Category Archives: Bacteria

Research – Clostridium difficile – Possibly not Only a Clinical Issue

Posted on September 27, 2013 by | Leave a comment

New England Journal of MedicineClost

It has been thought that Clostridium difficile infection is transmitted predominantly within health care settings. However, endemic spread has hampered identification of precise sources of infection and the assessment of the efficacy of interventions.

Over a 3-year period, 45% of C. difficile cases in Oxfordshire were genetically distinct from all previous cases. Genetically diverse sources, in addition to symptomatic patients, play a major part in C. difficile transmission.

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium difficile, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Laboratory, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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UK – FSA Recall – Listeria monocytogenes – Oak Roasted Salmon

Posted on September 26, 2013 by | Leave a comment

FSA

As a precautionary measure, Loch Duart Artisan Smokehouse is recalling two batches of a further product due to detection of Listeria monocytogenes, which may pose a risk to health. Listeria monocytogenes can cause illness in certain groups of people, such as pregnant women, unborn and newborn babies, and anyone with reduced immunity, particularly the over-60s.

FSA

Loch Duart Artisan Smokehouse has recalled two further batches of its Oak Roasted Flaky Salmon, because Listeria monocytogenes has been detected in them and may pose a health risk. If you have bought this product with the batch code listed, do not eat it. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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USA -Garden Fresh Foods Recall RTE Chicken and Ham Products

Posted on September 26, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Garden Fresh Foods of Milwaukee, WI, is recalling more than 19,000 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken and ham products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service sent out an announcement about this recall on Wednesday evening.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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USA – Recall Kale – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on September 26, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Listeria Blog

Customers are advised to discard prepacked fresh kale that was purchased from the Roosevelt Square Whole Foods in Seattle.

The kale sold at 1026 Northeast 64th Street may be contaminated with Listeria moncytogene.

The produce was sold in rectangular plastic containers labeled Whole Foods Market Kales Mixed OG (Organic), PLU 0258622 with packed-on date of 9.15.13 through 9.20.13.

Listeria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, elderly people or those with weakened immune systems.  Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, and abdominal pain and diarrhea.

No illnesses have been reported, but notice was given after a routine test by Washington State Department of Agriculture.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Pathogen, Recall

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USA – Salads Recall Possible Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on September 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Listeria Blog Eurofins Food Testing UK

Weis Markets, Inc., the Sunbury, PA-based supermarket chain with 162 stores in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, West Virginia and Maryland, is recalling Weis Quality salads for possible Listeria contamination.

No illnesses have yet been associated with the recall, which Weis announced Monday on its Facebook page. The Weis brand salads are made by Milwaukee-based Garden Fresh Foods.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Canada – CFIA Alert – Salmonella in Spinach

Posted on September 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CFIA Eurofins Food Testing UK

Ottawa, September 23, 2013 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Ippolito Fruit and Produce Ltd., are warning the public not to consume the Frisco’s, Queen Victoria and Metro brands spinach described in the link because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

These products have been distributed in Ontario and Quebec. These products may also have been distributed to other provinces.

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

The manufacturer, Ippolito Fruit and Produce Ltd., Burlington, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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Canada – E.coli O157 in Cheese Update

Posted on September 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The Public Health Agency of Canada says that now fourteen cases of E. coli O157:H7 are associated with contaminated raw milk cheese products manufactured by Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. There are four people who are ill in British Columbia; eight in Alberta; one in Saskatchewan; and one in Quebec. One person in British Columbia has died as a result of this infection.

Ill persons started getting sick between mid-July and early September. Some of Gort’s raw milk cheeses have been recalled as a result of this outbreak. The statement said that “there is currently no indication of widespread risk to Canadians. However, E. coli O157:H7 can pose a serious public health risk. Additional cases of illness may be identified and linked to this outbreak in the future.”

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Laboratory, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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Research – Increasing Vibrio Prevalence

Posted on September 23, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety NewsVibrio

With a nearly 50-percent mortality rate, Vibrio vulnificus is the most deadly foodborne pathogen in the world, according to University of North Carolina at Charlotte Biology Professor Jim Oliver. And instances of infection in the U.S., however rare, are rapidly rising.

Fifteen years ago, there were 21 confirmed cases of Vibrio vulnificus and parahaemolyticus infections in the U.S. Last year, there were 193.

While infections from either of the pathogens are still rare compared with, say, Salmonella and Campylobacter, the incidence rate grew faster than any of the other five microbes tracked in the Centers for Disease Control’s 2012 Food Safety Progress Report. The vulnificus strain is responsible for 95 percent of seafood-related illness fatalities in the U.S., according to a 2013 study by Oliver and Joanna Nowakowska. Another Vibrio strain, parahaemolyticus, is milder, causing diarrhea, nausea, fever and chills, according to CDC.

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Posted in Bacteria, CDC, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Vibrio, Vibrio cholera, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificans

USA – One Dead from Salmonella Outbreak in Kentucky

Posted on September 23, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety NewsSalm

Salmonella outbreak in Hopkins County, Kentucky, has killed one person and caused another seven confirmed illnesses.

The cause of the outbreak is still unknown, according to county health officials. Investigators have begun interviewing victims to see where or what they might have eaten in the days leading up to their illnesses.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Laboratory, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella

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RASFF Alert – Histamine – Tuna

Posted on September 23, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF – Histamine (240 mg/kg – ppm) in chilled tuna loins from Spain

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Chemistry, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Histamine, Microbiology, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Toxin

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