RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes in Organic Camembert from Denmark
China Post – E.coli in beverages and frozen foods in Taipei
Hong Kong – STEC case in hospital source unknown.
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Category Archives: Bacteria
Free webcast with 3M and Professor Stephen Forsythe on the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens
3M’s Food Safety business has launched a fast, accurate and easy-to-use pathogen detection system.
The new 3M™ Molecular Detection System, based on an innovative combination of two technologies – isothermal DNA amplification and ATP bioluminescence detection – delivers highly sensitive results in real-time with positive results in as early as 15 minutes and negative results in 75 minutes.
With ready-made reagents and only one test protocol for all target pathogens, the system is easy to use, allows for multiple pathogen detection during each run and reduces the chance for human error or contamination. Individual assays for Salmonella, E. coli O157 (including H7) and Listeria spp are currently available.
2nd Link
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Posted in ATP, Bacteria, DNA, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research
Tagged atp bioluminescence, climate, nottingham trent university, research, science
Hong Kong – Shigella Alert
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 14) cautioned members of the public against bacillary dysentery infection.
The CHP received an increased number of bacillary dysentery notifications recently, with the number of cases reaching six in June so far, compared to monthly notifications ranging from one to five cases between January and May 2012.
A CHP spokesman said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that five of the recent six patients were caused by Shigella sonnei, and they all lived in Tuen Mun.”
“These five cases were two males and three females, aged between six and 14. They presented with fever, diarrhoea and vomiting from June 3 to June 6. All of them had sought medical consultation. Three of them required hospital admission. They are all in stable condition.”
“Investigation is underway to ascertain or exclude a common source of infection,” the spokesman said.
Bacillary dysentery is an intestinal infection caused by a group of Shigella bacteria which can be found in human gut. It is transmitted directly by faecal material of a patient/carrier or indirectly through contaminated food and water. It occurs more commonly amongst young children. In Hong Kong, more cases were recorded in summer months.
The spokesman advised members of the public to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene to avoid infection. They should:
* wash hands properly with soap and water before eating or handling food, and after toilet or changing diapers;
* purchase fresh food from reliable sources, do not patronize illegal hawkers; and
* seek medical attention when they have symptoms of fever and diarrhea, especially bloody diarrhea.
Japan Raw Beef Liver Restaurant Ban – E.coli O157
Japan has announced that it will ban the sale of raw beef liver in restaurants, following a spate of food poisoning cases last year.
The health ministry has decided to ban restaurants from serving raw beef liver from July 1 due to food poisoning concerns, and violators of the new rule could be fined or even imprisoned.
The ministry made the decision after its food sanitation council approved the policy at a meeting Tuesday.
Enterohemorrhagic E. coli O-157 and Campylobacter bacteria, both of which can cause severe stomachache, have been detected in raw beef liver. A research report said it is difficult to remove or kill the bacteria through screening tests or disinfection, and that liver can only be guaranteed safe to consume if it has been cooked.
Operators of barbecue restaurants and other establishments that ignore the ban on raw beef liver could be sentenced to up to two years in prison or fined up to 2 million yen.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry presented comments submitted by the public over the month through May 18. Although most of the 1,532 opinions were against outlawing raw liver, ministry officials insisted a ban–backed up by penalties–was necessary because there is no 100 percent safe way of eating raw beef liver.
Belgium – 19 Cases E.coli O157
Nineteen cases of infection with E. coli O157 have been detected in Limburg, Belgium, of which three have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
The Federal Agency for Security of the Food Chain (AFSCA) said Thursday that all cases are related to the ingestion of filet américain (lit. American fillet) with onions and more seasoning than a normal steak tartare.
AFSCA launched an investigation and based on date of purchase, consumption and onset of disease, the suspect beef has been traced and initial sampling results were positive for E. coli O157
Australia – Marinated Feta Recall – E.coli
12 June 2012: Food Standards Australia and New Zealand has issued a notice on the recall of some batches of Casa brand’s Marinated Feta in Australia due to a risk of microbial (E.coli) contamination.
There is no import of the retail pack of the affected products in Singapore. While there is an import of the 1.5kg trade pack of the affected product, the consignment has not been distributed for sale and will be destroyed.
Consumers who have bought the implicated products overseas should discard the products and not consume them.
Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall
Tagged food
Research – Shigella Genetics Tracked
Scientists have found new genetic information that shows how harmful bacteria cause the acute diarrheal disease shigellosis, which kills more than a million people worldwide each year.
The research, which could lead to the development of future treatments, was published today in the journal PLoS ONE. The study was led by Ohio University scientist Erin Murphy and doctoral student William Broach, with contributions from University of Nevada, Las Vegas and University of Texas at Austin researchers.
US – Raw Milk E.coli O157
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine today warned consumers in and around Chautauqua County to not consume “unpasteurised” raw farm milk from Castle Farms due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.
Castle Farms, located at 1051 Route 249 in Irving, New York, holds a Department permit to legally sell raw milk at the farm. Samples of the milk are routinely tested by the New York State Food Laboratory to determine if the raw milk is free of pathogenic bacteria.
It is important to note that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization, which eliminates all pathogenic bacteria, including E. coli O157:H7. Producers who sell raw milk to consumers must have a permit to do so from the Department, must sell directly to consumers on the farm where the milk is produced and must post a notice at the point of sale indicating that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization. Farms with permits to sell raw milk are inspected by the Department monthly.
To date, no illnesses are known by the Department to be associated with product from Castle Farms.
FDA – Red Pepper & Onion Garlic Cheese – Listeria monocytogenes
Golden Glen Creamery of Bow, WA, in cooperation with the WSDA is voluntarily recalling Red Pepper with Onion & Garlic Cheddar produced on August 30, 2011 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Creamery agreed to recall the product after a sample taken by the WSDA returned with a positive result. Samples of the same batch have tested negative through an independent, state-approved lab that Creamery has submitted samples to. No illnesses have been reported to date. L. monocytogenesis 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.
To date, no illnesses have been reported.
Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall
Tagged food, high fever, listeria infection, listeria monocytogenes, weakened immune systems, wsda
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