Category Archives: E.coli O157

USA – E.coli Outbreaks Updates

Food Poisoning BulletinEcoli Istock

Salads and sandwich wraps linked to a multistate E. coli outbreak were sold at Walgreens stores in Northern California and Trader Joe’s stores in California, Washington, Oregon and Arizona, according to a retail distribution list compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS).  At least 26 people who ate the salads or sandwich wraps containing the salads, have become ill. Six of them have been hospitalized

Food Poisoning Bulletin

More salads have been recalled in the wake of an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in western states. The FDA and Whole Foods Market are recalling ready-to-eat Artichoke Wheatberry Salad and Southwest SooFoo Salads as a preventive measure after the large Glass Onion Catering recall because they may be contaminated with the pathogenic bacteria.

The salads have expiration dates between November 9 and November 13, 2013. They were sold in California Whole Foods Stores. The PLU numbers for the Artichoke Wheatberry Salad are 28563300000 and 28563400000. The PLU numbers for the Southwest SooFoo Salad are 28563700000 and 28563800000. The salads were sold during an unspecified time period.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Two strains of E. coli that have never been seen before are the source of two separate, ongoing  food poisoning outbreaks in California, health officials told Food Poisoning Bulletin today. One of these new strains is the source of the multistate outbreak linked to ready-to-eat salads produced by Glass Onion Catering of Richmond, CA and sold at Trader Joe’s and other grocery stores in several states. The other new strain has sickened four people in Humboldt County, in Northern California

Research – Blackberry Juice Anitmicrobial

Science DirectBlack_Butte_blackberry

Berries such as blueberry, blackberry and raspberry possess several biological activities including antimicrobial and nutritional effects. In this study, the antimicrobial activities of blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) juice against foodborne pathogens including Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 were investigated. Inhibition of growth of these foodborne pathogens was measured in broth (Luria–Bertani broth for E. coli O157:H7 and S. Typhimurium, and brain heart infusion broth for L. monocytogenes), skim milk and whole milk supplemented with 10% blackberry juice at different time points (0, 24, 48 and 72 h). The effects of blackberry juice on the growth of Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus were also investigated in Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (MRS) broth and skim and whole milk supplemented with blackberry juice. The growth of L. monocytogenes, S. Typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 were significantly inhibited by blackberry juice by 1–3 logs in both milk and broth. We also observed that the growths of Lactobacillus strains were significantly stimulated (1–4 logs CFU/mL) by blackberry juice in both milk and MRS broth. These data clearly demonstrate that diluted blackberry juice can be used as a preservative in food processing and a preventive in foodborne infections as a natural antimicrobial.

USA – E.coli O157 Outbreak Ready to Eat Salads and Sandwich Wrap Products

E.coli Blog

CDC is collaborating with public health officials in California, Washington, and Arizona; the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS); and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) infections.  The STEC O157:H7 PFGE pattern in this outbreak is new to the PulseNet database. It has never been seen before.

FSIS

Glass Onion Catering, a Richmond, Calif. establishment, is recalling approximately 181,620 pounds of ready-to-eat salads and sandwich wrap products with fully-cooked chicken and ham that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The company announced that the products are being recalled in conjunction with other foods regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A full list of products being recalled will be available on FDA’s website

USA Updates – Shigella in Texas – E.coli O157 Raw Milk and Restuarant

Shigella Blog

A health warning was issued for Grayson county residents Friday after health officials and Sherman schools report an outbreak of a highly contagious disease.

Friday, Sherman ISD sent letters out to parents notifying them of a Shigella outbreak in three of their schools.

E.coli Blog

Tennessee health officials have given a raw-milk cow-share operation that has been linked to an E. coli O157:H7outbreak that has sickened 9 children — all of them under 7 years old — the green light to start offering its milk to its cow-share members again.

According to a Nov. 8 press release from the Knox County Health Department and the state’s eastern regional Health Department office, three of the infected children developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a complication of a potentially fatal strain of E. coli that can lead to kidney failure and other serious health problems. However, due to patient-confidentiality laws, no information about the condition of the children can be made available.

E.coli Blog

The Allegheny County Health Department today reported the results of its investigation of E. coli O157:H7 cases involving employees and customers of The Porch restaurant in Oakland.

“There were 12 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 and nine others with suggestive symptoms who could not be confirmed.  We have been unable to pinpoint the source of the E. coli – whether it came from a particular food product, food handling or a combination of both,” said Health Director Dr. Karen Hacker.

USA – E.coli O157:H7 Outbreak 3 with HUS

Food Poisoning Bulletin

At least 4 people have been sickened in an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Humboldt County, California, according to the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Of those, 3 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe complication of E. coli poisoning that causes kidney failure.

The first E. coli case was reported in July of this year, the second in the middle of August and the other two in October.

Canada . Ecoli O157 Outbreak Update

E.coli Blog

The Public Health Agency of Canada, along with its health and food safety partners, is investigating 27 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness; 12 in British Columbia, 10 in Alberta, 2 in Saskatchewan, 2 in Manitoba and 1 in Quebec.

These individuals became ill between mid-July and late-September.  There has been one death.

Certain contaminated cheese products manufactured by Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, have been identified as the source of the illnesses. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a Health Hazard Alert warning the public not to consume the affected product.

USA – Lean Ground Meat Recalls – E.coli O157

E.coli Blog

Costco, in Coon Rapids, Minn., is recalling an undetermined amount of lean fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The product subject to recall is 383 units of 88% lean fresh ground beef (88/12). It bears the Costco item number 33724 under the Costco label. This product was sold directly to 342 consumers in a Costco located at 12547 Riverdale Blvd., Coon Rapids, Minn., between Sept. 4 and Sept. 7.

RASFF Alerts – E.coli – Beef and Parsley

RASFF -high count of Enterobacteriaceae (17000 CFU/g) in dried parsley from Egypt in Italy

RASFF -shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (presence /25g) in fresh vacuum packed boneless beef (Bos taurus) from Argentina in Italy

RASFF -shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (presence /25g) in frozen boneless beef (Bos taurus) from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF -shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (presence /25g) in chilled beef (Bos taurus) from Brazil in the Netherlands

Canada – CFIA – Updated Meat Recall E.coli O157 – Updated Salad Recall Listeria monocytogenes

CFIAEurofins Food Testing UK

– The public warning issued on October 8, 2013 has been  updated to include an additional product.

The Canadian  Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Belmont Meats Ltd. (Est. 112) are warning the  public not to consume the uncooked lean ground beef in the link above because it may  be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

This recall is the result of an ongoing food  safety investigation initiated as a result of a recent outbreak investigation.  There may be recalls of additional products or best before dates as the food  safety investigation at this facility continues.

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

The manufacturer,  Belmont Meats Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling all affected  product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the  recall.

CFIA

The public warning issued on October 5, 2013 has been updated to include an additional product.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Reser’s Fine Foods Inc. are warning the public not to consume certain Reser’s Fine Foods brand Cheesy Macaroni salad, in the link above, because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

This product has been distributed in Walmart stores.

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

The manufacturer, Reser’s Fine Foods Inc., Beaverton, Oregon, USA, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Research -Raw Milk Concumption Benefits and Risks

Science DirectimagesCAZ9J1WP

In the context of the prevailing trend toward more natural products, there seems to be an increasing preference for raw milk consumption as raw milk is associated with several perceived health benefits that are believed to be destroyed upon heating. However, many human pathogens can be isolated from raw cow milk. The prevalence of foodborne pathogens in raw cow milk varies, but their presence has been demonstrated in many surveys and foodborne infections have been repeatedly reported for Campylobacter, Salmonella spp. and human pathogenic verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli. In industrialized countries, milk-borne and milk product-borne outbreaks represent 2–6% of the bacterial foodborne outbreaks.

The aim of this review is to present scientifically sound data regarding the risks and benefits related to the consumption of raw and heated cow milk. Both microbiological aspects (e.g., the prevalence of milk-borne pathogens, pathogen growth inhibition by antimicrobial systems and by lactic acid producing bacteria, probiotic bacteria, etc.) and nutritional or health aspects (nutritional value, immunity, allergies, lactose intolerance, diabetes, milk digestibility, etc.) are considered.

As such, it is demonstrated that consumption of raw milk poses a realistic health threat due to a possible contamination with human pathogens. It is therefore strongly recommended that milk should be heated before consumption. With the exception of an altered organoleptic profile, heating (in particularly ultra high temperature and similar treatments) will not substantially change the nutritional value of raw milk or other benefits associated with raw milk consumption.

 

Science Direct