Category Archives: Bacteria

Canadians Open to Food Irradiation for Food Safety

Posted on April 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CTV News

A new survey shows Canadians might be willing to eat food with small doses of radiation to prevent foodborne illnesses.

The survey was conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion for the Consumers Association of Canada. It found that while Canadians are concerned about food contamination, most don’t know much about food irradiation.

The online survey of 1,006 Canadians found 57 per cent of respondents had not heard of irradiation, which is a process that exposes foods to minute doses of radiation like X-rays to kill off bacteria.

And yet when the Canadians polled in the survey were given a brief explanation of the process, most said they would support having irradiated food at the grocery store as a choice.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen

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US – Salmonella Poisoning from Live Chcikens

Posted on April 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Bites

Greene County has recently seen three confirmed cases of salmonella that are likely related to the purchase of chickens from local vendors. The vendors followed all applicable laws and took necessary precautions against the disease on their premises. However, these cases serve as a reminder for consumers to be aware of the potential risk for illness whenever they deal with chickens.

More local residents may be interested in keeping chickens at home. Some are doing it to be more sustainable, or produce their own food.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

Foot Long Subs – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on April 18, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA

M.E. Thompson, Inc. is expanding the recall of its Anytime Deli Turkey & Ham Footlong, to include Italian Footlong, and Classic Cuban, because the products 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.  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 initial date of the recall was January 24, 2012.

The following products with expiration dates from January 19th through May 2nd and lot number from 00112 through 10412 are being recalled:

Turkey & Ham Footlong  UPC 0543200194
Italian Footlong UPC 0543200196
Classic Cuban UPC 0543200156

The sub sandwiches were distributed on January 2nd through April 13th to convenience and grocery stores nationwide under the labels Anytime Deli, Sandwich Central and Dandee.  All sandwiches are packaged in white butcher wrap.  The Best Buy date and/or the Lot Number are located on the white press on circular label. The UPC Code is located on the bottom of the product beneath the Ingredient and Nutrition Facts label.

No confirmed illnesses have been reported to date.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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Oregon Raw Milk Farm – Cows, Milk and Surfaces Positive E.coli O157

Posted on April 18, 2012 by | Leave a comment

E.coli Blog

Four children are hospitalised; a total of five confirmed with E. coli – as many as seventeen sick

Oregon Public Health officials today report test results of samples taken from Foundation Farm cows, manure and surfaces as well as raw milk from a farm customer are positive for E. coli O157.

The samples came from leftover milk recovered from one household, rectal swabs from two of four cows, and multiple manure and other environmental samples collected at the farm.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, STEC

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EFSA Food Videos – Salmonella/Campylobacter/Pathogens

Posted on April 18, 2012 by | Leave a comment

EFSA Videos

Understanding Science short videos including Salmonella and Campylobacter.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, EFSA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Research, Salmonella

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Aussie Gas Platform – Salmonella Outbreak

Posted on April 17, 2012 by | 1 comment

The Age.Com

Workers on a gas production platform in the Bass Strait want their barge returned to port after a major outbreak of salmonella and gastroenteritis.

One construction worker on the Origin Energy project has been flown to hospital in Melbourne.

In total, 36 of more than 200 workers have fallen ill in the two weeks since the outbreak, their union said.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

CFIA – Recall – VP Fish – Clostridium botulinum

Posted on April 17, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain vacuum packaged fish products, described below, because the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

The following vacuum packaged fish products, sold in various weights, listed below are affected by this alert:

Brand Product Best Before Date
North 44 Smoked Salmon mcewan’s own 04/20/12
Kristapson’s Smoked Salmon 04/20/12 & 06/11/12

These products have been sold only at McEwan Gourmet Grocery Store located at 38 Karl Fraser Road, North York, Ontario.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

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Posted in Bacteria, CIFA, Clostridium botulinum, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Australia + New Zealand – Chicken Liver Pate – Campylobacter

Posted on April 17, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSANZ

There have been outbreaks of Campylobacter food poisoning linked to dishes such as pâté, where poultry liver has been undercooked.

Like other poultry meat, livers need to be cooked all the way through to kill bacteria that may be present. Lightly frying the surface is not enough.

In recent surveys of raw chicken meat in Australia, campylobacter was found in more than 85% of samples tested. Studies in New Zealand have also shown that livers and other offal are often contaminated on the surface and internally.

Advice Leaflet

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

E.coli Vaccine for Cattle

Posted on April 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News 

A Canadian biotech company has developed a vaccine for cattle that prevents them from shedding E. coli in their manure, and its CEO now hopes the Canadian and U.S. governments will help spread the vaccine to combat the threat posed by E. coli contamination in beef.
E. coli illnesses cost the Canadian medical system more than $200 million a year, but vaccinating every cow in the country would cost less than $50 million.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Technology

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EFSA Data – Reduction Targets for Salmonella in Turkeys

Posted on April 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

EFSA

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to evaluate the impact on public health of reducing Salmonella levels in turkeys across the European Union (EU). The presence of Salmonella in turkeys is considered a risk for public health through the consumption of contaminated meat from these animals. EFSA’s work will support any consideration by the Commission of setting new targets to control Salmonella in turkeys.

In a new scientific opinion, experts from EFSA’s Panel on Biological Hazards identify the main Salmonella serovars* in turkeys and indicate that transmission from breeding stock to fattening flocks is an important source of Salmonella infection as well as such sources as contaminated feed or turkey houses.

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Posted in Bacteria, EFSA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

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