Category Archives: Foodborne Illness

Japan – 130 people suffer food poisoning in Japan after eating eel – Staphylococcus aureus

Kyodo News

A total of 130 people suffered food poisoning after eating grilled eel dishes, a popular midsummer delicacy in Japan, that were sold last week at a department store in Yokohama, near Tokyo, local health authorities said Monday.

Those affected have reported symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, but most cases were not serious, the health center of the city of Yokohama said, adding that the lone death among the ill was a woman in her 90s whose exact cause of death is not known.

The health center said it detected staphylococcus aureus, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, in the excrement of some of the people who ate the meals.

Canada – Update – Public Health Notice: Outbreak of Listeria infections linked to recalled plant-based refrigerated beverages

PHAC

This outbreak investigation is ongoing. The public health notice will be updated as the investigation evolves.

At a glance

Do not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute various recalled plant-based refrigerated beverages

At a glance
Illnesses 18
Provinces and territories with illnesses (number of illnesses)
  • Alberta (1)
  • Ontario (12)
  • Quebec (4)
  • Nova Scotia (1)
Hospitalizations 13
Deaths 2
Gender 72% female
Age range 7-89

67% of cases are 50 years of age or older

Food Recall Yes, various Silk and Great Value brand plant-based refrigerated beverages recalled nationally
Investigation status Active

USA – Boar’s Head Provisions Co. Expands Recall for Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

FSIS USDA

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2024 – Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc., a Jarratt, Va., establishment, is expanding its July 26, 2024, recall of deli meat products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The establishment is recalling approximately 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. Whole genome sequencing results show that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes.

This expansion includes 71 products produced between May 10, 2024, and July 29, 2024, under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names. These items include meat intended for slicing at retail delis as well as some packaged meat and poultry products sold at retail locations. These products have “sell by” dates ranging from 29-JUL-2024 through 17-OCT-24. View full product listView labels.

The products subject to recall were distributed to retail locations nationwide and some were exported to the Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Panama. The products shipped to retailers bear establishment number “EST. 12612” or “P-12612” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the product labels.

The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified that a liverwurst sample collected by the Maryland Department of Health tested positive for L. monocytogenes. The Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Health Department, collected an unopened liverwurst product from a retail store for testing as part of an outbreak investigation of L. monocytogenes infections. Further testing determined the product sample tested positive for the outbreak strain. Anyone concerned about illness should contact a healthcare provider.

FSIS is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state public health partners to investigate the multistate outbreak of L. monocytogenes infections linked to meats sliced at delis. As of July 30, 2024, 34 sick people have been identified in 13 states, including 33 hospitalizations and two deaths. Samples were collected from sick people from May 29, 2024, to July 12, 2024. The investigation is ongoing, and FSIS continues to work with the CDC and state partners. The CDC Food Safety Alert, Listeria Outbreak Linked to Meats Sliced at Delis, will continue to be updated with the latest investigation details.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Vietnam – Over 2,000 people in Vietnam suffer from food poisoning in first 6 months

Xinhua

HANOI, July 29 (Xinhua) — Vietnam reported 36 food poisoning cases involving 2,138 people and six deaths in the first six months of this year, local media reported Monday, citing the Ministry of Health.

Compared to the same period last year, the number of cases declined by four, but the number of victims increased by 1,432 people, Suc Khoe & Doi Song, the ministry’s newspaper, reported.

The poisoning trend tends to be on the rise at restaurants, hotels and among food sold by vendors, said Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen.

Recent mass poisoning cases were reported at factories, company kitchens, school canteens, and food stalls located near schools.

Microorganisms and natural toxins are the primary causes of food poisoning cases while natural toxins and alcohol poisoning are the leading causes of death, according to the ministry’s analysis.

Viet Nam -48 tourists hospitalized for suspected food poisoning in Mui Ne

VN Express

48 tourists in the central resort town Mui Ne were hospitalized for suspected food poisoning after eating at several local restaurants.

