Mecklenburg County, NC health officials say that nearly half of the 100 attendees of an East Charlotte cookout last weekend have sought medical care for “complaints of stomach problems”.
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Category Archives: Food Illness
UK – Precautionary advice on cooking frozen vegetables following Europe-wide Listeriosis outbreak
The Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Public Health England and Health Protection Scotland are reminding people that most frozen vegetables, including sweetcorn, need to be cooked before eating. This includes if adding them to salads, smoothies or dips.
People should always follow manufacturers’ instructions when preparing their food. If the product is not labelled as “ready to eat”, the cooking instructions should always be followed before eating the food hot or cold.
Frozen sweetcorn is the likely source of an ongoing outbreak of listeriosis affecting five European countries including the United Kingdom. Listeriosis is a rare but serious foodborne illness caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes that can be more serious for those individuals who have weakened immune systems and also the elderly, pregnant women and infants.
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, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, Uncategorized
USA – Nearly 2,000 Vaccinated for Hepatitis A after Dining at Hardee’s
Patrons who ate at Hardee’s restaurant on Little Rock Road in Charlotte between June 13 and 23 should receive a hepatitis A vaccination as soon as possible.
Director Gibbie Harris announced today that the outbreak identified by the State and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) earlier this month in Mecklenburg County has led to five additional cases since June 6, including a Hardee’s employee diagnosed Monday.
“After consulting with the State today, we are recommending a vaccination for exposed employees and patrons who ate at the 2604 Little Rock Road location between June 13 and 23,” Harris said. “According to the CDC, the vaccine must be given within 14 days of exposure for the vaccine to be effective.”
People who dined at Hardees on Little Rock Road on June 13 and 14 are strongly urged to get a vaccination in the next two days.
West Virginia McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Paul’s Poplar Park Drive Inn, Sakura and Sam’s Club Food Workers with Hepatitis A
USA – Texas officials report dozens sick from parasitic infections – Cyclospora
Texas officials warned the public Monday about a seasonal increase in infections from Cyclospora parasites, reporting there have been 56 confirmed cases since the beginning of May.
Neither this week’s outbreak notice nor a June 21 health advisory from the Texas State Department of Health Services (DSHS) referenced an ongoing cyclosporiasis outbreak in four other states. At least 185 people are infected in that outbreak, which is associated with trays of pre-cut fresh vegetables from Del Monte.
Posted in Cyclospora, 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 outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Uncategorized
Europe – Listeria monocytogenes: update on foodborne outbreak
Frozen corn and possibly other frozen vegetables are the likely source of an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that has been affecting Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom since 2015.
Experts used whole genome sequencing to identify the food source, which initially was thought to be limited to frozen corn. As of 8 June 2018, 47 cases including nine deaths had been reported.
The same strains of L. monocytogenes have been detected in frozen vegetables produced by the same Hungarian company in 2016, 2017 and 2018. This suggests that the strains have persisted in the processing plant despite the cleaning and disinfection procedures that were carried out.
The available information confirms the contamination at the Hungarian plant. However, further investigations, including thorough sampling and testing, are needed to identify the exact points of environmental contamination at the Hungarian plant. The same recommendation applies to other companies belonging to the same commercial group if environmental contamination is detected.
On 29 June 2018, the Hungarian Food Chain Safety Office banned the marketing of all frozen vegetable and frozen mixed vegetable products produced by the affected plant between August 2016 and June 2018, and ordered their immediate withdrawal and recall. This last measure is likely to significantly reduce the risk of human infections and contain the outbreak. All freezing activity at the plant has been stopped.
New cases could still emerge due to the long incubation period of listeriosis (up to 70 days); the long shelf-life of frozen corn products; and the consumption of frozen corn bought before the recalls and eaten without being cooked properly.
To reduce the risk of infection, consumers should thoroughly cook non ready-to-eat frozen vegetables, even though these products are commonly consumed without cooking (e.g. in salads and smoothies). This applies especially to consumers at highest risk of contracting listeriosis – such as the elderly, pregnant women, new-borns and adults with weakened immune systems.
Multi-country outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes serogroup IVb, multi-locus sequence type 6, infections linked to frozen corn and possibly to other frozen vegetables – first update
Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, 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, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, outbreak, Uncategorized
Ukraine – Ukraine reports 53 botulism cases this year, 4 deaths
The Ministry of Health of Ukraine reported today (computer translated) on an additional botulism case in the Kherson region from late June. The patient was treated with Botulism Antitoxin and is currently stable.
This brings the total botulism cases since the beginning of the year to 53, including four fatalities.
