This article from the Wierd Science Blog is quoting two studies that have found MRSA (normally associated with health car facilities) in retail meats in the USA. They are calling the strain ‘livestock associated MRSA’ ST398 and it is also resistant to tetracycline, antibiotic resistance is of course an issue with these strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Microbiology, MRSA
Publicly posting enforcement and testing data corresponding to specific meat, poultry, and egg products’ processing plants on the Internet could have “substantial benefits,” including the potential to favorably impact public health, says a new report from the National Research Council. The report adds that the release of such data could contribute to increased transparency and yield valuable insights that go beyond the regulatory uses for which the data are collected. From my point of view I agree with the public should know, but great care would have to be taken on the data released. As we have seen from information released in recent outbreaks that information is not always clear or correct.
This was also reported in an article in Food Quality News.
An article in Food Production Daily has reported on a statement from the FSA that UK food safety authorities are not considering introducing new industrial processing techniques safety for oysters, despite over 75% grown in the UK containing the norovirus. The FSA are waiting in legal limits to be introduced by the EFSA.
Guidelines for the management of norovirus outbreaks in acute and community health and social care settings have been issued by the Health Protection Scotland.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Virus
The United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and inspection Service have announced that it will hold a public meeting on Dec. 1, 2011, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (EST), to discuss the implementation plans and methods for controlling non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in raw beef products. The Agency also announced the comment period, originally scheduled to end on Nov. 21, 2011, has been extended until Dec. 21, 2011.
This meeting will be available via teleconference, on a toll-free number. Pre-registration for this meeting is strongly suggested. To pre-register, access the FSIS website, at www.fsis.usda.gov/News/Meetings_&_Events/. Call-in information will be provided via e-mail to pre-registered participants. Anyone interested in making a public comment during the teleconference should indicate so on the registration form.
An article in Food Navigator Asia has reported on products made by Wanchai Ferri have been removed from the shelf in Nanjing. The frozen dumplings are said to have high levels of ‘golden staph’ AKA Staphylococcus aureus.
A further report can be found at China Org
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Milford Bay Trout Farm Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Milford Bay Trout Farm Inc. Smoked Trout Filet, described below, because this product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness there have been no reported illness yet.
Food Production Daily has an article reporting on the HPA findings that the UK 2010 outbreak of Salmonella was likely to have been caused by green salad vegetables.
The FSA have issued a reminder on how to avoid Botulinum poisoning following recent cases of the rare foodborne poisoning cases in Olives and Korma Sauce.
After the Botulinum contamination of Olives which resulted in a death in Finland and withdrawal of the product in the UK and USA. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency have recalled another batch of Olives. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Marché Transatlantique Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Domaine de l’Oulivie brand Lucque Olives de Pays described below because the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.
FoodWorld 