Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, Illness
Officials in Finland remain stumped by a large outbreak linked to school meals.
The Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto), National Institute of Health and Welfare (THL), and local agencies are investigating the outbreak, which affected more than 800 people. The incident occurred in mid-August in Mikkeli, with mainly children falling sick.
Ruokavirasto reported that examining food samples has not found any typical food poisoning bacteria, toxins, or signs of microbiological spoilage.
Only sensory changes and differences in acidity have been observed in tortillas, which were suspected to be the cause of illness.
Food tests have looked for bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group and coagulase-positive staphylococci, as well as their toxins, molds, and other microbes.
Nearly 100 people got food poisoning at a wedding banquet in North China’s Shanxi Province recently, and the topic drew a lot of attention on Sina Weibo on Monday, with the local government announcing on Tuesday that all patients had recovered by Sunday and investigations are underway.
An employee from the hotel involved said that they have sent samples of the food to relevant departments for further investigation. The restaurant has been temporarily closed.
“It has nothing to do with us, and the test results [for our food] have come out. Those who got poisoned are the ones who are close to the family, and they ate at the host’s house in the morning,” said one employee from the restaurant, according to hntv.tv.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, Illness
September 15, 2023
The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, investigated an outbreak of hepatitis A virus infections linked to frozen organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico. FDA’s traceback investigation identified a common supplier of organic strawberries. Strawberries used by this supplier were imported from certain farms located in Baja California, Mexico, in 2022. Additionally, the strain of hepatitis A virus causing illnesses this year is genetically identical to the strain that caused the outbreak of hepatitis A virus infections in 2022, which was linked to fresh organic strawberries imported from Baja California, Mexico, and sold at various retailers. Due to the matching strains of hepatitis A, investigators considered traceback and epidemiological data from the 2022 and 2023 outbreaks. When both data sets were considered together, investigators found that a single farm was associated with the distribution of strawberries consumed by ill people in both outbreaks. This single farm supplied strawberries to multiple importers across both outbreaks and some recipients processed fresh strawberries into the frozen berries consumed in the 2023 outbreak.
As of September 15, 2023, no additional illnesses have been reported and CDC has announced that this outbreak has ended. FDA’s investigation is complete. While the outbreak has ended, FDA continues to work closely with competent authorities in Mexico through the established Food Safety Partnership to investigate potential source(s) of contamination within the implicated region and to proactively implement prevention strategies for growers ahead of the next growing season. FDA also intends to consider using additional tools, such as import screening and sampling, for strawberries grown and harvested in Baja California, Mexico, during the next growing season.
BHOPAL: At least 80 children of the Eklavya tribal hostel located in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur district were suffered food poisoning after having dinner, officials said.
After eating food on Sunday evening, almost all the children suddenly complained of stomach pains or started vomiting and some were admitted to the Victoria Hospital, while some were shifted into some private hospitals.
Doctors say that it is food poisoning.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Poisoning
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) said a Salmonella outbreak has been linked to food from Carnicerias Guanajuato at 3140 N. California Avenue.
CDPH now says 30 people have come down with Salmonella after eating there, and CDPH warns there may be others.
The taqueria has been closed since September 8, and CDPH said the owners are cooperating with an investigation into the specific source of the infections.
Anyone who has eaten any prepared food from Carnicerias Guanajuato’s taqueria or the prepared food section of the grocery store since Aug. 29 might have been exposed to Salmonella.
CDPH records show the taqueria was inspected on September 8 due to suspected food poisoning, and inspectors found raw beef and raw shelled eggs were being stored above ready-to-eat sliced lettuce inside a prep cooler in the restaurant.
The restaurant was issued a citation for improper food storage and was instructed to properly store raw foods to avoid cross-contamination with prepared foods.
CDPH said anyone who suffered symptoms of salmonella after eating food from Carnicerias Guanajuato should contact them at outbreak@cityofchicago.org to file a suspected food poisoning complaint.
In Michigan, the Oakland County Health Division is reporting a suspected case of hepatitis A associated with the Ivy Lounge at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston.
The Health Division advises all season members, their guests, and staff who consumed food at the Ivy Lounge between Aug. 26 and Sept. 8 to monitor for symptoms and, if unvaccinated for hepatitis A, to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“The risk of transmission in this specific situation is low,” said Dr. Russell Faust, Oakland County medical director. “If you have not been vaccinated, get vaccinated. If given within 14 days after exposure, the vaccine can prevent the disease.”
Unvaccinated people who were possibly exposed to hepatitis A from Sept. 1-8 at the Ivy Lounge are encouraged to receive the vaccine by the 14-day deadline.
Most foodborne infections increased in the Netherlands in 2022 compared to the year before, according to the latest figures.
The most notable outbreak was when 72 people contracted typhoid fever on a ship that housed asylum seekers. It was likely that they were infected by Salmonella Typhi through the ship’s drinking water supply, which was old and located near sewage pipes. There was also a shigellosis outbreak related to travel to Cape Verde that continued into 2023.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections saw a sharp rise, with levels in 2022 the highest since 2016. The cause for this increase is unclear, according to the report published by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
The number of people sick due to Salmonella or Campylobacter increased this past year, though it did not reach pre-pandemic levels. However, the number of people affected by norovirus did reach 2020 levels. Listeria infections also rose above pre-pandemic levels.
Posted in Campylobacter, campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella, STEC, STEC E.coli
| Date |
Ref | Pathogen or Cause of Illness |
Product(s) Linked to Illnesses (if any) |
Total Case Count |
Status |
| 8/30/2023 | 1179 | Salmonella Newport |
Not Yet Identified |
8 | Active |
| 8/30/2023 | 1174 | Cryptosporidium | Not Yet Identified |
11 | Active |
| 8/9/2023 | 1172 | Listeria monocytogenes |
Ice Cream | See Advisory |
Active |
| 7/6/2023 | 1163 | Cyclospora cayetanensis |
Not Yet Identified |
140 | Active |
| 6/14/2023 | 1159 | Cyclospora cayetanensis |
Not Yet Identified |
72 | Active |
| 3/1/2023 | 1143 | Hepatitis A Virus |
Frozen Strawberries |
See Advisory |
Active |
Posted in Cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Hepatitis A, Illness, Listeria, Listeria Ice Cream, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella
Alberta Health Services (AHS) has now reported that the Fueling Brains Day Care E. coli outbreak includes 264 lab-confirmed cases. On Tuesday, an AHS spokesperson confirmed 33 more cases had been linked to the outbreak in the past day.
The provincial health authority said there are now 25 patients in hospital.
Since the outbreak was declared at the start of last week, 12 patients have been discharged from hospital.
21 children have been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Six of those are presently receiving dialysis.
FoodWorld 