Category Archives: Foodborne Illness

China 110 Students Ill After School Dinner – Cause Unknown

China DailyFood Poisoning

Yunnan – More than 100 students in southwest China’s Yunnan province contracted infectious diarrhea from a school meal on Thursday, local authorities have confirmed.

Some 365 students from the Nationality Middle School in the Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna developed symptoms of fever and diarrhea after their supper at 6 pm and were sent to hospital, and 110 of them have been confirmed as suffering from infectious diarrhea, said an official with the prefecture government.

The local government has launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.

 

Dutch Smoked Salmon and Salmonella

Food Safety News

At least 950 people in the Netherlands are now known to have fallen ill in a Salmonella Thompson outbreak linked to salmon. Three elderly victims have died.

The outbreak was first reported October 1 after more than 200 Salmonella illnesses were linked to smoked salmon sold by Netherlands-based Foppen. Subsequent environmental testing revealed the presence of the outbreak strain of the bacteria in one of the company’s manufacturing plants in Greece.

Now the outbreak has grown to include almost 1,000 Dutch victims, three of whom have died, reported the Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) Thursday, according to MedicalXPress.

Meanwhile, health officials have identified a cluster of Salmonella Thompson infections in the U.S. The genetic fingerprint of this bacteria is indistinguishable from that of the strain causing the Dutch outbreak; however, patient interviews have revealed that Foppen smoked salmon was not a likely source of infection for these cases, according to Lola Russell, spokesperson for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Daily Peanut Butter Products Update – Salmonella – USA – Canada

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume, sell or serve the food products described below because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

These recalls are part of an ongoing food safety investigation. This recall of peanut butter products in Canada is related to the expanding peanut butter product recall in the USA by Sunland Inc. due to possible Salmonella Bredeney contamination.

There have been no illnesses reported in Canada associated with the consumption of these peanut butter products. However, there are confirmed Salmonella Bredeney illnesses in multiple states in the United States.

CFIA

Reference Number: 7491
Recalling Firm: NESTLE CANADA INC.
Date of Recall: 10/15/2012
Recall Classification: 1
Distribution : National
Extent of the Product Distribution : Hotel/Restaurant/Institutional

Product List

Brand Name Common Name Size Codes(s) on Product UPC Reason for Recall:
NESTLE CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER ICE CREAM 11.4 L All codes None / Aucun Microbiological – Salmonella

FDA

Natural Selection Foods is voluntarily recalling Earthbound Farm Baby Spinach Grab & Go Salad Kits with Peanuts. The product is sold in a 3.5 ounce clamshell with UPC 0-32601-08875-0. All “Use By” dates are affected.

This is the result of the expanded recall of peanut butter, nut butters and peanut products by Sunland because of potential contamination with Salmonella. The peanuts in the packets were chopped by Sunland then supplied to a third party contract packer to Natural Selection Foods as a sealed package of chopped peanuts, sealed again within another package that includes dressing and a fork.

The salad kits were distributed to retail supermarkets and foodservice operators in the following states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, British Columbia (Canada) and Ontario (Canada). They are packaged in clear plastic clamshell containers with a blue label.

Salmonella bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Consumers with the above symptoms should consult their physician.

While no illnesses associated with any of these products have been reported to Natural Selection Foods to date, our unwavering commitment to the safety and quality of our products dictates that we voluntarily recall these products as a precaution.

 

61 Now Ill in North Carolina E. coli Outbreak

Food Safety News

The deadly E. coli outbreak linked to the Cleveland County Fair in North Carolina grew to 61 cases by Wednesday. At least 10 people have been hospitalized.

This latest figures comes less than a week after 2-year-old Gage Lefever died from his infection last Friday. His funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon.

FSN Link

 

Northern Ireland Public Health – E.coli Outbreak Belfast

BBC

E. coli outbreak in Belfast is ‘a major crisis’ says PHA

 The outbreak has been linked to An E. coli outbreak linked to a Belfast restaurant has been described as “major public health crisis” by Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency (PHA).

The PHA said there are now 20 confirmed cases and 118 suspected cases of food poisoning following an investigation at Flicks restaurant at Cityside Mall.

