Category Archives: Food Illness

USA – McDonalds hit twice with Hepatitis A scares

Posted on June 4, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

A few days ago, in Florida, ABC Action News I-Team uncovered an employee who worked inside McDonald’s at 8006 Osceola-Polk Line Road in Davenport had a confirmed case of Hepatitis A last week.

McDonald’s released the following statement:

“We were informed by the Polk County Health Department that one of our employees has become ill. We are fully cooperating with the health department in their review of this matter, an isolated instance at this restaurant, to ensure the health and safety of all our employees and customers. Today and always, we are committed to a safe and clean restaurant environment, and we have taken proactive steps to again completely sanitize our restaurant.”

In Indiana News 10 reported this morning that Sullivan County health officials are investigating a case of Hepatitis A at a local food handler and say the risk of infection is low for patrons who recently visited.

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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 recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized

India – More than 30 students – Thiruvananthapuram College

Posted on June 3, 2019 by | Leave a comment

The News Minute

The reception area of the Jubilee hospital in Thiruvananthapuram witnessed a flurry of activities on Friday evening with a group of college students gathered there, wearing their uniforms and talking to each other. A little away from them, seated in the reception were some of the teachers from their college. This after around 30 students from the girls hostel of the Bethany Navajeevan College of Physiotherapy were taken ill on Friday morning due to food poisoning.

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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, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

USA – Cargill Expands Previously Announced Voluntary Recall of Select Southern States® Feed Due to High/Excessive/or Elevated Aflatoxin Levels

Posted on May 29, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Company Announcement

Cargill’s animal nutrition business is expanding its voluntary recall of select Southern States® feed due to aflatoxin levels that exceed FDA’s action levels. This is an expansion of the recall initiated May 6, 2019 and is the result of Cargill’s internal investigation that identified additional products containing an ingredient provided from the same supplier referenced in the May 6, 2019 recall announcement. The expansion includes products manufactured between October 31, 2018 and March 1, 2019.

Livestock, horses, and poultry exposed to elevated levels of aflatoxin are at risk of exposure to several health effects. Aflatoxicosis has the same acute and chronic adverse effects and health consequences across all species and age classes (immature and mature). Immature animals are more sensitive to aflatoxins. Acute aflatoxicosis may result in generalized hemorrhage, bloody diarrhea and death in 1-3 days. In addition, aflatoxin toxicity can cause reduced feed intake, reduced weight gain, liver damage, jaundice, and eventually death.

Cargill has received a small number of adverse event reports. These reports are currently being investigated to determine if they are related to the recalled feed. Cargill is voluntarily expanding the scope of this recall.

The following affected products were manufactured at Cargill’s Cleveland, North Carolina, facility and are being recalled from retail outlets and distributors in the Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia markets.

Consumers with animals who have consumed products referenced in the table and are exhibiting these symptoms, should contact their veterinarian. Consumers and other end users who have any of the affected lots in their possession should return remaining product to their local dealer or retailer for a replacement or full refund. For more information, call the Customer Service line at 833-224-2003, which is available 24×7.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Animal Feed, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mycotoxin, Uncategorized

South Africa – Pupils rushed to hospital after suspected food poisoning

Posted on May 29, 2019 by | Leave a comment

IOL

DURBAN – At least 49 girls from a KwaZulu-Natal high school boarding establishment were rushed to hospital on Sunday with suspected food poisoning.

The girls, who live at the Albini Girls’ High School boarding establishment near Hammarsdale, were taken to St Mary’s Hospital for treatment. The pupils live at the boarding establishment, which is on the school’s property.

“We can’t say for sure what the cause was and will wait to hear from our sister department on their investigation,” he said.

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

Nigeria – Family of four dies of alleged food poisoning

Posted on May 29, 2019 by | Leave a comment

The Nation

The Police in Ebonyi state on Monday confirmed the death of a family of four from alleged food poisoning.

They include a 100-year-old woman and three other family members.

Spokesperson of the Police in the state, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state.

According to her, the corpses of the victims have been deposited in Matter Hospital located at Afikpo North local government area of the state.

“The death of the said persons was as a result of food poisoning. A family of four at Amachara village at Afikpo North LGA was discovered dead on their bed inside their room.

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

Sweden and Denmark – Yersinia outbreak update in Sweden and Denmark

Posted on May 28, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

kswfoodworld.com

Image CDC

In a follow-up on the Yersinia enterocolitica outbreak ongoing in Sweden and Denmark, health officials from both countries in this cross-border outbreak to a cumulative total of 57. 
In Sweden the outbreak tally has reached 37, as of May 3. Health officials say that previous suspicions of a link to Latvian carrots has proven to have no connection.

Sweden has begun a case-control study to search for foods that the disease cases have eaten and which differ from what controls have eaten.

