Category Archives: E.coli O157

Free webcast with 3M and Professor Stephen Forsythe on the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens

Posted on June 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

3M’s Food Safety business has launched a fast, accurate and easy-to-use pathogen detection system.

The new 3M™ Molecular Detection System, based on an innovative combination of two technologies – isothermal DNA amplification and ATP bioluminescence detection – delivers highly sensitive results in real-time with positive results in as early as 15 minutes and negative results in 75 minutes.

With ready-made reagents and only one test protocol for all target pathogens, the system is easy to use, allows for multiple pathogen detection during each run and reduces the chance for human error or contamination. Individual assays for Salmonella, E. coli O157 (including H7) and Listeria spp are currently available.

For more details join a free webcast on Wednesday 27 June 2012 (3pm) presented by 3M and Professor Stephen Forsythe of Nottingham Trent University, follow this link to register.

2nd Link
http://view6.workcast.net/register?pak=4909146311582106&referrer=KW

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Posted in ATP, Bacteria, DNA, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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Japan Raw Beef Liver Restaurant Ban – E.coli O157

Posted on June 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Global Meat News

Japan has announced that it will ban the sale of raw beef liver in restaurants, following a spate of food poisoning cases last year.

The Daily Yomiyuri

The health ministry has decided to ban restaurants from serving raw beef liver from July 1 due to food poisoning concerns, and violators of the new rule could be fined or even imprisoned.

The ministry made the decision after its food sanitation council approved the policy at a meeting Tuesday.

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli O-157 and Campylobacter bacteria, both of which can cause severe stomachache, have been detected in raw beef liver. A research report said it is difficult to remove or kill the bacteria through screening tests or disinfection, and that liver can only be guaranteed safe to consume if it has been cooked.

Operators of barbecue restaurants and other establishments that ignore the ban on raw beef liver could be sentenced to up to two years in prison or fined up to 2 million yen.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry presented comments submitted by the public over the month through May 18. Although most of the 1,532 opinions were against outlawing raw liver, ministry officials insisted a ban–backed up by penalties–was necessary because there is no 100 percent safe way of eating raw beef liver.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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Belgium – 19 Cases E.coli O157

Posted on June 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BarfBlog

Nineteen cases of infection with E. coli O157 have been detected in Limburg, Belgium, of which three have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

The Federal Agency for Security of the Food Chain (AFSCA) said Thursday that all cases are related to the ingestion of filet américain (lit. American fillet) with onions and more seasoning than a normal steak tartare.

AFSCA launched an investigation and based on date of purchase, consumption and onset of disease, the suspect beef has been traced and initial sampling results were positive for E. coli O157

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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US – Raw Milk E.coli O157

Posted on June 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Ecoli Blog

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine today warned consumers in and around Chautauqua County to not consume “unpasteurised” raw farm milk from Castle Farms due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.

Castle Farms, located at 1051 Route 249 in Irving, New York, holds a Department permit to legally sell raw milk at the farm. Samples of the milk are routinely tested by the New York State Food Laboratory to determine if the raw milk is free of pathogenic bacteria.

It is important to note that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization, which eliminates all pathogenic bacteria, including E. coli O157:H7. Producers who sell raw milk to consumers must have a permit to do so from the Department, must sell directly to consumers on the farm where the milk is produced and must post a notice at the point of sale indicating that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization. Farms with permits to sell raw milk are inspected by the Department monthly.

To date, no illnesses are known by the Department to be associated with product from Castle Farms.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen

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CIFA – Ground Beef Recall – E.coli O157

Posted on June 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the ground beef described below because the products may be contaminated with E. coliO157:H7.

The affected products, Ground Beef Reg. and Ground Beef Lean, were sold in plastic bags of varying weight on May 31, 2012 from the Kabul Farms store located at 255 Dundas Street West, Mississauga, ON. The packages bear a sticker with the product name, the store’s name and the price.

Consumers are advised to contact the retailer if you are unsure as to whether you have the affected beef products stored in your home freezer.

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

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

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US – E.coli STEC Strains Testing to Start Monday?

Posted on May 31, 2012 by | 1 comment

Vitals MSNBC

Barring any last-minute delays, U.S. food safety inspectors will begin testing Monday for six new strains of potentially deadly E. coli bacteria to be banned from certain cuts of raw beef.

The move implements long-delayed federal regulations aimed at a group of E. coli bacteria collectively known as “the Big Six,” bugs capable of causing severe infection and death.

Under the new rules, the six additional strains of E. coli will be classified as adulterants on par with the better-known E. coli O157:H7, which is often linked to serious illnesses tied to hamburger. The new strains include E. coli O26, O111, O103, O121, O45 and O145.

