Category Archives: EHEC

USA-Further Recalls – Taylor Farms Organic Baby Spinach EHEC E.coli

Posted on February 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Sam’s Club, Walmart and some Kroger stores are recalling Taylor Farms organic baby spinach products sold under a a variety of names  due to possible contamination with E.coli. The brand names under recall include Central Market Organics, Full Circle Organic, Marketside Organic, Simple Truth Organic and Taylor Farms Organic.

Recalled Simple Truth Organic baby spinach was sold at stores owned by the Kroger company. They include King Soopers, City Market, Fry’s, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, Food4Less, FoodsCo, QFC and Smith’s in Texas and Louisiana.  At this time,  illnesses have not been reported in association with the recalled products. But consumers who have purchased any of them  should not eat them as E.coli can cause serious illness.  Symptoms of an E.coli infection include abdominal cramping anad diarrhea that is often watery or bloody. Consumers who have already eaten the spinach and develop these symptoms should see a doctor.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, EHEC, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Uncategorized

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USA – FDA – Recall Organic Baby Spinach Products- EHEC E.coli

Posted on February 13, 2013 by | Leave a comment

FDAEcoli Istock

Out of an abundance of caution, Taylor Farms Retail, Inc. is initiating a voluntary recall of select Organic Baby Spinach products with the potential to be contaminated with (EHEC) Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli.

Symptoms of the diseases caused by EHEC include abdominal cramps and diarrhea that may in some cases progress to bloody diarrhea. Fever and vomiting may also occur.

See Link Above for Product List

No other products or code dates are affected by this recall. The company is cooperating with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) regarding this recall. There have been no reported illnesses attributed to the recalled items.

Customers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume the products and should dispose of them. Consumers may contact Taylor Farms Retail, Inc. for further information at 855-293-9811. Consumers with concerns about an illness from consumption of this product should contact a health care provider.

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

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Research New Bacterial Identification Technology

Posted on January 17, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP), which recently received approval from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is one lab test that can do the job of many,  expertly scanning a solitary stool sample for 11 different illness-inducing organisms.

To many, that sounds an impressive feat in an of itself. But considering that 179 million Americans are stricken with gastroenteritis every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it’s also one that can come in handy. Infectious gastroenteritis is caused by certain viruses, bacteria, or parasites and can be spread easily through person-to-person contact or from contaminated food, water, and surfaces. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea.

The  xTAG can scan for  bacteria including Campylobacter, Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) toxin A/B, Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) LT/ST, Salmonella, Shigella and Shiga‐like Toxin producing E. coli (STEC) stx 1/stx 2. It can scan for viruses including Norovirus and Rotavirus A. And it can scan for parasites such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Clostridium difficile, Cryptosporidium, E.coli, E.coli O103, E.coli O104, E.coli O145, E.coli O157, E.coli O26, EHEC, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Virus, Giardia, Methods, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Rotavirus

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USA -FDA – Recall Cheese STEC E.coli

Posted on January 16, 2013 by | Leave a comment

FDA

The State Milk Board, in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, announced today that Homestead Creamery of Jamesport, Mo. is voluntarily withdrawing a batch of its Flory’s Favorite cheese from the marketplace.

Preliminary test results received from the Missouri State Health Laboratory indicate the cheese may be contaminated with Shiga-Toxin producing E.coli, which can lead to food borne illness. Confirmatory tests are ongoing.

The Homestead Creamery plant license to sell milk products in Missouri has been temporarily suspended, pending the results of the investigation by the State Milk Board and Missouri departments of Agriculture and Health and Senior Services.

The withdrawn product, Flory’s Favorite, is a 60-day aged cheese made with raw milk. Packages of the cheese are marked with “Packed On 210” on the label. This affects approximately 250 pounds of cheese and does not affect any other dairy products from Homestead Creamery.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, EHEC, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, STEC

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UK – Takeaway Owner Jailed for E.coli Outbreak

Posted on January 15, 2013 by | 5 comments

BBC NewsEcoli Istock

The owner of a Cardiff takeaway has been jailed for eight months following an outbreak of E. coli.

Diar Wali Ali admitted at Cardiff magistrates’ court to 23 food hygiene offences and was jailed on Monday.

In August 2011, nine customers fell ill with food poisoning after visiting the Adonis Kebab House in City Road, Roath.

The takeaway was closed for two weeks while inspections were carried out and the council was satisfied the risks had been removed.

Councillor Derek Morgan, chair of Cardiff council’s public protection committee, said people had a right to eat safe food and certain levels of hygiene.

“However, where poor hygiene practices and substandard conditions are found, we take immediate action to safeguard public health,” he said.

