The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced today that Henry’s Farm Inc. of Woodford, VA is recalling all packages of Soybean Sprouts because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections to individuals with weakened immune systems.
No illness has been reported to date.
According to Kentucky news media, as many as three Stanford Elementary School kindergarten students may have contracted E. coli according to Ronnie Deatherage, director of operations for the Lincoln County Public Schools. State and local health officials are investigating the case and have examined the elementary school cafeteria without finding a cause. Two of the 5-year-olds became ill within the last few days, Deatheridge said. They are being treated at University of Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
In 2010, there was a 13.6% decrease in the number of reported cases of listeriosis with a total of 159 cases reported in England and Wales. This decline continued in 2011 with a further 7.5% decrease resulting in 147 reported cases. In 2011, 82% of cases were non-pregnancy related while 16% were pregnancy related; this represents a 6.4% increase in pregnancy related cases from the previous year. However, the number of pregnancy related cases is within observed levels and this proportional difference is likely in part, to be a result of fewer non pregnancy-related cases. Nevertheless, the number of pregnancy related cases is higher than previous years with the exception of 2009 (figure 1). An increase in pregnancy related listeriosis cases amongst ethnic minorities since 2006 in England and Wales has also been reported [3].
NHS Below is an extract there is more information through this link.
Listeriosis is an infection that usually develops after eating food that’s been contaminated by bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes, which is commonly known as Listeria.
In most people, listeriosis is mild and causes flu-like symptoms or vomiting and diarrhoea (gastroenteritis). Read more about the symptoms of listeriosis.
Symptoms usually pass within three days without the need for treatment.
However, in rare cases, the infection can spread to other parts of your body and cause serious complications, such as meningitis (infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord). Doctors describe this as invasive listeriosis.
If this is the case, you’ll need to be treated with antibiotics in hospital for several weeks.
The government has launched an awareness campaign for the first time in Bangladesh to improve household food safety and hygiene practices.
The campaign on ‘washing and cleaning during food preparation’ targets rural women who are primarily responsible for preparing family meals and feeding infants.
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) supported the campaign based on their study findings that showed only 14 percent people in the homes wash hands with soap before preparing food, while only 26 percent know it can remove harmful germs.
Alfa Sprouts Inc. of Honeoye Falls, NY is recalling approx. 100 lbs of Springwater Sprouts brand Organic Alfalfa Sprouts and bulk 3# Clover Sprouts because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections to individuals with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The following 2 products are being recalled by the firm.
The contamination was discovered after sampling under the USDA Microbiological Data Program by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets inspectors and subsequent analysis by the New York State Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the product. No illness has been reported to date.
Four more people have been diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis linked to the outbreak at Greenmeadow Community farm in Cwmbran.
It brings the total number of cases to eight. All were either members of staff or volunteers who bottle fed unwell animals. The animals have now been removed from the farm.
Public Health Wales say extra control measures are in place to ensure that risks to farm visitors and staff are kept to a minimum.
Anyone who is unwell with gastrointestinal symptoms is advised to contact their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Posted in Cryptosporidium, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Testing, Microbiology, Parasite, Protozoan, Water
Tagged science
LA Star Seafood Co. Inc., Los Angeles, CA is recalling Vobla Dry and Vobla Smoked because they have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.
The sale of improperly eviscerated fish, 5 inches in length or greater, is prohibited because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning which may pose a potentially life-threatening health hazard. Symptoms of botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty swallowing and respiratory paralysis which may lead to death. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
The following products are recalled:
Vobla Dry, 20lb bulk boxes, not vacuum packed, no lot numbers or expiration dates.
Vobla Smoked, 20lb bulk boxes, not vacuum packed, no lot numbers or expiration dates.
The Reportable Food Registry is an electronic portal where food companies report issues with a food where that food is likely to cause illness. This report has a lot of interesting data about the break down of which commodities caused food safety issues.
Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Research, Toxin
Tagged environment, health
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