Category Archives: foodborne outbreak

USA – FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce from Yuma Growing Region

Posted on June 29, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FDA Eurofins Food Testing UK

Update

The FDA, along with CDC and state partners, initiated an environmental assessment in the Yuma growing region to further investigate potential sources of contamination linked to this outbreak.

Samples have been collected from environmental sources in the region, including water, soil, and cow manure. Evaluation of these samples is ongoing.

To date, CDC analysis of samples taken from canal water in the region has identified the presence of E. coli 0157:H7 with the same genetic finger print as the outbreak strain. We have identified additional strains of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli in water and soil samples, but at this time, the samples from the canal water are the only matches to the outbreak strain.

Analysis of additional samples is still ongoing, and any new matches to the outbreak strain will be communicated publicly and with industry in the region.

Identification of the outbreak strain in the environment should prove valuable in our analysis of potential routes of contamination, and we are continuing our investigation in an effort to learn more about how the outbreak strain could have entered the water and ways that this water could have come into contact with and contaminated romaine lettuce in the region.

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Posted in Biotoxin, E.coli, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, Enterotoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Shigatoxin, STEC, Uncategorized, VTEC

Canada – Canada calls E. coli Outbreak over after 8 Sickened by US Romaine Lettuce

Posted on June 28, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal 

According to Food Safety News, Canadian officials say an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce from Arizona has ended with eight confirmed cases in their country. The eight victims in Canada all reported eating chopped romaine lettuce in the days before becoming sick. They all said the romaine was in packaged salads from grocery stores or in salads from restaurants. Two of the Canadians reported traveling to the United States and eating romaine there before becoming ill. Canadians became sick between March 18 and April 22.

In Canada the investigation is officially over, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, Uncategorized

USA – Cyclospora Kwik Trip Outbreak Linked to Del Monte Vegetable Trays Grows to 144 Sick

Posted on June 25, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin cyclo

The cyclospora Kwik Trip outbreak linked to Del Monte vegetable trays has now grown to 144 patients, according to an FDA update. The patients live in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Six people have been hospitalized in this outbreak because they are so sick.

Cyclospora Kwik Trip Del Monte Outbreak 622

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Posted in Cyclospora, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Uncategorized

Australia – 7 dead, 1 miscarriage: New control measures to be set up on Australian rockmelon farms

Posted on June 24, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Barf Blog

In April, thousands of rockmelons were left to rot in paddocks near Geraldton on the Western Australian coast, record low prices and lost markets meant they were simply not worth picking.

Grower Carol Metcalf said the rows of rotting melons were the result of the listeria outbreak on a rockmelon farm more than 3,500 kilometres away in New South Wales.

Under a new plan released this week, all rockmelon farms in Australia will be inspected and work will be undertaken on each individual farm to ensure that the highest standards are implemented and maintained.

At the time of the outbreak on February this year, the NSW Food Authority speculated that the most likely cause of the listeria outbreak was contaminated soil possibly not being properly washed off the skin of the fruit.

In addition it was thought that a weather event may have increased the listeria bacteria on the product.

But the formal investigation into the cause of the outbreak has not been completed by the NSW Food Authority and therefore the official report on the cause has still not been released.

 

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Testing, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, Uncategorized

RASFF Alert – Foodborne Outbreak – Infant Formula

Posted on June 22, 2018 by | Leave a comment

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by infant milk formula from Spain in France

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Uncategorized

USA – FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide Infections Linked to Pre-Cut Melons

Posted on June 21, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FDA 

Fast Facts

  • The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials are investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide infections. CDC reports that fruit salad mixes that include pre-cut melons are a likely source of this outbreak.
  • FDA advises consumers not to eat recalled fresh cut watermelon, honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and fresh-cut fruit medley products containing any of these melons. Products have been distributed in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers under several different brands or labels and distributed to Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, Whole Foods/Amazon. Other retail locations may be added to the list.
  • Caito Foods, LLC has voluntarily recalled fruit salad mixes that contain pre-cut melons to prevent further distribution of potentially contaminated products.
  • CDC reports that there are 70 cases in seven states. Illnesses occurred from April 30, 2018, to June 3, 2018.
  • Ill people range in age from less than 1 year to 97, with a median age of 67. Sixty-seven percent are female. Out of 63 people with information available, 34 (54%) have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
  • The FDA is working with CDC, along with state partners , to trace back the pre-cut melons to identify the source to determine the full distribution of pre-cut melons, and to learn more about the potential route of contamination.
  • As this is an ongoing investigation, the FDA will update this page as more information becomes available, such as product information, epidemiological results, and recalls.
  • Additional distribution information has been added that identifies retail locations organized by state that received potentially contaminated product. The FDA is advising consumers to discard any recalled products purchased at the listed locations. The FDA is sharing this information with consumers as soon as possible and additional distribution information may be added as it becomes available. It is possible that some stores may be mentioned more than once because they received more than one shipment or more than one product. Consumers may wish to ask a store directly if the recalled product was available for sale.
  • Consumers who have symptoms of Salmonella infection should contact their health care provider to report their symptoms and receive care. Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Most infections usually lasts 4 to 7 days and most people recover without treatment, however some people develop diarrhea so severe that they need to be hospitalized.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized

