Around 50 people in five European countries have been struck down with a rare strain of Salmonella.
Salmonella Mikawasima has infected 15 people in Germany, 13 in Sweden, eight in both Denmark and the Czech Republic and six in Austria.
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Category Archives: Food Illness
Europe – Rare Salmonella strain sickens 50 in five EU countries – Salmonella Mikawasima
Posted in food bourne outbreak, 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, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized
USA – FDA documents first Cyclospora contamination of U.S. fresh produce
A special FDA testing program on fresh herbs has documented the first confirmed evidence of the Cyclospora parasite in U.S. produce.
The Food and Drug Administration found the microscopic parasite on fresh cilantro at a U.S. distribution facility in July. In a follow-up investigation, the FDA found Cyclospora on fresh cilantro at a farm. The federal agency worked with state and local officials to embargo the cilantro. Staff from FDA have been working with the farmer on “corrective actions geared toward common routes of contamination,” according to a constituent update from the agency.
“Although this is the first confirmed evidence of the presence of Cyclospora in domestic produce, FDA is currently unaware of illnesses associated with the product, and traceforward efforts do not indicate there are any connections between this domestic finding of contaminated cilantro and multistate outbreaks of Cyclospora illnesses investigated this spring and summer,” the agency reported.
Those Cyclospora outbreaks were linked to Del Monte vegetable-dip trays and salads made with Fresh Express chopped lettuce and carrots that were served at McDonald’s restaurants.
South Africa – South Africa declares end to largest ever Listeria outbreak
The largest ever detected Listeria outbreak in known history is over, according to officials in South Africa.
Between Jan. 1, 2017, and July 17, 2018, South Africa recorded 1,060 laboratory-confirmed cases of listeriosis, including 216 deaths.
The outbreak was linked to a ready-to-eat (RTE) processed meat plant owned by Tiger Brands, the Enterprise Foods production facility in Polokwane. However, investigators for the government and in the private sector have not been able to determine how the outbreak strain was introduced in the affected factory.
A total of 12 million South African rand ($810,000) was spent to deal with the outbreak.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi gave processed meats the all clear at a media briefing on Monday.
“A team of World Health Organization, international and local experts (have) agreed that because no cases of listeriosis due to the outbreak strain have been identified since the first week of June 2018, and that over the last two months the incidence rate of laboratory-confirmed listeriosis cases has dropped to pre-outbreak levels, the outbreak of listeriosis is over,” Motsoaledi said
Listeriosis cases have been recorded for 40 years in South Africa. There have been between 60 and 80 cases every year for the past five years.
Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food death, 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, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized
Research – What Sparked An E. Coli Outbreak In Lettuce? Scientists Trace A Surprising Source
The illnesses started appearing in late March. Here and there, across the country, people were checking themselves in to hospitals, sick from toxic E. coli bacteria. At least 200 people got sick. Five of them died.
Investigators quickly identified romaine lettuce as the source of the outbreak, but have had trouble pinpointing the cause for months. Now, the Food and Drug Administration has a theory for how E. coli ended up on that lettuce. According to the FDA, it probably came from a large cattle feedlot at one end of a valley near Yuma, Ariz., which is one of the country’s biggest lettuce-growing areas.
The finding has put lettuce growers in Yuma in a tough spot. The feedlot has been their neighbor for many years. Some vegetable farmers are wondering whether they can still co-exist with all those cattle nearby
Posted in E.coli, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food death, 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, Uncategorized
Eygpt – Over 100 guests suffer food poisoning at Arab wedding, groom arrested
Weddings ending on a happily-ever-after note is usual, but ever heard of a wedding ending with the groom getting arrested?
At a recent wedding in Egypt’s Bishad Qayed, the groom, his father and the chef were arrested after 103 guests suffered food poisoning from meals served at the wedding, according to a report in Youm 7.
The food samples were sent to the lab to be tested for contamination. The three men face trial in the case.
All people affected have been successfully treated and left the hospital except for one female child.
RASFF Alert – Histamine – Raw Mackerel
RASFF-histamine (171 mg/kg – ppm) in frozen raw mackerel from India in the UK
UK – Listeria outbreak 2018 sees Sainsbury’s recall more frozen vegetables
Sainsbury’s has recalled a huge selection of its frozen vegetables range as the fight against Listeria rages on.
The major supermarket is asking its customers to not eat the items, but instead return packs to their nearest store where they will get a full refund.
The chain has issued an urgent recall for five types of frozen vegetables amid fears they may contain potentially deadly Listeria.
Product details are:
- Product code: 7148693
Product description: by Sainsbury’s Carrots, Broccoli & Sweetcorn Microwaveable Steam Bags 4 x 135 g
Best-before date: All date codes - Product code: 1368420
Product description: by Sainsbury’s Mixed Vegetables 1 kg
Best-before date: All date codes - Product code: 1372670
Product description: by Sainsbury’s Mixed Special Vegetables 1 kg
Best-before date: All date codes - Product code: 7148706
Product description: by Sainsbury’s White Rice, Broccoli, Sweetcorn & Peas Microwaveable Steam Bags 4 x 135 g
Best-before date: All date codes - Product code: 6921659
Product description: basics Mixed Vegetables 1 kg
Best-before date: All date codes
India – Around 100 MIT-ADT students hospitalised for food poisoning
Soon after lunch in the institute’s mess on Tuesday, they complained of vomiting, diarrhoea
In a shocking case of food poisoning, as many as 100 students of MIT-ADT University in Loni Kalbhor complained of diarrhoea, vomiting and stomachache after they consumed meals served in the institute’s mess on Tuesday. Most of the students have been admitted to Vishwaraj Hospital in the area for their complications that developed after eating lunch.
As per routine, engineering students and pupils of the Maharashtra Academy of Naval Education and Training (MANET) and International School of Broadcasting and Journalism (ISBJ) went to eat their lunch in the mess. They consumed dal, rice, chapatti, peas and gulab jamun for sweets. Around 4 pm, some of the pupils started complaining of vomiting and diarrhoea. This number slowly started increasing. This was when seniors started admitting junior students to the hospital.
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, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Uncategorized
USA – La Luz Mexican Grill now Link in 19 confirmed Salmonella cases
La Luz Mexican Grill and 200 Walnut St. in Fort Collins remains closed after a Salmonella illness outbreak hit the Old Town Fort Collins restaurant earlier this month.Larimer County Health Department spokesperson Katie O’Donnell said that, as of Tuesday afternoon, there have been 19 confirmed cases of the outbreak with additional testing still pending for others.
Larimer County Health Department said it received the first complaint about the matter on Aug. 17. After additional complaints and further testing, La Luz voluntarily shut down on Aug. 21 — at the time six salmonella cases had been confirmed.
Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized
USA – Employee at McDonald’s in Owenton, Kentucky Diagnosed with Hepatitis A
An employee at the McDonald’s at 506 South Main Street in Owenton, Kentucky has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to a press release from the Three Rivers District Health Department. Officials recommend that people in Carroll, Gallatin, Owen, and Pendleton Counties get a hepatitis A or immune globulin vaccine.
That employee worked at that facility from August 16 through August 27, 2018. That is within the two week time frame when a vaccine can help protect against the disease. If you or anyone you know ate at that McDonald’s restaurant during that time frame, they should get a shot.The McDonald’s management is cooperating with this investigation. The restaurant has been disinfected and employees told to get vaccinations and to tell management if they are sick.
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