“I hope this case helps to show how seriously we take this commitment and demonstrate that, where appropriate, we will use the full force of the law to ensure food safety regulations are met.”

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, EHEC, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, STEC

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USA – Raw Milk Cheese Recall – E.coli STEC

Posted on January 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

E.coli Blog

The State Milk Board, in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, announced today that Homestead Creamery of Jamesport, Mo. is voluntarily withdrawing a batch of its Flory’s Favorite cheese from the marketplace.

Preliminary test results received from the Missouri State Health Laboratory indicate the cheese may be contaminated with Shiga-Toxin producing E.coli, which can lead to food borne illness. Confirmatory tests are ongoing.

The Homestead Creamery plant license to sell milk products in Missouri has been temporarily suspended, pending the results of the investigation by the State Milk Board and Missouri departments of Agriculture and Health and Senior Services.

The withdrawn product, Flory’s Favorite, is a 60-day aged cheese made with raw milk. Packages of the cheese are marked with “Packed On 210″ on the label. This affects approximately 250 pounds of cheese and does not affect any other dairy products from Homestead Creamery.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, EHEC, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, STEC

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USA – Raw Milk STEC Outbreak

Posted on January 13, 2013 by | Leave a comment

 Food Poisoning Journal

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has become aware of several cases of diarrheal illness from northwest Missouri, possibly caused by Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), including one confirmed as E. coli O103. These may be related to the consumption of locally-produced, raw (unpasteurized) dairy products.

DHSS recommends that any person who has signs or symptoms of STEC infection seek medical care. Health care providers should evaluate patients adequately to determine if testing for STEC infection is warranted.

Symptoms of STEC infection include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea (which is often bloody), and vomiting. If there is fever, it usually is not very high. Most patients’ symptoms improve within 5–7 days, but some patients go on to develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), usually about a week after the diarrhea starts. The classic triad of findings in HUS are acute renal damage, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O103, EHEC, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Microbiology, O103, outbreak, Pathogen

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Canada – E.coli O157 Outbreak Update

Posted on January 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety NewsEcoli Istock

Canada’s eastern and adjoining provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are reporting 15 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7. None of the illnesses have yet been traced to a source.

Ten of the E. coli illnesses are located in central Nova Scotia, with five reported by the Capital District Health, two by the Guysborough Antigonish Strait Health Authority, and one each by the Pictou, Cumberland, and Colcherster East Hants health authorities.

On the other side of the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, heath officials reported two cases were reported in the St. John region and three in the Fredericton region.

Dr. Eilish Cleary, chief medical officer for New Brunswick, said it is not known if there is a common source for the cases. A number of possible sources are being investigated. Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer for Nova Scotia, said that it would not be uncommon for there to be additional cases as it may take as long as ten days for some people to begin to experience symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 and get tested.

One of the Nova Scotia patients experienced kidney failure, but along with the others is said to be recovering. In New Brunswick, four illnesses were treated by emergency room visits, and one victim was hospitalized.

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

USA – Sprouts and Pathogenic Bacteria

Posted on January 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning BulletinEurofins

Raw sprouts have been the cause of several food poisoning outbreaks in the last several years. In 2012, there were many recalls of raw sprouts for bacterial contamination. Several facilities, including Kroger and Jimmy John’s, decided to stop offering sprouts for sale altogether, although Jimmy John’s put the vegetables back on their menu in October 2012.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been warning those in high risk groups to avoid sprouts completely, unless they are thoroughly cooked. And FoodSafety.gov just released information about what you, as a consumer, should know about sprouts.

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

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Research – Hot Water and Chlorine Treatments – Bean Sprout

Posted on December 31, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Science DirectEurofins

Abstract

The majority of bean sprout-related outbreaks have been associated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella, and an effective method to inactivate these organisms on seeds prior to sprouting is important to avoid foodborne pathogen diseases. We have previously tested treatment with a combination of hot water and chlorine, and a high bactericidal effect without decreases in the germination ratio was observed on mung bean seeds produced in China. To evaluate the versatility of this treatment, the present study confirmed whether our disinfection treatment can be applied to mung bean seeds produced in another country (Myanmar). A more than 5.0 log CFU/g reduction of E. coli O157:H7 was achieved when the mung bean seeds were treated with hot water at 85 °C for 10–40 s, followed by soaking in a 2000 ppm chlorine solution for 2 h; the hot water treatment at 85 °C for 40 s followed by the chlorine treatment completely eliminated E. coli O157:H7 from the mung bean seeds. Additionally, a more than 5.0 log CFU/g reduction was obtained for Salmonella after the hot water treatment at 85 °C followed by the chlorine treatment. These treatments did not significantly affect the viability and germination of the mung bean seeds, and a sufficient yield for commercial uses was obtained.

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