Category Archives: Food Illness

USA Updates – Shigella in Texas – E.coli O157 Raw Milk and Restuarant

Posted on November 9, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Shigella Blog

A health warning was issued for Grayson county residents Friday after health officials and Sherman schools report an outbreak of a highly contagious disease.

Friday, Sherman ISD sent letters out to parents notifying them of a Shigella outbreak in three of their schools.

E.coli Blog

Tennessee health officials have given a raw-milk cow-share operation that has been linked to an E. coli O157:H7outbreak that has sickened 9 children — all of them under 7 years old — the green light to start offering its milk to its cow-share members again.

According to a Nov. 8 press release from the Knox County Health Department and the state’s eastern regional Health Department office, three of the infected children developed Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a complication of a potentially fatal strain of E. coli that can lead to kidney failure and other serious health problems. However, due to patient-confidentiality laws, no information about the condition of the children can be made available.

E.coli Blog

The Allegheny County Health Department today reported the results of its investigation of E. coli O157:H7 cases involving employees and customers of The Porch restaurant in Oakland.

“There were 12 confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 and nine others with suggestive symptoms who could not be confirmed.  We have been unable to pinpoint the source of the E. coli – whether it came from a particular food product, food handling or a combination of both,” said Health Director Dr. Karen Hacker.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Recall, Shigella

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RASFF Alerts Aflatoxin – Dried Figs – Almonds – Pistachios – Basmati Rice – Groundnuts – Ochratoxin – Buckwheat

Posted on November 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 5.5; Tot. = 18.3 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in France

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 18.7 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled almonds from Australia in Italy

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 7.1; Tot. = 36.3 / B1 = 7.6; Tot. = 38.1 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled pistachios from Turkey, with raw material from the United States in Italy

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 5.6; Tot. = 6.2 µg/kg – ppb) in basmati rice from Pakistan in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 7.9 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 31; Tot. = 34 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF -ochratoxin A (13.5 µg/kg – ppb) in buckwheat porridge from Russia in Croatia

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hygiene, Laboratory, Microbiology, Moulds, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall

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USA – Salmonella Updates – Outbreak and Dog Treats

Posted on November 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A Salmonella outbreak that is unrelated to Foster Farms chicken has sickened at least seven people in California,  Food Poisoning Bulletin has learned.  Several of those who became ill are residents of Shasta County. It’s possible that one illness in another state is also part of the outbreak.

A spokesperson from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) said state health officials are working together with local jurisdictions on an investigation of an outbreak of Salmonella Lomalinda infections, but would not provide further information saying “CDPH does not comment on ongoing investigations.”

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Bailey’s Choice Dog Treats of Georgia is recalling some packages of certain chicken jerky treats because it may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The chicken treats are in various sizes and with these lot dates: June 5, 2013 and October 8, 2013. Those two lots tested positive for the bacteria.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Pet Food, Recall, Salmonella

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USA Updated Food Poisoning – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on November 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Winn-Dixie is recalling Taylor Farms Spinach Antipasta Salad from all of its stores for potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.This recall is an expansion of a recall announced earlier by Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc. The recalled item was sold in the full-service case in the deli department.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Giant Eagle stores are recalling Reser’s Fine Foods products for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall affects product sold in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and West Virginia.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hygiene, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

Research Campylobacter Updates

Posted on October 31, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Eurosurveillance

Differentiation between travel-related and domestic cases of infectious disease is important in managing risk. Incubation periods of cases from several outbreaks of campylobacteriosis in Canada, Europe, and the United States with defined exposure time of less than 24 hours were collated to provide information on the incubation period distribution. This distribution was consistent across the varied outbreaks considered, with 84% (702/832) of cases having an incubation period of four days or less and 1% having an incubation period of eight days or more. The incubation period distribution was incorporated into a model for the number of travel-related cases presenting with symptom onset at given dates after return to their country of residence. Using New Zealand notification data between 2006 and 2010 for cases who had undertaken foreign travel within 10 days prior to symptom onset, we found that 29.6% (67/227 cases; 95% confidence interval (CI): 28.3–30.8%) of these cases were likely to have been domestic cases. When cases with symptom onset prior to arrival were included, the probable domestic cases represented 11.8% (67/571; 95% CI: 11.2–12.3%). Consideration of incubation time distributions and consistent collection of travel start/end dates with symptom onset dates would assist attribution of cases to foreign travel.

Clincal Infectious Diseases

Campylobacteriosis in humans, caused by Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli, is the most common recognized bacterial zoonosis in the EU and US. The acute phase is characterized by gastro intestinal  symptoms. The long-term sequelae (Guillain-Barré Syndrome, reactive arthritis and post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome)  contribute considerably to the disease burden. Attribution studies identified poultry as the reservoir responsible for up         to 80% of the human Campylobacter infections. In the EU, an estimated 30% of the human infections is associated with consumption and preparation of poultry  meat. Until now, interventions in the poultry meat production chain have not been effectively introduced except for targeted  interventions in Iceland and New Zealand. Intervention measures (e.g. biosecurity) have limited effect or are hampered by  economic aspects or consumer acceptance. In the future a multi-level approach should be followed, aiming at reducing the level of contamination of consumer products rather than complete absence of Campylobacter.

CDC  – UK Duck Liver Campylobacter Outbreak

Campylobacter­ spp.–related gastroenteritis in diners at a catering college restaurant was associated with consumption of duck liver pâté. Population genetic analysis indicated that isolates from duck samples were typical of isolates from farmed poultry. Campylobacter spp. contamination of duck liver may present a hazard similar to the increasingly recognized contamination of chicken liver.

 

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, CDC, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Research

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Research – Norovirus Updates

Posted on October 31, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Science DirectNorovirus

Human norovirus (NoV) contaminated hands are important routes for transmission. Quantitative data on transfer during contact with surfaces and food are scarce but necessary for a quantitative risk assessment. Therefore, transfer of MNV1 and human NoVs GI.4 and GII.4 was studied by artificially contaminating human finger pads, followed by pressing on stainless steel and Trespa® surfaces and also on whole tomatoes and cucumber slices. In addition, clean finger pads were pressed on artificially contaminated stainless steel and Trespa® surfaces. The transfers were performed at a pressure of 0.8–1.9 kg/cm2 for approximately 2 s up to 7 sequential transfers either to carriers or to food products. MNV1 infectivity transfer from finger pads to stainless steel ranged from 13 ± 16% on the first to 0.003 ± 0.009% on the sixth transfer on immediate transfer. After 10 min of drying, transfer was reduced to 0.1 ± 0.2% on the first transfer to 0.013 ± 0.023% on the fifth transfer. MNV1 infectivity transfer from stainless steel and Trespa® to finger pads after 40 min of drying was 2.0 ± 2.0% and 4.0 ± 5.0% respectively. MNV1 infectivity was transferred 7 ± 8% to cucumber slices and 0.3 ± 0.5% to tomatoes after 10 min of drying, where the higher transfer to cucumber was probably due to the higher moisture content of the cucumber slices. Similar results were found for NoVs GI.4 and GII.4 transfers measured in PCR units. The results indicate that transfer of the virus is possible even after the virus is dried on the surface of hands or carriers. Furthermore, the role of fingers in transmission of NoVs was quantified and these data can be useful in risk assessment models and to establish target levels for efficacy of transmission intervention methods.

CDC

The duration of immunity to norovirus (NoV) gastroenteritis has been believed to be from 6 months to 2 years. However, several observations are inconsistent with this short period. To gain better estimates of the duration of immunity to NoV, we developed a mathematical model of community NoV transmission. The model was parameterized from the literature and also fit to age-specific incidence data from England and Wales by using maximum likelihood. We developed several scenarios to determine the effect of unknowns regarding transmission and immunity on estimates of the duration of immunity. In the various models, duration of immunity to NoV gastroenteritis was estimated at 4.1 (95% CI 3.2–5.1) to 8.7 (95% CI 6.8–11.3) years. Moreover, we calculated that children (<5 years) are much more infectious than older children and adults. If a vaccine can achieve protection for duration of natural immunity indicated by our results, its potential health and economic benefits could be substantial.

CDC

We report an increase in the proportion of genotype GI.6 norovirus outbreaks in the United States from 1.4% in 2010 to 7.7% in 2012 (p<0.001). Compared with non-GI.6 outbreaks, GI.6 outbreaks were characterized by summer seasonality, foodborne transmission, and non–health care settings.

CDC

After the substantial decrease in acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children caused by rotavirus after introduction of 2 rotavirus vaccines (1), norovirus has become the leading cause of medically attended AGE in US children <5 years of age (2). We describe the clinical characteristics of norovirus disease and assessed whether rotavirus vaccine protected against norovirus AGE.

 

 

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Posted in CDC, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, outbreak, Pathogen, Research

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Research – Foodborne illness Outbreaks from Microbial Contaminants in spices, 1973–2010

Posted on October 31, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct

This review identified fourteen reported illness outbreaks attributed to consumption of pathogen-contaminated spice during the period 1973–2010. Countries reporting outbreaks included Canada, Denmark, England and Wales, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Serbia, and the United States. Together, these outbreaks resulted in 1946 reported human illnesses, 128 hospitalizations and two deaths. Infants/children were the primary population segments impacted by 36% (5/14) of spice-attributed outbreaks. Four outbreaks were associated with multiple organisms. Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica was identified as the causative agent in 71% (10/14) of outbreaks, accounting for 87% of reported illnesses. Bacillus spp. was identified as the causative agent in 29% (4/10) of outbreaks, accounting for 13% of illnesses. 71% (10/14) of outbreaks were associated with spices classified as fruits or seeds of the source plant. Consumption of ready-to-eat foods prepared with spices applied after the final food manufacturing pathogen reduction step accounted for 70% of illnesses. Pathogen growth in spiced food is suspected to have played a role in some outbreaks, but it was not likely a contributing factor in three of the larger Salmonella outbreaks, which involved low-moisture foods. Root causes of spice contamination included contributions from both early and late stages of the farm-to-table continuum.

