Category Archives: Foodborne Illness

China records a rise in domestic foodborne outbreaks.

Food Safety News

The number of domestic foodborne outbreaks in China has increased over 10 years, according to a study.

Researchers analyzed the cause of household foodborne disease outbreaks from 2010 to 2020 using data from the National Foodborne Disease Surveillance System.

A total of 17,985 outbreaks, which resulted in 73,252 illnesses, 38,829 hospitalizations, and 1,269 deaths, were reported. Most episodes were from May to October, and the highest number occurred in July.

A similar study, published in China CDC Weekly, looked at outbreaks in catering facilities in the country using data from the same time period.

India – 30 Students Admitted To Hospital After Suspected Food Poisoning In Maharashtra’s Bhandara

India.com

Mumbai: Over 30 students of an ashram school in Maharahstra’s Bhandara district were admitted to hospital after suspected food poisoning.  The incident was reported at Yerali Ashram School in Tumsar town on Thursday. Talking to PTI, Bhandara district health officer Milind Somkuwar said, “Some students of the ashram school complained of vomiting, abdominal pain and fever on Thursday, after which a team of district health department examined 325 students residing in the school hostel.”

USA – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef is Over

CDC

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 18
  • Hospitalizations: 7
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 4
  • Recall: No
  • Investigation status: Closed
Outbreak Investigation Summary

Ground beef was the only common food people reported eating. Of the people who remembered the type of ground beef they ate, most reported eating 80% lean ground beef before they got sick. Traceback information did not identify a common source of ground beef

USA – FDA won’t say what brand of Pico de Gallo was source of Salmonella in outbreak

Food Safety News

The FDA is reporting that Pico de Gallo was behind a Salmonella outbreak that sickened almost 40 people.

Although investigators identified the cause of the outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration is not reporting what brand of Pico de Gallo was implicated. The agency reported that 37 people were sickened in the outbreak, but did not report where they live. The FDA first reported the outbreak on June 14.

“For the outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ the outbreak has ended and FDA’s investigation has closed. CDC, FDA, and state and local partners conducted epidemiologic and traceback investigations and identified Pico de Gallo as the source of the outbreak,” according to an FDA report released Wednesday.

The FDA reported that its investigators took samples of the product as well as environmental samples of the production facility, but all of the samples came back negative for the outbreak strain. The agency’s statement says there is no risk to consumers.

Norway has two sick in Spanish botulism outbreak

Food Safety News

kswfoodworld

Norway has reported two cases that are part of a botulism outbreak in Spain, bringing the number of people affected to 11.

There is a link between patients and different packaged brands of Spanish omelet (tortilla de patata), which is made with potatoes and eggs, purchased in various supermarkets in different regions.

The Norwegian cases stayed in Barcelona between July 10 and 23.

Denmark – Outbreak with Salmonella Enteritidis sequence type 11 in Denmark

SSI

Since May 2023, the Statens Serum Institut has registered 20 cases of the same type of Salmonella Enteritidis. The Statens Serum Institut, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the Norwegian Food Institute DTU are investigating the disease outbreak. The outbreak is part of an international outbreak and imported chicken kebabs are suspected.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Listeria: Ice Cream (August 2023)

FDA

Product 

  • Real Kosher Ice Cream has voluntarily recalled all flavors of Soft Serve On The Go 8-oz ice cream cups 
    • Soft Serve On The Go Vanilla Chocolate
    • Soft Serve On The Go Razzle
    • Soft Serve On The Go Caramel
    • Soft Serve On The Go Parve Vanilla Chocolate
    • Soft Serve On The Go Sorbet Strawberry Mango
    • Soft Serve On The Go Lite Peanut Butter

FDA’s investigation is ongoing. Products may be added to this advisory. Additional recall information is available below.

Stores Affected

  • Multiple retailers in CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, IL, MA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, WV.

Symptoms of Listeriosis (Listeria Infection)

Illness can occur within a few hours or as long as two to three days after eating contaminated food. More severe forms of listeriosis may take anywhere from three days to three months to develop. Mild symptoms may include a fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If the more severe form of listeriosis develops, symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.

Status

Ongoing

Recommendation

  • Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled Soft Serve On The Go ice cream and should throw the recalled product away or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. This recall includes all flavors of Soft Serve On The Go 8-oz cups.
  • Ice cream has a long shelf life and may still be in freezers. Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should check their freezers and throw away recalled ice cream products or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
  • Consumers, restaurants, and retailers who purchased or received any recalled ice cream products should follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria can survive temperatures at or below freezing and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.

Recommendation for At-Risk Groups:

  • Listeria is most likely to sicken pregnant people and newborns, adults aged 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems. Other people can be infected with Listeria, but they rarely become seriously ill.
  • Pregnant people typically experience only fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. However, Listeria infection during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
  • Call your healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms of a Listeria infection.

Current Update

August 22, 2023

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to Soft Serve On The Go cups produced by Real Kosher Ice Cream of Brooklyn, NY.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture collected an unopened sample of Soft Serve On The Go from an ill person’s home. This sample was reported as positive for Listeria monocytogenes. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis confirmed that the strain of Listeria found in the sample from the patient’s home matches the strain of Listeria causing illnesses in this outbreak.

Additionally, product sampling was conducted by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at Real Kosher Ice Cream’s manufacturing location. Five finished product samples of Soft Serve On The Go Vanilla Chocolate ice cream were reported as positive for Listeria monocytogenes. WGS analysis confirmed that the strain of Listeria found in these products matches the outbreak strain.

FDA’s investigation is ongoing. Updates to this advisory will be provided as they become available.

Austria records increase in outbreaks for 2022

Food Safety News

According to recently released data, the number of outbreaks and people sick in them increased in Austria in 2022.

28 foodborne outbreaks were reported in 2022, eight more than in 2021. In these outbreaks, 128 people were affected, which is more than the 92 cases in 2021.

Overall, 57 people had to be hospitalized in connection with incidents in 2022, and there were four deaths. They affected between two and 30 people.

UK – Urgent health warning as Brits returning from holiday with grim parasite amid outbreak – Cyclopsora

 

 

The Mirror

Cyclospora_LifeCycle201

Holidaymakers returning to the UK from Mexican all-inclusive resorts have been hit by a severe gastro-parasite infection, as the government warns of a large outbreak.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is investigating the cluster of Cyclospora infections in the United Kingdom among people who visited Mexico between May and August. Between May 12 and August 14, 74 cases of Cyclospora cayetanensis — a nasty gastric illness caused by a parasite only endemic in certain countries — were reported in England, Wales, and Scotland.

Spain sees E. coli and Listeria infections rise in 2022

Food Safety News

Spain recorded an increase in E. coli and Listeria infections in 2022, according to recently released figures.

In 2022, 633 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections were reported, as well as eight imported cases. This includes 620 confirmed and 13 probable cases. The number rose from 426 cases in 2021.

The highest incidences in 2022 were observed in children younger than 5 years of age, being higher in girls than in boys, according to data from the National Epidemiological Surveillance Network (RENAVE).

A total of 134 hospitalizations were reported and six people developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a severe complication associated with E. coli infections that causes kidney failure. Four of these were younger than the age of 3, one was 10 years old, and the other was an 84-year-old adult.

Three deaths were recorded: one child younger than 3 years old who had HUS, and two adults aged 65 and 93.

For imported cases, two were younger than 10 years of age, and the rest were aged between 22 and 60.

Information on serogroup causing infection was available in 80 cases of which 67 corresponded to O157. One was O107, another was O128 and 11 were recorded as non-O157.