Category Archives: Bacteria

Research – Nanoparticles to Kill Listeria

Posted on April 25, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The Packerlisteria-hp

A study by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute used enzymes attached to food-safe silica nanoparticles to create a coating that kills listeria.

The method aims at an alternative to chemical or antibiotic decontamination of various foods during handling and packaging.

The findings were published in April in Scientific Reports.

The coating killed listeria within a few minutes of contact without affecting other bacteria.

The cell lytic enzymes can also be attached to starch nanoparticles used in food packaging, according to the researchers. On meat, for example, edible starch is often sprayed into packaging as a powder layer.

“Stable enzyme-based coatings or sprays could be used in food supply infrastructure — from picking equipment to packaging to preparation — to kill listeria before anyone has a chance to get sick from it,” Rensselaer Polytechnic chemical and biological engineering professor Ravi Kane said in a news release. “We can adapt this technology for all different kinds of harmful or deadly bacteria.”

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria welshimeri, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

USA – Recall – Queso Fresco Cheese – Salmonella

Posted on April 25, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Salmonella in unpasteurized Mexican-style cheese called queso fresco has sickened at least 13 people in Minnesota who all got it from the same private home, according to state health officials. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and health officials from the City of Minneapolis are investigating the outbreak and searching for the source of the raw milk used to make the cheese. The sale of raw milk is not legal in Minnesota unless it is purchased on the farm where it was produced.

Eleven people were diagnosed with confirmed cases of infection from the same strain of Salmonella Typhimurium. Eight of them were hospitalized.  Additional illnesses, among family members of those with confirmed cases, were also reported but not confirmed through testing. Two of those people were hospitalized. All of the those who were sickened have recovered

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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Research – China Shellfish – Virus – Fresh Cut Salad Quality – Seasonal Campylobacter – Salmonella Control

Posted on April 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Prevalence of Human Enteric Viruses and a Potential Indicator of Contamination in Shellfish in China.

Science Direct

Influence of working conditions and practices on fresh-cut lettuce salads quality

Cambridge Journals

Identifying the seasonal origins of human campylobacteriosis

University of Cambridge

Researchers plan to use data collected to develop vaccines to control Salmonella in animals and humans

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Methods, Microbiology, Norovirus, outbreak, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella, Virus

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USA – Salmonella Outbreak – Baby Ducklings

Posted on April 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning BulletinSalm

An outbreak of salmonellosis in Minnesota has been linked to ducklings purchased from the Tractor Supply Company store in Inver Grove Heights, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. The cases are associated with a multistate outbreak that is being investigated by the CDC.

The patients range in age from 18 to 60 years. All three cases are caused by Salmonella Infantis. The illness onset dates range from late March through early April 2013.

MDH State Public Health Veterinarian Dr. Joni Scheftel said that anyone who handles ducklings, chicks, or other birds should wash their hands thoroughly after contact. “Chicks and ducklings can be a great attraction for children and families this time of year, but they can also be a source of illness. That is why it is so important for people handling them to take steps to prevent infection.”

Young children are more at risk for these infections and are also more likely to develop serious complications from a Salmonella infection. The Salmonella bacteria is carried in the intestines of animals and is shed into the environment. Live birds are a recognized source of Salmonella. The birds can shed the pathogenic bacteria even when they look healthy.

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Posted in Bacteria, CDC, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella

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Canada – Recall

Posted on April 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CFIACIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Desco Services Alimentaires Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Le Champ du Coq brand Seasoned, Cooked Chicken Breast Strips because they may be undercooked and, therefore, contaminated with Salmonella.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

The distributor, Desco Services Alimentaires Inc., Boisbriand, Québec, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

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

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UK – Isle of Man Campylobacter – Animal Rescue ?

Posted on April 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

BBC NewsCampylobacter

Manx health officials have issued a hygiene warning after several people tested positive for illnesses normally associated with handling livestock.

About five cases of Cryptosporidium and Campylobacter have been reported on the island during the past three months.

It is thought some of those affected may have been involved in helping farmers to rescue livestock after heavy snow last month.

Food Safety Manager Ivan Bratty said simple precautions must be taken.

“These recent cases serve as a timely reminder of the importance of thorough hand washing after handling livestock and before preparing or handling food to prevent infection and the spread of disease in the community,” he said.

“It is also important for anyone suffering from diarrhoea to avoid swimming pools as Cryptosporidium can survive in chlorinated water”.

Cryptosporidium is a disease that is very common in young farm animals and can easily be passed to people who come into contact with those animals- it can lead to sickness and diarrhoea, but is rarely a serious condition for healthy people.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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USA – Multi State Salmonella Outbreak – Baby Chicks

Posted on April 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News104px-More_chicks

A Salmonella outbreak suspected to be linked to live baby chickens may be under investigation in several states, according to a spokesman for the South Dakota Department of Health.

At least four patients in South Dakota — three adults and one child under the age of four — have fallen ill in connection to the outbreak.

The Salmonella bacteria in all four South Dakota cases share the same genetic fingerprint, and some of the patients have had direct contact with baby chicks, state health department spokesman Lon Kightlinger told Food Safety News Monday morning.

The cases came from different parts of the state, and Kightlinger said it was not immediately clear if the chicks involved originated from the same hatchery.

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

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Research – IFR – Contact Killing of Salmonella Typhimurium by Human Faecal Bacteria

Posted on April 24, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Institute of Food Research

Dr Carmen Pin, and PhD student Gaspar Avendaño-Perez at the Institute of Food Research, which is strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, have recently found a novel mode of interaction between Salmonella, a foodborne pathogen, and the gut bacteria that leads to the inactivation of Salmonella. This interaction relies on Salmonella and the gut bacteria being in close proximity, or through cell to cell contact. This new way of interaction between the “good” and the” bad” bacteria may contribute to prevent intestinal colonization and infection by foodborne pathogens.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella

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USA – Recall – Deli Meats – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on April 22, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety Bulletin

Deli meats produced by Manda Packing Company of Baker, La. are being recalled for potential Listeria contamination by a number of retailers, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA’s FSIS). Listeria can cause serious, sometimes fatal illness but, at this time, no illnesses have been associated with the recalled meat.

The problem was initially discovered  by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture when routine testing on a sample of cooked roast beef  taken from a retail establishment on April 5, 2013 was positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The Manda products under recall include: roast beef, ham, turkey breast, tasso pork, ham shanks, hog head cheese, corned beef, and pastrami and were sold under a variety of brand names at grocery store deli counters. In Arkansas the recalled products were sold at Ben E. Keith stores; in Louisiana and Texas they were sold at Brookshire Brothers and Kroger Stores;  in Louisiana they were sold at Dollar General and Piggly Wiggly Stores; in Illinois and Missouri they were sold at Schnuck’s Markets; and they were sold nationwide at Walmart stores.

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

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USA – Expanded Recall Pet Products – Salmonella

Posted on April 22, 2013 by | 1 comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Natura is voluntarily expanding its March 29, 2013 recall of dry pet foods because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The recall now includes all dry pet food products and treats with expiration dates before and including March 24, 2014.

The brands recalled include: California Natural, EVO, Healthwise, Innova, and Karma.  All sizes, all dry dog and cat food and treat varieties, all UPC numbers and all lot codes are recalled. All expiration dates before and including March 24, 2014 are included in the recall. No canned wet food or biscuits are affected by this recall.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Pet Food, Recall

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