Category Archives: Food Inspections

Research -EU study reveals that most Listeria outbreaks remain undetected

Posted on October 9, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Barfblog

More than half of the severe listeriosis cases in the European Union belong to clusters, many of which are not being picked up fast enough by the current surveillance system, suggests a new article published in Eurosurveillance.

The large-scale study looked into listeriosis epidemiology through whole genome sequencing and found that this method, when implemented at EU-level, could lead to faster detection of multi-country outbreaks, saving up to 5 months of the investigations.

The study, coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), analysed 2 726 human Listeria monocytogenes isolates from 27 countries between 2010 and 2015.

It found that slightly under 50% of the cases are isolated whereas the remaining half of cases is clustered together. Around one third of the cases that were identified as part of a cluster affected more than one country, often lasting for several years. However, only two listeriosis outbreaks were reported in the EU in 2016 and five in 2015, which suggests that many of them have gone undetected.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

UK- Seven sick in UK from Salmonella in liquid egg whites

Posted on October 8, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Authorities in the United Kingdom and Ireland are investigating Salmonella illnesses linked to a brand of liquid egg whites.

Seven confirmed cases of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported in the UK and one suspected infection is under investigation in Ireland. One batch of Dr. Zak’s Barn Farmed Liquid Egg White 970 ml from France with raw material from Spain was recalled on Sept. 17 followed by other batches on Sept. 21.

Salmonella was found in two batches — the first with the use-by date Dec. 12, 2018, and lot number 18163BN2A, the second with a use-by date of Dec. 29, 2018, and lot number 18180BN2A. A precautionary recall was made for batches with a use-by date of Dec. 29, 2018, and lot number 18180BN2B and use-by date of Feb. 2, 2019, with lot number 18228BN2A.

A high count of Enterobacteriaceae at 9,500 most-probable-number per gram and high aerobic plate count with 6,700 colony forming units per gram were also found in the product.

Public Health England told Food Safety News that it is investigating the outbreak of Salmonella affecting people who consumed the nationally distributed liquid egg white product that was recalled by the Food Standards Agency.

Illnesses have been reported in different parts of England since Aug. 17, with the most recent case having an onset date of Sept. 3. Cases linked to the outbreak strain have been confirmed through whole genome sequencing.

Three cases have reported consumption of Dr. Zak’s Barn Farmed Liquid Egg White while four infections are still under investigation.

“Most of those affected have now recovered. However, Salmonella can cause a serious infection in those with weakened immune systems or in vulnerable groups including babies, the elderly or pregnant women,” said Dr. Nick Phin, deputy director of the National Infection Service at PHE.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA -Hepatitis A Linked to Doino’s Pizzeria Bar & Grille

Posted on October 8, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Erie County Health reports that a recent cases of Hepatitis A have been connected to a restaurant on Harlem Rd. in Cheektowaga.Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says three people who recently ate at Doino’s Pizzeria Bar & Grille became infected with Hepatitis A.

A food handler at the restaurant is among the infected.

Anyone who ate at Doino’s between August 20 and Sept. 3 should monitor themselves for symptoms.

Food Poison Journal

 

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized

USA – Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods Recalls Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Posted on October 8, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FSIS USDA

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2018 – Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, a Richmond, Va. establishment, is recalling approximately 18,296 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry deli-sliced products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The ready-to-eat meat and poultry deli-sliced products items were produced and packaged from Sept. 14, 2018 through Oct. 3, 2018. To view the list of the recalled products, click here, [View Labels here (PDF only)].

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST.19979” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The problem was discovered on Oct. 4, 2018, when FSIS received notification from the establishment that they had received and processed products implicated in FSIS Recall 084-2018.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

UK – Brit girl, 19, spends 11 days in intensive care after being struck down with E. coli infection in same Egyptian resort couple died

Posted on October 8, 2018 by | Leave a comment

The Sun ecoli

A TEEN girl spent 11 days in intensive care after being struck down with an E. coli infection at the same Egyptian resort a Brit couple died for the same illness.

Anna Doherty, 19, said she became ill after succumbing to an infection while staying at the Jasmine Palace Hotel in the resort of Hurghada.

It comes as it was revealed yesterday that John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, died as a result of an E. coli infection while holidaying in the same resort.

Anna travelled to the Red Sea resort with her dad and sister in March 2018, and they stayed there for ten days.

Half way into their stay at the all-inclusive hotel, Anna recalled how she began to feel extremely unwell, suffering symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea.

After visiting the on-site doctors’ clinic, Anna said she was told she had a water infection and was given an injection and antibiotics.

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Posted in E.coli, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Uncategorized

USA – Tolleson plant with recalled beef had ‘egregious’ livestock practices, notice says – Salmonella

Posted on October 8, 2018 by | Leave a comment

AZ Central

More than 6.5 million pounds of raw beef products were voluntarily recalled Thursday from a decades-old plant in Tolleson where federal officials had previously complained about “egregious” and “inhumane” livestock conditions.

The Tolleson facility is operated by Brazilian company JBS S/A’s U.S. subsidiary, JBS USA. Officials said the meat may be contaminated with Salmonella Newport, a strain of the bacteria that is a common cause of food poisoning.

The recall announcement came more than a year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent an enforcement notice to the company’s president and months after one of the company’s plants in North Carolina recalled 35,000 pounds of raw ground beef.

