Category Archives: Food Poisoning

Viet Nam – Infected meat poisoned school kids in north Vietnam

Posted on October 9, 2018 by KSW | Leave a comment

An infection causing bacteria has been found in a school lunch that sickened 352 children in northern Vietnam last Friday.

Vu Manh Duong, Director of Ninh Binh province’s Health Department, said that tests done on food samples showed the presence of yellow staphylococcus bacteria in the lunch served to pupils at the Dinh Tien Hoang Primary School on Friday.

A quarter of the school’s 1,300 pupils were hospitalized and diagnosed with food poisoning.

Duong said that the bacteria was found in the salted shredded chicken dish, which was part of the lunch, alongside rice, fried shrimp and tomato soup.

The bacterial would have come from stale meat, improperly preserved meat, undercooked meat or unclean cooking, he added.

As soon as the cause was identified, local authorities sealed the store that supplied the shredded chicken and destroyed the remaining stock, Duong said.

The school’s caterer has also been suspended, he added.

Among the students hospitalized, one currently has tonsillitis and two others have mild fever, Duong said, adding that none of them have nausea or stomachache.

Around 953 pupils had the school lunch, served for VND15,000 ($0.65), on Friday.

The school principal Do Van Tu said the same day that all food sources were carefully chosen from reliable suppliers to ensure safety and hygiene.

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Posted in bacterial contamination, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Uncategorized

USA – Officials say tomatoes cause of Salmonella illness

Posted on October 9, 2018 by KSW | Leave a comment

News Press Food Poisoning Salmonella

ATCHISON, Kansas — Contaminated tomatoes are responsible for nearly 70 confirmed cases of gastrointestinal illness that caused several hospitalizations last month affecting attendees of a church dinner in Highland, Kansas.

Theresa Freed, deputy secretary of public affairs for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said investigators tested each dinner item served as part of an Indian taco feast on Aug. 7 at the First United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Highland after the salmonella outbreak became known. They have now ruled out every food item except tomatoes, Freed said.

“Testing of food that was served at the dinner has been completed and all tested negative for salmonella except for a sample of tomatoes that tested positive for the same strain of salmonella Newport,” Freed said, referencing one of the common strains of the pathogen.

The development poses a new concern for the department because various residents brought the tomatoes from different locations. Freed didn’t immediately answer questions from Atchison Globe on how great of a danger still exists, how many resources her department is devoting to the matter and when a final report may be completed.

“KDHE is assessing whether other persons that didn’t attend the taco dinner could have been sickened from consuming these tomatoes,” Freed said.

The KDHE and the Doniphan County Health Department, which is assisting in the investigation, have relied on community input via an online survey that appears to no longer be active. Freed said a grand total of 115 persons completed the survey, and 69 reported they had become sick after attending the taco dinner. Fourteen victims have clinically tested positive for salmonella Newport.

For more information, call the Doniphan County Health Department at 785-985-3591 or the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317. Information on salmonella may be found at www.cdc.gov/salmonella.

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Marcus Clem can be reached at www.atchisonglobenow.com.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Korea – More than 1,000 people made sick from cakes – Salmonella

Posted on October 9, 2018 by KSW | Leave a comment

Joongang Daily

kswfoodworld Salmonella

Over 1,000 people, mostly school children, got sick across the nation after eating a chocolate cake distributed by a Pulmuone affiliate, local health authorities announced Friday.

No serious illnesses have been reported, although some victims are receiving medical treatment in hospitals. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said salmonella, a common type of food-poisoning bacteria, was detected in the cake.

A total of 1,156 people who ate the dessert in 29 cafeterias across the nation, mostly in schools, reported symptoms of food poisoning as of 9 a.m. on Friday, said the ministry.

Most persons infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection, according to descriptions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness usually lasts four to seven days and most people recover without treatment.

Pulmuone said it recalled the chocolate cake and halted all distribution and sales of the product.

Among those who allegedly came into contact with the disease, 545 did so in seven locations in Busan; 167 in four locations in Daegu; nine in the same location in Ulsan; 31 in the same location in Gyeonggi; 163 in seven locations in North Jeolla; 98 in three locations in North Gyeongsang; and 143 in six locations in South Gyeongsang.

The product, Chocolate Blossom Cake, was made by the W1FNB food company in Goyang, Gyeonggi, and distributed by Pulmuone Foodmerce, which has its headquarters in Yongin, Gyeonggi.

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UK – Brit girl, 19, spends 11 days in intensive care after being struck down with E. coli infection in same Egyptian resort couple died

Posted on October 8, 2018 by KSW | Leave a comment

The Sun ecoli

A TEEN girl spent 11 days in intensive care after being struck down with an E. coli infection at the same Egyptian resort a Brit couple died for the same illness.