Meat producers such as Cargill Inc., who have long opposed expanded testing, said they are ready to begin.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, E.coli O26, EHEC, FDA, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen

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Scotland E.coli O157 Extends to 9 Cases

Posted on May 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Scottish Sun

Three tots confirmed to have the bug were yesterday treated in hospital, with one released.

Infection experts are trying to track down the source of the sickness and diarrhoea viral outbreak which hit the under-twos section at Rose Lodge Nursery in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire.

NHS Grampian said health protection teams found “reasonable” food hygiene and infection control at the unit.

A spokeswoman added: “Control measures are in place. An inspection has been carried out and an incident team convened.” The nursery, which has 40 pupils, first reported the virus on Sunday.

Experts say E.coli poses the biggest risk to under-fives.

Owner Julie Grant said: “We have taken the advice to close our Baby Room until further notice.

“The nursery remains open to unaffected families of children over two years old.

“We have a high standard of hygiene and rigorous infection control procedures. Our thoughts are with the children and families affected.”

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/4339264/Nine-tots-hit-by-ecoli-outbreak-at-nursery.html#ixzz1w9Eekiw4

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

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Scotland – Three Children Hospitalised E.coli O157

Posted on May 25, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Scotsman

THREE infants were being treated in hospital last night following a suspected E coli 0157 outbreak linked to the baby unit at a nursery school.

NHS Grampian confirmed that infection control specialists at the health authority are investigating two confirmed cases and four suspected cases of potentially deadly E coli O157 infection in children who attend Rose Lodge Nursery School in Aboyne, Royal Deeside.

The baby unit at the nursery school has been closed while investigations continue to identify the source of the bug. The garden in the grounds of the nursery in the heart of the village has also been declared out of bounds to the children but the nursery remains open.

The three children who have been admitted to hospital were all being cared for in the baby unit. There are a total of 40 children at the nursery, which takes children from six weeks up to the age of five.

NHS Grampian stressed yesterday the investigation to pinpoint a possible source for the bug was not focused solely on the nursery and that other potential sources of infection in the predominantly rural area were also being looked at.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

US Ground Beef Recall – E.coli Risk

Posted on May 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News 

Lancaster Frozen Foods and G&W Incorporated are recalling about 6,908 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli, according to the South Carolina meat and poultry inspection department.
 
Lab testing by the meat and poultry inspection department confirmed a positive result for E.coli in a ground product at Lancaster Frozen Foods. That lot was held by the company, but additional ungroud product from the same lot had been used in other production lots resulting in the recall.
 
No illnesses have been reported.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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E.coli HUS Syndrome

Posted on May 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

These are 10 things you should know if your child has an E. coli infection or has been diagnosed with HUS:

  • When your child is diagnosed with E. coli and/or HUS, you should contact your local health department immediately because additional testing needs to be done to determine if your child’s case of E. coli-HUS is part of an outbreak of illnesses. This is important because you may be able to provide information to health officials that helps them find the source of the outbreak.
  • You should not throw away food you have that you suspect is the source of your child’s E. coli infection.  The food may need to be tested for the presence of E. colibacteria and may be the “smoking gun” that determines the source of the outbreak.
  • The food eaten immediately before onset of illness is generally not the cause of the illnessbecause the incubation period for E. coli is from 3 to 10 days.
  • Because of the long incubation period, finding the source of an outbreak of E. coli-HUS can be difficult.During that time, the contaminated food responsible for the illnesses may have been eaten or thrown out. Even if a specific food source is not found, the outbreak investigation may lead to a legally responsible party, such as a restaurant.
  • Quickly finding the source of an E. coli-HUS outbreak can help prevent additional illnesses.
  • The CDC recommends that antibiotics not be used for E. coli infectionsbecause these medications increase the risk of developing HUS. You should make sure your doctor is aware of this.
  • Medical research and better understanding of HUS by medical professionals has improved care for HUS patients, lowering the mortality rate. Even if your child is extremely ill, he or she will most likely survive.
  • HUS may result in major long-term complications, including chronic renal failure, neurologic dysfunction, and hypertension.
  • Even if your child appears to have recovered, he or she is at greater risk of developing kidney problems in the future, including renal failure, and may need a kidney transplant.

It should be noted that a closely related illness, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), is also caused by infection with  Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (generally E. coli O157). In adults, the diagnosis for E. coli victims with kidney failure is often TTP-HUS and often involves neurological problems, including stroke, that result in permanent brain damage.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, HUS, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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