Category Archives: Food Poisoning

Sweden and Denmark – Yersinia outbreak update in Sweden and Denmark

Outbreak News Today

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In a follow-up on the Yersinia enterocolitica outbreak ongoing in Sweden and Denmark, health officials from both countries in this cross-border outbreak to a cumulative total of 57. 
In Sweden the outbreak tally has reached 37, as of May 3. Health officials say that previous suspicions of a link to Latvian carrots has proven to have no connection.

Sweden has begun a case-control study to search for foods that the disease cases have eaten and which differ from what controls have eaten.

While in Denmark, a total of 20 people are part of the outbreak. The investigation shows that the source of infection was probably fresh spinach.

USA – ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 Outbreak Sickens 17

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 outbreak has sickened 17 people in 8 states, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Three of those patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The notice did not state whether or not any patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of this type of infection.

ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 Outbreak Sickens 17

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Carrau Linked to Pre-cut Melons

FDA

 

May 24, 2019

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, have been investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Carrau illnesses linked to pre-cut melon products.

The FDA continues its investigation at the Caito Foods, LLC processing facility that cut and packed melons linked to this outbreak. The FDA investigated distribution and supplier information for these melons; a single source or potential point of contamination was not identified for this outbreak.

Today, the CDC announced that the outbreak appears to be over.

Recommendation

On April 12, 2019, FDA warned consumers not to eat the recalled pre-cut melon products.  It is not likely that any of these melon products are on the market or still in people’s homes.  Consumers need not avoid any type of melon currently on the market.

Research – Rapid detection of single viable Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells in milk by flow cytometry

Wiley Online

kswfoodworld E.coli O157

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Abstract

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E coli O157:H7) is a highly virulent bacterial strain that is present in food, and as few as 10 cells can cause severe diseases. Rapid and sensitive bacterial detection is urgently required. In this study, we report a flow cytometry (FCM)‐based method for detecting E coli O157:H7 at the single‐cell level. Single E coli O157:H7 cells were obtained by a flow cytometric cell sorter and then artificially added to milk. Next, using BHI for 6.5 hr of enrichment, isolation of target cells, and dual staining, this method could be applied to detect single viable E coli O157:H7 cells in 25 mL of milk. The time to results (TTR) of the FCM‐based method was 7 hr.

Practical applications

The plate‐based method is the currently recommended method for detection of single E coli O157:H7 cells in milk because of the ease of operation. However, this method is time‐consuming, requiring enrichment of the target organism to attain quantifiable levels. Accordingly, rapid detection of microorganisms in milk would be of great benefit to public health. Flow cytometry (FCM) is a sensitive technique that can be used to rapidly analyze foodborne pathogens. Unfortunately, little attention has been paid to single‐cell detection in milk. This study provides a rapid method for detection of single viable E coliO157:H7 cells in milk. This method has the potential to provide effective protection against E coli O157:H7 contamination and is required for rapid detection of microorganisms in dairy products.

RASFF Alert – Histamine – Canned Tuna

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RASFF – histamine (587; 110 mg/kg – ppm) in canned tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) from Ecuador in Germany

RASFF Alert -Vibrio vulnificus – Frozen Shrimps

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RASFF – Vibrio vulnificus (presence /25g) in frozen shrimps (Penaeus vannamei) from Honduras in the Netherlands

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Raisins – Sweet Paprika – Liquorice Roots

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RASFF – ochratoxin A (17 µg/kg – ppb) in raisins from Turkey in France

RASFF – ochratoxin A (30 µg/kg – ppb) in sweet paprika from unknown origin, packaged in Italy, via Spain in Italy

RASFF – ochratoxin A (107.4 µg/kg – ppb) in liquorice roots from Azerbaijan in Ireland

RASFF Alerts- Aflatoxin – Basmati Rice – Groundnuts -Hazlenuts

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 4.49 µg/kg – ppb) in basmati rice from Italy in France

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 22.9; Tot. = 25.6 µg/kg – ppb) in unshelled groundnuts from Egypt in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 102.1; Tot. = 115.4 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts in shell from Egypt in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 4.1 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 41.6; Tot. = 46.8 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey in the Czech Republic

USA – Raw Beef Recalled over E. coli worries

Food Poison Journal

Aurora Packing Company, Inc., a North Aurora, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 62,112 pounds of raw beef 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 raw beef products were packaged on April 19, 2019. This spreadsheet contains a list of the products subject to recall.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 788” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped nationwide for further distribution and processing.

The problem was discovered during traceback activities in response to random sample testing by FSIS. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

USA – FDA Investigates Shigella Illnesses Linked to Imported Raw Oysters

FDA

 

The FDA is investigating a subset of a larger outbreak investigation being conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Between the harvesting dates of February 12, 2019 and April 9, 2019, five ill patients reported eating raw oysters shortly before becoming ill with Shigella flexneri. One of the five patients was hospitalized; there have been no deaths. The last illness onset was April 17, 2019. Laboratory analyses were used to confirm that reported clinical illnesses matched pathogens found in product samples and traceback information indicated the implicated shellfish were harvested from Estero El Cardon, in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

The FDA confirmed that oysters harvested in Estero El Cardon, Baja California Sur, Mexico, were distributed to California, Nevada, New York, and Arizona with illnesses reported in California, Nevada and New Hampshire. The New Hampshire case reported eating at a restaurant in California shortly before becoming ill. It is possible that additional states received these potentially contaminated oysters either directly from Mexico or through further distribution within the U.S.

On May 7, 2019, the Mexican Shellfish Sanitation Program authorities voluntarily closed the growing area of Estero El Cardon and halted oyster harvesting in response to the reported illnesses. The shelf-life of fresh, raw oysters is limited. All raw oysters from this growing area are no longer expected to be available to consumers. For more information please see www.issc.org/noticesExternal Link Disclaimer.