Category Archives: Food Illness

Salmonella in Alfalfa Seed Sprouts – US Recall

FDA

January 19, 2012 – LEASA Industries Co., Inc. of Miami, FL is recalling 346 cases of LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts with use by date 2/1/12, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonellacan result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts with use by date 2/1/12 were distributed through FL, GA, AL, LA, and MS through retail stores and food service companies on 1/4/12, 1/5/12, 1/6/12, 1/7/12 and 1/8/12.

The affected product is in 6 oz. clear plastic containers with a UPC code of 75465-55912 and has an expiration date of 2/1/12. The UPC code is located on the side of the label at the side of the container. The expiration date of the package is located on the side of the container.

No illnesses have been reported to date

Laboratories Implicated in Salmonella Infections – USA

Food Safety News

Between August 2010 and June 2011, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) counted 109 people in 38 states infected with a commercial strain of Salmonella Typhimurium most commonly found in microbiology laboratories.

The outbreak, which hospitalised 13 individuals and resulted in one death, is notable because of its association with educational and clinical labs instead of food. Sixty percent of the ill reported being in or near microbiological labs in the week before their illness began, compared with two percent of respondents in the CDC investigation’s control group.

The number of ill also included several children living in the same household as someone who worked or studied in a microbiology laboratory, further suggesting that the infections came from neglectful exposure within a lab setting: Individuals likely improperly handled bacteria samples, which they then transferred to themselves or others.

US Based Outbreak Alert Website and Database

Outbreak Alert

US-based, but interesting to filter food microbiology outbreaks since 1990 with over 6000 outbreaks logged. The data can be filter by products groups, organisms and US state and year. Might be good to check where and if your products have been involved in outbreaks.

Outbreak Report

Neogen New Mycotoxin Kits

Neogen develops simple, fully quantitative tests for Mycotoxins.

AYR, Scotland, 16 January, 2012 — Neogen Europe Ltd. has developed a range of simple tests to detect precise amounts of Mycotoxins in grain and feed samples.

Neogen’s new Reveal® Q+ testing products combine the speed and simplicity of a lateral flow test with the fully quantitative precision of a more demanding testing method. All a tester has to do is place a Reveal Q+ test strip in a room temperature extracted sample, and then read the strip to receive precise results.

The new products include:
• Reveal Q+ for Aflatoxin can deliver precise results of 2.5 to 100 parts per billion (ppb) of Aflatoxin after only 6 minutes.
• Reveal Q+ for DON delivers precise results ranging from 0.3 to 6 parts per million (ppm) of DON after only 3 minutes, following an extraction procedure that requires only water.
• Reveal Q+ for Zearalenone delivers precise results ranging from 50 to 1200 ppb of Zearalenone in corn, or 25-1200 ppb of the Mycotoxins in wheat after only 6 minutes.

“Our Reveal Q+ products are the easiest Mycotoxins tests available that provide rapid, fully quantitative test results,” said Neogen’s Dr. Steve Chambers, Sales & Marketing Director. “This innovative technology yields more accurate and reproducible results than other Mycotoxins testing methods. The new Reveal Q+ products add to Neogen’s unmatched range of simple and accurate lateral flow, microwell, and immunoaffinity column mycotoxin testing options — all of which are backed by the best technical and R&D support in the industry.”

Reveal Q+ products offer both room temperature incubation of the test strip and storage of the test kit — eliminating the need for an incubator and refrigeration space. The tests require only minimal equipment to achieve precise results, and aflatoxin and Zearalenone tests use a simple, low-cost ethanol extraction process. Ethanol is the preferred extraction solvent of many major grain handlers.

Neogen’s AccuScan® III reader provides an easy method to objectively read, store, and analyze results from Neogen’s line of lateral flow tests. AccuScan provides a permanent result that can be incorporated into a company’s food safety plan, such as HACCP.

For further information Contact:
Int. Tel: +44 (0) 1292 525 610 Int.
e-mail: info_uk@neogeneurope.com
www.neogeneurope.com

US – E.coli in Milk

Ecoli Blog

A Tenino dairy says it’s recalling its fluid raw milk products because of the danger of contamination with potentially harmful E. coli bacteria.

There have been no reported illnesses related to the recalled products, the dairy said.

Mandatory Bacteria Tests for Milk in India

Lab Saints

Come February, milk sold in India will have to be tested for harmful bacteria like E Coli.
According to the new food safety rules that come into effect six months from August, 2011, the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has made it mandatory for milk manufacturers to test it for organisms such as E Coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes before bringing it into the market.

More US Foodborne IIlness Outbreaks

E.coli O157 -Seven people have been sickened and four were hospitalized in an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 linked to a restaurant in Houghton, Michigan.

Norovirus –  146 people sickened with norovirus in Wheeling, IL, may have been exposed at Bob Chinn’s Crab House, the Cook County Health Department said Friday.

Norovirus – More than 90 people in Hartford City, IN have been sickened, and two were hospitalized, in an outbreak of norovirus traced this week to a Subway restaurant, according to the Blackford County Health Department.

All articles from Food Safety News

 

 

Norovirus – Outbreak Rail Crash Scene -USA

Food Safety News

Last Friday, after three trains collided near Valparaiso, Indiana USA, the Red Cross provided meals for rescue workers at the scene of the crash, and some of that food was catered by the local Jimmy John’s outlet. On Sunday, the Porter County Health Department received reports that about 20 of the workers had fallen ill.
 
By Monday, people who had not been at the crash site began to report similar symptoms. All those victims had recently eaten at the same Jimmy John’s, prompting the Health Department to declare the restaurant the possible source of an outbreak of foodborne illness caused by Norovirus.
And while food served by Jimmy John’s appears to be the likely source of the illnesses, “the Indiana State Health Department of Health is looking at all food items served [at the scene of the train crash],” and is not entirely ruling out other food sources yet.
 
 

Jesen Farms Cantaloupe – Listeria Outbeak Report

FDA Report

Food Safety News Article

Some findings :

– Condensation from cooling systems draining directly on to the floor.

– Poor drainage resulting in water pooling around food processing equipment.
 
– Hard to clean roller brushes on processing equipment (where Listeria was found).
 
– No chlorine or other antimicrobial solution used to wash cantaloupe.
 
– No equipment to remove field heat from cantaloupe before they were moved to cold storage.
 
Food and Drug Administration investigators, concluded that the outbreak could have been avoided had Jensen Farms followed existing guidance for processing melons. The FDA pointed to Jensen Farms’ modified processing equipment, and its failure to chlorinate the water used to wash its melons, as two likely causes of the outbreak.
The Jensen brothers, however, told the congressional Committee they changed their equipment on advice from one of their auditors.
 

Makro Recall – Meat Tapas – Listeria

FSA Recall

Makro is recalling certain batches of tapas meat products because some are contaminated with listeria. If you have bought any of the products listed below after 6 October 2011, don’t eat them. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice

The products being recalled are:

  • Tapas Chorizo Sliced, 80g and 200g, bought after 6 October 2011
  • Tapas Serrano Ham Sliced, 80g and 300g, bought after 6 October 2011
  • Tapas Trio Sliced, 150g, bought after 6 October 2011, and containing Serrano ham, Chorizo sausage and Salchichon

Makro is recalling the affected products. Customer notices have been displayed in stores, explaining why the products have been recalled. If you have bought any of the affected products, don’t eat it. You can return it to the store for a full refund.

No other Makro products are known to be affected.