Category Archives: Food Illness

Macedonia – The number of food poisoning in Gostivar is growing

Slobodenpecat

A total of nine people were cared for in the Infectious Disease Department of the Gostivar Hospital, with symptoms of poisoning. After the given therapy, everyone was sent home and there were no more serious cases.

According to the initial information, the persons got food poisoning in a restaurant. The epidemiological service of the Center for Public Health took all measures. Samples were taken for analysis, after which we will know the reasons that led to the deterioration of the health condition of the patients and whether it is a bacterial infection.

India – Food poisoning! One dead, at least 30 fall ill in Tripura

Tripura Times

Dharmanagar, July 14: In an incident of suspected food poisoning, one person died and at least thirty other people fell ill.

All of them had attended Pratishtha of Shiva Temple at the house of Arun Nath, resident of ward no-4 under Dewanpasa Gram Panchayat in Dharmanagar sub-division, and consumed Prasad on Thursday last. Since then, they started developing symptoms like fever, vomiting, loose motion and headache and taking admission in hospitals.

The deceased’s son- Anik Debnath, two other persons- Sudarshan Nath and Ashutosh Nath informed the media that the symptoms appeared after taking the Prasad- fruits and Khichdi on Thursday last. They are suspecting it as an incident of food poisoning.

Research – Greece dealing with Salmonella outbreak; Listeria increase

Food Safety News

At least 100 people fell ill in Greece recently with contaminated water suspected as the source.

The Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY) said an increased incidence of gastroenteritis cases was observed in late May in residents of the areas of Rizomylos and Stefanovikiou, Magnesia.

A total of 100 cases, of all ages and both sexes, with symptom onset dates between May 24 and June 2, were reported. Nine children were hospitalized, as well as an elderly person with underlying conditions

UK – Officials probe Raisins link in UK STEC E. coli outbreak

Food Safety News

More than 35 people have fallen sick in an E. coli outbreak in the United Kingdom.

The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak has had 36 cases across the UK since November 2023.

Patient interviews have identified raisins from Turkey as a potential source, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has raised the issue with Turkish authorities.

Research – Microbial Contamination and Disease Outbreaks Associated with Rockmelons (Cucumis melo): Implications for Public Health Protection

MDPI

Abstract

Foodborne illnesses caused by consuming contaminated fresh produce not only pose serious public health risks but also lead to huge economic losses. Rockmelons (cantaloupes) have emerged as a recurrent source of disease outbreaks caused by foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli. The most common factor of the outbreaks was the microbial contamination of rockmelons at the farm, and subsequently, the pathogenic bacteria were transferred to the flesh during cutting and processing. One of the deadliest outbreaks occurred in the USA due to L. monocytogenes contamination of rockmelons which caused 33 deaths in 2011. Since then, several guidelines and recommendations have been developed for food safety management to reduce the microbial contamination of melons on farms and post-harvest operations. This article explicitly provides an updated overview of microbiological contamination, disease outbreaks, pathogens prevalence, and mitigation strategies to reduce public health risks due to the consumption of rockmelons.

Taiwan – Taipei goose meat restaurant closed over alleged food poisoning

Focus Taiwan

Taipei, July 11 (CNA) A goose meat restaurant in Taipei has been ordered to close following reports of customers experiencing severe food poisoning from food purchased on the premises, the city’s Department of Health said on Thursday.

Chou’s Goose Meat, located on Dongxing Street in Nangang District, was closed on the morning of July 7, after nearly a dozen customers filed complaints with Taipei and Taoyuan municipal health authorities, the department told CNA.

Customers reportedly exhibited severe symptoms of food poisoning including vomiting, diarrhea and fever after consuming smoked or salted goose slices purchased at the restaurant, with 11 saying they had sought medical assistance as a result, the department said.

According to the department, samples were collected from the hands of kitchen staff as well as from a wok, spatula, knife and chopping board. These were sent to the lab for testing, the results of which are expected in around two weeks.

Belgium – Outbreaks and related illnesses down for 2023 in Belgium

Food Safety News

Figures from Belgium show the number of outbreaks and people sick in them declined in 2023.

The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain’s (FASFC) annual report reveals that 722 outbreaks were reported: 3,194 people were affected, 76 were hospitalized, and one died. This is lower than the record number in 2022, which saw 830 outbreaks, 4,247 people sick, and two deaths.

Only in six cases in 2023 could it be demonstrated that food was the cause, as food and human samples contained the same bacteria, viruses, or toxins that triggered the disease.

USA – Owner of raw milk creamery behind fatal outbreak sentenced to probation – Listeria monocytogenes

Food Safety News

A man who owned a raw milk creamery behind the deaths of two people has been sentenced to probation.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks in New York sentenced Johannes Vulto on July 9 to three years probation, a $100,000 fine and 240 hours of community service. Vulto and his company pleaded guilty in March to causing the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, a misdemeanor, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York said in a news release.

Vulto’s raw milk cheese was found to be the source of Listeria monocytogenes that sickened eight people, killing two of them in 2016. He could have been sentenced to up to a year in prison. According to a plea agreement, he agreed to pay a $100,000 fine.

USA – More than 165 infected with Salmonella in raw milk outbreak

Food Safety News

More than 165 people, mostly children, have been sickened so far by raw milk products from Raw Farm LLC.

In reports obtained by Food Safety News from the California Division of Communicable Disease Control and the California Department of Health, the Salmonella outbreak has sickened 165 people across four states. Previously the department of health was reporting a dozen sick. The most recent of the reports is from February this year. The most recent illness was recorded this past month.

Germany – Botulism affects two in Germany; link to Russian product – Pickled Mushrooms

Food Safety News

A couple of people are sick in Germany with botulism after eating pickled mushrooms from Russia.

The two confirmed cases were caused by botulinum neurotoxin A. They had symptom onset in April and May. Both ill people consumed a mushroom-in-brine preserve of milk-white brittlegill.

A laboratory in Germany, located at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), found botulinum neurotoxin type A in an unopened jar of the product from the second patient’s household. The 500-gram item was produced on November 20, 2023, and expires on May 20, 2025.