Category Archives: E.coli O157

Canada – Expanded Recall Beef Burger Products E.coli O157

Posted on December 14, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

The public warning issued on December 12, 2013 has been updated to include additional products.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the Butcher’s Choice Hickory Barbecue Beef Burgers described below because these products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

The following products are affected by this recall:

Product Best Before Code UPC
Butchers Choice Hickory Barbecue Beef Burgers 2013 FE 10 EST 752 0 60383 89364 4
Butchers Choice Hickory Barbecue Beef Burgers 2013 FE 01 EST 752 0 60383 89364 4

These products have been distributed nationally.

This recall is the result of E. coliO157:H7 product testing by the CFIA related to an ongoing outbreak investigation. The CFIA is currently testing additional products collected from across the country. The recall may be further updated to include other codes or products as test results are received. In addition, the CFIAis conducting an investigation at the producing facility, which could lead to the recall of more products.

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Canada – Recall Beef Peppercron Steak – E.coli O157

Posted on December 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

he Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume certain Butcher’s Choice Garlic Peppercorn Beef Burgers because this product may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The affected product, Butcher’s Choice Garlic Peppercorn Beef Burgers, is sold frozen in 1.13 kg packages bearing UPC0 60383 89363 7. The affected product bears the code BEST BEFORE 2013 MR 03 EST 752.

This product has been distributed nationally.

This recall is the result of an ongoing investigation into a number of E. coli O157:H7 related illnesses in Canada. The CFIA is currently testing additional products collected from across the country. The recall may be expanded to include other codes or products as test results are received.

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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Research – E.coli O157 Testing in Water

Posted on December 10, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct

The performances of three chromogenic agars were evaluated for the recovery of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from spiked de-chlorinated tap, ground and surface water, and treated drinking water samples. The chromogenic agars: ChromAgar O157 (CHROM), Rainbow Agar O157 (RB) and HiCrome EC O157 (HC) were compared to cefixime-tellurite Sorbitol MacConkey (CT-SMAC), commonly used for the isolation of E. coli O157:H7. Confirmation of suspect E. coli O157:H7 colonies were performed by colony real-time PCR (C-RTi-PCR) based on the presence of Shiga-toxin genes (stx1 and stx2). Recovery of inoculated E. coli O157:H7 from de-chlorinated tap water indicated that RB and CHROM agars demonstrated improved recovery when compared to HC or CT-SMAC. There was a significant drop in recovery on all agars tested after 120 hours (day 5). Twenty de-chlorinated tap and/or treated drinking water samples were inoculated with a pure culture of E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 43894), and a mixed culture of E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 43894), E. coli strain K-12, and Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 063589). After a 48 hour holding time, the recovery using CHROM (99 %) and HC (12 %) from samples contaminated with the pure culture were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05). Recovery results using CHROM (39 %) and CT-SMAC (32 %) from samples contaminated with the mixed culture after 48 hour holding time were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Analysis by C-RTi-PCR of forty five environmental water samples (surface, sewage, and final effluents) which were negative for E. coli O157:H7 showed an incidence of false suspect positive colonies of 38 % (CHROM), 53 % (RB), 58 % (HC), and 91 % (CT-SMAC). Further analysis of eight of the environmental samples inoculated with E. coli (ATCC 43894) showed 100% recovery when utilizing CHROM, 50% when using RB and 40 % when using HC. In addition, the C-RTi-PCR positive confirmation rate was 100% for CHROM and HC and 65% for RB. CHROM demonstrated improved recovery of E. coli O157:H7 over RB, HC, and CT-SMAC in terms of sensitivity and specificity.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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Research – Safer Spinach Combined Microbiological Control

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct

University of Illinois scientists have found a way to boost current industry capabilities when it comes to reducing the number of E. coli 0157:H7 cells that may live undetected on spinach leaves.

“By combining continuous ultrasound treatment with chlorine washing, we can reduce the total number of foodborne pathogenic bacteria by over 99.99 percent,” said Hao Feng, a U of I professor of food science and human nutrition.

