Category Archives: E.coli O103

USA – Elkhorn Valley Packing Recalls Boneless Beef Chuck Product Due to Possible E. coli O103 Contamination

FSIS USDA

WASHINGTON, March 24, 2023 – Elkhorn Valley Packing, a Harper, Kan. establishment, is recalling approximately 3,436 pounds of boneless beef chuck product that may be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O103, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The boneless beef chuck items were packed on Feb. 16, 2023. The following product is subject to recall [view label]:

  • Various weights corrugated boxes containing “Elkhorn Valley Pride Angus Beef 61226 BEEF CHUCK 2PC BNLS; Packed on 2/16/23.” The complete list of serial numbers and box count numbers for the boneless beef chuck product that are subject to recall can be found here.

The product subject to recall bears establishment number “EST. M-19549” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors, federal establishments, retail locations, and wholesale locations, which includes hotels, restaurants, and institutions, in Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

The problem was discovered when FSIS was conducting routine FSIS testing of ground beef derived from this product and the sample confirmed positive for STEC O103. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 STEC, such as O103, because it is harder to identify than STEC O157:H7. People can become ill from STECs 2–8 days (average of 3–4 days) after consuming the organism.

Most people infected with STEC O103 develop diarrhea (often bloody) and vomiting. Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended. Most people recover within a week, but, rarely, some develop a more severe infection. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, is uncommon with STEC O103 infection. HUS can occur in people of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old, older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Distributors and other customers who have purchased these products for further processing should not use them or further distribute them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef product that has been cooked to a temperature of 160°F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/safetempchart.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Dallas Kenney, Director of Operations, Elkhorn Valley Packing, at 620-243-3308 or email at dallas@elkhornvalleypacking.com.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or live chat via Ask USDA from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Consumers can also browse food safety messages at Ask USDA or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/.

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USA – USDA Starts Testing Ground Beef For Big Six E. coli Strains, O157

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has started testing ground beef, bench trim, and other raw ground beef components for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains (STEC) that are adulterants. They include the “Big Six” O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145 as well as O157. The testing started on February 1, 2023. This new program was announced in the Federal Register on June 4, 2020.

UK – APHA part of 5 UK E. coli outbreaks in 2022

Food Safety News

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) was involved in another two E. coli outbreaks in the United Kingdom in the final quarter of 2022.

In the first, APHA helped Public Health Wales investigate two human cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O145 linked to a private collection of animals on a smallholding. Multiple species were onsite including cattle, goats, deer, and pigs. Some food consumed by people was grown in the garden where cattle manure was used. Thirty environmental fecal samples were collected but a match to the outbreak strain was not found.

In the second, APHA visited an open farm at the request of an incident management team following an outbreak of E. coli O157 in people. The outbreak strain was detected in one environmental sample from a pig enclosure. The incident is ongoing so it is unclear how many people are sick. The advice was provided to reduce the risk to the public by making improvements to the supervision of animal contact, enhancing handwashing facilities, and improving some animal exhibits.

In all of 2022, APHA was part of five E. coli investigations. The agency helped the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) investigate E. coli O103, O145, and O26 outbreaks between July and September.

The E. coli O26 outbreak also involved cryptosporidium. There were 11 cases of cryptosporidium and two people had confirmed E. coli O26. Cryptosporidium patients had visited an open farm attraction during the incubation period of illness. The E. coli patients had links to the same premises.

The E. coli O103 outbreak with 11 cases was associated with soft, raw milk cheese from a dairy farm in the East of England. Pasteurization was put in place for the production of the soft cheese, HACCP processes were reviewed, and enhanced control measures were taken.

The E. coli O145 outbreak with 10 patients was traced to the consumption of milk products from a dairy farm in North West England, with illness onset from mid-July. Investigations identified an issue with pasteurization and problems with the cleaning and storage of milk crates.

USDA Methods Update – Detection, Isolation, and Identification of Top Seven Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from Meat Products, Carcass, and Environmental Sponges

FSIS USDA

This method describes the laboratory procedure for analysis of raw and ready-to-eat meat products, and laboratory environmental sponge samples for the seven targeted STEC serogroups (O157, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121 and O145).

France – Cantal Entre-Deux with raw milk 1/8 wheel x1 (variable weight) – E.coli STEC 0103:H2

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Food
  • Product subcategory Milk and dairy products
  • Product brand name REFINERY COUNTER
  • Model names or references1/8 wheel format sold in the cutting department
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3492840043960 batch: 35621472 Use-by date 31/01/2023
  • Packaging old at the cutting department
  • Marketing start/end date From 29/12/2022 to 03/01/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark EN 15.196.001 CE
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors INTERMARCHE E. LECLERC (SOCAMAINE; SCANORMANDE; SCALANDES; SCACHAP)
  • List of points of sale point_of_sale_list.pdf

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Presence of E.coli STEC 0103:H2
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Toxigenic Shiga Escherichia coli (STEC)

Major E. coli, and Salmonella outbreaks highlighted at a conference; investigations ongoing

Food Safety News

Two major foodborne outbreaks have recently been highlighted at a European conference on infectious diseases.