As of July 1, 2018, antitoxin (serum against botulism) is available in a specialized warehouse of the State Enterprise “Ukrvaktsina Ministry of Health of Ukraine”. These are high-quality Canadian medicines procured by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and transferred to Ukraine as humanitarian aid. This year the Ministry of Health of Ukraine first included antitoxins against botulism in the list of medicines procured by the state and will conduct a centralized procurement through international organizations.
Food borne botulism is a severe intoxication caused by eating the preformed toxin present in contaminated food.
USA – Blissful Remedies recalls kratom products for Salmonella
Blissful Remedies is the latest company to join the kratom recall list after its product tested positive for Salmonella, according to a company notice posted by the FDA.
The company is recalling packages of kratom capsules (mitragyn a species) that show they were distributed by World Organix LLC of Las Vegas.
At least 199 people from 41 states have been infected in an ongoing Salmonella outbreak traced to kratom products, with 38 percent of the ill people having been hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Monday the Food and Drug Administration released a statement about its investigation into kratom products in general.
Other companies have already recalled kratom products because they tested positive for Salmonella. Kratom is a plant consumed for its stimulant effects and as an opioid substitute. Kratom is also known as Thang, Kakuam, Thom, Ketom, and Biak.
India – Ghaziabad: 20 people fall sick after having momos in Indirapuram
Updated: Jul 1, 2018, 06:50 AM IST
Around 20 people fell sick after consuming momos at a local shop in Indirapuram area of Ghaziabad on Friday evening. Police have registered an FIR against the shop owner while 10 workers of the shop have also been detained for investigation.
According to the police, the incident took place on Friday evening when at least 20 people reported stomach pain after eating momos from a road-side stall in Indirapuram. Following which they were rushed to a nearby hospital where they are undergoing treatment.
Sources in the police said they are investigating the incident where people complained of stomach pain after having momos from one particular vendor. All of them are undergoing treatment for alleged food poisoning.
USA – One tests positive for E. coli, 30 others become ill after eating at Taylorsville restaurant
Health officials say dozens of people became very ill after eating at a restaurant in Taylorsville in Alexander County on Friday.Health officials said one person tested positive for E. coli, and more than 30 others are also sick after eating chicken at the restaurant.
Authorities did not positively identified the restaurant involved, but the Taylorsville location of Mexico Viejo posted a statement on their Facebook page Friday about sick customers
USA – CDC Investigation Update: Cyclosporiasis
CDC investigation announcement of a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to Del Monte Fresh Produce Vegetable Trays, U.S. 2018 can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/2018/a-062018/index.html
Key points:
- CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and state and local public health partners are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections associated with consumption of pre-packaged Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable trays containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip.
- Cyclospora cayetanensis is a single-celled parasite that causes an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis. People can become infected by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite. Symptoms begin an average of 7 days after ingestion.
- Symptoms may include watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, cramping, bloating, increased gas, nausea and fatigue. Other less common symptoms include vomiting and low-grade fever.
- As of June 15, 2018 (3pm EDT), CDC has been notified of 78 linked laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis from four states—Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.
- Four of the 78 cases have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
- Cases reported in Michigan were from persons who bought the products in Wisconsin.
- Consumers and retailers in Indiana and Illinois also are being alerted as the 28 oz. pre-packaged vegetable trays also were distributed in these states.
- Most ill people reported buying and consuming pre-packaged Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable trays containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip in the Midwest.
- Most people reported buying the trays at Kwik Trip/Kwik Star convenience stores.
- On June 15, 2018, Del Monte Fresh Produce recalled 6 oz., 12 oz., and 28 oz. vegetable trays containing fresh broccoli, cauliflower, celery sticks, carrots, and dill dip.
- Recalled products were sold in clear, plastic clamshell containers.
- Recalled products were distributed to the following stores: Kwik Trip, Kwik Star, Demond’s, Sentry, Potash, Meehan’s, Country Market, FoodMax Supermarket, and Peapod.
- Recalled products have a “Best If Enjoyed By” date of June 17, 2018.
- The recalled 6 oz. Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable tray has a UPC code of 7 1752472715 2 found on the package label.
- The recalled 12 oz. Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable tray has a UPC code of 7 1752472518 9 found on the package label.
- The recalled 28 oz. Del Monte Fresh Produce small vegetable tray has a UPC code of 7 1752478604 3 found on the package label.
- Do not eat or sell recalled vegetable trays. Throw them away.
The investigation is ongoing. CDC will provide updates when more information is available on CDC.gov – https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/2018/a-062018/index.html
If you have further questions about this outbreak, please call the CDC media line at (404) 639-3286. If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please call that state’s health department.
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