Category Archives: EHEC

US – Update – E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak

Posted on March 24, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BM Blog

The CDC reports as of March 21, 2012, 58 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 were reported from 9 states. The number of ill persons identified in each state was as follows: Arizona (1), Arkansas (2), Illinois (9), Indiana (2), Kansas (2), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (2), Missouri (38), and Nebraska (1). Two cases were removed from the case count because advanced molecular testing determined that they were not related to this outbreak strain. Among persons for whom information was available, illnesses began from October 9, 2011 to November 7, 2011. Ill persons ranged in age from 1 to 94 years, with a median age of 28 years. Fifty-nine percent were female. Among the 49 ill persons with available information, 33 (67%) were hospitalized, and 3 developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). No deaths were reported

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

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CIFA – More on the E.coli O157 Recall – Beef

Posted on March 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CIFA Fact Sheet

CIFA Recall List

CIFA Article

To date, the CFIA has provided details of over 135 affected products under various brand names and codes that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.  These products have been distributed nationally.

As the CFIA continues its investigation, it will immediately advise consumers if additional affected products are found.

The affected products can also be identified by the Establishment number that appears on the packages, cartons or cases. The products made at this facility bear Establishment number (EST) 761.

The affected products involved in this recall may be identified by one of the following codes:

  • bearing a Best Before date from BB 2012 JA 01 up to and including to BB 2013 FE 15;
  • bearing a production code with a format of 11 JL 01 up to and including 12 FE 15;  
  • bearing a 5 digit lot code where the last four digits are 1831 or greater.

If you have any of the affected products, or have products that you are not certain falls under the recall, do not consume these products.

You should throw out the product or contact the point of purchase about their return policy.

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

UK – Staffordshire Closed Till Easter – 18 Cases E.coli O157

Posted on March 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BBC News 

A Staffordshire primary school which was closed because of an E. coli outbreak is expected to remain shut until after Easter.

The closure followed 18 confirmed cases of E. coli O157 at Friarswood Primary School in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils will be taught in a nearby college while a thorough deep cleaning is carried out.

The Health Protection Agency is still trying to find the source of the bacteria, which often causes diarrhoea.

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

Canada CIFA – Recall Beef Burger Products – Ecoli O157

Posted on March 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CIFA

The public warning issued on March 13, 2012has been expanded to include additional products and distribution information.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and New Food Classics are warning the public not to consume certain Best Value beef burger products, described below, because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The following Best Value brand products are affected by this alert:

Product Size UPC Lot Code
10 Beef Burgers 1 kg 0 71212 88103 8 72991 EST 761, 82991 EST 761
20 Beef Burgers 2 kg 0 71212 88104 5 53011 EST 761, 63011 EST 761, 73011 EST 761, 83011 EST 761

These products have been distributed to Giant Tiger and Northern Canada retail stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of these products.

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

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Electrochemical Treatment of Wash Water – E.coli

Posted on March 14, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Quality

Electrochemical treatment of wash water in fresh produce processing shows real potential to combat E.coli contamination and cut in-plant water consumption, according to recent research.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O104, E.coli O157, E.coli O26, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen

Australian Dairy Product Recall – E.coli and Listeria

Posted on March 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

NSW Alerts

The NSW Food Authority advises:
Almarae Dairy Products is recalling batches of their soft cheese sold in NSW through their retail store and a convience store in Punchbowl.

The batches are being recalled because of the presence of E.coli and Listeria which can cause illness if consumed. Listeria can cause illness especially in pregnant women, children under 5 years, people over 70 years and people with weakened immune systems.

The recalled product is:

  • Almarae Dairy Products Country Cheese Soft Cheese in brine in 500g and 1.25kg glass jars with white lid and ‘use-by’ date 20 MAY 2012.

The recall applies only to the above batches of the product and date.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, EHEC, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen

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UK- Staffordshire School Closed – E.coli O157

Posted on March 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BBC News

A Staffordshire primary school has been closed due to an outbreak of E. coli. Three cases have been confirmed and all pupils at Friarswood Primary School in Newcastle-under-Lyme are being tested, the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said. The E. coli O157 bacteria usually causes diarrhoea, it added.

Staffordshire County Council said it is believed the infection was brought into the school from an outside source. A thorough clean is now under way.

The school will reopen when it safe to do so, the council added.

 

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

ECDC and EFSA – Food-borne Outbreaks in EU Report 2010

Posted on March 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

ECDC

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) launched their annual report on zoonoses and food-borne outbreaks.

The report,  providing data on 15 zoonotic diseases in the European Union for 2010, supports the European Commission and EU Member States in their consideration of possible measures to protect citizens from risks related to zoonoses.

The report highlights a positive progress in the reduction of reported human cases of salmonellosis by almost 9% in 2010, as well as decreases in other zoonoses such as infections caused by Yersinia enterocolitica, Trichinella and Listeria monocytogenes. “Decreases in human cases of salmonellosis and other zoonotic diseases show that EU level control measures, resulting from surveillance of disease in humans with information from food and animals, are effective”, states Johan Giesecke, Chief Scientist at ECDC.

On the other hand, the number of cases of  campylobacteriosis has been increasing over the last five years, and human cases of Shiga toxin/verotoxin -producing Escherichia coli (STEC/VTEC) are also increasing. These trends “highlight the need of further joint efforts”, continues Prof. Gieseke. “For this, ECDC will continue to strengthen its links with all important partners and foster collaboration in order to decrease the occurrence of these diseases in the EU”.

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Posted in Bacillus, Campylobacter, E.coli, E.coli O157, EFSA, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella, STEC

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Ingenta Studies – High Pressure E.coli/Campylobacter – Essential Oils E.coli/Salmonella

Posted on March 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Ingenta High Pressure

This study evaluated the high pressure inactivation of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, and poultry meat spoilage organisms. All treatments were performed in aseptically prepared minced poultry meat. Treatment of 19 strains of C. jejuni at 300 MPa and 30°C revealed a large variation of pressure resistance.

Ingenta Essential Oils

The efficacy of cinnamaldehyde and Sporan for reducing Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella on spinach leaves was investigated. Spinach leaves were inoculated with a five-strain cocktail of Salmonella or E. coli O157:H7, air dried for ca. 30 min, and then immersed in a treatment solution containing 5 ppm of free chlorine, cinnamaldehyde, or Sporan (800 and 1,000 ppm) alone or in combination with 200 ppm of acetic acid (20%) for 1 min or with water (control).

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

French Cattle Not a Reservoir For E.coli O104

Posted on March 7, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct

After the 2011 outbreak of E.coli O104 :H4 in Europe this study investigated the theory that cattle could be the reservoir for the organism but non of the cattle tested showed positive for the markers they searched for.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O104, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, STEC