The tourists were part of a 182-person group who traveled to Mui Ne in Binh Thuan Province, according to the Binh Thuan Department of Health. The tour was organized by the Hon Gai Tour company, and the tourists stayed at the Sailing Bay Resort from Friday to Sunday.

On Friday, the tourists had dinner at the Canh Buom Vang restaurant. On Saturday they had breakfast and lunch at a restaurant within the Sailing Bay Resort. By the afternoon, several people reported symptoms like stomachache, diarrhea and vomiting, so they were taken to hospital.

UK – Update on reporting of non-O157 STEC infections and an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O145 in the UK, February 2024

Gov UK

In December 2023 the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported (1) unseasonably high levels of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli other than serogroup O157 (non-O157 STEC) case notifications during October to December of that year. Since then, reporting has returned to levels comparable with previous years. Investigations into the drivers of that unseasonal increase in reports of non-O157 STEC continue, as well as into individual outbreaks of STEC that were reported in the December 2023 report.

The investigations into the concurrent foodborne STEC O145: H28 outbreak associated with unpasteurised cheese – being undertaken by UKHSA, the Local Authority (LA) Environmental Health Team, Public Health Scotland (PHS), Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the Animal Plant Health Agency (APHA) – are nearly completed.

In total 36 confirmed cases and 1 probable case have been reported across England (n=29) and Scotland (n=8) since late July 2023, with most cases falling ill in November 2023. The last reported primary case had a symptom onset date of 23 December 2023 (see figure below).

Based on epidemiological, food chain and microbiological investigations, the vehicle was identified as an unpasteurised cheese produced in North West England. The food business concerned carried out a product withdrawal and recall on 24 December 2023 (2) and updated on 27 December 2023 (3) which ensured all recalled products were removed from sale in a timely manner.

Subsequent work between the food business, the LA Environmental Health team and the FSA allowed refinement of the product withdrawal and recall notice to include only the batches likely associated with illness, which resulted in a further update of the product withdrawal and recall by the food business on 9 February 2024 (4).

The FSA and FSS both published updated Product Recall Information Notices (PRIN’s) on 24 (2) and 27 December (3), and again on 9 February (4), with supporting news stories to amplify messaging about each of the product recalls.

USA – Hamburger E. coli O157 Outbreak sickens 13 with 1 death in Montana

Food Poison Journal

The Flathead City-County Health Department (FCCHD), the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), and other local health departments, are working together to investigate an E.coli O157:H7 outbreak originating in Flathead County.

To date, the investigation has identified at least 13 individuals associated with the outbreak. Many of the cases experienced moderate to severe symptoms, and one death has occurred. Preliminary investigative findings indicate that ground beef containing the E.coli bacteria may be the exposure of concern. State partners continue to test clinical and food samples for laboratory confirmation.mp

USA – Salmonella Sickened 171, the Biggest Outbreak From Raw Milk in Years

New York Times

Experts say the number of people affected in the outbreak, linked to Raw Farm milk, could be far higher.

Interesting article at the link above.

USA- Deadly Deli: 28 with Listeria with 2 dead linked to unnamed Deli Counter Meats

Food Poison Journal

As of July 19, 2024, a total of 28 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from 12 states . Sick people’s samples were collected from May 29, 2024, to July 5, 2024. Of 28 people with information available, all have been hospitalized. One person got sick during their pregnancy and remained pregnant after recovering. Two deaths have been reported, 1 in Illinois and 1 in New Jersey.

The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak.

USA – Norovirus outbreak associated with Sammamish Cafe & Spirits

King County

Public Health investigated an outbreak of norovirus associated with Sammamish Cafe & Spirits. We identified multiple sick restaurant staff who reported symptoms consistent with norovirus. Norovirus can spread through multiple contaminated food items, environmental surfaces, and from person to person.

This outbreak appears to be over.