While in Denmark, a total of 20 people are part of the outbreak. The investigation shows that the source of infection was probably fresh spinach.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, 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, Uncategorized, Yersinia, yersinia enterocolitica

USA – ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 Outbreak Sickens 17

Posted on May 28, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 outbreak has sickened 17 people in 8 states, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Three of those patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The notice did not state whether or not any patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of this type of infection.

ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 Outbreak Sickens 17

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O26, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Carrau Linked to Pre-cut Melons

Posted on May 28, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FDA

 

May 24, 2019

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, have been investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Carrau illnesses linked to pre-cut melon products.

The FDA continues its investigation at the Caito Foods, LLC processing facility that cut and packed melons linked to this outbreak. The FDA investigated distribution and supplier information for these melons; a single source or potential point of contamination was not identified for this outbreak.

Today, the CDC announced that the outbreak appears to be over.

Recommendation

On April 12, 2019, FDA warned consumers not to eat the recalled pre-cut melon products.  It is not likely that any of these melon products are on the market or still in people’s homes.  Consumers need not avoid any type of melon currently on the market.

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

USA – FDA Investigates Shigella Illnesses Linked to Imported Raw Oysters

Posted on May 23, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Image CDC

 

The FDA is investigating a subset of a larger outbreak investigation being conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between the harvesting dates of February 12, 2019 and April 9, 2019, five ill patients reported eating raw oysters shortly before becoming ill with Shigella flexneri. One of the five patients was hospitalized; there have been no deaths. The last illness onset was April 17, 2019. Laboratory analyses were used to confirm that reported clinical illnesses matched pathogens found in product samples and traceback information indicated the implicated shellfish were harvested from Estero El Cardon, in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

The FDA confirmed that oysters harvested in Estero El Cardon, Baja California Sur, Mexico, were distributed to California, Nevada, New York, and Arizona with illnesses reported in California, Nevada and New Hampshire. The New Hampshire case reported eating at a restaurant in California shortly before becoming ill. It is possible that additional states received these potentially contaminated oysters either directly from Mexico or through further distribution within the U.S.

On May 7, 2019, the Mexican Shellfish Sanitation Program authorities voluntarily closed the growing area of Estero El Cardon and halted oyster harvesting in response to the reported illnesses. The shelf-life of fresh, raw oysters is limited. All raw oysters from this growing area are no longer expected to be available to consumers. For more information please see www.issc.org/noticesExternal Link Disclaimer.

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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 recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Shigatoxin, Shigella, Uncategorized

USA – Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Frozen Raw Tuna – has ended

Posted on May 23, 2019 by | Leave a comment

CDC

Salmonellaa

Image CDC

This outbreak appears to be over, but recalled frozen tuna may still be in freezers. People could get sick if restaurants and retailers who are unaware of the recall continue to serve and sell sushi made with recalled frozen tuna. Check the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website for the list of recalled productsexternal icon.

Restaurants and retailers should not sell or serve recalled frozen, ground tuna from Jensen Tuna.

  • On April 15, 2019, Jensen Tuna in Houma, La., voluntarily recalledexternal icon frozen ground tuna imported from JK Fish of Vietnam.
    • The recalled tuna was individually packaged in one-pound bags and sold in 20-pound boxes under lot numbers z266, z271, and z272.
    • Jensen Tuna distributed product to distributors in Connecticut, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, and Washington. Recalled product might have been redistributed to additional states.
    • Restaurants and retailers should contact the distributor if they don’t know whether their frozen ground tuna is recalled. If in doubt, they should not sell or serve it.
  • Consumers who order sushi made with raw tuna, including “spicy tuna,” should ask the restaurant or grocery store if the tuna is from Jensen Tuna. If you are not sure if the tuna has been recalled, do not eat it.
  • Contact your health care provider if you think you may have become ill from eating raw tuna sushi.
  • In general, people who are at higher risk for serious foodborne illness should not eat any raw fish or raw shellfishexternal icon. People at higher risk include children younger than 5 years, pregnant women, adults 65 years and older, and people with weakened immune systems.

FDA

May 22, 2019

The United States Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport illnesses linked to frozen ground tuna imported from JK Fish of Vietnam.

On May 20, 2019, the CDC announced that this outbreak appears to be over.

Recommendation

Restaurants and retailers should check with their suppliers and not sell or serve the recalled ground tuna from Jensen Tuna. They should also be sure to wash and sanitize locations where the recalled ground tuna was stored or prepared.

It is unlikely that the recalled ground tuna was sold directly to consumers in grocery stores; rather, it was likely used in food dishes sold by restaurants or retailers. Consumers with concerns should ask their restaurants and retailers whether the tuna dish they are purchasing contains the recalled ground tuna.

 

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, 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, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized