Category Archives: Eurofins Laboratories

US – Shigella Outbreak 45 Cases

Shigella Blog

Almost three weeks after health officials in Upstate New York announced they were investigating a Shigella outbreak affecting 25 people, the estimated victim count has grown to 45.

The outbreak is affecting residents of Onondaga County, which includes the city of Syracuse and is located in the northern central part of the state.

“There are currently 45 cases of Shigella,” reported the Onondaga County Health Department in a statement to Food Safety News. “This includes confirmed, probable, and what New York State Department of Health is considering suspect (cases). We continue to investigate each and every case for linkages but the source remains unknown.”

 

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella and Histamine

RASFF – Salmonella in frozen beef trimmings in Sweden sourced in Germany.

RASFF – Salmonella frozen skinless chickin in Estonia sourced in Brazil.

RASFF – Histamine frozen raw tuna in Belgium sourced in Viet Nam.

Thailand – 460 Sick – Hard Boiled Eggs – Salmonella

Bangkok Post

The number of students who have fallen ill from salmonella poisoning at a Chiang Mai school has risen to 460.

Health authorities say the students fell ill after eating three-day-old boiled eggs tainted with salmonella bacteria.

Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said Chiang Mai Welfare School students became sick after eating donated eggs that were boiled three days previously and not reheated before they were consumed, allowing the bacteria to develop.

On Sunday evening, about 900 students of the school, located in Mae Rim district, ate chilli curry and donated boiled eggs at the cafeteria.

After the meal, 75 of the students became ill with headaches, high fever, nausea and diarrhoea.

The number of sick students increased to 460 yesterday, health authorities said.

US – Cautiionary Recall Deli Items – Listeria monocytogenes

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Carl Rittberger Sr. Inc. of Ohio is recalling about 9,000 pounds of fully cooked deli items because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses have been reported.

Product details:

  • Spice Loaf
  • Breakfast Loaf
  • Garlic Bologna
  • German Brand bologna
  • Wieners
  • Grillers
  • Kielbasa
  • Straight HB Roll
  • Natural Casing Wieners

A routine inspection had a positive Listeria test result; that product did not leave the plant. This recall is voluntary, out of an abundance of caution.

 

US Picnic 36 Sick – E.coli O157

E.coli Blog

As a result of eating food at a picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, at least 36 individuals have become ill. Of those, 9 have been hospitalized. Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County is continuing an investigation into the cause of the foodborne outbreak. Estimates are that as many as 200-300 people may have attended an annual customer appreciation picnic.

Public Health is continuing to gather information through interviews with those who became ill and those who prepared the food. Investigators are also looking at food sources, food handling and storage practices, food temperature controls, and the potential of cross contamination of the food.

Sweden Burgers Withdrawn – Salmonella

Axfood

Axfood withdraws Garant Burgers 4-pack, Garant Burgers pack of 10, Garant Grill Washer and Garant Burgers 4-pack Barbeque because salmonella is detected in a routine examination. The hamburger is composed solely of Swedish raw material.

Customers who bought Garant Hamburger or BBQ Washer urged to return it to the store because it has to be sent for destruction and not fall into the normal household waste.

Denmark Close to Conquering Salmonella

Food Poisoning Bulletin

According to new statistics, in 2011 the number of Danes contracting Salmonella infections fell to the lowest level since the 1980s. That country has a strict policy called the Danish National Salmonella Control Program that reduces Salmonellabacteria in egg-laying hens and broilers.

That program works to minimize human exposure to Salmonella from live animals and meat products. It detects, prevents, and controls Salmonella in “primary production”, or on the farm, before there is any threat to human health.

These proactive measures, as opposed to the reactive measures of recalls and relying on proper handling by consumers, has reduced the incidence of Salmonella infections to just 1,166 in 2011. And almost half of those infections were contracted by Danes traveling to Egypt, Thailand, and Turkey.

The effort includes a ban on selling eggs from any flocks that test positive for Salmonella. Denmark can also require any imported eggs to be free from Salmonella. In 2011, no breeding flocks were positive for Salmonella.

USDA – Recall Ready to Eat Meat Products – Listeria monocytogenes

USDA

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2012 – Buona Vita, Inc., a Bridgeton, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 324,770 pounds of various frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The packages bear the establishment number “P-954” or “Est. 954” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were sold to distribution facilities nationwide. When available, the retail distribution list will be posted on FSIS’ website at www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/
Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp
.

The problem was discovered through microbiological testing by FSIS and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). FSIS, ODA, and the company have not received reports of illesses due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

US FDA – Recall More Romaine Lettuce – Salmonella

FDA

Pacific International Marketing (“Pacific”) is voluntarily recalling 19 cases of bulk Romaine Lettuce sold at Vons and Pavilions stores in California and Nevada due to potential Salmonellacontamination. The bulk Romaine Lettuce was sold in bulk produce bins from July 2, 2012 through July 4, 2012. The lettuce heads are banded with a red twist tie marked “Safeway.”

Consumers who may have purchased this product should discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. No Illnesses have been reported to date.   This recall is being conducted out of an abundance of caution. The recall is the result of a positive Salmonella test taken at the field level.  The source of contamination is unknown.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

CIFA – Recall Fresh Shelled Peas – Listeria monocytogenes

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Thomas Bros. Farm Market are warning the public not to consume the fresh shelled peas described below because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The affected product, fresh shelled peas, was sold from Thomas Bros. Farm Market located at 5856 Colonel Talbot Road, London, Ontario on June 27, 2012. The packages do not bear a label identifying the store name and other information.

Consumers who have this fresh product in their homes or may have frozen it are advised not to consume it.

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