Category Archives: Food Illness

Research – Blood type affects severity of diarrhea caused by E. coli

Posted on May 31, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Science Daily 

 

A new study shows that a kind of E. coli most associated with “travelers’ diarrhea” and children in underdeveloped areas of the world causes more severe disease in people with blood type A.

The bacteria release a protein that latches onto intestinal cells in people with blood type A, but not blood type O or B, according to a study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. A vaccine targeting that protein could potentially protect people with type A blood against the deadliest effects of enterotoxigenic E. coli (Escherichia coli) infection.

“We think this protein is responsible for this blood-group difference in disease severity,” said senior author James Fleckenstein, MD, an associate professor of medicine at Washington University. “A vaccine targeting this protein would potentially protect the individuals at highest risk for severe disease.”

The study is published May 17 in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The work was conducted in collaboration with investigators at Johns Hopkins University, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Naval Medical Research Center.

Leave a comment

Posted in E.coli, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Uncategorized

Research – Behavior of 11 Foodborne Bacteria on Whole and Cut Mangoes var. Ataulfo and Kent and Antibacterial Activities of Hibiscus sabdariffa Extracts and Chemical Sanitizers Directly onto Mangoes Contaminated with Foodborne Bacteria

Posted on May 30, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Journal of Food Protection

The behavior of foodborne bacteria on whole and cut mangoes and the antibacterial effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extracts and chemical sanitizers against foodborne bacteria on contaminated mangoes were investigated. Mangoes var. Ataulfo and Kent were used in the study. Mangoes were inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Montevideo, Escherichia coli strains (O157:H7, non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin–producing, enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive, and enteroaggregative). The antibacterial effect of five roselle calyx extracts (water, ethanol, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate), sodium hypochlorite, colloidal silver, and acetic acid against foodborne bacteria were evaluated on contaminated mangoes. The dry extracts obtained with ethanol, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine solvent residues. Separately, contaminated whole mangoes were immersed in five hibiscus extracts and in sanitizers for 5 min. All foodborne bacteria attached to mangoes. After 20 days at 25 ± 2°C, all foodborne bacterial strains on whole Ataulfo mangoes had decreased by approximately 2.5 log, and on Kent mangoes by approximately 2 log; at 3 ± 2°C, they had decreased to approximately 1.9 and 1.5 log, respectively, on Ataulfo and Kent. All foodborne bacterial strains grew on cut mangoes at 25 ± 2°C; however, at 3 ± 2°C, bacterial growth was inhibited. Residual solvents were not detected in any of the dry extracts by nuclear magnetic resonance. Acetonic, ethanolic, and methanolic roselle calyx extracts caused a greater reduction in concentration (2 to 2.6 log CFU/g) of all foodborne bacteria on contaminated whole mangoes than the sodium hypochlorite, colloidal silver, and acetic acid. Dry roselle calyx extracts may be a potentially useful addition to disinfection procedures of mangoes.

Leave a comment

Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Toxin, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – Salmonella outbreak closes Georgia caterer until further notice By News Desk | May 22, 2018

Posted on May 24, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News kswfoodworld salmonella

County health officials continue to investigate a Salmonella outbreak linked to a Georgia caterer who provided food for recent events. At least 70 people reported becoming ill after the events, with at least four admitted to hospitals.

The Plain Nuts Catering & Deli of Covington, GA, closed voluntarily, according to the Gwinnett, Newton, & Rockdale County Health Departments. As of Monday evening the caterer’s website did not appear to have any information about the situation.

Sick people reported attending events on April 28 and May 9 that were catered by Plain Nuts. Another group of people who did not attend the events but did eat food from the caterer is also included in the outbreak count. 

Reports of the illnesses first reached the health department on May 4. With all of the sick people having attended the same invitation-only event on April 28, public health officials began investigating the caterer. On May 15, the department received word of illnesses among attendees of the May 9 event.   

Leave a comment

Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized

UK – Nailsea – Somerset – restaurant The Old Famhouse has zero hygiene rating after 62 diners get food poisoning on Mother’s Day

Posted on May 24, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Bristol Post

A North Somerset pub, where dozens of people fell ill with food poisoning following Mother’s Day meals, has been given a zero food hygiene rating in an inspection after the sickness outbreak.

Health chiefs identified the cause of the food poisoning at The Old Farmhouse pub in Nailsea, where around 62 diners suffered from sickness and diarrhoea.

Public Health England (PHE) and North Somerset Council also launched an investigation after they became ill on March 11, this year.

The Mirror – Original Story

A pub has shut its kitchen after 62 diners reportedly fell ill following a Mother’s Day lunch.

Dozens of people reported to be suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting after eating at The Old Farmhouse in Nailsea, north Somerset, on Sunday.

North Somerset Council is understood to have been alerted to 62 confirmed cases so far, the Bristol Post reports.

The pub , which is operated by the Hall and Woodhouse chain, has voluntarily stopped serving meals while investigations continue.

Leave a comment

Posted in 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, Uncategorized

Sweden – Four Deaths – Listeria monocytogenes – Linked to Mashed Potato Machine

Posted on May 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

The Local

Products from a food producer in western Sweden have been recalled after they were linked to a deadly outbreak of listeria.

There have been four deaths in Västra Götaland, in western Sweden, that experts have linked to the listeria bacteria.

Experts at the Centre for Communicable Disease Control (Smittskydd) stressed that all those who passed away were elderly people or affected by other illnesses.

In other words, they said it was impossible to confirm that listeriosis, the disease caused by listeria bacteria, was responsible for the deaths.

But the group behind the meals and the local region are not taking any chances, issuing a recall for potentially contaminated products across the region.

The group behind the products, Food Company, released a statement with information about the items that were affected and their expiration dates. See the full list here.

The items have an expiration date between May 16th and 25th.

All items – single portion, pre-cooked and chilled packet meals – contained mashed potatoes, with the company explaining that the machine that made the mash was responsible for the bacteria outbreak.

It added that the machine has since been removed from the production factory.

“This machine has been discarded and is no longer at our factory. We take the event seriously and will implement a number of measures to prevent this from happening again,” the company said in a statement.

While listeria is typically harmless to the vast majority of the population, it can be dangerous for the elderly, pregnant women, or those suffering from illness.

Leave a comment

Posted in food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Salmonella outbreak over, but CDC says coconut threat lingers

Posted on May 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Federal officials say an outbreak of Salmonella traced to dried coconut appears to be over, but they are renewing their public warning about a lingering threat.

Fourteen people across eight states and the District of Columbia were confirmed with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium. Three people were admitted to hospitals. The strain was also laboratory confirmed in unopened packages of the coconut. 

“This outbreak appears to be over. However, recalled dried coconut products have a long shelf life and may still be in people’s homes. Consumers unaware of the recall could continue to eat these products and potentially get sick,” according to an update posted Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Leave a comment

Posted in CDC, food bourne outbreak, 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, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – Plain Nuts Catering & Deli tied to Salmonella Outbreak

Posted on May 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Approximately 70 individuals have reported illness to the Health Department.

The Newton County Health Department is continuing to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella. The initial outbreak was reported to our office on May 4th due to illness among attendees at a closed, invitation only event held in Newton County on April 28th. During the process of investigating this event, the caterer that provided food for this event, Plain Nuts Catering & Deli, was investigated per protocol. All food and drink items along with other exposure possibilities were fully investigated. A survey was developed and sent out to event attendees to gather information on exposures and subsequent illness.

Leave a comment

Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Canada – E. coli Outbreak in Canada tied to Yuma Romaine – E.coli O157

Posted on May 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal 

As of May 9, 2018, there are six Canadian cases of E. coli O157 that are genetically similar to the U.S. outbreak linked to romaine lettuce coming from the Yuma growing region in the U.S. The six Canadian illnesses are reported in four provinces: British Columbia (1), Alberta (1), Saskatchewan (2), and Ontario (2). Individuals became sick between late March and mid-April 2018. One of the Canadian cases was hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported in Canada. Individuals who became ill were between 13 and 68 years of age. The majority of cases (67%) were female.In the Canadian investigation, among the six cases, most of the individuals who became sick reported having eaten romaine lettuce at home, or in prepared salads purchased at grocery stores, restaurants and fast food chains, before their illnesses occurred. Two Canadians did report traveling to the U.S. before getting sick and eating romaine lettuce while they were there.

Leave a comment

Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Toxin, Food Virus, Uncategorized

Aremenia – Food safety agents confirm Salmonella as cause of Armavir mass food poisoning incident

Posted on May 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Armenpress Salmonella

YEREVAN, MAY 18, ARMENPRESS. The investigation into the mass poisoning incident in Armenia’s Armavir province continues.

The suspected cause – food poisoning – has been confirmed through lab tests.

Salmonellosis has been discovered in all victims.

63 from the overall 88 victims of the food poisoning have already been treated and discharged.

The healthcare ministry says they confirm that the cause was food poisoning.

Earlier the state service for food safety has dispatched agents to Armavir province to probe the suspected food poisoning incident in the plant of Tierras de Armenia – a viticulture and winemaker known for its Karas wines.

Earlier doctors said they suspected the cause of the poisoning to be a lunchtime snack which all of the employees consumed in the cafeteria of the plant.

Agents have taken samples from the facility and sent them for laboratory analysis.

Food safety agents also ceased the operation of a businesswoman’s food supply business in relation to the incident as a precaution. The businesswoman, Alvina Melkonyan, supplied Tierras de Armenia with lunch-time food on the day when the incident happened.

Leave a comment

Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Israel – Twenty soldiers were poisoned in Jerusalem – Salmonella

Posted on May 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Siva Telegram 

 

20 IDF soldiers serving in different units, were poisoned while staying in the Beit Ha-Hayal in Jerusalem last week.

Soldiers arrived in Jerusalem to participate in the seminar of the organization for the security fence through which they were called.

We are talking about food poisoning, presumably with Salmonella. The soldiers return to their units, were suffering from diarrhoea, fever and vomiting. Some of the victims were placed in detention centers.

One of the instructors of the seminar starting to receive reports of all new cases of the disease, realized that the cause must be one, and remembered the complaints of the soldiers the “disgusting food” and the “stinking fish.”

The administration of the Beit Ha-Hayal said that the results of the inspection of Salmonella in the kitchen of the institution is not discovered. However, the kitchen is closed, the contractor who supplied the food suspended, and the administration is looking for a new contractor.

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Salmonella, Uncategorized