WinCo Foods of Boise, Idaho is recalling frozen red raspberries that were manufactured by Rader Farms of Bellingham, Washington, because the product may be contaminated with norovirus. Norovirus is highly contagious, and causes symptoms of vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall.
In Sweden, the National Institute of Public Health, or Folkhälsomyndigheten is reporting a new outbreak of infections caused by Yersinia enterocolitica type O3. The source of infection is still unknown.
So far, 26 cases of disease have been confirmed to belong to the outbreak by means of whole-genome sequencing. Another handful of cases are investigated. Since the current outbreak strain of Yersinia enterocolitica type O3 has been found in different parts of the country, it is likely that a food borne infection. The current outbreak strain differs from the one that caused a Yersinia outbreak earlier in the spring.During the middle of May, an number of reported cases of Yersinia infection has been seen in Sweden. Seven regions from different parts of the country have reported cases, but the majority of cases come from the northernmost regions of the country.
Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Uncategorized, Yersinia, yersinia enterocolitica
Seasonal outbreaks of Cyclospora infection in UK travellers returning from Mexico have been reported, with the majority of cases in travellers who have stayed in the Riviera Maya and Cancun regions of Mexico. The source of infection was likely to be contaminated food items supplied to hotels throughout the area.
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a protozoan parasite that can infect humans, causing frequent, watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, flatulence, low-grade fever and loss of both appetite and weight. HIV-positive individuals and those with other immune deficiencies can be at risk of more severe infection.
On return from Mexico, travellers with any symptoms such as those described should seek medical attention and inform their GP of their travel history.
Healthcare practitioners should raise awareness of Cyclospora infection with all travellers to Mexico, and should strongly advise that travellers maintain a high standard of food, water and personal hygiene, even if staying in high-end resorts.
For further information on protozoan parasitic infection, including Cyclospora, consult TRAVAX (for health professionals) and fitfortravel (for the general public).
Sources: TRAVAX and fitfortravel (both 10 June 2019)
FOUR brands of eggs in NSW are the latest to issue a recall due to a salmonella enteritidis contamination.
Wholesale company The Egg Basket conducted a recall of Country Fresh Eggs, Just Eggs, Chefs Choice Free Range and Chefs Choice Cage Free eggs on Friday.
The eggs were sold directly from the business in Kemps Creek and at Flemington Markets in NSW and can be identified by use-by dates of 14 June, 20 June, 24 June, 29 June, 5 July, 9 July or by the stamp eb24449 on the shell.
E. coli was found in 30% of lamb samples and 11.5% of beef samples in a test carried out by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST). The particular strain discovered is known as STEC, or shiga-toxin producing E. coli. This is the first time lamb and beef have been screened for STEC in Iceland.
The testing was carried out on around 600 samples of lamb, beef, pork, and chicken of both Icelandic and foreign origin between March and December 2018. The purpose of the testing was to determine the prevalence of pathogenic micro-organisms in products when they reach the consumer, and for this reason the samples were taken from shops.
Campylobacter and salmonella were not detected in pork or chicken samples, with the exception of a single sample of pork from Spain. MAST attributes this to improved preventative measures in slaughterhouses.
The Delaware Division of Public Health is warning consumers to avoid consuming raw dairy products as a woman living in Sussex County has been diagnosed with a Brucella melitensis infection. This illness affects people who come into contact with sick animals or contaminated animal products.
In the spring and summer of 2018, Fresh Express and other fresh produce suppliers were linked to a Cyclospora cayetanensis outbreak — with U.S.-grown fresh produce samples testing positive for the parasite. To address this issue, Fresh Express formed the Blue-Ribbon Panel on the Prevention of Foodborne Cyclospora Outbreaks, comprising scientists with deep expertise in the biology of the organism, food safety, outbreak response, and public health. The panel was charged with studying the parasite and identifying controls to limit further C. cayetanensis– associated outbreaks. After a November 2018 in-person meeting, the Blue-Ribbon Panel formed four working groups that continued to work on C. cayetanensis specific issues related to root-cause assessment, preventive measures/controls, collaborative approach, and testing
validation over the next several months. This report contains the working groups’ preliminary findings, recommendations, and continuing priorities to more effectively prevent and control C. cayetanensis outbreaks going forward.