JBS also is the majority owner of the Pilgrim’s Pride line, which in February recalled more than 101,000 pounds of breaded chicken due to possible foreign-matter contamination.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – Working Cow Homemade, Inc. Recalls Product Because of Possible Health Risk

Posted on October 8, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FDA 

Working Cow Homemade Ice Cream, Inc. of St. Petersburg, FL is conducting a voluntary recall of No Sugar Added Vanilla and No Sugar Added Chocolate ice cream manufactured in three-gallon tubs during the month of May 2018. The recall is being conducted due to a potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Working Cow customers include ice cream parlors, independent living facilities and restaurants throughout the state of Florida. The no sugar added ice cream is packaged in plastic yellow three-gallon tubs marked with a label including product name and “born-on” date. The born-on date refers to the manufacturing date. Working Cow is working with 152 retail customers to recall the potentially affected products.

This recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) following notification of a recent consumer case in Florida which has been linked to a strain of Listeria monocytogenes found to be present at the Working Cow manufacturing facility during environmental sampling in 2017. Although subsequent environmental sampling has yet to yield positive test results, investigations are ongoing to ensure root cause has been properly addressed. No other illnesses have been reported.

Working Cow Homemade, Inc. takes the safety and integrity of our products very seriously. Our families also consume these products and we are working tirelessly to identify the cause of the problem and permanently fix it, so that any product made at Working Cow will continue to have the complete confidence of our customers and consumers.

Any customers with this specific product on hand are asked to contact Working Cow for proper return and credit. Additional questions may be directed to the Working Cow Headquarters at 877-320-2269, Mon-Fri between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM EDT.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Callie’s Charleston Biscuits Issues Voluntary Product Recall for Country Ham Biscuits and Cocktail Ham Biscuits Produced Using Johnston County Hams

Posted on October 8, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Johnston County Hams, Inc. issued a voluntary recall on October 3, 2018 for approximately 89,096 pounds of ready-to-eat ham products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. In response, Callie’s Charleston Biscuits, LLC is issuing a voluntary product recall for two products that may contain the potentially affected Johnston County Hams.

The following products are subject to recall :

Callie’s Charleston Biscuits – Country Ham Biscuits UPC: 897856002001
Callie’s Charleston Biscuits – Cocktail Ham Biscuits UPC: 897856002049

View Product Labels [Link)

“At the core of our business is making sure that our customers and community are receiving the best possible products. We have a plan in place that we were hoping to never use. We acted immediately with every possible precaution to ensure the safety of our customers. To our loyal retailers, we have a contingency plan in place and do not foresee any major disruptions in our service. ” says founder Carrie Morey. Callie’s Charleston Biscuits is not aware of any illness reports at this time related to the Callie’s Charleston Biscuits voluntarily recalled products.

The product was produced and shipped between April 3, 2017 and October 3, 2018 and distributed to customers nationwide. Images of the affected labels are included with this notice for easy identification.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Johnston County Hams Recalls Ready-To-Eat Ham Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

Posted on October 8, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FSIS USDA 

Listeria kswfoodworld food safety food poisoning

Image CDC

 

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2018 – Johnston County Hams, a Smithfield, N.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 89,096 pounds of ready-to-eat ham products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The ready-to-eat deli-loaf ham items were produced from April 3, 2017 to Oct. 2, 2018. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF only)]

  • Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “JOHNSTON COUNTY HAMS, INC. COUNTRY STYLE FULLY COOKED BONELESS DELI HAM.”
  • Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “Ole Fashioned Sugar Cured The Old Dominion Brand Hams Premium Fully Cooked Country Ham” with Sell-By dates from 4/10/2018 to 9/27/2019.
  • Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “Padow’s Hams & Deli, Inc. FULLY COOKED COUNTRY HAM BONELESS Glazed with Brown Sugar.”
  • Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “Premium Fully Cooked Country Ham LESS SALT Distributed By: Valley Country Hams LLC” with Sell-By dates from 4/10/2018 to 9/27/2019.
  • Varying weights of 7 to 8-lbs. plastic-wrapped “GOODNIGHT BROTHERS COUNTRY HAM Boneless Fully Cooked.”

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. M2646” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distributors in Maryland, North Carolina, New York, South Carolina and Virginia.

On September 27, 2018, FSIS was notified that a person ill with listeriosis reported consuming a ham product produced at Johnston County Hams. Working in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state public health and agriculture partners, FSIS determined that there is a link between the Listeria monocytogenes illnesses and ham products produced at Johnston County Hams. The epidemiologic investigation identified a total of four listeriosis confirmed illnesses, including one death, between July 8, 2017 and August 11, 2018. FSIS collected two deli ham product samples from the Johnston County Hams, Inc. facility in 2016 and in early 2018. Whole genome sequencing results showed that Listeria monocytogenes identified in deli ham both years was closely related genetically to Listeria monocytogenes from ill people. FSIS is continuing to work with federal and state public health partners to determine if there are additional illnesses linked to these products and will provide updated information should it become available.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, FSIS, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized, USDA

UK – Two kids from the same family die after catching food poisoning bug E.coli

Posted on October 8, 2018 by | Leave a comment

The Sun

Two children from the same family have died after contracting the deadly food poisoning bug E.coli, health bosses have confirmed.

The children, whose ages have not yet been released, were from the Charnwood area of Leicestershire and had been treated for the bug in the last two weeks.

Public Health England confirmed the deaths today and revealed it’s working with environmental health officers after two cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome were confirmed in the siblings.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a serious complication of E.coli which affects the kidneys, eventually causing them to shut down.

Dr Lauren Ahyow, consultant in communicable disease control at PHE East Midlands, said: “E. coli is an infection that causes a spectrum of illness ranging from mild through to severe bloody diarrhoea, mostly without fever.

“Sometimes the infection can cause a condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome which affects the kidneys and can be very serious.

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Posted in E.coli, food death, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Uncategorized