Category Archives: Decontamination Microbial

Research – Cyclospora cayetanensis: A Perspective (2020–2023) with Emphasis on Epidemiology and Detection Methods

MDPI

Abstract

Cyclospora cayetanensis infections are prevalent worldwide, and the parasite has become a major public health and food safety concern. Although important efforts have been dedicated to advance toward preventing and reducing incidences of cyclosporiasis, there are still several knowledge gaps that hamper the implementation of effective measures to prevent the contamination of produce and water with Cyclospora oocysts. Some of these data gaps can be attributed to the fact that access to oocysts is a limiting factor in C. cayetanensis research. There are no animal models or in vivo or in vitro culture systems to propagate the oocysts needed to facilitate C. cayetanensis research. Thus, researchers must rely upon limited supplies of oocysts obtained from naturally infected human patients considerably restricting what can be learnt about this parasite. Despite the limited supply of C. cayetanensis oocysts, several important advances have happened in the past 3 years. Great progress has been made in the Cyclospora field in the areas of molecular characterization of strains and species, generation of genomes, and development of novel detection methods. This comprehensive perspective summarizes research published from 2020 to 2023 and evaluates what we have learnt and identifies those aspects in which further research is needed.

Research – Vital Surveillances: Epidemiological Evaluation of Bacillus cereus-Induced Foodborne Outbreaks — China, 2010–2020

China CDC

Abstract

IntroductionBacillus cereus (B. cereus) is a common gram-positive bacterium that contaminates starch-rich food and can cause outbreaks of foodborne diseases. This study describes the characteristics of outbreaks caused by B. cereus in China during 2010–2020 and explore the possible reasons for changes in the number of outbreaks over time. Results of this analysis can efficiently help guide and allocate public resources to prevent B. cereus-caused foodborne diseases

USA – ShopRite link in 4 State Salmonella Outbreak linked to Ground Beef

Food Poison Journal

State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 16 people interviewed, 10 (63%) reported eating ground beef. Nine sick people reported purchasing the ground beef from ShopRite locations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. Seven of these people specifically reported purchasing 80% lean ground beef products. Two people reported purchasing ground beef products from ShopRite but could not remember the type of ground beef. Epidemiologic showed that ground beef was the likely source of the outbreak.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples were closely related genetically. This suggested that people in this outbreak may have gotten sick from the same food.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Listeria: Ice Cream (August 2023)

FDA

Product 

  • The Ice Cream House has voluntarily recalled all dairy and non-dairy products with the Ice Cream House logo. Recalled products include dairy and non-dairy (parve):
    • ice creams
    • cakes
    • pies
    • ice cream logs
    • novelty items with the “Ice Cream House” logo
    • A full list of all recalled Ice Cream House Products is available on the firm’s recall notice.
  • Real Kosher Ice Cream has voluntarily recalled all flavors of Soft Serve On The Go 8-oz ice cream cups 
    • Soft Serve On The Go Vanilla Chocolate
    • Soft Serve On The Go Razzle
    • Soft Serve On The Go Caramel
    • Soft Serve On The Go Parve Vanilla Chocolate
    • Soft Serve On The Go Sorbet Strawberry Mango
    • Soft Serve On The Go Lite Peanut Butter

FDA’s investigation is ongoing. Products may be added to this advisory. Additional recall information is available below.

Stores Affected

  • Ice Cream House products: Recalled products with the Ice Cream House brand were sold at the Ice Cream House storefront in Brooklyn, NY and at retail supermarkets in NJ, NY, OH.
  • Real Kosher Ice Cream Soft Serve On The Go cups: Multiple retailers in CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, IL, MA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, WV.

Symptoms of Listeriosis (Listeria Infection)

Illness can occur within a few hours or as long as two to three days after eating contaminated food. More severe forms of listeriosis may take anywhere from three days to three months to develop. Mild symptoms may include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If the more severe form of listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

Status

Ongoing

Recommendation

  • Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled ice cream and non-dairy [parve] frozen dessert products and should throw the recalled product away. Options to return recalled product can be found in the recall notice from Real Kosher Ice Cream and Ice Cream House.
  • Ice cream has a long shelf life and may still be in freezers. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should check their freezers and throw away recalled ice cream products or follow the firms’ instructions for returning the recalled products.
  • Consumers, restaurants, and retailers who purchased or received any recalled ice cream products should follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice  and use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria can survive temperatures at or below freezing and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.

Recommendation for At-Risk Groups:

  • Listeria is most likely to sicken pregnant people and newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.
  • Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
  • Call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of a Listeria infection.

Research – Newly discovered fungus helps destroy a harmful food toxin – Patulin

Science Daily

Patulin is a harmful mycotoxin produced by fungi typically found in damaged fruits, including apples, pears, and grapes. In a recent breakthrough, researchers identified a new filamentous fungal strain that can degrade patulin by transforming it into less toxic substances. Their findings provide important insights into the degradation mechanisms for patulin found in nature, and can lead to new ways of controlling patulin toxicity in our food supplies.

