Category Archives: Food Microbiology Blog

USA – Mysterious outbreak sickens more than a dozen, closes restaurant

Food Safety News

State and federal officials are investigating a new outbreak of illnesses linked to an as yet unnamed restaurant.

The Food and Drug Administration has released little information about the outbreak except to say 13 people in one state are sick. All of their illnesses are linked to a single restaurant, according to an outbreak notice from the FDA.

The ages of the sick people have not been released. The FDA has not reported whether any of the patients has required hospitalization. It also has not reported what symptoms the patients have had or whether any laboratory tests have been conducted.

The agency has begun traceback efforts, but has not indicated what food or foods are involved in the traceback.

USA – FDA Core Investigation Table Update – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • For the outbreak of hepatitis A virus (ref #1143), cases have increased from 7 to 8. This change has been made on the advisory for this outbreak.
  • A new investigation has been added to the table (ref#1152). Although the pathogen/cause of illness and products linked to illnesses is not yet identified, there are 13 illnesses from one state linked to a single restaurant that has suspended operations. FDA has initiated traceback in coordination with state partners.
Date
Posted
Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness
Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses

(if any)
Total
Case
Count

Status
4/26/2023 1152 Not Yet Identified Not Yet
Identified
13 Active
3/29/2023 1141 Salmonella Infantis Raw Flour See
CDC
Investigation
Notice
Active
3/1/2023 1143 Hepatitis A Virus Frozen Organic
Strawberries
See
Outbreak
Advisory
Active
2/15/2023 1123 Listeria
monocytogenes
Not Yet
Identified
See
CDC
Investigation
Notice
Active

France – SANTANE HARPAGOPHYTUM 60 CAPSULES – E.coli

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Diet foods and nutrition
  • Product brand name SANTANA
  • Model names or references SANTANE HARPAGOPHYTUM 60 CAPSULES
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3401560061321 23-109178 Use-by date 31/01/2027
  • Packaging PILL BOX OF 60 CAPSULES
  • Marketing start/end date From 03/17/2023 to 04/21/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored at room temperature
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors Product sold in Pharmacy

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Suspicion of Escherichia coli
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Escherichia coli

France – SANTANA HARPAGOPHYTUM 160 Capsules – E.coli

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Diet foods and nutrition
  • Product brand name SANTANA
  • Model names or references SANTANE HARPAGOPHYTUM 160 CAPSULES
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3701142814490 23-108944 Use-by date 31/01/2027
    3701142814490 23-109618 Use-by date 31/01/2027
  • Packaging PILL BOX OF 160 CAPSULES
  • Marketing start/end date From 07/03/2023 to 21/04/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored at room temperature
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors Product sold in Pharmacy

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Suspicion of Escherichia coli
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Escherichia coli

Ireland – Recall of a batch of Dunnes Stores Smoky BBQ Pork Loin Chops due to the presence of Salmonella

FSAI

Summary
Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2023.09
Product: Dunnes Stores 4 Irish Smoky BBQ Quick Fry Pork Loin Chops; pack size: 400g; approval number: IE 538
Batch Code: 104; use-by date: 22/04/2023
Country Of Origin: Ireland

Message:

The above batch of Dunnes Stores 4 Irish Smoky BBQ Quick Fry Pork Loin Chops is being recalled due to the presence of Salmonella.  This batch was sold as fresh and is past it’s use-by date, however, the label states it is suitable for home freezing.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Nature Of Danger:

People infected with Salmonella typically develop symptoms between 12 and 36 hours after infection, but this can range between 6 and 72 hours.  The most common symptom is diarrhoea, which can sometimes be bloody.  Other symptoms may include fever, headache and abdominal cramps.  The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Diarrhoea can occasionally be severe enough to require hospital admission. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Action Required:

Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers:

Display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Consumers:

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch, should they have it in their freezer.
If the pork has already been eaten, cooking should remove the risk. Raw meat should always be handled hygienically when defrosting and preparing it, and also cooked thoroughly before eating it.

