Monthly Archives: January 2024

UK – Mrs Kirkham’s has provided an update on the E.coli situation

Lancashire Telegraph

A Lancashire cheesemaker has provided an update after a number of its cheese products were recalled following an E.coli outbreak last year.

Mrs Kirkham’s, based near Longridge, has told its customers that there has been no trace of E.coli found in its products following extensive testing by the Food Standards Agency, and hopes it won’t be long until the family run firm’s cheeses can be put back on the market.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced a precautionary recall of four products from cheesemaker Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese on Christmas Eve because of possible E.coli contamination and added a fifth product on December 27.

Sweden – Cryptosporidium outbreak (Sweden December 2023–)

Folkhalsomyndigheten

Since 15 December 2023, 68 people from 14 regions have been reported infected with Cryptosporidium in Sweden. Most of the disease cases are from Halland and Jönköping. Of the disease cases, 72 percent are women, the average age is 41 years and 79 percent are in the age group 21-60 years. Based on the available data, the latest case of the disease contracted on January 3 (see figure). Typing of a selection of samples shows that 13 out of 18 belong to the same type of Cryptosporidium, which indicates that the disease cases have a common source of infection.

Affected infection control units, the Swedish Food Agency and the Public Health Agency are investigating the outbreak to identify the source of infection, which is suspected to be fresh food. Information about what the outbreak cases have eaten before becoming ill is done via interviews and the collection of questionnaires. The answers are then compared to what people in a healthy comparison group indicate that they have eaten to assess whether there are foods that the outbreak cases have eaten to a greater extent than the comparison group.

USA -CDC – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cantaloupes is Over.

CDC

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 407
  • Hospitalizations: 158
  • Deaths: 6
  • States: 44
  • Recall: Yes
  • Investigation status: Closed   (first posted on November 17, 2023)

All recalls that resulted from this investigation are listed on FDA’s cantaloupe recall website. Recalled cantaloupes are no longer available for sale and the use-by dates have passed.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Cantaloupes (November 2023) – Update

FDA

Products and Stores Affected (Updated on 1/19/2024)

Recalled whole and pre-cut cantaloupes and recalled product containing pre-cut cantaloupes were sold or distributed from September to early December 2023 and should be past shelf-life. Consumers who froze cantaloupe products should check if they are part of the recalls. If you are unsure of where your cantaloupes are from, you should discard them.

Recalled whole cantaloupe from the following brands:

  • Whole fresh cantaloupes with a label on the cantaloupe that says “Malichita” or “Rudy”, “4050”, and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique”.
  • Retailers and wholesalers would have received recalled whole melons from Sofia Produce doing business as TruFresh in boxes labeled “Malichita” or “Rudy”, or from Crown Jewels Produce in boxes labeled “Malichita/Z Farms”, or from Pacific Trellis in corrugated cartons with certain lot codes.

Recalled pre-cut cantaloupe and products containing pre-cut cantaloupes (products made from recalled whole cantaloupes) can be found on the Major Recalls Page.

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection

Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and usually lasts four to seven days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.

Status

Ended

Recommendation

  • Consumers, restaurants, retailers, and wholesalers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled cantaloupe or recalled products containing cantaloupe.
  • Recalled whole and pre-cut cantaloupes and recalled product containing pre-cut cantaloupes were sold or distributed from September to early December 2023 and should be past shelf-life. Consumers who froze cantaloupe products should check if they are part of the recalls. If you are unsure of where your cantaloupes are from, you should discard them.
  • Anyone who purchased or received recalled cantaloupes should follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with recalled products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
    • Pre-cut fruit manufacturers should ensure proper cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and evaluate the need to recall additional product due to the potential for cross-contamination in the processing facility.
  • Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a Salmonella infection after eating recalled cantaloupe.

France – TOMME DU BEARN COW SHEEP Cheese- Listeria monocytogenes

Gov France

Product category
Food
Product subcategory
Milk and dairy products
Product brand name
SHEPHERDS OF UPPER BEARN
Model names or references
TOMME
Product identification
Batch Date
282 Minimum durability date 01/17/2024
Start/end date of marketing
From 12/30/2023 to 01/16/2024
Storage temperature
Product to keep in the refrigerator
Further information
Cheese sold in the Traditional section cut at the customer’s request
Geographical sales area
Anet
Distributors
LOCAL TRADITIONS

Research – Process Hygiene Criterion for Campylobacter and Number of Campylobacter Enteritis Cases in Northwest Germany

