Category Archives: Food Microbiology Research

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

Posted on December 15, 2022 by | Leave a comment

fda

What’s New

  • While FDA’s overall response regarding powdered infant formula is continuing, this investigation of Cronobacter illnesses linked to powdered infant formula (reference #1056) has been marked as closed. Resources for Parents and Caregivers are available on the FDA website and additional updates will be provided as needed.
  • The outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield linked to seafood (reference #1105) is over and the FDA investigation has closed. 
  • The outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to Brie and Camembert Cheese (reference #1106) is over and the FDA investigation has closed. 
  • The case count for the outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium has increased from 270 to 274 cases.

Leave a comment

Posted in Cronobacter sakazakii, cross contamination, Decontamination Microbial, FDA, 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, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella

Hong Kong – Test results of microbiological quality of poon choi all satisfactory

Posted on December 15, 2022 by | Leave a comment

CFS

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (December 5) announced the test results of a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on the microbiological quality of poon choi. A total of 30 samples were collected and all passed the tests.
     
A CFS spokesman said, “As poon choi is popular for gatherings during winter, and there were previous cases of bacterial food poisoning associated with poon choi, the CFS has continued to conduct a seasonal food surveillance project this year to assess the microbiological quality of poon choi. A total of 30 poon choi samples were collected from different retailers (including online retailers) for testing of common food poisoning organisms including Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Salmonella, coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.”
     
Despite the satisfactory results of all samples tested, the spokesman reminded members of the public to be careful when purchasing and enjoying this seasonal delicacy. He advised consumers to order poon choi from licensed and reliable shops, reheat poon choi thoroughly before consumption, consume the food as soon as possible or keep the food at temperatures above 60 degrees Celsius, avoid prolonged storage of poon choi at room temperature to reduce the risk of bacteria growth, and stop consuming the food if it tastes or smells abnormal.

Leave a comment

Posted in CFS, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Seafood (October 2022) – FDA’s investigation is complete. CDC declares outbreak over

Posted on December 15, 2022 by | Leave a comment

FDA

The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, investigated a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Litchfield infections linked to fresh, raw salmon supplied to restaurants in California and Arizona by Mariscos Bahia, Inc. 

As of December 14, 2022, CDC announced that the outbreak is over. CDC reports a total of 39 illnesses in four states. The last illness onset was October 23, 2022.

As part of this investigation, FDA and the California Department of Public Health conducted a joint inspection at Mariscos Bahia, Inc., Pico Rivera, CA and collected environmental samples from the facility. Multiple samples collected from the firm came back positive for Salmonella. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) indicated the Salmonella detected in at least one of the swabs from the facility matched the strain causing illnesses in this outbreak. The epidemiological evidence indicated that ill people consumed fresh, raw salmon processed at this firm; however, the presence of Salmonella in the processing environment also indicated that additional types of fish processed in the same area of the facility could have been contaminated.

On October 20, 2022, Mariscos Bahia, Inc., Pico Rivera, CA initiated a voluntary recall. Recalled products included fresh, raw salmon along with all other types of fresh fish processed in the same area as the salmon which included fresh, raw halibut, Chilean seabass, tuna, and swordfish.

Recommendation

According to Mariscos Bahia, Inc., seafood was only sold directly to restaurants in California and Arizona and would not be available for purchase by consumers in retail stores. The firm contacted direct restaurant customers that received recalled product. Recalled seafood was sold fresh and is now past shelf-life unless it was frozen after purchase.

Restaurants who might have purchased or received recalled fresh, raw salmon, halibut, Chilean seabass, tuna, or swordfish from Mariscos Bahia, Inc. (Pico Rivera, CA, and Phoenix, AZ) between June 14 – October 17, 2022, should check their freezers and throw away recalled product. Restaurants should also be sure to wash and sanitize locations where recalled fish from Mariscos Bahia, Inc. were stored or prepared. 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Decontamination Microbial, 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

Austria – Black Pepper – Salmonella

Posted on December 15, 2022 by | Leave a comment

AGES

AGES informs about a recall of the company dm drogerie markt GmbH. The company recalled the product dmBio black pepper, whole grains, 70 g on December 14th, 2022:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 © dm drogerie markt GmbH
recall reason
Salmonella
Marketed by
dm drugstore market GmbH
Manufacturer
dm drugstore market GmbH
Expiry Date
11/01/2025

dm drogerie markt is recalling the item “dmBio pepper black, whole grains,
70 g” for reasons of preventive consumer protection. Goods with a best before date of 09/2025 and 11/2025 are affected .

Reason for the recall: It cannot be ruled out that salmonella may occur in the article mentioned above. This was determined during internal controls. Eating foods contaminated with salmonella can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and occasionally vomiting and a slight fever. The symptoms usually go away on their own after a few days. A doctor should be consulted if symptoms are severe or persistent.

Other products in the dmBio range are not affected. The best before date (MHD) is easy to see on the back of the packaging.

Customers are asked not to consume the product with the above-mentioned BBD and to return it to the dm branches unopened or already opened. The purchase price will of course be refunded – even without presenting the receipt.

