Category Archives: Bacteria

Research – STEC E.coli Survival in Water

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A toxin dangerous to humans may help E. coli fend off aquatic predators, enabling strains of E. coli that produce the toxin to survive longer in lake water than benign counterparts, a new study from researchers from the University at Buffalo and Mercyhurst University finds.

UK – FSA – Recall Milk – Possibility of Contamination

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Dunn’s Dairy of Beacon View Farm, Devon, has recalled all date codes of its milk and cream products because of possible cross contamination of milk and insufficient heat processing. If you have bought any dairy products that have come from this farm, please do not drink or eat them. The Agency has issued a Product Information Recall Notice.

USA – E.coli Case

E.coli BlogEcoli Istock

Wellesley Health Department (WHD) received notice by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (MDPH) surveillance system on June 12, 2013 of a case of E. coli in a Wellesley resident.

The origin of the cases’ illness is being investigated.

Rumors have been circulating that the cause of the illnesses has been linked to a local supermarket. At this point, no local supermarkets are a focus of the investigation.

China – 160 Sickened Suspected Food Poisoning

English News ChinaStaphylococcus

GUANGZHOU, June 12 (Xinhua) — A total of 160 staff from a food company in south China’s Guangdong Province were suspected of suffering from food poisoning, a company source said on Wednesday.

They had symptoms of chills, fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhea after having dinner at the third canteen of the Dongguan Hsu Chi Food Co. Ltd based in Dongguan City on Monday, said Sun Tianzhen, a media relations officer of Hsu Fu Chi International Ltd. told Xinhua.

Dongguan Hsu Chi Food Co. Ltd. is a subsidiary of Hsu Fu Chi International Ltd.

A 57-year-old female plate washer at the canteen was found dead at her dormitory on Tuesday but it is yet to know whether her death is connected with food poisoning or not, said Sun.

USA – Fish Food Recall – Salmonella

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SECAUCUS, N.J., June 12, 2013 /NEWS.GNOM.ES/ – The Hartz Mountain Corporation, located in Secaucus, N.J. is voluntarily recalling one specific lot of Wardley Betta Fish Food 1.2 oz. size due to concerns that one or more containers within the lot may have been potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration in this voluntary recall.

Australia – Recall Corned Beef – Listeria monocytogenes

FSANZ

Pendle Ham and Bacon has recalled Cooked Corned Beef from their deli store in
Pendle Hill, NSW due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Food
products contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may cause illness in
pregnant women and their babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems.
Consumers should not eat this product. Any consumers concerned about their
health should seek medical advice.

Canada – Recall – Salmonella

CFIAEurofins

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Sunsprout Natural Foods are warning the public not to consume the Sunsprout and SproutsAlive brand alfalfa sprouts described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

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

The manufacturer, Sunsprout Natural Foods, Brantford, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Research in Germany – Listeria in Ready to Eat Foods

BfR

As part of an EU-wide baseline study, the BfR has investigated the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in smoked and gravad fish, soft and semi-soft cheese and also in heat-treated meat products. These foods are known to be potential carriers of elevated quantities of listeria. Overall, study results show that the prescribed microbiological criteria for Listeria monocytogenes are not always strictly adhered to in ready-to-eat foods. When limits are exceeded there is a risk of consumers contracting a Listeria monocytogenes infection. It is therefore imperative for food producers to ensure that the regulations are consistently met.

USA – FDA – Recall – Salmonella – Cherry Tomato’s

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Alderman Farms Sales Corporation, Boynton Beach, Florida is recalling one pint containers of Certified Organic Cherry Tomatoes because they have 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, 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.

This recall notice is being issued out of an abundance of caution.

No illnesses have been associated with the product.

RASFF Alerts – Enterobacteriacea in Milk – Afaltoxins in Pistachio Nuts – Moulds in Mace

RASFF – High count of Enterobacteriaceae (100 CFU/ml) in chilled pasteurized milk from Hungary in Italy

RASFF – Aflatoxins (B1 = 16.5; Tot. = 19.4 µg/kg – ppb) in helva with pistachio nuts from Turkey in Germany

RASFF – Mace from Indonesia infested with moulds in the Netherlands