Category Archives: Food Inspections

E.coli O157 – Missouri – 5 Cases – Source Unknown

MDHSS 

Ecoli Blog

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is investigating an increase in cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Central Missouri during late March and early April, 2012. Five cases of E. coli O157:H7 have been identified during this time period. Two of the cases, a two-year old child and a seventeen-month old child, reportedly have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe, life-threatening condition that may result in permanent kidney damage in some of those who survive.

The investigation is ongoing and the source of the infections has not been identified.

Canada – Beef Burger Meat Recall Salmonella

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Intercity Packers (East) Ltd are warning the public, distributors and food service establishments not to consume, sell, serve or use the beef burger meat mix described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Intercity Packers Ltd brand Beef Burger Meat Mix 80/20, is sold in 5 kg cases (each containing 2 x 2.5 kg units) bearing UPC 90066172180172 and lot code 046.  The affected product can be identified by the Establishment number (EST) 503 that appears on the outer cases. The chubs inside the case do not carry any label.

This product has been distributed to public and commercial food establishments in Ontario and Newfoundland and possibly retailers in Newfoundland. Consumers in Newfoundland are advised to check with their store of purchase to determine if they have the affected product.

America’s 10 Deadliest Outbreaks Revised

Food Safety News

The list of the 10 most deadly outbreaks of food- and waterborne illness in U.S. history, previously published by Food Safety News, has been revised for a presentation in Sacramento to the California Environmental Health Association.
 
Added to the list is a 1903 outbreak of typhoid fever in Ithaca, NY, which caused 82 deaths, among them 29 Cornell University students. 
 
The addition of the Ithaca typhoid fever outbreak to the most-deadly ranks drops from the list the 2006 E. coli O157:H7 outbreak involving bagged spinach grown at Paicines Ranch in San Benito County, California.  There were five fatalities in that outbreak, in which about 200 people became ill after eating bagged spinach.
 
The only other revision in the list involves the 1919 botulism outbreak caused by canned ripe olives, previously reported as being responsible for killing 15. The death toll was actually 19.
 
With the revisions, the nation’s deadliest foodborne outbreaks have taken the lives of 423 people, with 232 of those succumbing to typhoid fever. The other deaths were due to Listeria (93), Streptococcus (70), botulism (19) and Salmonella Typhimurium (9).
 

 

Canada Recalls – Cryptosporidium Fresh Parsley – Salmonella Sunflower Seeds

CIFA – Cryptosporidium

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume Boskovich brand fresh Parsley described below. The affected product may contain Cryptosporidium.

The affected product was sold only on March 19, 2012 from one store, Canada Safeway, 124 Primrose Dr., Lawson Heights Mall, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The product was sold in bunches enclosed with a band indicating the Boskovich brand and Product of USA.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

CIFA – Salmonella

The public warning issued on March 30, 2012has been expanded to include additional product information.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Mumm’s Sprouting Seeds Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the Mumm’s brand Sprouting Seeds described below because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following Mumm’s brand products are affected by this expanded recall:

Product Size UPC Lot #
Sprouting Seeds
Display Pack
Contains one 75g sunflower pack 7 73295 11293 1 4DPSM13
Sprouting Seeds
Best Sellers
Contains two 75g sunflower packs 7 73295 11290 0 1BSSM21

These products are known to have been distributed in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick and may have been distributed nationally.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

US – Salmonella Bareilly Outbreak – Spicy Tuna Sushi

MarlerClark

Sushi is the likely source of a Salmonella outbreak, with spicy tuna roll sushi closely associated with Salmonella illnesses.

A Salmonella serotype Bareilly outbreak has caused at least 90 cases of Salmonella in residents of 19 states and the District of Columbia.  At least 7 people have been hospitalised.

Australia – Northern Territories – Increase in Cryptosporidium

AFN 

A notable rise in the number of cases of the stomach bug Cryptosporidium in the Northern Territory has prompted the Government of the Northern Territory to urge Territorians to practice good hygiene and food safety practices.

“Cryptosporidiosis, or “crypto”, is a disease caused by the parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. It can be spread by ingesting food or water that has been contaminated by people infected by the parasite.

According to the Northern Territory Government, 114 cases have been reported so far this year.

Canada – Cheese Recall – Possible Listeria Contamination

BCCDC

The British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is warning the public not to consume Tomme d’Or cheese manufactured by Moonstruck Organic Cheese located on Saltspring Island. Other types of cheeses produced by Moonstruck Organic Cheese are not affected by this advisory.

 This health alert is the result of a routine sampling program by the BCCDC and further investigation by the manufacturer which revealed that samples of the finished products contained the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Affected products include all lot numbers of Tomme d’Or cheese. In order to ensure the health and safety of consumers, a photo of the product is provided below so the public can easily identify the product. The manufacturer is fully cooperating and assisting with the investigation.

FSA – Olympic Food Safety Campaign Launch

FSA

The Food Standards Agency has launched the Play it Safe campaign, to raise awareness of food safety during the London 2012 Games. The Agency is working with food businesses and food safety enforcement officers to ensure all food sold, cooked and eaten during the Games is safe.

The first strand of the campaign focuses on the Food Safety Squad, the 10 environmental health officers acting as ambassadors for food safety. They represent the hundreds of environmental health officers around the country who are carrying out vital work to keep visitors to the Games safe and healthy.

The campaign highlights the Agency measures being undertaken to minimise the risk of food safety incidents occurring during London 2012. These include a food safety coaching programme for small businesses in Olympic areas that are in need of improvement; funding and training initiatives for local authorities in Olympic areas; and providing extra equipment for sampling and checks on cleaning.

China – Food Poisoning Incidents Hit Rural Schools

China Daily

Seven students at a primary school in Southwest China remain in the hospital after they had eaten a free meal provided by the government and got sick, according to a local official.

The rest of the 79 students, who all attend the Babuzhen Central Primary School, in Bijie city’s Zhijin county, Guizhou province, have been discharged, according to Chen Guangshi, director of the county’s publicity department.

Eighty-six students at the school began to vomit and suffer abdominal pains after they had eaten the free breakfast on March 29.

 

Japan – Raw Beef Liver – E.coli O157

The Japan Times

A health ministry panel on Friday proposed banning all raw beef liver served at restaurants, after it was discovered that it contains the O-157 strain of E. coli bacteria.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will swiftly refer the matter to the Food Safety Commission under the Cabinet Office. Once the commission compiles a report, the new ban could be incorporated in the Food Sanitation Law and come into effect as early as June.

Violations regarding raw liver, considered a delicacy, would be punishable by up to two years in prison or a maximum fine of ¥2 million.