MDPI

Abstract

Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported bacterial foodborne disease in the European Union. Its transmission is often associated with the consumption of poultry meat. In 2018, Regulation (EC) No. 2017/1495 introduced a process hygiene criterion and with this, the testing requirements for Campylobacter. The results of microbiological testing for Campylobacter of chicken carcass neck skin samples from several slaughter lines in Northwest Germany collected by the food business operators and contamination levels (cfu/g Campylobacter) of these samples were analysed from 2018 to 2021. Classification into three different categories was made based on contamination levels. The proportion of highly contaminated (category three) neck samples (>1000 cfu/g) decreased from 2018 to 2021. Our analysis showed a relationship between the number of neck samples with high Campylobacter contamination levels (>1000 cfu/g) and human cases in Northwest Germany. Spearman’s rank test (p < 0.01) showed a higher correlation in 2018 (0.66) and 2019 (0.58) compared to 2020 and 2021. Campylobacter enteritis cases in Northwest Germany stayed at a low level in 2020 and 2021. It remains unclear whether the decrease in reported Campylobacter enteritis cases is related to a decrease in Campylobacter levels on chicken carcasses or due to other reasons like underreporting during the COVID-19 pandemic, and therefore must be investigated in further analyses.

Research – Outbreak Reports: A Large Acute Gastroenteritis Outbreak Associated with Both Campylobacter coli and Human Sapovirus — Beijing Municipality, China, 2021

China CDC

Campylobacter is a significant foodborne pathogen that leads to global outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) usually affecting less than 30 individuals. Human sapovirus (HuSaV) is an enteric virus responsible for sporadic cases and outbreaks of AGE worldwide. In a study conducted in Beijing, HuSaV detection ranked second after norovirus.

What is added by this report?

We present a discussion of the first large-scale outbreak of AGE caused by both Campylobacter coli (C. coli) and HuSaV. The outbreak involved a total of 996 patients and exhibited two distinct peaks over a period of 17 days. Through case-control studies, we identified exposure to raw water from a secondary water supply system as a significant risk factor. Among 83 patients, 49 samples tested positive for C. coli, 39 samples tested positive for HuSaV, and 27 samples tested positive for both pathogens using real-time polymerase chain reaction detection. Furthermore, whole-genome sequencing of 17 C. coli isolates obtained from 17 patients revealed that all isolates belonged to a highly clonal strain of C. coli.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Outbreaks of AGE resulting from multiple pathogen infections warrant increased attention. This report emphasizes the significance of ensuring the safety of drinking water, particularly in secondary supply systems.

Research – Vibrio metschnikovii as an emergent pathogen: analyses of phylogeny and O-antigen and identification of possible virulence characteristics

PubMed

Vibrio metschnikovii is an emergent pathogen that causes human infections which may be fatal. However, the phylogenetic characteristics and pathogenicity determinants of V. metschnikovii are poorly understood. Here, the whole-genome features of 103 V. metschnikovii strains isolated from different sources are described. On phylogenetic analysis V. metschnikovii populations could be divided into two major lineages, defined as lineage 1 (L1) and 2 (L2), of which L1 was more likely to be associated with human activity. Meanwhile, we defined 29 V. metschnikovii O-genotypes (VMOg, named VMOg1-VMOg29) by analysis of the O-antigen biosynthesis gene clusters (O-AGCs). Most VMOgs (VMOg1 to VMOg28) were assembled by the Wzx/Wzy pathway, while only VMOg29 used the ABC transporter pathway. Based on the sequence variation of the wzx and wzt genes, an in silico O-genotyping system for V. metschnikovii was developed. Furthermore, nineteen virulence-associated factors involving 161 genes were identified within the V. metschnikovii genomes, including genes encoding motility, adherence, toxins, and secretion systems. In particular, V. metschnikovii was found to promote a high level of cytotoxicity through the synergistic action of the lateral flagella and T6SS. The lateral flagellar-associated flhA gene played an important role in the adhesion and colonization of V. metschnikovii during the early stages of infection. Overall, this study provides an enhanced understanding of the genomic evolution, O-AGCs diversity, and potential pathogenic features of V. metschnikovii.

USA – Clostridium Perfringens Linked to BBQ

Marler Blog

An outbreak of likely Clostridium perfringens was investigated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Jefferson County Public Health starting on August 22, 2023. That day, a school nurse at Evergreen County Day School reported 40 or so illnesses following a school event on August 21, 2023. The outbreak was given the state ID “2023-30-129.”

UK – Mrs Kirkham’s cheese says tests show no trace of E. coli

BBC

A cheese producer that recalled products after a possible E. coli risk has said tests on 60 batches have shown no evidence of the bacteria.

Four types of Mrs Kirkham’s cheese were withdrawn in December as part of an investigation into cases involving a lesser-known strain of E. coli.

The Lancashire-based company said it had undergone a full dairy inspection.

An investigation to identify the cause of the outbreak by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues.

In a statement, Mrs Kirkham’s said the Preston company “closely follow controls to eliminate pathogen contamination and growth”.