Research – Listeria Occurrence in Conventional and Alternative Egg Production Systems

MDPI

Abstract

Listeria continues to be a persistent foodborne pathogen that is responsible for human cases of listeriosis when contaminated food products are consumed. Human subjects considered to be most susceptible include the elderly, immunocompromised, and pregnant women. Listeria is characterized as a saprophytic organism with the capability of responding and adapting to constantly changing environments because it possesses multiple stress response mechanisms to overcome varying temperatures, salt concentrations, and pH, among others. Primary foods and food products associated with listeriosis include dairy products and ready-to-eat meats such as turkey products. Historically, chicken eggs have not been identified as a primary source of Listeria, but the potential for contamination during egg production and processing does exist. Listeria species have been isolated from egg-processing plant equipment and are presumed to occur in egg-processing plant environments. Whether Listeria is consistently disseminated onto eggs beyond the egg-processing plant is a risk factor that remains to be determined. However, research has been conducted over the years to develop egg wash solutions that generate combinations of pH and other properties that would be considered inhibitory to Listeria. Even less is known regarding the association of Listeria with alternative egg production systems, but Listeria has been isolated from pasture flock broilers, so it is conceivable, given the nature of the outdoor environments, that layer birds under these conditions would also be exposed to Listeria and their eggs become contaminated. This review focuses on the possibility of Listeria occurring in conventional and alternative egg-laying production and processing systems.

Research – Antibacterial Effect of Pomegranate Juice on Listeria innocua and E. coli in Different Media

MDPI

Abstract

The antibacterial effect of pomegranate juice (PJ) at six concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%) against Listeria innocua and Escherichia coli was investigated in distilled water (DW) and bacterial culture broth. L. innocua and E. coli at approximately 105 cfu mL−1 were inoculated in PJ samples and incubated at 4, 25, and 37 °C for 0, 6, 24, and 48 h. The bacterial population and pH of culture media were measured at each removal. Results indicated that the antibacterial effect of PJ was dependent upon bacteria species, juice concentration, incubation temperature, and growth medium. Higher juice concentration and incubation temperature resulted in increased antibacterial effects. Bacterial populations were decreased more significantly in DW systems than in the culture broth, while L. innocua was more sensitive to PJ than E. coli in the DW systems. Regardless of PJ concentrations in DW systems, L. innocua, initially inoculated at approximately 105 cfu mL−1, was reduced to undetectable levels at 25 and 37 °C within 24 h. The growth of L. innocua and E. coli was significantly inhibited in bacterial culture broth containing ≥ 20% PJ (p < 0.001). This study provides insight into the potential application of PJ in food and beverage products for food protection.

Research – A Comprehensive Review for the Surveillance of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Shellfish

MDPI

Abstract

Bivalve molluscan shellfish have been consumed for centuries. Being filter feeders, they may bioaccumulate some microorganisms present in coastal water, either naturally or through the discharge of human or animal sewage. Despite regulations set up to avoid microbiological contamination in shellfish, human outbreaks still occur. After providing an overview showing their implication in disease, this review aims to highlight the diversity of the bacteria or enteric viruses detected in shellfish species, including emerging pathogens. After a critical discussion of the available methods and their limitations, we address the interest of technological developments using genomics to anticipate the emergence of pathogens. In the coming years, further research needs to be performed and methods need to be developed in order to design the future of surveillance and to help risk assessment studies, with the ultimate objective of protecting consumers and enhancing the microbial safety of bivalve molluscan shellfish as a healthy food.

Research – The Isolation, Genetic Analysis and Biofilm Characteristics of Listeria spp. from the Marine Environment in China

MDPI

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is an important pathogen that can cause listeriosis. Despite the growing recognition of Listeria spp. as a foodborne and environmental pathogen, the understanding of its prevalence and characteristics of Listeria spp. in the marine environment remains unknown. In this study, we first investigated the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of Listeria species isolated in a coastal city in China. The findings revealed that the sequence type 87 (ST87) L. monocytogenes, a prevalent clinical and seafood strain in China, dominates in recreational beach sands and possesses a notable biofilm-forming capacity in seawater. The presence of ST87 L. monocytogenes in coastal environments indicates the potential health risks for both recreational activities and seafood consumption. Moreover, the ST121 isolates from sand had a versatile plasmid encoding multifunctional genes, including uvrX for UV resistance, gbuC for salt resistance, and npx for oxidative resistance and multiple transposases, which potentially aid in survival under natural environments. Black-headed gulls potentially facilitate the spread of L. monocytogenes, with similar ST35 strains found in gulls and beach sand. As a reservoir of microbes from marine environments and human/animal excrement, coastal sand would play an important role in the spread of L. monocytogenes and is an environmental risk for human listeriosis.

Wales – Wrexham pub linked to Salmonella outbreak that affected 33 people

ITV

A pub in Wrexham has been linked to a huge salmonella outbreak that affected 33 people.Public Health Wales said 33 confirmed cases and one of the probable cases were associated with The Nags Head pub on Mount Street.

Controls were put in place at the Marston’s owned pub following the outbreak at the end of July, to stop any further infections. This included a deep clean of the premises and testing of staff.