Category Archives: Clostridium

Denmark – Three suspected cases of botulism in Denmark

Posted on March 12, 2021 by | Leave a comment

SSI

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An outbreak of disease with suspected botulism has occurred among the participants in a private company in the region of Southern Denmark. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Fødevareinstituttet DTU and Statens Serum Institut are working to identify the source of the infection, which is presumed to be limited to a single company.

Following a private party held on Friday, March 5, 2021, three adults have been hospitalized on suspicion of having botulism.

They are being treated with botulism antitoxin and are improving. The Statens Serum Institut (SSI) is now examining samples from the patients to find out if there was actually botulism.

SSI is also in the process of analyzing the ingredients and leftovers of the food that has been eaten by that company. No other patients with botulism are known outside the company that has been affected.

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Posted in Bacterial Toxin, botulism, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Toxin

Uzbekistan: Botulism outbreak reported in Samarkand region, Linked to canned tomatoes

Posted on February 15, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

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On February 7, five people with signs of food poisoning were admitted to the infectious diseases department of the Bulungur District Medical Association in Samarkand region in southeastern Uzbekistan.

They were later diagnosed with botulism at the hospital. Despite the efforts of the doctors, one of the admitted, a 20-year-old man, died. Four more are in intensive care.

According to preliminary data, all five the day before, during lunch at the house of one of the victims, they ate canned tomatoes prepared at home.

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Posted in botulism, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, food death, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin

RASFF Alerts – Clostridium – Chilled Sheep Casings

Posted on January 29, 2021 by | Leave a comment

RASFF

Clostridium (between 1500 and 8100 CFU/g) in chilled sheep casings from Iran in Greece

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Posted in Clostridium, food contamination, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, RASFF

Canada – Food Recall Warning – Clover Leaf brand Sardines Boneless Fillets – Garlic & Chive in Oil and Sardines Boneless Fillets – Smoked Jalapeño in Oil recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria – Clostridium botulinum

Posted on January 25, 2021 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, January 22, 2021 – Clover Leaf Seafoods Corp. is recalling Clover Leaf brand Sardines Boneless Fillets – Garlic & Chive in Oil and Sardines Boneless Fillets – Smoked Jalapeño in Oil from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Clover Leaf Sardines Boneless Fillets – Garlic & Chive in Oil 106 g 0 61362 46008 6

0170CBXP 2025 JN 18

0204CBXP 2025 JL 22
Clover Leaf Sardines Boneless Fillets – Smoked Jalapeño in Oil 106 g 0 61362 46009 3

0171CBXP 2025 JN 19

0218CBXP 2025 AU 05

0307CBXS 2025 NO 02

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.

Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking, including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness.

Symptoms of foodborne botulism in children can include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis. In all cases, botulism does not cause a fever. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This recall was triggered by the company. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

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

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Clover Leaf – Sardines Boneless Fillets – Garlic & Chive in Oil – 106 grams (front)
  • Clover Leaf – Sardines Boneless Fillets – Garlic & Chive in Oil – 106 grams (back)
  • Clover Leaf – Sardines Boneless Fillets – Garlic & Chive in Oil – 106 grams (lot code - JN)
  • Clover Leaf – Sardines Boneless Fillets – Garlic & Chive in Oil – 106 grams (lot code - JL)
  • Clover Leaf – Sardines Boneless Fillets – Smoked Jalapeño in Oil – 106 grams(front)
  • Clover Leaf – Sardines Boneless Fillets – Smoked Jalapeño in Oil – 106 grams(back)

Public enquiries and media

Company information
Clover Leaf Seafoods Corp.: Consumer Affairs Recall Line, 1-888-686-1535
Public enquiries
Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and U.S.)
Telephone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: cfia.enquiries-demandederenseignements.acia@canada.ca
Media relations
Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@canada.ca

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Posted in CFIA, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Temperature Abuse, Food Testing, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology

Research – Botulism breakthrough? Taming botulinum toxin to deliver therapeutics

Posted on January 17, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Science Daily

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While rare, botulism can cause paralysis and is potentially fatal. It is caused by nerve-damaging toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum — the most potent toxins known. These toxins are often found in contaminated food (home canning being a major culprit). Infants can also develop botulism from ingesting C. botulinum spores in honey, soil, or dust; the bacterium then colonizes their intestines and produces the toxin.

Once paralysis develops, there is no way to reverse it, other than waiting for the toxins to wear off. People with serious cases of botulism may need to be maintained on ventilators for weeks or months. But a new treatment approach and delivery vehicle, described today in Science Translational Medicine, could change that.

