eat this product and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Listeria monocytogenes may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems.

If you are concerned about your health you should seek medical advice.

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Posted in Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, Recall, Uncategorized

Research USA – Preliminary Incidence and Trends of Infections with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 10 U.S. Sites, 2006–2017

Posted on March 25, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CDC

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

The incidence of infections transmitted commonly through food has remained largely unchanged for many years. Culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs) are increasingly used by clinical laboratories to detect enteric infections. CIDTs benefit public health surveillance by identifying illnesses caused by pathogens not captured routinely by previous laboratory methods.

What is added by this report?

Decreases in incidence of infection of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 and Salmonella serotypes Typhimurium and Heidelberg have been observed over the past 10 years. These declines parallel findings of decreased Salmonella contamination of poultry meat and decreased STEC O157 contamination of ground beef.

What are the implications for public health practice?

As use of CIDTs continues to increase, higher, more accurate incidence rates might be observed. However, without isolates, public health laboratories are unable to subtype pathogens, determine antimicrobial susceptibility, and detect outbreaks. Further prevention measures are needed to decrease the incidence of infection by pathogens tranmitted commonly through food.

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Posted in Uncategorized