Category Archives: E.coli O26

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.

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).

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.

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.

Italy – CASARRIGONI – TALEGGIO DOP WITH RAW MILK- STEC E.coli O26

Salute

Brand : CASARRIGONI

Name : RAW MILK TALEGGIO DOP

Reason for reporting : Recall due to microbiological risk

Publication date : 27 October 2022

Documentation

Documentation

Italy – RAW MILK TALEGGIO DOP – STEC E.coli O26

Salute

Brand : TERRE D’ITALIA

Name : RAW MILK TALEGGIO DOP

Reason for reporting : Recall due to microbiological risk

Publication date : 27 October 2022

Documentation

Documentation

Italy – TALEGGIO DOP A LATTE CRUDO -STEC E.coli O26

Salute

Brand : PASCOLI DEL FATTORE

Name : TALEGGIO DOP A LATTE CRUDO

Reason for reporting : Recall due to microbiological risk

Publication date : 27 October 2022

Documentation

France – GROUND STEAK OR GROUND MEAT BUTCHER WAY 5% FAT – STEC E.coli O26

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Meats
  • Product brand name MONOPRIX
  • Model names or references1 GROUND BUTCHER STEAK 125G 5% FAT MONOPRIX 2 GROUND BUTCHER 125G 5% FAT MONOPRIX GROUND MEAT BUTCHER 350G 5% FAT MONOPRIX
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3350033898325 5222023686101/60 Use-by date 08/16/2022
    3350033898509 5222023686001/60 Use-by date 08/16/2022
    3350033898806 5222023686201/60 Use-by date 08/16/2022
  • Packaging Under protective atmosphere
  • Marketing start/end date From 08/09/2022 to 08/11/2022
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark EN 18.033.033 CE
  • Further information2x125g 5% Fat Charolais Breed 1x125g 5% Fat Charolais Breed 350g 5% Fat Meat Breed
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors MONOPRIX

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Detection of E.coli STEC O26 on complementary analyzes
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Toxigenic Shiga Escherichia coli (STEC)

France – 8 ROUND GROUND STEAK 150G 15% XXL VBF -STEC E.coli O26

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Meats
  • Product brand name PUIGRENIER
  • Model names or references8 ROUND GROUND STEAK 150G 15% XXL VBF
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3423311550106 5222023682004/60 Use-by date 20/08/2022
  • Packaging Under protective atmosphere
  • Marketing start/end date From 08/09/2022 to 08/20/2022
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark EN 18.033.033 CE
  • Further information VBF round burgers 8x125g 15% fat
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors SUBWAY

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Detection of E.coli STEC O26 on complementary analyzes
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Toxigenic Shiga Escherichia coli (STEC)