Presentations at the European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE) covered an E. coli outbreak from Nestlé pizzas in France and a multi-country monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak due to Ferrero chocolate.

In February 2022, Santé Publique France identified more cases of the pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) than usual with eight infections. Cases were positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O26:H11 or O103:H2 identified by whole genome sequencing (WGS). Only two people were sick from E. coli O103.

UK – Milk and cheese linked to English E. coli outbreaks

Food Safety News

Three E. coli outbreaks were reported in England earlier this year with two linked to dairy farms.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) helped the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) investigate Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O103, O145, and O26 outbreaks between July and September.

The E. coli O26 outbreak also involved cryptosporidium and began in the previous quarter. There were 11 cases of cryptosporidium and two people also had confirmed E. coli O26.

Cryptosporidium cases visited an open farm attraction during the incubation period of their illness. STEC cases had links to the same premises.

Health officials visited and advised on actions that would improve hygiene for visitors and reduce potential exposure to the pathogens.

APHA collected fresh faeces samples in the O103 and O145 incidents, from the yard where the cows had been prior to milking. In both cases, the outbreak strain was not detected.

The STEC O103 outbreak with 11 cases was associated with soft, raw cheese from a dairy farm in the East of England. An investigation pointed to brie-like unpasteurized soft cheese being contaminated sometime during spring.

The STEC O145 outbreak with 10 patients was linked to the consumption of milk products from a dairy farm in North West England, with illness onset from mid-July. Investigations identified an issue with pasteurization and problems with the cleaning and storage of milk crates which made external contamination of packaging plausible.

France – CABRIFRAIS Cheese – STEC E.coli O103

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Milk and dairy products
  • Product brand name Crays goatherd
  • Model names or references CABRIFRAIS with raw milk
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3503961317004 255 Date of minimum durability 11/10/2022
    3503961315062 255 – 258 Date of minimum durability 11/10/2022
    3503965317024 256 Date of minimum durability 11/10/2022
    3503961317028 255 Date of minimum durability 11/10/2022
    3503961314126 255 – 259 Date of minimum durability between 10/11/2022 and 10/18/2022
    3503961321124 255 – 256 Date of minimum durability 11/10/2022
  • Marketing start/end date From 09/12/2022 to 09/20/2022
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health markEN.71235001.CE
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Regions: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, , Burgundy-Franche-Comté, , Grand-Est
  • Distributors Auchan, Carrefour, Intermarché, System U, Leclerc, Colruyt

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Presence of Escherichia coli O103:H2
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Toxigenic Shiga Escherichia coli (STEC)

Austria sees a rise in reports of E. coli in 2021

Food Safety News

Austria recorded an increase in the number of reported E. coli infections in 2021, based on the latest data.

In 2021, 1,437 specimens were processed at the National Reference Centre for E. coli. Overall, 1,286 human samples, 79 food, and 35 pet food samples were analyzed.

A total of 476 human stool samples tested positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Of these, 310 isolates were confirmed as Shiga toxin-producing compared to 242 in 2020.

In 2021, only 34 were E. coli O157 with the rest non-O157. Among the latter, there were 25 O26, 26 O103, three O111, and 12 O145 isolates. In the Austrian Epidemiological Notification System (EMS), 384 cases were reported, up from 304 in 2020.

In Upper Austria, 53 cases were reported to the EMS in 2020 compared to 104 in 2021. This same state sent 123 human samples to the National Reference Centre in 2020 versus 566 in 2021.

France – CABRIFRAIS Cheese- STEC E.coli O103

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Milk and dairy products
  • Product brand name Crays goatherd
  • Model names or references CABRIFRAIS with raw milk
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3503961317004 255 Date of minimum durability 11/10/2022
    3503961315062 255 – 258 Date of minimum durability 11/10/2022
    3503961314126 255 Date of minimum durability 11/10/2022
    3503961321124 255 Date of minimum durability 11/10/2022
    3503965317024 256 Date of minimum durability 11/10/2022
  • Marketing start/end dateFrom 09/12/2022 to 09/20/2022
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark EN.71235001.CE
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Regions: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Burgundy-Franche-Comté, Grand-Est
  • Distributors Fromager des Halles, Auchan, Carrefour, Intermarché, System U

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Presence of Escherichia coli O103:H2
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Toxigenic Shiga Escherichia coli (STEC)