France – France E. coli O26 outbreak update

Posted on June 18, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

In a follow-up on the Escherichia coli O26 outbreak in France, between February and May 2018, several children with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), some of whom were infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli) O26 bacteria with the same characteristics, were identified by the National Center for reference E. coli and its associated laboratory (Institut Pasteur, Paris, and Microbiology Laboratory of Robert Debré Hospital, Paris).

The investigations carried out by Santé Publique France have confirmed an epidemiological link between these cases and the consumption of raw milk reblochons produced at the Cruseilles (Haute-Savoie) site of Chabert.

These investigations led to the withdrawal of the sale and the recall of all raw milk reblochons manufactured on the Cruseilles site.

As of June 15, 2018, 15 children aged one to five years are included in the investigation of this outbreak. The fifteen children consumed Reblochon as part of the suspect lots. Among them :

  • Twelve were affected by the same strain of E. coli O26;
  • Of these 12 children, one had diarrhea and 11 had an HUS, one of whom died;
  • Of the other three children, two are infected with an E. coli strain O26 different from that of the other 12 children, and for one child no strain could be isolated.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O26, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Uncategorized

USA – FDA Investigated Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Braenderup Linked to Shell Eggs from Rose Acre Farms – Appears to be Over.

Posted on June 15, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FDA 

Fast Facts

  • The FDA advised consumers not to eat recalled eggs produced by Rose Acre Farms’ Hyde County farm. According to Rose Acre Farms’ recall notice and the subsequent recall from Cal-Maine Foods, Inc., these eggs are sold under multiple brand names, including Coburn Farms, Country Daybreak, Food Lion, Glenview, Great Value, Nelms, Sunshine Farms, Publix, and Sunups. Recalled eggs were also sold to restaurants.
  • CDC reported 45 cases in 10 states with 11 hospitalizations and no deaths.
  • After learning that all of the people who became ill ate eggs or egg dishes, the FDA was able to trace back the source of some of the eggs to the Rose Acre Farms’ Hyde County farm. FDA investigators then inspected the farm and collected samples for testing. FDA analysis of the samples revealed that the same strain of Salmonella Braenderup that caused the illnesses was present at the Hyde County Egg facility, tying the facility to the outbreak.
  • As a result of the findings and discussions between the FDA and the firm, Rose Acre Farms voluntarily recalled eggs from the farm in Hyde County, North Carolina. Following Rose Acre Farms’ recall, Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. voluntarily recalled eggs purchased from Rose Acre Farms and produced at the Hyde County facility.

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Posted in FDA, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized

RASFF Alert – Foodborne Outbreak – Histamine – Forzen Yellowfin Tuna Cubes

Posted on June 15, 2018 by | Leave a comment

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-foodborne outbreak caused by histamine (280, 1100, 1900 mg/kg – ppm) in frozen yellowfin tuna cubes (Thunnus albacares) from Vietnam in France

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Histamine, RASFF, Uncategorized

USA – FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide Infections Linked to Pre-Cut Melons

Posted on June 14, 2018 by | Leave a comment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Adelaide illnesses that may be linked to cut melons.

June 13, 2018 Update

The FDA is sharing additional distribution information that identifies retail locations that may have received potentially contaminated product subject to the recall. The FDA is advising consumers to discard any recalled products purchased at the listed locations.

The FDA is sharing a consolidated list of retail locations with consumers as the information becomes available. The retail information augments product information released on June 8th. Additional retail locations may be added as more information is received by the FDA. This list has been compiled from lists firms have reported to FDA that received recalled bulk product. Firms may be added or removed as more information becomes available. Consumers may wish to ask a retailer directly if the recalled product was available for sale.

As of June 12, and 13, 2018, locations in Iowa, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wisconsin have been added that received potentially contaminated product.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized