Category Archives: Food Poisoning

USA – Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Chopped Romaine Lettuce – CDC Update

Posted on April 19, 2018 | Leave a comment

CDC Eurofins Food Testing UK

What’s New?

  • Eighteen more ill people have been added to this investigation since the last update on April 13, 2018.
  • Five more states have reported ill people: Alaska, Arizona, California, Louisiana, and Montana.
  • Nine more hospitalizations have been reported, including two people who developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.

 

Highlights

  • Information collected to date indicates that chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region could be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and could make people sick.
    • At this time, no common grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified.
  • Advice to Consumers(https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/advice-consumers.html):
    • Consumers anywhere in the United States who have store-bought chopped romaine lettuce at home, including salads and salad mixes containing chopped romaine lettuce, should not eat it and should throw it away, even if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick. If you do not know if the lettuce is romaine, do not eat it and throw it away.
    • Before purchasing romaine lettuce at a grocery store or eating it at a restaurant, confirm with the store or restaurant that it is not chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region. If you cannot confirm the source of the romaine lettuce, do not buy it or eat it.
  • Advice to Restaurants and Retailers(https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/advice-consumers.html):
    • Restaurants and retailers should not serve or sell any chopped romaine lettuce, including salads and salad mixes containing chopped romaine lettuce, from the Yuma, Arizona growing region.
    • Restaurants and retailers should ask their suppliers about the source of their chopped romaine lettuce.
  • CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157:H7) infections.
  • 53 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 16 states.
    • 31 people have been hospitalized, including five people who have developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
    • No deaths have been reported.
  • This investigation is ongoing, and CDC will provide updates when more information is available.

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Posted in CDC, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Uncategorized

Canada – Certain Smith Snacks brand products recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on April 19, 2018 | Leave a comment

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, April 18, 2018 – Smith Snacks Ltd. is recalling certain Smith Snacks products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Smith Snacks Ultimate BBQ Rib Sub None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00023 9
Smith Snacks Bacon Cheese Hot Dog None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00002 4
Smith Snacks Chicken Club Twister Wrap None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00045 1
Smith Snacks Deli Twister Wrap None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00075 8
Smith Snacks Small Sub None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00026 0
Smith Snacks Chuck Wagon Sub None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00007 9
Smith Snacks Pizza Sub None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00025 3
Smith Snacks Large Pizza Sub None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00016 1
Smith Snacks Large Sub None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00017 8
Smith Snacks Deli Deluxe Sub None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00065 9
Smith Snacks Hungry Human Sub None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00058 1
Smith Snacks Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwich None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00005 5
Smith Snacks Chicken Club Kaiser None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00059 8
Smith Snacks Triple Stack Kaiser None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00160 1
Smith Snacks Bacon & Cheese Double Burger None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00009 3
Smith Snacks Twin Pack Burgers None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00030 7
Smith Snacks Turkey & Dressing Sandwich None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00032 1
Smith Snacks Whole Wheat Turkey & Dressing Sandwich None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00032 1
Smith Snacks Hot Club Sandwich None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00034 5
Smith Snacks Turkey Sandwich None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00033 8
Smith Snacks Whole Wheat Turkey Sandwich None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00033 8
Smith Snacks Blackforest Ham & Cheddar Sandwich None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00036 9
Smith Snacks Whole Wheat Blackforest Ham & Cheddar Sandwich None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00036 9
Smith Snacks Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00035 2
Smith Snacks Whole Wheat Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00035 2
Smith Snacks Cinnamon Swirl None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00158 8
Smith Snacks Apple Turnover None All Best Before dates up to and including May 2, 2018 6 23858 00091 8
Smith Snacks Blueberry Turnover None All Best Before dates up to and including May 2, 2018 6 23858 00105 2
Smith Snacks Banana Bread None All Best Before dates up to and including May 11, 2018 6 23858 00164 9
Smith Snacks Pound Cake None All Best Before dates up to and including May 19, 2018 6 23858 00166 3

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Posted in CFIA, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Recall, Uncategorized

South Africa -Listeriosis: Four more killed, death toll approaches 200

Posted on April 18, 2018 | Leave a comment

The South African

More than 16 months after this listeriosis outbreak began, the disease is still claiming lives across South Africa.

Although the amount of deaths per week is on the decline, listeriosis remains a highly dangerous threat. On 4 March, the source of the outbreak was traced back to Enterprise Foods’ Polokwane facility.

Full product recalls were issued for all ready-to-eat foods produced by both Enterprise Foods and Rainbow Chicken.

How many people has Listeriosis killed?

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) released a report over the weekend which now places the death toll at 193 – that’s four more fatalities in the last week.

The disease particularly affects elderly citizens and neo-natal infants – babies aged 28 days or less. A staggering 81 deaths attributed to this outbreak have been of newborns.

 

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Posted in Death, food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak, south africa, Uncategorized

USA – FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Likely Linked to Chopped Romaine from Yuma Growing Region

Posted on April 16, 2018 | Leave a comment

FDA

Fast Facts

  • The FDA is investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses likely linked to chopped romaine lettuce sourced from the winter growing areas in Yuma, Arizona.
  • The CDC reports that 35 people in 11 states have become ill. These people reported becoming ill in the time period of March 22, 2018 to March 31, 2018. Twenty-six (93%) of 28 people interviewed reported consuming romaine lettuce in the week before their illness started. Most people reported eating a salad at a restaurant, and romaine lettuce was the only common ingredient identified among the salads eaten. The restaurants reported using bagged, chopped romaine lettuce to make salads. At this time, ill people are not reporting whole heads or hearts of romaine.
  • Preliminary information collected by FDA, in conjunction with federal, state, and local partners, indicates that the chopped romaine lettuce that ill people ate was likely grown or originated from the winter growing areas in Yuma, Arizona. No specific grower, supplier, distributor, or brand has been identified at this time.
  • The FDA recommends that consumers ask restaurants and other food service establishments where their romaine lettuce originated, and avoid chopped romaine lettuce that originated from Yuma, Arizona. If you cannot confirm the source of the romaine lettuce, do not buy it or eat it. If you have already purchased products containing chopped romaine lettuce, including bagged salads, salad mixes, or prepared salads, throw them away.
  • The FDA is continuing to investigate this outbreak and will share more information as it becomes available.
  • Consumers who have symptoms of STEC infection should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care. Although many infections resolve in 5-7 days, they can result in serious illness, including a potentially serious condition called hemolytic uremic syndrome.
  • The current outbreak is not related to a recent multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections from November to December 2017 linked to leafy greens consumption. People in the previous outbreak were infected with a different DNA fingerprint of E. coli O157:H7 bacteria.

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Posted in E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food bourne outbreak, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Uncategorized

France- Morbier and Mont d’Or cheese behind 10 deaths in France – 2015-2016 – Salmonella

Posted on April 16, 2018 | Leave a comment
Ten people died and another 80 fell ill in France after eating contaminated Morbier and Mont d’Or cheese in a salmonella outbreak that health authorities knew about, a new report has revealed.

An investigation by France Inter radio said the two cheeses made in the Franche-Comté region in the east of the country from unpasteurised milk were at the root of the outbreak in late 2015 and early 2016.

The investigation produced a document which showed that in January 2016 national health authorities had discovered an unusually high number of salmonella contaminations in France that was centred on Franche-Comté.

Five cheese making companies in the region, between them making 60 different brands, were later identified as being at the source of the contaminations that began in November 2015 and continued until April the following year.

Those who died in the outbreak were old people who were physically weak or who suffered from another illness.

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Posted in Death, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – Fresh Foods Manufacturing Co. Recalls Ready-To-Eat Salad Products Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

Posted on April 16, 2018 | Leave a comment

FSIS USDA USDA

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2018 – Fresh Foods Manufacturing Co., a Freedom, Pa., establishment, is voluntarily recalling approximately 8,757 pounds of ready-to-eat salad products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The ready-to-eat salad products were produced from April 9, 2018 to April 12, 2018 and have a shelf life of four days. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

  • 11.5 oz., clear plastic containers of ready-to-eat “CAESAR SALAD WITH CHICKEN.”  The product label is marked “Great to Go” by Market District and has a sell by date of 04/13/18-04/16/18.  The case code is 81571201542.
  • 14.4 oz., clear plastic containers of ready-to-eat “CHICKEN AND BACON” salad.  The product label is marked “Great to Go” by Market District and has a sell by date of 04/13/18 – 04/16/18.  The case code is 81571201541.
  • 14.1 oz., clear plastic containers of ready-to-eat “CHEF SALAD WITH HAM, TURKEY, & HARD-BOILED EGG.”  The product label is marked “Great to Go” by Market District and has a sell by date of 04/13/18 – 04/16/18.  The case code is 81571201543.
  • 13.1 oz., clear plastic containers of ready-to-eat “CHEF SALAD WITH HAM, TURKEY, & HARD-BOILED EGG.” The product label is marked “Great to Go” by Market District and has a sell by date of 04/13/18 – 04/16/18.  The case code is 81571201545.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “P-40211” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The problem was discovered on April 13, 2018 when Fresh Foods Manufacturing Co., received notification from their romaine lettuce supplier that the romaine lettuce used by the establishment in the products was being recalled due to E. coli O157:H7 concerns. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

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Posted in E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Uncategorized

RASFF Alert – Foodborne Uutbreak Scombroid Syndrome – Histamine- Frozen Sailfish

Posted on April 13, 2018 | Leave a comment

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-foodborne outbreak suspected (scombroid syndrome) to be caused by frozen salifish (Istiophorus albicans) from Spain in Italy.

Scombroid poisoning is a disease due to the ingestion of contaminated food (mainly fish). In scombroid poisoning, bacteria have grown during improper storage of the dark meat of the fish and the bacteria produce scombroid toxin. Scombroid toxin, or poison, is probably a combination of histamine and histamine-like chemicals. The toxin or poison does not affect everyone who ingests it.

No test is 100% reliable for assessing fish for this toxin or poison. Cooking kills the bacteria, but toxins remain in the tissues and can be absorbed after the food is ingested.

Susceptible fish include albacore, amberjack, anchovy, Australian salmon, bluefish, bonito, kahawai, herring, mackerel, mahi-mahi, needlefish, saury, sardine, skipjack, wahoo, and yellowfin tuna. Other fish and foods probably will be added to the list if testing systems for the poison improve. Affected fish may have a metallic or peppery taste.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Histamine, RASFF, Scombroid, Uncategorized