DS Smoky BBQ Pork Loin Chops 2

France – Tomino Piemontese Cuor di Terra – Cheese – Salmonella

RASFF

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Milk and dairy products
  • Product brand name DEFENDED
  • Model names or references 131159
  • Identification of products
    Batch Date
    1074 Use-by date 04/27/2023
  • Marketing start/end date From 03/04/2023 to 27/04/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark Caseificio Longo Srl
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors MAMMAFIORE INTERNATIONAL

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Salmonella spp (causative agent of salmonellosis)

USA – CDC – From Inspector to Investigator: Finding the Factors That Lead to Foodborne Outbreaks

You Tube

Working on an outbreak investigation? Watch our short training video to learn the importance of identifying practices and factors that contribute to the outbreak. This video can also be viewed at https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/videos/I…

USA – Food illnesses linked to Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman – a death possibly linked to mushrooms

Food Poison Journal

According to the Gallatin County Health Department, Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman is closed until further notice due to possible foodborne illnesses. The health department was notified of possible foodborne illness linked to eating at Dave’s Sushi on April 17. At this time, it is unclear what pathogen caused the illness.

On April 18, the health department performed an inspection and reportedly found Dave’s Sushi with four violations.

According to press reports, a man died after eating at the popular Bozeman restaurant, Dave’s Sushi, according to Broadwater County Sheriff Nick Rauser, who is also the county coroner. Sheriff Rauser says the 74-year-old man died at his home in Broadwater County. Sheriff Rauser says the call came in at 6:34 AM on the morning of April 18 and a relative told the responding officer that the man had eaten at Dave’s Sushi the night before, the same night the Gallatin County Health Department reported they received complaints of people becoming ill which led to the investigation and closure of the restaurant.

Dave’s Sushi will remain closed until further notice, pending a full investigation. According to a press release from the Gallatin City-County Health Department, the illnesses have been linked to eating at Dave’s Sushi on the afternoon of April 17, as well as April 1, April 8, April 9, and April 10.

Canada releases updated policy on Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods

Food Safety News

Health Canada has released an updated version of its “Policy on Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Foods,” which replaces the previous version from 2011.

The updated policy 2023 was created by Health Canada with input from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Public Health Agency of Canada to safeguard the health and safety of Canadians. The updated policy is designed to provide guidance on activities related to Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods for effective control measures, ensuring the early identification of Listeria in food processing environments. The policy takes into account the roles and responsibilities of government, industry and consumers.

The Listeria policy will be effective beginning Oct. 1 with the previous version of the policy remaining effective until that date. The Food and Drugs Act and Regulations apply to all food sold in Canada, including food traded at interprovincial and intraprovincial levels, whereas the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations apply primarily to imported or exported food or food traded interprovincially or territorially for commercial purposes.

Health Canada is responsible for administering the Food and Drugs Act’s provisions related to public health, safety and nutrition. The updated Listeria policy is intended to support the interpretation and application of the Act. Health Canada’s policy provides guidance on the manufacturing, preparation, packaging, preservation and storage of food for sale under unhygienic conditions, and the sale of ready-to-eat foods containing Listeria monocytogenes exceeding the specified levels may be considered a violation of the Food and Drugs Act.

USA- CDC – BEAM Dashboard – (Bacteria, Enterics, Amoeba, and Mycotics)

CDC

The BEAM (Bacteria, Enterics, Amoeba, and Mycotics) Dashboard is an interactive tool to access and visualize data from the System for Enteric Disease Response, Investigation, and Coordination (SEDRIC). The BEAM Dashboard provides timely data on pathogen trends and serotype details to inform work to prevent illnesses from food and animal contact. Currently, the dashboard focuses on data for Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Shigella and Campylobacter bacteria and multistate outbreaks, but it will eventually include additional pathogens, antimicrobial resistance data, and epidemiologic data from outbreak investigations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For additional questions, please contact simso@cdc.gov. Please take BEAM Dashboard Evaluation Survey if you would like to provide any feedback or have any comments.