“There are anti-toxins, but these only work before the toxins enter the motor neurons,” says Min Dong, PhD, a researcher in Boston Children’s Hospital’s Department of Urology and corresponding author on the paper. “What we have developed is the first therapy that can eliminate toxins after they get inside neurons.”

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Posted in Bacterial Toxin, Biotoxin, botulism, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Research, Toxin

Canada – Food Recall Warning – Belle Grove brand Whole White Mushrooms recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria – Clostridia botulinum

Posted on January 11, 2021 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, January 9, 2021 – Monaghan Mushrooms Ltd. is recalling Belle Grove brand Whole White Mushrooms from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Belle Grove Whole White Mushrooms 227 g 8 87462 00000 3 Best Before 15 Jan

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled product in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.

Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking, including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness.

Symptoms of foodborne botulism in children can include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis. In all cases, botulism does not cause a fever. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This recall was triggered by the company. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled product from the marketplace.

Illnesses

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

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Belle Grove - Whole White Mushrooms

Public enquiries and media

Public enquiries
Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and U.S.)
Telephone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: cfia.enquiries-demandederenseignements.acia@canada.ca
Media relations
Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@canada.ca
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Posted in Bacterial Toxin, CFIA, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology

RASFF Alert – Sulphite Reducing Clostridia – Sheep Casings

Posted on December 31, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

Clostridium sulphite reducer (up to 72000 CFU/g) in sheep casings from Iran it Italy

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Posted in Clostridium, Clostridium Sulphite Reducer, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, RASFF, Sulphite Reducing Clostridia

Research – Botulism outbreak after the consumption of vegetarian pâté in the south of Viet Nam

Posted on December 20, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Welcome Open Research

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Botulism is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. Here we reported a case series of six patients who presented with botulism following ingestion of commercially made pâté. The key features of presentation were acute onset of bilateral cranial nerve palsies and symmetrical descending weakness in the absence of fever resulting in the need for mechanical ventilation in all six patients. The clinical diagnosis of botulism was confirmed through the identification of C. botulinum from the suspected food source.  Given that botulinum antitoxin was not available in Vietnam at the time, and their severe status, all patients received a trial of plasma exchange therapy, but no clear benefit was seen.
Due to its rarity, diagnosing botulism is a challenge, demanding high clinical suspicion. Successful outcomes depend upon early recognition and rapid initiation of specific treatment with botulinum antitoxin. There is a need to improve global access to antitoxin.  These cases, the first in Viet Nam, serve as a reminder of the need to maintain the highest possible food hygiene and preservation practices.

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Posted in botulism, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Research

USA – Colorado: Botulism cases prompt health warning on food safety

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

Several foodborne botulism cases reported in Colorado since September 2020 has prompted a health warning from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Testing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed four of the cases, one is still under investigation and test results are pending. All five cases occurred along the Front Range. The individuals are either hospitalized or recovering.

Three of the cases appear to be unrelated as no common food item was identified. The last two confirmed cases were likely the result of an improperly canned shared food made in the same household.

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin

Canada – Food Safety Warning – Bottled beef and Bottled chicken made by Robert Waite, sold with no labels, may be unsafe due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria – Clostridium botulinum

Posted on November 27, 2020 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Advisory details

Ottawa, November 26, 2020 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the Bottled Beef and Bottled Chicken made by Robert Waite (Tignish, PEI), sold with no labels, described below because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum.

Products

Brand Common Name Size UPC Codes on Product Additional Info
None – made by Robert Waite,
Tignish, PEI		 Bottled Beef
(no label)		 500 mL
(sold in Mason Jars)		 None All units sold up to and including November 26, 2020 Sold through classified ads in Prince Edward Island newspapers
None – made by Robert Waite,
Tignish, PEI		 Bottled Chicken
(no label)		 500 mL
(sold in Mason Jars)		 None All units sold up to and including November 26, 2020 Sold through classified ads in Prince Edward Island newspapers

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a food product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the affected products in your home. If the products are in your home, do not consume them.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.

Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking or including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness.

Symptoms of foodborne botulism in children can include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis. In all cases, botulism does not cause a fever. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This warning was triggered by CFIA test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of these or other products. If products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through a Food Recall Warning.

Illnesses

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

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Bottled Beef (no label) - 500 mL (sold in Mason Jars)

    •  

  • Bottled Chicken (no label) - 500 mL (sold in Mason Jars)

Public enquiries and media

Public enquiries
Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and U.S.)
Telephone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: cfia.enquiries-demandederenseignements.acia@canada.ca
Media relations
Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@canada.ca

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin