Category Archives: foodborne outbreak

Canada – Public Health Notice – Outbreak of Listeria infections linked to Rosemount brand cooked diced chicken is over.

Canada PHN

November 1, 2019 – Final Update

This is the final update to this notice. The outbreak appears to be over and the outbreak investigation has been closed.

The Public Health Agency of Canada collaborated with provincial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections involving three provinces: British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario. The outbreak appears to be over and the outbreak investigation has been closed.

Based on the investigation findings, Rosemount brand cooked diced chicken was identified as a likely source of the outbreak. Rosemount cooked diced chicken was supplied to institutions (including cafeterias, hospitals and nursing homes) where many of the individuals who became sick resided, or visited, before becoming ill.

On August 18, 2019 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a food recall warning for Rosemount brand cooked diced chicken meat 13mm – ½” (#16305), packdate – 01/21/2019. During the food safety investigation, the CFIA identified additional affected products and updated food recall warnings have been issued. For additional details on all recalled product names and lot codes, please consult CFIA’s website.

Canadians are advised not to eat any of the recalled products or any foods containing the recalled products. Food service establishments are advised not to sell or serve any recalled products, or any items that may have been prepared or produced using recalled products.

USA – Salmonella Dublin in Ground Beef Sickens 10 in 6 States

Food Poison Journal

As of November 1, 2019, a total of 10 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Dublin have been reported from 6 states.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from August 8, 2019, to September 22, 2019. Ill people range in age from 48 to 74 years, with a median age of 68. Eighty percent of ill people are male. Of nine ill people with information available, eight (89%) were hospitalized, which is much higher than we would expect for Salmonella infections. The hospitalization rate is usually about 20%. One death has been reported in California. In five (50%) ill people, Salmonella was found in samples of blood, which indicates their illnesses may have been more severe. Typically, Salmonella Dublin illnesses are more severe because they can cause bloodstream infections, which are serious and require hospitalization.

USA – Romaine E. coli Outbreak happened in September and no one told you

Food Poison Journal Eurofins Food Testing UK

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is sharing news of a recent E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, involving 23 illnesses, that was likely associated with romaine lettuce. No deaths were reported. The active investigation has reached its end and the outbreak appears to be over. The FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control did not identify actionable information for consumers during this investigation. Additionally, when romaine lettuce was identified as the likely source of the outbreak, the available data at the time indicated that the outbreak was not ongoing and romaine lettuce eaten by sick people was past its shelf life and no longer available for sale. The FDA is communicating details about the outbreak at this time to help ensure full awareness by the public and to highlight the ongoing importance of industry actions to help ensure the safety of leafy greens. Federal health officials do not believe there is a current or ongoing risk to public health.

 

Research – Sanitization of Chicken Frames by a Combination of Hydrogen Peroxide and UV Light To Reduce Contamination of Derived Edible Products

Journal of Food Protection

ABSTRACT

Chicken carcass frames are used to obtain mechanically separated chicken (MSC) for use in other further processed food products. Previous foodborne disease outbreaks involving Salmonella-contaminated MSC have demonstrated the potential for the human pathogen to be transmitted to consumers via MSC. The current study evaluated the efficacy of multiple treatments applied to the surfaces of chicken carcass frames to reduce microbial loads on noninoculated frames and frames inoculated with a cocktail of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Inoculated or noninoculated frames were left untreated (control) or were subjected to treatment using a prototype sanitization apparatus. Treatments consisted of (i) a sterile water rinse, (ii) a water rinse followed by 5 s of UV-C light application, or (iii) an advanced oxidation process (AOP) combining 5 or 7% (v/v) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with UV-C light. Treatment with 7% H2O2 and UV-C light reduced numbers of aerobic bacteria by up to 1.5 log CFU per frame (P < 0.05); reductions in aerobic bacteria subjected to other treatments did not statistically differ from one another (initial mean load on nontreated frames: 3.6 ± 0.1 log CFU per frame). Salmonella numbers (mean load on inoculated, nontreated control was 5.6 ± 0.2 log CFU per frame) were maximally reduced by AOP application in comparison with other treatments. No difference in Salmonella reductions obtained by 5% H2O2 (1.1 log CFU per frame) was detected compared with that obtained following 7% H2O2 use (1.0 log CFU per frame). The AOP treatment for sanitization of chicken carcass frames reduces microbial contamination on chicken carcass frames that are subsequently used for manufacture of MSC.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • Chicken carcass frames were sanitized using an advanced oxidation process.

  • Salmonella was reduced by 1.1 log CFU per frame with H2O2 and UV-C light.

  • Aerobic bacteria were reduced by up to 1.5 log CFU per frame with 7% H2O2 plus UV-C light.

  • Advanced oxidation processing produced greater reductions than water or UV-C light alone.

USA -Moby Dick House of Kabob Salmonella Outbreak Increases to 23 Sick

Food Poisoning Bulletin Salmonella kswfoodworld

The Moby Dick House of Kabob Salmonella outbreak has now sickened 23 people, Maureen Regan, Deputy Director, Integrated Media Office of Communications at the Maryland Department of Health told Food Poisoning Bulletin. The latest update on the Salmonella outbreak investigation was posted on September 26, 2019.

USA -Salmonella Outbreak at Al Basha Restaurant in Seattle, WA

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Salmonella outbreak at Al Basha Restaurant in Seattle, Washington has sickened at least three people. One person has been hospitalized. That restaurant is located at 2302 1st Avenue in Seattle. The dates that the ill persons ate there are September 15, 22, and 23, 2019.

RASFF Alert – Foodborne Outbreak -Listeria monocytogenes – Cold Meat (Charcuterie)

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RASFF – foodborne outbreak caused by Listeria monocytogenes in cold meat (charcuterie), sliced and pre-packed from the Netherlands in the Netherlands

RASFF Alert – Food Poisoning – Norovirus – Frozen Wedge Clams

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RASFF – food poisoning suspected to be caused by norovirus GII in frozen wedge clams (Donax trunculus) from Turkey in Spain

Canada – E.coli outbreak reported in Newfoundland and Labrador

Outbreak News Today ecoli

Health officials in Newfoundland and Labrador are reporting an E. coli outbreak in the province. The Department of Health and Community Services advises that there have been 22 confirmed cases of E.coli in the province this week, and Public Health officials within the department, as well as the regional health authorities are working with Service NL to investigate.

USA – E. coli Outbreak at Acapulco Mexican Restaurant in Andover, MN

Food Poisoning Bulletin

CDC E.coli

Image CDC

An E. coli outbreak at the Acapulco Mexican Restaurant in Andover, Minnesota has been confirmed by Doug Schultz, Information and Communications Officer for the Minnesota Department of Health. He said, “We are investigating a cluster of STEC cases that ate at the Andover location.” That restaurant is located at 13753 Ibis St NW in Andover.