Anna Doherty, 19, said she became ill after succumbing to an infection while staying at the Jasmine Palace Hotel in the resort of Hurghada.

It comes as it was revealed yesterday that John and Susan Cooper, from Burnley, died as a result of an E. coli infection while holidaying in the same resort.

Anna travelled to the Red Sea resort with her dad and sister in March 2018, and they stayed there for ten days.

Half way into their stay at the all-inclusive hotel, Anna recalled how she began to feel extremely unwell, suffering symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea.

After visiting the on-site doctors’ clinic, Anna said she was told she had a water infection and was given an injection and antibiotics.

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Posted in E.coli, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Uncategorized

USA – Tolleson plant with recalled beef had ‘egregious’ livestock practices, notice says – Salmonella

Posted on October 8, 2018 by KSW | Leave a comment

AZ Central

More than 6.5 million pounds of raw beef products were voluntarily recalled Thursday from a decades-old plant in Tolleson where federal officials had previously complained about “egregious” and “inhumane” livestock conditions.

The Tolleson facility is operated by Brazilian company JBS S/A’s U.S. subsidiary, JBS USA. Officials said the meat may be contaminated with Salmonella Newport, a strain of the bacteria that is a common cause of food poisoning.

The recall announcement came more than a year after the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent an enforcement notice to the company’s president and months after one of the company’s plants in North Carolina recalled 35,000 pounds of raw ground beef.

JBS also is the majority owner of the Pilgrim’s Pride line, which in February recalled more than 101,000 pounds of breaded chicken due to possible foreign-matter contamination.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

UK – Two kids from the same family die after catching food poisoning bug E.coli

Posted on October 8, 2018 by KSW | Leave a comment

The Sun

Two children from the same family have died after contracting the deadly food poisoning bug E.coli, health bosses have confirmed.

The children, whose ages have not yet been released, were from the Charnwood area of Leicestershire and had been treated for the bug in the last two weeks.

Public Health England confirmed the deaths today and revealed it’s working with environmental health officers after two cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome were confirmed in the siblings.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a serious complication of E.coli which affects the kidneys, eventually causing them to shut down.

Dr Lauren Ahyow, consultant in communicable disease control at PHE East Midlands, said: “E. coli is an infection that causes a spectrum of illness ranging from mild through to severe bloody diarrhoea, mostly without fever.

“Sometimes the infection can cause a condition called haemolytic uraemic syndrome which affects the kidneys and can be very serious.

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Posted in E.coli, food death, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Uncategorized

USA – Silver Star Brands, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Human and Animal Drug Products Due to Microbial Contamination

Posted on October 8, 2018 by KSW | Leave a comment

FDA

Silver Star Brands, Inc., is initiating a voluntary recall of six products for humans (including four Native Remedies® and two Healthful Naturals™) and two PetAlive® products for pets for a total of eight products with lot numbers, see table below, to the consumer level. The products have been tested and found to contain microbial contamination.

Administration or use of drug products with microbial contamination could potentially result in increased infections that may require medical intervention and could result in infections that could be life threatening to certain individuals and animals. To date, Silver Star Brands, Inc. has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

These products can be identified by the main label on the bottle and the lot number that is printed on the label. Each product recalled is an individual 2 oz. oral spray in amber bottle (see table below), manufactured at the King Bio, Inc. facility in Asheville, NC. Product was distributed nationwide via wholesale, retail and online sales. Native Remedies®, PetAlive® and Healthful Naturals™ package images for products affected are attached (below).

*HUMAN PRODUCTS*
PRODUCT	INDICATION	NDC	UPC	LOT	EXPIRATION DATE
Native Remedies VertiFree oral spray	Temporary relief for dizziness and nausea	68703-253-02	818837012260	K061417B	6/20
Native Remedies VaricoGo oral spray	Relieves discomfort associated with varicose veins	68703-105- 59	818837010419	K111717A	11/20
Native Remedies HypoSlim oral spray	Assists with healthy weight management and metabolism	68703-275- 02	818837013724	K051818A	05/21
Native Remedies EyeClear Pro oral spray	Relieves symptoms of mineral buildup and eye irritation	68703-151- 59	818837011652	K022317A, K022317B	02/20
Healthful Naturals DizziFree oral spray	Temporarily relieves dizziness and nausea	68703-204- 02	840853166535	K022616D	N/A
Healthful Naturals Leg Cramp Support	Temporary relief from cramps and spasms while resting	68703-206- 02	840853166559	K022216C	N/A

*PET PRODUCTS*
PRODUCT	INDICATION	NDC	UPC	LOT	EXPIRATION DATE
PetAlive Plump-Up Pet oral spray	Improves appetite in underweight dogs and cats	68703-290- 02	818837013908	K011617E	01/20
PetAlive Allergy Itch Ease oral spray	Relieves skin itch	68703-135- 59	818837011102	K111617B	11/20

Silver Star Brands, Inc. is notifying its distributors and customers by letter and is arranging for return and replacement (or refund) of the recalled products.

Consumers/distributors/retailers that have this product which is being recalled should discontinue use/distribution and contact Silver Star Brands, Inc.
at Nativeremedies@silverstarbrands.com to make arrangements to return the product. These
products were distributed nationwide to retailers (doctor offices, pharmacies, health food stores) and consumers (direct sales and website).

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Silver Star Brands, Inc. at 1-888- 736-6389 Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm CST or email Nativeremedies@silverstarbrands.com. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they believe they have experienced any problems that may be related to using this product.

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Posted in Animal Feed, FDA, food contamination, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized

Research – Aflatoxins in cereals: State of the art

Posted on September 29, 2018 by KSW | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Abstract

Recently, the contamination of food products, particularity cereals with aflatoxins (AF) as secondary metabolites generated by some of fungal genera species raised serious concerns. AF as the highly toxic compounds could pass through metabolic processes in unaltered forms and consequently accumulate in the tissues of humans and animals. The consumption of AF contaminated cereal, cereal‐based products as both food and feed is considered as a serious issue, which should be controlled through conducting prevention strategies and legislation. However, in some cases, the detoxification or elimination process also can be approached. The current article took an overview regarding physicochemical properties of AF, as well as their absorption, digestion, metabolism, and excretion in cereals. Also, the chronic and acute aflatoxicosis along prevention strategies and control mechanisms were discussed.

Practical applications

Cereal and cereal‐based products can be considered as one of the most important sources of food as well as energy in many countries. Despite this, cereals and cereal‐based foods may present contamination by several mycotoxins, as one of the challenging issues in cereal‐based products. The adverse effects of contamination by mycotoxins on food safety and food quality are reserved huge concerns. The knowledge regarding the physicochemical properties of aflatoxins as well as their control can aid the food industry to keep the quality of food products in an acceptable level.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Biotoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

Research – Assessment of mycotoxins co‐occurrence in Italian dried figs and in dried figs‐based products

Posted on September 23, 2018 by KSW | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Abstract

The possible contamination by aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), fumonisin B₁ (FB₁), fusaric acid (FA), and beauvericin (BEA), was investigated in 55 samples of dried figs and dried figs‐based products purchased from the South Italy (Calabria) market. A total of 41 samples showed contamination by at least one of the mycotoxins investigated. Aflatoxin B₁ was found in six samples (0.19 — 8.41 μg/kg) total aflatoxins were found in 13 samples (0.5–17.12 μg/kg), OTA was found in 21 samples (<LOQ—158.58 μg/kg), FB₁ was found in eight samples (153.81–5,412.96 μg/kg), BEA was found in 12 samples (<LOQ—5,708.49 μg/kg), and FA was found in 28 samples (<LOQ—74,520.20 μg/kg). The analyzed samples were contaminated with one (41.8%), two (7.3%), three (5.5%), four (10.9%), and five (5.5%) mycotoxins. To the best of our knowledge, the incidence of contamination by FA and BEA has been shown for the first time in dried figs.

Practical applications

The present work was focused on mycotoxin mixtures contamination levels of dried figs and dried figs‐based products. It is known that the co‐occurrence of mycotoxins leads to additive or synergistic effects. For some analyzed samples the AFB₁, aflatoxins, and ochratoxin A (OTA) levels exceed the European Union countries legal limit. In addition, the simultaneous presence of FB₁, FA, and BEA can be a potential threat to the health of consumers. Although different studies examined AFs, OTA, and Fusarium toxins as single mycotoxins in dried figs, to our knowledge, the co‐occurrence of AFs, OTA, FB1, FA, and BEA in dried figs and in dried figs‐based products samples has not been reported previously. Therefore, to prevent mycotoxins contamination, the employment of good practices in all the processing steps is necessary. Furthermore, the quality control of the ingredients used in figs preparations (spices, other dried fruits, cocoa, etc.), usually not adequately, is essential. Finally, it is of importance to establish more stringent rules to ensure food safety, even if no legal limit was still set for Fusarium toxins in dried fruit.