RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes in Organic Camembert from Denmark
China Post – E.coli in beverages and frozen foods in Taipei
Hong Kong – STEC case in hospital source unknown.
KSWFoodWorld
Category Archives: Food Poisoning
Free webcast with 3M and Professor Stephen Forsythe on the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens
3M’s Food Safety business has launched a fast, accurate and easy-to-use pathogen detection system.
The new 3M™ Molecular Detection System, based on an innovative combination of two technologies – isothermal DNA amplification and ATP bioluminescence detection – delivers highly sensitive results in real-time with positive results in as early as 15 minutes and negative results in 75 minutes.
With ready-made reagents and only one test protocol for all target pathogens, the system is easy to use, allows for multiple pathogen detection during each run and reduces the chance for human error or contamination. Individual assays for Salmonella, E. coli O157 (including H7) and Listeria spp are currently available.
2nd Link
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Posted in ATP, Bacteria, DNA, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research
Tagged atp bioluminescence, climate, nottingham trent university, research, science
Cryptosporidium Cases – USA
The Oneida County Department of Health has announced that there have been six confirmed cases of Cryptosporidium and that the Oneida County Health Department is currently investigating the origin of the outbreak.
Officials are looking into the possibility of the outbreak stemming from the recent Farmfest event, but caution that no direct causal link has yet been determined.
Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes the intestinal illness and that it is usually a self-limiting illness with watery diarrhoea as the most common symptom. Average incubation is one to 12 days.
US- Norovirus Outbreak
County environmental health officials have ordered the closing of a popular Walnut Creek pizza restaurant after test results confirmed that customers and restaurant staff have norovirus.
Contra Costa County Environmental Health Director Marilyn Underwood said the county ordered California Pizza Kitchen at Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek, closed at 5 p.m. Thursday after receiving lab resulting confirming norovirus.
Norovirus is a contagious virus that you can get from an infected person, contaminated food or by touching contaminated surfaces. Each year, norovirus causes about 21 million gastrointestinal illnesses, and contributes to about 70,000 hospitalisations and 800 deaths, according to the website of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
County officials have linked the norovirus to a food-borne illness outbreak connected with salad served Thursday, June 7, at the California Pizza Kitchen at Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek.
County officials went to the restaurant Thursday evening and posted a notice closing the restaurant under the authority of state law. They asked the staff to close the restaurant. The staff quietly asked customers to leave, Underwood said.
The first batch of samples came back Thursday. Of five employees tested, three positive for norovirus, Underwood said. Of two customers tested, both were positive for norovirus.
Hong Kong – Shigella Alert
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 14) cautioned members of the public against bacillary dysentery infection.
The CHP received an increased number of bacillary dysentery notifications recently, with the number of cases reaching six in June so far, compared to monthly notifications ranging from one to five cases between January and May 2012.
A CHP spokesman said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that five of the recent six patients were caused by Shigella sonnei, and they all lived in Tuen Mun.”
“These five cases were two males and three females, aged between six and 14. They presented with fever, diarrhoea and vomiting from June 3 to June 6. All of them had sought medical consultation. Three of them required hospital admission. They are all in stable condition.”
“Investigation is underway to ascertain or exclude a common source of infection,” the spokesman said.
Bacillary dysentery is an intestinal infection caused by a group of Shigella bacteria which can be found in human gut. It is transmitted directly by faecal material of a patient/carrier or indirectly through contaminated food and water. It occurs more commonly amongst young children. In Hong Kong, more cases were recorded in summer months.
The spokesman advised members of the public to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene to avoid infection. They should:
* wash hands properly with soap and water before eating or handling food, and after toilet or changing diapers;
* purchase fresh food from reliable sources, do not patronize illegal hawkers; and
* seek medical attention when they have symptoms of fever and diarrhea, especially bloody diarrhea.
US Bans Korean Shellfish – Faecal Matter – Norovirus
Korean shellfish is not safe to eat and Korea has been removed from the U.S. list of approved shellfish shippers after officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered unsanitary conditions that exposed molluscan growing areas to human fecal matter, norovirus and pollution, the agency announced yesterday.
Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Microbiology, Norovirus, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall
Tagged environment, food and drug administration, food and drug administration fda
Belgium – 19 Cases E.coli O157
Nineteen cases of infection with E. coli O157 have been detected in Limburg, Belgium, of which three have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
The Federal Agency for Security of the Food Chain (AFSCA) said Thursday that all cases are related to the ingestion of filet américain (lit. American fillet) with onions and more seasoning than a normal steak tartare.
AFSCA launched an investigation and based on date of purchase, consumption and onset of disease, the suspect beef has been traced and initial sampling results were positive for E. coli O157
US – Raw Milk E.coli O157
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine today warned consumers in and around Chautauqua County to not consume “unpasteurised” raw farm milk from Castle Farms due to possible E. coli O157:H7 contamination.
Castle Farms, located at 1051 Route 249 in Irving, New York, holds a Department permit to legally sell raw milk at the farm. Samples of the milk are routinely tested by the New York State Food Laboratory to determine if the raw milk is free of pathogenic bacteria.
It is important to note that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization, which eliminates all pathogenic bacteria, including E. coli O157:H7. Producers who sell raw milk to consumers must have a permit to do so from the Department, must sell directly to consumers on the farm where the milk is produced and must post a notice at the point of sale indicating that raw milk does not provide the protection of pasteurization. Farms with permits to sell raw milk are inspected by the Department monthly.
To date, no illnesses are known by the Department to be associated with product from Castle Farms.
FDA – Red Pepper & Onion Garlic Cheese – Listeria monocytogenes
Golden Glen Creamery of Bow, WA, in cooperation with the WSDA is voluntarily recalling Red Pepper with Onion & Garlic Cheddar produced on August 30, 2011 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Creamery agreed to recall the product after a sample taken by the WSDA returned with a positive result. Samples of the same batch have tested negative through an independent, state-approved lab that Creamery has submitted samples to. No illnesses have been reported to date. L. monocytogenesis an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
To date, no illnesses have been reported.
Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall
Tagged food, high fever, listeria infection, listeria monocytogenes, weakened immune systems, wsda