If you have any questions, the dm customer service is available: 0800 – 365 86 33 (free of charge) Mon – Fri 07:30 – 17:30 or kundenservice@dm.at

original recall

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Testing, Salmonella, Salmonella in Black Pepper, Uncategorized

North Korea – Pyongyang food poisoning outbreak likely caused by government distributed dairy products

Posted on December 15, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Daily NK

A rash of food poisoning cases was recently reported in Pyongyang by families who had consumed the dairy products that the North Korean government distributes to children under the age of five years old, Daily NK has learned.

A source in Pyongyang told Daily NK on Tuesday that around a dozen parents and children under the age of five in the Taesong District of Pyongyang were taken to the hospital after reporting symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting.

An investigation found that everyone in the group began to experience symptoms after consuming dairy products supplied by their neighborhood government office.

Children in North Korea are given dairy products, including powdered milk and fresh milk, as one of the North Korean government’s flagship childcare initiatives. North Korea is currently combating an extremely low birth rate.

Leave a comment

Posted in Decontamination Microbial, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Poisoning

India – Food poisoning: 40 girl students taken ill in Julurpad

Posted on December 15, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Deccan Chronicle

Kothagudem: Nearly 40 students of the Government Residential Girls School at Padamata Narasapuram in Julurpad mandal fell ill after taking food that was not cooked properly.

About 29 girls complained of stomach ache, vomiting and motions on Monday night. The school staff took them to the PHC in Julurpad. Even as they were under treatment, another 11 were brought to the PHC with the same complaint.

P. Nandita, of Class VIII, said she consumed rice that was not boiled well. “We faced an unbearable stomach ache followed by vomiting,” she said, Madhu Sri, another student, said, “I had loose motion in the morning and we are fine after taking the medicines.”

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Poisoning

EFSA- Campylobacter Story Map

Posted on December 13, 2022 by | Leave a comment

EFSA

The most clinically relevant  species  are Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) and C. coli, which are responsible for almost 95% of Campylobacter-associated diarrheal diseases. Other emerging species have been recently identified as human or animal pathogens. The involvement of some of these species in human disease is still unclear.

Campylobacter are a group of small, curved, gram-negative, non-spore-forming, motile bacteria with a single polar flagellum or bipolar flagella.

Thermotolerant Campylobacter species (e.g. C. jejuni, C. coli) are able to grow at temperatures between 37° and 42˚C but not below 30˚C, while strains of non-thermotolerant Campylobacter species (e.g. C. fetus subsp. venerealis, C. fetus subsp. fetus) may not grow at 42˚C. Generally, they are highly sensitive to oxygen, desiccation, osmotic stress, and low  pH , and they cannot grow in foods during handling or storage at room temperature in moderate climates. Freezing reduces the number of viable Campylobacter, but it must nevertheless be stressed that the bacteria can survive extended periods of refrigeration and freezing.

Leave a comment

Posted in Campylobacter, Decontamination Microbial, EFSA, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

EFSA – Campylobacter Dashboard

Posted on December 13, 2022 by | Leave a comment

EFSA

The EFSA dashboard on Campylobacter is a graphical user interface for searching and querying the large amount of data collected each year by EFSA from EU Member States and other reporting countries based on Zoonoses Directive 2003/99/EC. The Campylobacter dashboard shows summary statistics for the monitoring results of the pathogen with regard to major food categories, Campylobacter-positive official samples exceeding the Process Hygiene Criterion limit of 1,000 CFU/g for chilled broiler carcases and the occurrence of Campylobacter in major food categories. The Campylobacter data and related statistics can be displayed interactively using charts, graphs and maps in the online EFSA dashboard. The main statistics can also be viewed and downloaded in tabular format. Detailed information on the use and features of the Campylobacter dashboard can be found in the present user guide that can also be downloaded from the online tool.

Leave a comment

Posted in Campylobacter, campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Decontamination Microbial, EFSA, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

FSA – Foodborne Outbreaks – Story Map

Posted on December 13, 2022 by | Leave a comment

EFSA

A foodborne outbreak can be defined as “an incident in which two or more people develop the same disease or infection following the consumption of a common contaminated food”. Most of the agents implicated in foodborne outbreaks are zoonotic agents*. The severity of the disease varies in humans, with effects ranging from mild to serious illness and even death ( WHO, food safety ).

Leave a comment

Posted in Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

EFSA – Listeria monocytogenes Dashboard

Posted on December 13, 2022 by | Leave a comment

EFSA

The EFSA dashboard on Listeria monocytogenes is a graphical user interface for searching and querying the large amount of data collected each year by EFSA from EU Member States and other reporting countries based on Zoonoses Directive 2003/99/EC. The Listeria monocytogenes dashboard shows summary statistics for the monitoring results of the pathogen with regard to major ready-to-eat food categories, Listeria monocytogenes-positive official samples in the context of food safety criteria in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 and official samples exceeding the food safety criteria limit of 100 CFU/g for specified food matrices. Other monitoring statistics for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods are also displayed. The Listeria monocytogenes data and related statistics can be displayed interactively using charts, graphs and maps in the online EFSA dashboard. The main statistics can also be viewed and downloaded in tabular format. Detailed information on the use and features of the Listeria monocytogenes dashboard can be found in the present user guide that can also be downloaded from the online tool.

Leave a comment

Posted in Decontamination Microbial, EFSA, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Pathogen