Category Archives: Bacteria

Australia – Listeria Hospital Food Outbreak

ABC News

A batch of dodgy profiteroles are being blamed on a listeria outbreak that could have spread across 13 public hospitals in Sydney.

The NSW Department of Health says that so far three patients, including a terminally ill man at Campbelltown Hospital who has since died, have tested positive for listeriosis.

The two other patients, one from Concord hospital and another from the Royal Prince Alfred are responding well to treatment.

The profiteroles which were made by Rich Products Australia have since been withdrawn from all patient meals.

An investigation into the outbreak which is believed to have occurred between mid-March and April 16 is ongoing.

RASFF Alerts – Mould – E.coli – Norovirus – Hepatitis A – Aflatoxin

RASFF – Foelie from Indonesia infested with moulds in the Netherlands

RASFF – High count of Escherichia coli (between 130 and 980 CFU/g) in fresh peppermint from Cambodia in Norway

RASFF – Hepatitis A virus (ongoing investigations) in mussels (Mitylus galloprovincialis) from Slovenia in Italy

RASFF – Norovirus (presence) in clams from Portugal in Spain

RASFF – Aflatoxins (B1 = 5.5 µg/kg – ppb) in satay sauce from Sweden

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in desiccated coconut fine grade from Malaysia in Italy

RASFF – Salmonella Javiana (presence /25g) in watermelons from Costa Rica, via Ireland in the UK

RASFF – Salmonella Heidelberg (presence /25g) in frozen chicken breast filet, salted from Brazil in Denmark

 

USA – FDA Recall Bird Foods – Salmonella

FDASalm

Merit Bird Company, LLC of Chatsworth, California is recalling the following items with lot codes; Vitae Cockatiel with Sunflower 2lbs, (#2840081), Vitae Cockatiel with Sunflower 4lbs, (#2840090), Vitae Small Hookbill 4lbs, (#2840225), Vitae Small Hookbill 20lbs, (#2840234), Vitae Hookbill with Sunflower 4lbs, (#2840252), Vitae Large Hookbill 4lbs, (#2840279) shipped between May 2012 to February 2013, because it has 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 people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Animals with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some animals will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your animals have consumed the recalled product and have these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. “Vitae bird food was distributed through Southern California retail pet stores.

The bags in question are packaged in a factory sealed plastic bag or a white bulk bag for the 20# size.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

This recall was the result of a routine testing performed by Specialty Commodities, which revealed that the finished products, which include parsley that is on recall from Specialty Commodities, contain Salmonella. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continue their investigation as to what caused the problem.

USA – CDC – Food Safety Progress Report

CDCiStock_000012710183Small

Food Safety News

Infection rates of the foodborne pathogens Campylobacter and Vibrio parahaemolyticus rose in 2012, while other major pathogens generally maintained rates similar to recent years, according to the nation’s annual “food safety progress report” published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thursday.

RASFF Alerts – E.coli – STEC Deer Meat – E.coli Spinach

RASFF – Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VT2 positive and negative EAE) in frozen deer meat from Austria in Italy

RASFF – Too high count of Escherichia coli (1200 CFU/g) in spinach from Cambodia in Norway

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Meat – Poultry -Soya Bean Meal – Feed

RASFF -Salmonella spp. (presece /25g) in frozen meat preparations from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in frozen meat preparations from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella Heidelberg (presence /25g) in frozen  chicken breast filet from Brazil in Denmark

RASFF – Salmonella Amsterdam (present /25g) in soya bean meal from India in Austria

RASFF – Salmonella Mbandaka (presence /25g) in compound feed from Sweden

USA – Shellfish Area Closed – High Levels of Bacteria

Food Safety News Marlith

A section of water in Washington state’s Grays Harbor County has been closed off to shellfish harvest after high levels of bacteria were discovered in the area.

The Washington State Department of Health announced Tuesday that waters near Ocean Shores, WA would be closed permanently for the next year, and 11 other harvest areas have been marked as “threatened.”

In threatened areas, levels of fecal bacteria are reaching the health department’s safety threshold, and are in danger of rising above it.

USA – FDA Recall – Salmone and Herring Fillets – Listeria monocyotogenes

FDAFDA

Prime Food USA, 50st & 1st Ave Building # 57, Brooklyn NY 11232, is recalling Latis Brand Herring Fillet “Matiej”, Salmon Fillet Slices and Herring Fillet “Forelka” in Oil due to contamination with listeria monocytogenes. Listeria can cause serious complications for pregnant women, such as stillbirth. Other problems can manifest in people with compromised immune systems. Listeria can also cause serious flu-like symptoms in healthy individuals.

The recalled Latis Brand Herring Fillet “Matiej” is packaged in 17.64oz (500grams) in plastic containers.The 17.64oz (500gram) container has a partial code: 01.14 and UPC Number 7541004076916. Salmon Fillet Slices packaged in 7.5oz plastic container and has a code.15.07.13(17JL), Herring Fillet “Forelka” in Oil 11.64oz (330gram) is packaged in plastic oval type containers. The 11.64oz (330gram) container has a code 07.01.14(09JR) .The products were sold in New York State.They are products of Latvia.

The recall initiated after routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis of the product by Food Laboratory personnel found the product to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. Consumers who have purchased Latis Brand Herring Fillet “Forelka” in Oil, Herring Fillet “Matiej”and Salmon Fillet Slices should not consume it, but should return it to the place of purchase.Consumers with questions may contact the company at 718-439-0376

Research – Antibiotic Resitant Bacteria in Meats in the USA – E.coli Use Flagella as Anchors

Food Poisoning Bulletin

An analysis by the Environmental Working Group has found that antibiotic-resistant bacteria are common on meat for sale in American supermarkets. A government study published on February 5, 2012 without fanfare found that 81% of ground turkey, 69% of pork chops, 55% of ground beef, and 39% of chicken carried antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The study, published by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), which is a joint project by the FDA, CDC and USDA, found that the meat samples collected in 2011 harbored “significant amounts” of superbug versions of Salmonella and Campylobacter. Those two bacteria cause 3.6 million cases of foodborne illness every year in the United States.

In addition, 53% of raw chicken samples carried an antibiotic-resistant strain of E. coli, the bacteria found in feces. And the antibiotic resistance is growing fast. Of all Salmonella bacteria found on raw chicken in 2011, 74% were antibiotic resistant, compared to less than 50% in 2002.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Flagella aren’t just for swimming. For E.coli, these long tails that propel them through liquid, also function as anchors, establishing a hold on surfaces that allow the bacteria to settle in and colonize, according to a new study from Harvard researchers.

“We demonstrate that flagella are able to reach into crevices, access additional surface area, and produce a dense, fibrous network,’” the researchers say in the abstract for the  study which was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on March 18. The findings could lead to improved design of surfaces used in health care and food manufacturing settings.