Six people have been hospitalised since the start of the outbreak, but most have since been discharged.

HPA Salmonella in Mycoprotein Update

HPA –

 The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has seen seven cases of Salmonella Enteritidis PT1 following consumption of a pasteurised liquid egg product which was sold through Myprotein® and Nutri Centre websites and Nutri Centre stores. Testing of a sample of the product also showed a positive result for the same type of salmonella. No other products are known to be affected.

 

The product, a Myprotein own brand ‘Free Range Liquid Egg Whites’, was recalled on October 10 by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the company are no longer selling it. The FSA are working to identify the source of the eggs used in the product.

Salmonella bacteria live in the gut of many animals and can affect meat, eggs, poultry, and milk. Infection with this type of salmonella causes a similar illness to other forms of salmonella infection and symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever.

There has been no national increase in this type of salmonella. In the seven weeks from the end of August to 9 October (weeks 34-40) there were a total of 42 non-travel cases of Salmonella Enteritidis PT 1 reported to the HPA (including the seven cases above). This is compared to 48 and 47 cases in the same weeks in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

The 42 cases seen this year have been reported from most regions and range in age from infants to 78 years of age. There are more females than males (24 vs. 18) with half of the females being under ten years of age. The male cases are spread across most age groups.

XL Beef Products Canada Now on It’s 18th Expanded Recall – E.coli O157

Food Poisoning BulletinE.coli O157:H7

The recall of beef products for E. coli 0157:H7 produced at the XL Foods plant in Canada has grown for the 17th and 18th times. This recall is linked to an E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak that has sickened at least 15 people in Canada.

Janet’s Jerky is recalling 2 pound bags of Old Fashioned Beef Jerky with no UPC numbers and purchase dates from September 17 to October 10, 2012. The products were distributed in New Brunswick. They are also recalling 2 pound bags of Old Fashioned Beef Jerky – Hot & Spicy Cajun with the same purchase dates and distribution. Also recalled is corned beef sold at l’Entrepôt de Viandes from September 11 to October 10, 2012 in Quebec.

On October 12, 2012, the CFIA announced more recalls. Nortown medium ground beef, La Préférence filet mignon and Côte de boeuf are recalled. Longos beef burgers, portobello burgers, and lean ground sirloin are recalled. You can see UPC numbers, code dates, and distribution at the CFIA web site. For questions, call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342.

CDC – Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney Infections Linked to Peanut Butter Manufactured By Sunland, Inc.

CDC

  • A total of 35 persons infected with the outbreak strain of SalmonellaBredeney have been reported from 19 states.
    • Eight ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
    • 63% percent of ill persons are children under the age of 10 years.
  • Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt, manufactured by Sunland, Inc. of Portales, New Mexico, is a likely source of this outbreak.
    • Testing conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture laboratory isolated the outbreak strain from an opened jar of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter collected from a case-patient’s home.

 

CDC – Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Montevideo Infections Linked to Live Poultry in Backyard Flocks

CDC – Final Update on the outbreak

 A total of 93 persons infected with the outbreak strain of SalmonellaMontevideo were reported from 23 states and Puerto Rico.

  • The number of ill persons identified in each state was as follows: Alaska (1), California (4), Colorado (1), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (10), Iowa (2), Kansas (15), Kentucky (2), Massachusetts (2), Missouri (28), Nebraska (8), Nevada (1), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (5), South Dakota (1), Texas (1), Vermont (1), West Virginia (1), Wyoming (1), and Puerto Rico (1).
  • 21 ill persons were hospitalized. One death was reported in Missouri, but Salmonella infection was not considered a contributing factor in this person’s death.
  • 38% of ill persons were children 10 years of age or younger.
  • Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback findings linked this outbreak of human Salmonella infections to contact with chicks, ducklings, and other live baby poultry from Estes Hatchery in Springfield, Missouri.

BBC – School in Leeds Hit by Shigella

BBC

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said pupils and staff at Cross Lane Primary School in Elland had been affected by the Shigella bacteria, which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

The HPA said that nine cases had been confirmed and more than 50 people had displayed symptoms over the last three weeks.

The school will reopen on 15 October.