Category Archives: Food Hygiene

USA – Another State with Cyclospora?

Posted on July 17, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal Cyclospora_LifeCycle201

Northern Virginia Area Investigating an Increase in Intestinal Illness Associated with Cyclospora

Health Districts in the Region Seeking the Cause of Cyclosporiasis Increase

The health districts in northern Virginia are notifying the public that there has been a significant increase in the number of reported cyclosporiasis cases since mid-June 2019. To date there are 15 cyclosporiasis cases reported in the Northern Region of Virginia, up from eight at this time last year. Additionally, more than 40 people from two large businesses in the area have reported gastrointestinal illness, and are under investigation for suspected cyclosporiasis. A food or water source of this outbreak has not yet been identified, and the investigation is ongoing.

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Posted in Cyclospora, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Parasite, Uncategorized

USA – Growers Express Expands Voluntary Recall of Select Fresh Vegetable Products Due to Potential Contamination of Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on July 17, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FSA

Company Announcement

Growers Express takes issues of food safety seriously and in an abundance of caution and in the interest of protecting consumers is expanding the list of select fresh vegetable products affected by a voluntary recall that was issued on July 1, 2019. After further testing of an additional product lot from the suspected source of the recall, a single retail sample was found to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The company has expanded the list of recalled products to include certain specific fresh Brussels sprouts, fresh cauliflower florets and fresh green beans products with the “best by” or “pack dates” identified in the link above.

The products originated from a Growers Express production facility in Biddeford, Maine and were distributed to the states of Massachusetts and Maine. Growers Express is no longer sourcing vegetables from the suspected cause of the contamination. There are no reported illnesses to date.

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Posted in FDA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Pita Pal Foods, LP Recalls Various Hummus and Dips Due to Possible Health Risk – Listeria moocyotgenes

Posted on July 17, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FSA

Company Announcement

Pita Pal Foods, LP of Houston, TX has issued a voluntary recall of certain hummus products made between May 30, 2019 and June 25, 2019, due to concerns over Listeria monocytogenes, which was identified at the manufacturing facility (not in finished product) during an FDA inspection.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. No illnesses have been reported to date for these products. The company is issuing this recall out of an abundance of caution.

The products have been distributed nationwide and to United Arab Emirates. Consumers who have purchased products listed below with these use by dates are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 832-803-9295 or email products@pitapal.com.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Infantis Linked to Del Monte Vegetable Trays, Spring 2019

Posted on July 15, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FDA

July 12, 2019

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state partners investigated an outbreak of Salmonella Infantis with cases reported in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

The FDA inspected the Del Monte facility that produced vegetable trays that the Wisconsin Department of Health Services linked to an outbreak of salmonellosis. The facility was in Kankakee, Illinois. The FDA also investigated distribution and supplier information for produce used in the vegetable trays. These investigation activities did not identify a single source or potential point of contamination for this outbreak.

Recommendation

It is not likely that the trays the Wisconsin Department of Health Services warned against eating on May 21are still on the market or still in people’s homes.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – Cyclospora at Italian American Community Center, Union College and Prime Life Restaurant

Posted on July 15, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal 220px-Cyclospora_cayetanensis_stained

The New York State Department of Health, working collaboratively with the Albany County Department of Health, Montgomery County Public Health, Saratoga County Public Health and Schenectady County Public Health Services, is investigating reports of multiple cases of Cyclosporiasis.

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Posted in Cyclospora, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Uncategorized

USA – Florida reports 10 Vibrio vulnificus cases year-to-date

Posted on July 15, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

CDC Vibrio

Image CDC

 

Florida state health officials have reported 10 confirmed Vibrio vulnificus cases through July 12, according to the latest data.

Cases have been confirmed in the following counties: Broward, Charlotte, Hillsborough, Manatee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco and Pinellas (3).

No deaths have been reported.

In 2018, health officials saw 42 confirmed cases and nine fatalities.

People can get infected with Vibrio vulnificus when they eat raw shellfish, particularly oysters. The bacterium is frequently isolated from oysters and other shellfish in warm coastal waters during the summer months. Since it is naturally found in warm marine waters, people with open wounds can be exposed to Vibrio vulnificus through direct contact with seawater. There is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of Vibrio vulnificus.

Vibrio vulnificus can cause disease in those who eat contaminated seafood or have an open wound that is exposed to warm seawater containing the bacteria. Ingestion of Vibrio vulnificus can cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Vibrio vulnificus can also cause an infection of the skin when open wounds are exposed to warm seawater; these infections may lead to skin breakdown and ulcers.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized, Vibrio, Vibrio vulnificans, Vibrio vulnificus

Ireland – Recall of Andromi Toba de Casa meat product due to the Presence of Salmonella

Posted on July 15, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FSAI

Summary
Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2019.29
Product: Andromi Toba de Casa
Batch Code: Lot 17, variety of weights (~500g) Use By Date: 04/08/2019
Country Of Origin: Romania

Message:

Recall of Andromi Toba de Casa 500g (use by date 04/09/2019) due to the presence of Salmonella. This product is sold in Polonez stores throughout Ireland. Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores where the products are sold.

Nature Of Danger:

People infected with Salmonella typically develop symptoms between 12 and 36 hours after infection, but this can range between 6 and 72 hours.  The most common symptom is diarrhoea, which can sometimes be bloody.  Other symptoms may include fever, headache and abdominal cramps.  The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Diarrhoea can occasionally be severe enough to require hospital admission. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness. 

Action Required:

Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers:

Businesses that have sold the implicated batch directly to consumers must display a point-of-sale recall notice

Consumers:

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.  If you have eaten the implicated batch and feel unwell, please contact your physician

Toba de Casa Polonez Salmonella

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Ireland – Listeriosis in Ireland, 2018

Posted on July 14, 2019 by | Leave a comment

HPSC

Key Facts
 Twenty-two listeriosis cases were notified in 2018, the highest number since
the disease became notifiable in 2004
 All cases had recognised risk factors for listeriosis, with largest increase
occurring among the elderly
 No clusters of listeriosis were identified
 No source was confirmed for any individual case
 Referral of isolates for typing at NSSLRL enables detection of clusters and
monitoring of trends in the strains that cause listeriosis in Ireland

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Salmonella Braenderup Infections Associated with the Green Mill Hennepin County– April 2019

Posted on July 12, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

On April 19, 2019, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Public Health Laboratory (PHL) determined that two clinical Salmonella Braenderup isolates submitted through routine surveillance had indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns (Minnesota designation BR134). Initial interviews with these cases revealed that both had eaten food from the Green Mill in Bloomington in the week before their illness onset. City of Bloomington Environmental Health Division (CBEH) was notified, and an investigation was initiated.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – Red Robin in Westminster Colorado link in E. coli O157 Outbreak

Posted on July 12, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Three individuals, including one adult and two children, tested positive for the bacteria E. coli O157:H7 with all persons having reported eating at the Red Robin restaurant located at 799 W. 146th Ave in Westminster, Colorado. Tri-County Health Department inspected the restaurant on July 9, 2019, after receiving information about the outbreak from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Two of the three individuals infected were hospitalized, and the investigation is ongoing.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Uncategorized