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Posted in Bacillus, Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella

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Research- Tracing Viruses in the European Berry Food Chain

Posted on October 31, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Science DirectClose up 3d render of an influenza-like virus isolated on white

In recent years, numerous foodborne outbreaks due to consumption of berry fruit contaminated by human enteric viruses have been reported. This European multinational study investigated possible contamination routes by monitoring the entire food chain for a panel of human and animal enteric viruses.

A total of 785 samples were collected throughout the food production chain of four European countries (Czech Republic, Finland, Poland and Serbia) during two growing seasons. Samples were taken during the production phase, the processing phase, and at point-of-sale. Samples included irrigation water, animal faeces, food handlers’ hand swabs, swabs from toilets on farms, from conveyor belts at processing plants, and of raspberries or strawberries at points-of-sale; all were subjected to virus analysis. The samples were analysed by real-time (reverse transcription, RT)-PCR, primarily for human adenoviruses (hAdV) to demonstrate that a route of contamination existed from infected persons to the food supply chain. The analyses also included testing for the presence of selected human (norovirus, NoV GI, NoV GII and hepatitis A virus, HAV), animal (porcine adenovirus, pAdV and bovine polyomavirus, bPyV) and zoonotic (hepatitis E virus, HEV) viruses.

At berry production, hAdV was found in 9.5%, 5.8% and 9.1% of samples of irrigation water, food handlers’ hands and toilets, respectively. At the processing plants, hAdV was detected in one (2.0%) swab from a food handler’s hand. At point-of-sale, the prevalence of hAdV in fresh raspberries, frozen raspberries and fresh strawberries, was 0.7%, 3.2% and 2.0%, respectively.

Of the human pathogenic viruses, NoV GII was detected in two (3.6%) water samples at berry production, but no HAV was detected in any of the samples. HEV-contaminated frozen raspberries were found once (2.6%). Animal faecal contamination was evidenced by positive pAdV and bPyV assay results. At berry production, one water sample contained both viruses, and at point-of-sale 5.7% and 1.3% of fresh and frozen berries tested positive for pAdV.

At berry production hAdV was found both in irrigation water and on food handler’s hands, which indicated that these may be important vehicles by which human pathogenic viruses enter the berry fruit chain. Moreover, both zoonotic and animal enteric viruses could be detected on the end products. This study gives insight into viral sources and transmission routes and emphasizes the necessity for thorough compliance with good agricultural and hygienic practice at the farms to help protect the public from viral infections.

 

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, Laboratory, Norovirus, outbreak, Pathogen, Research, Virus

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USA – FDA Draft on Pathogens in Spices

Posted on October 31, 2013 by | Leave a comment

FDA

In light of new evidence calling into question the effectiveness of current control measures to reduce or prevent illness from consumption of spices in the United States, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) developed a risk profile on pathogens and filth in spices. The objectives of the risk profile were to (1) describe the nature and extent of the public health risk posed by consumption of spices in the United States by identifying the most commonly occurring microbial hazards and filth in spice (2) describe and evaluate current mitigation and control options designed to reduce the public health risk posed by consumption of contaminated spices in the United States (3) identify potential additional mitigation and control options and (4) identify critical data gaps and research needs. The draft risk profile for pathogens and filth in spices provides information for FDA to use in the development of plans to reduce or prevent illness from spices contaminated by microbial pathogens and/or filth.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety Alert, Food Technology, Food Testing, Hygiene, Laboratory, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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USA – Outbreak Updates – Cyclospora – Foster Farms – Hepatitis

Posted on October 31, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CDC Final Report Hepatitis A  – Townsend Farmscdc

This  particular outbreak appears to be over. However, Viral Hepatitis is still an  important cause of human illness in the United States. More information about Viral Hepatitis,  and steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection, can be found on the CDC Viral Hepatitis website.

CDC Final Report Cyclospora

These outbreaks appear to be over. More information about Cyclospora can be found on CDC’s Cyclospora pages.

CDC Report on More Foster Farms Salmonella Cases

As of October 29,  2013, a total of 362 persons infected with seven outbreak strains of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from 21 states and Puerto Rico.

38% of ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

Most ill persons (74%) have been reported from California.

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Posted in CDC, Cyclospora, Death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hepatitis A, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Protozoan, Recall, Research, Salmonella, Toxin, Virus

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