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Posted in E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Testing, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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Research – Factors Affecting Pathogens on Fruit and Vegetable Farms

Posted on November 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

ASMAEA

Produce related outbreaks have been traced back to the preharvest environment. A longitudinal study was conducted on five farms in New York State to characterize prevalence, persistence, and diversity of foodborne pathogens in fresh produce fields and to determine landscape and meteorological factors that predict their presence. Produce fields were sampled four times per year for two years. A total of 588 samples were analyzed for L. monocytogenes, Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The prevalence measures of L. monocytogenes, Salmonella and STEC were 15.0, 4.6, and 2.7%, respectively. L. monocytogenes and Salmonella were detected more frequently in water samples, while STEC was detected with equal frequency across all sample types (soil, water, feces and drag swabs). L. monocytogenes sigB gene allelic types 57, 58 and 61, and Salmonella Cerro, were repeatedly isolated from water samples. Soil available water storage (AWS), temperature, and proximity to three land cover classes: water, roads and urban development, and pasture/hay grass, influenced the likelihood of detecting L. monocytogenes. Drainage class, AWS, and precipitation were identified as important factors in Salmonella detection. This information was used in a geographic information systems framework to hypothesize locations of environmental reservoirs where the prevalence of foodborne pathogens may be elevated. The map indicated that not all croplands are equally likely to contain environmental reservoirs of L. monocytogenes. These findings advance recommendations to minimize the risk of preharvest contamination by enhancing models of the environmental constraints on the survival and persistence of foodborne pathogens in fields.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Hygiene, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, STEC, Toxin

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USA – CDC – Multistate Outbreak of E.coli O157:H7 – Spinach

Posted on November 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CDCE.coli O157

A total of 28 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coliO157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) have been reported from five states, with most cases in New York.

42% of ill persons have been hospitalized. Two ill persons have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, and no deaths have been reported.

The outbreak was initially in New York. More recently, more ill persons in other states have been reported, and the investigation has expanded.

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Posted in Bacteria, CDC, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Methods, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall

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USDA – Revised Microbiology Methods Links

Posted on November 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

USDA Methods Book

USDA Isolation of Non 0157 Shiga Toxin E.coli with Appendix

USDA Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes with Appendix

USDA Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes PCR

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O104, E.coli O145, E.coli O157, E.coli O26, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, STEC, USDA

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USA – Recall – E.coli O157:H7 – Salad Mix

Posted on November 2, 2012 by | 1 comment

Ecoli Blog

This is quite an interesting recall as I doubt that there many if any companies in the UK testing salads for E.coli O157:H7

Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Organic Spinach & Spring Mix, 11oz – UPC: 77890-16411 – ONLY product sold between 10/14/12 and 11/1/12.

Wegmans Food You Feel Good About Organic Spinach & Spring Mix, 5oz – UPC: 77890-16437 – ONLY product sold between 10/14/12 and 11/1/12.

Reason for Recall: State Garden is recalling two sizes of this product because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

Thus far no illnesses have been reported.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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USA – Petting Zoo – Another E.coli O157 Outbreak

Posted on October 29, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin 

An E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak linked to the Willow Grove Gardens Pumpkin Patch and petting zoo has been announced by the Cowlitz County Health & Human Services Department of Washington. Public health officials have confirmed one child is ill with the bacterial infection, and there is one probable case. One of the children was hospitalized for several days but is now recovering. Public health officials are asking that anyone who visited the facility and has symptoms of E. coli food poisoning such as diarrhea, which may be bloody, severe stomach cramps, vomiting, or a mild fever, contact them immediately at 360-414-5599.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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US – E.coli O157 Recalls

Posted on October 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

USDA–

Main Street Quality Meats, a Salt Lake City, Utah establishment, is recalling approximately 2,310 pounds of 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 following products are subject to recall:

  • 10-lb cases of “GROUND BEEF BULK.”
  • 12-lb cases of “GROUND BEEF PATTIES.”

USDA

Higa Meat & Pork Market, a Honolulu, HI establishment, is recalling approximately 4,100 pounds of 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 following products are subject to recall:

  • 10-lb. bags of “HIGA MARKET-GROUND BEEF BULK” – 1 to 6 bags per carton/case.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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