Almost 70 cases of a serious condition that develops after an E. coli infection have been reported in the past year in Italy.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a severe complication associated with E. coli infections that causes kidney failure.
Italian data shows that between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, 68 cases of HUS were recorded.
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — Two caterers have been suspended by Singapore’s health authorities after a mass food poisoning incident at TikTok owner ByteDance’s office on Tuesday (July 30).
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said that the food business operations of Yun Hai Yao at Northpoint City and Pu Tien Services at Senoko South Road have been suspended until further notice, according to a report on Singapore-based news channel Channel News Asia today.
Health authorities have mandated that both companies clean and sanitise their premises, including all equipment and utensils, and dispose of all ready-to-eat and perishable food items.
All food handlers must retake and pass the Food Safety Course Level 1 and test negative for foodborne pathogens before resuming their duties, the CNA report was quoted as saying.
The food hygiene officer must also retake and pass the Food Safety Course Level 3 before returning to work.
Pu Tien Services serves as the main and catering kitchen for Putien, while Yun Hai Yao operates the Yun Nans restaurant chain, the CNA report said.
Authorities said 130 people reported having gastroenteritis symptoms on Tuesday, with fifty-seven people taken to the hospital.
Seventeen others remain hospitalised but are in stable condition, said the report.
The others have either sought outpatient care, self-medicated, or recovered without any treatment.
Posted in Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, Illness
In the first weeks of July (July 1-July 14), the number of reported cases of campylobacter infected in Sweden increased to nearly 100 cases per week. In the following weeks (July 15-July 28), the number of reported cases increased further, to 160 and 210 cases per week respectively. The cases are found in several regions. The increase coincides with previously increased occurrence of campylobacter in broiler flocks.
The Campylobacter program in chicken in Sweden (sva.se)
Good handling of raw chicken reduces the risk of becoming infected.
Campylobacter (livsmedelsverket.se)
Since April 2024, the Statens Serum Institut has registered an outbreak with 63 cases of Salmonella monophasic Typhimurium. The Statens Serum Institut, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the Norwegian Food Institute DTU are investigating the disease outbreak, which has been decreasing since June. The source of infection in this outbreak is minced beef of Danish origin.
Metro Produce Distributors Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is voluntarily recalling all Lunds & Byerlys fresh guacamole products with a use-by date of August 2, 2024, 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 high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The fresh guacamole was sold at Lunds & Byerlys grocery stores located throughout the Twin Cities area and St. Cloud. The product was also available in select locations ‘Taco Mas’ food bars from July 27-31. The products are packaged in clear plastic containers.
These products are affected by the recall:
| Product | Size | Use-by Date |
|---|---|---|
| Lunds & Byerlys Fresh Guacamole | 14 ounce | August 2, 2024 |
| Lunds & Byerlys Fresh Smokin’ Guacamole | 10 ounce | August 2, 2024 |
| Lunds & Byerlys Fresh Spicy Guacamole | 10 ounce | August 2, 2024 |
| Lunds & Byerlys Pico de Gallo/Guacamole Tray | 18 ounce | August 2, 2024 |
| Lunds & Byerlys Deli Guacamole | 56 ounce | August 2, 2024 |
No confirmed illnesses have been reported to date.
The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the company, which revealed that the finished products could potentially contain the bacteria. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the products as they continue their investigation. This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
Consumers who have purchased Lunds & Byerlys fresh guacamole products with a use-by date of August 2, 2024 are urged to destroy the products or return them to any Lunds & Byerlys stores for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Metro Produce at 612-436-3825.
Posted in FDA, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes
Thal Golden Spices Inc. of Hayward, CA is recalling 640 Packs of “Bikano Moong Dal 350g 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. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Product was distributed in the state of California through retail stores.
Product Identification Statement:
Brand Name: Bikano
Product Name: Moong Dal Plain
Size: 350g
Best Used By Date: June 25, 2025 can be found on the bottom back side of the pack.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
Thal Golden Spices Inc recently discovered an oversight in the distribution process of one of our products. Unfortunately, the product was released without proper lab results. This issue came to light during an FDA inspection when inspectors identified discrepancies in the batch numbers slated for destruction. We are actively addressing this situation to ensure compliance and rectify the error.
Consumers who have purchased Bikano Moong Dal 350g with the best used by date of 06/25/25 are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with question may contact Thal Golden Spices Inc. at 510.429.1797. Hours of Operations are M-Th 8am to 5pm Friday 7am to 4pm closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Posted in FDA, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Salmonella
Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute recalled products
The affected product is being recalled from the marketplace due to possible Cronobacter spp. contamination.
Food contaminated with Cronobacter may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Although Cronobacter is not commonly linked to human illness, in rare cases it can cause serious or fatal infections. Cronobacter can cause rare bloodstream and central nervous system infections and has been associated with severe intestinal infection (necrotizing enterocolitis) and blood poisoning (sepsis), especially in newborns.
Posted in Cronobacter sakazakii, cross contamination, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Temperature Abuse, Food Testing, foodbourne outbreak
According to the European Environment Agency, increasing global sea surface temperature (SST) is one of the main physical impacts of climate change. SST in European coastal seas has increased 4–7 times faster than in the oceans over the past decades. This local increase in SST has been linked to outbreaks of Vibrio -associated human illness caused by non-O1/non-O1 Vibrio cholerae39 , V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in several European countries.
Climate change has also created new ocean currents that favour the spread of vibrios. Inadequate transport and storage of fish and fishery products over long distances, the same sea waters used by ships as ballast and aquaculture all contribute to their expansion. Travellers and animals also play a role. For example, migratory birds can act as vectors for the intercontinental transport of V. cholerae . Once introduced into a new region, they become endemic. Vibrio spp. and mainly the species V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus , have been identified by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) as biological hazards with a high probability of becoming emerging in the near future in Europe.
Read more at the link above.
Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Research
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