Category Archives: E.coli

Wash Your Hands and Mobile

Posted on October 18, 2011 by | Leave a comment

An article on the BBC News Website has reported on an investigation undertaken by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Queen Mary, University of London. It suggests that 1:6 mobile phones are contaminated by bacteria that could have originated from faecal matter. 400 samples were taken from mobile phones and hands in UK cities. They found that 16% of phones and hands tested positive for E.coli which is used as an indicator of faecal matter. The largest proportion of contaminated phones came from Birmingham (41%) whilst Londoners had the highest proportion of E.coli present on their hands (28%). Most of the strains of E.coli found were unlikely to cause major human health issues. This does emphasise the need for hand washing after toilet visits both and home, in public places and at work.

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Posted in E.coli, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Microbiology

New Taipei Lunch Boxes!

Posted on October 17, 2011 by | Leave a comment

An interesting article from the world of food has surfaced from Taiwan, a study in New Taipei showed that 10% of lunch boxes failed public health specifications for E.coli. The samples were taken from convenience stores, lunchbox shops and supermarkets. It would be an interesting study to undertake in the UK!

Taiwan Focus

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Posted in E.coli, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology

Phages to Used Kill Bacteria – Applied on Cellulose Packaging

Posted on October 17, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Researches in Canada have been able to apply bacteriophages to Listeria and E.coli to cellulose packaging paper and these would kill surface bacteria on ready to eat and raw meats. The phages are targeted to Listeria monocytogenes and E.coli O157:H7 and work in ‘real’ food systems. It would be hoped that in time the phage cocktail applied would and could cover a wider range of bacteria that it would be effective against. Read the full story at the link below

Food Production Daily Article

The company that produces the product can be found at this link.

Sentinel Bioactive Paper

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Posted in E.coli, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak

UK Health Authorities Criticised – E.coli O157

Posted on October 4, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The UK Health Authorities have been criticised after an eight month E.coli outbreak has only recently been acknowledged but not publicised. The report in Food Production Daily states that the outbreak, which has been attributed to the handling of raw leeks and potatoes covered in contaminated soil, has only just recently been acknowledged. The outbreak consisted of 250 cases and one death and occurred between Decemebr 2010 and July 2011 and involved E.coli O157. The HPA have argued that the outbreak was not reported as the source was unknown.

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Posted in E.coli, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Microbiology, outbreak

FSA – Reminder to Wash Veg

Posted on October 3, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The FSA has reemphasised the need for people to wash vegetables before eating, this is a follow-up to the Germany E.coli outbreak and over 250 cases of E coli in the UK this year. Their leading comment is ‘It’s sadly a myth that a little bit of dirt doesn’t do you any harm’

FSA – Article

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Posted in E.coli, Food Illness, Microbiology, outbreak

USA Beef Recalled – Possible E.coli

Posted on October 3, 2011 by | Leave a comment

USA Beef Company Manning Beef – Recalling 80,000 pounds of beef due to suspected E.coli contamination. The products were produced on the 23/09/11.

Reuters Link

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Posted in E.coli, Food Poisoning, Microbiology, outbreak

Canadian – E.coli Killer

Posted on September 15, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Food Production Daily has reported that a Canadian Company called Theralase Technologies is stating that they have a new technology that has ‘unprecedented destruction’ of the E.coli bacteium. Their patented Photo Dynamic Compounds (PDCs) is already established but can be used via another application. They are claiming a 7 -log destruction for a 10 minute exposure and the application seems best suited to the sterilisation of food preparation equipment but would have other applications in different industries. It is thought that it will be effective with all E.coli speicies. The link for the full article is below.

Food Production Daily

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Posted in E.coli, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology

Banning E.coli from Beef – The ‘Big 6’

Posted on September 15, 2011 by | Leave a comment

A report from Reuters has broken the news that the US Government will ban the sale of beef if found to contain one of six types of E.coli. At present E.coli 0157:H7 is already banned but this is to be followed by E. coli, 026, 011, 045, 0121, 0103 and 0145. These are being called the ‘Big 6’

Reuters News Article Link

 

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Posted in E.coli, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology