Category Archives: foodborne outbreak

Canada- Salmonella outbreak shuts down Stoney Creek Mexican restaurant

Technostalls

Stoney Creek restaurant which boasts on social Websites that it is house to “Hamilton’s best tacos” was shut while health officials explore a salmonella outbreak that left many people ill.

Ole Gourmet on Regional Road 8 had been closed on May 17 following four individuals came back with salmonella from meals prepared there.

The Restaurant was started the next day following a re-inspection that revealed it had been compliant with all Ontario’s Food Premises regulation, according to a press release from town officials.

Some folks may become really seriously sick. Said Dr. Ninh Tran, Hamilton Public Health Services.

However, On May 22 the other individual became ill of Salmonella and analyzing of 10 food samples shown three which were positive for contamination.

The restaurant has been shut on May 25.

USA – Cyclospora Outbreak in Minnesota, Wisconsin Linked to Kwik Trip Del Monte Veggie Trays

Food Safety News 

A cyclospora outbreak in Minnesota and Wisconsin is linked to Del Monte Vegetable Trays that are sold at Kwik Trip stores in the two states. The Wisconsin Department of Health services has released a bulletin about this outbreak.

Eleven people in Wisconsin and three people in Minnesota are sick. They reported purchasing a vegetable tray from a Kwik Trip location before they got sick. The trays contained broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip. They may have also been available at other locations.

Consumers should not eat these products: Del Monte Vegetable Tray (containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip) in 6 ounce packages, and Del Monte Vegetable Tray (containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip) in 12 ounce packages. Kwok Trip is cooperating with officials and have removed this product from their stores.

Cyclospora is a parasite that is usually found in developing countries. But in the summer months, there is almost always a cylospora outbreak in the U.S. Past outbreaks have been linked to snow peas, cilantro, raspberries, and mesclun.

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

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 produced at the Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. Caito Foods, LLC distributed products produced at this facility in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio. The products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers and distributed to Costco, Jay C, Kroger, Payless, Owen’s, Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, Walgreens, Walmart, and Whole Foods/Amazon. Caito Foods, LLC has voluntarily recalled fruit salad mixes that contain pre-cut melons to prevent further distribution of potentially contaminated products.
  • The CDC reports that 60 people in five Midwestern states have become ill. Among 47 people with information available, thirty-one cases (66%) have been hospitalized.
  • The 60 illnesses occurred within the period of April 30, 2018 to May 28, 2018.
  • The FDA is working with CDC, along with state partners in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio 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.
  • 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.

Research – Lactalis of France ‘Salmonella was released from inside the buildings’

Barf Blog

The head of the French company at the centre of an international baby milk scandal denied Friday that it was responsible for the contamination that triggered a recall of formula in over 80 countries, calling it “an accident”.

Lactalis, one of the world’s biggest dairy groups, was forced to recall 12 million packages of powdered baby milk in 83 countries in December and January after being linked to an outbreak of salmonella poisoning in children.

French officials began investigating the company after at least 36 infants fell sick from drinking milk sold under the Picot or Milumel brands. Cases of suspected contamination were also reported among children in Spain and Greece.

USA/Canada – Salmonella outbreaks from raw frozen chicken not related

Food Safety News 

Salmonella Enteritidis outbreaks in Canada and the United States that have been traced to raw frozen chicken patties are likely not related, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The strain in Canada is not related genetically to the strain in the U.S., so the outbreaks do not appear to be related,” a CDC spokesperson told Food Safety News.

Between the two outbreaks, 65 people have been confirmed with salmonellosis, an infection caused by Salmonella bacteria. Thorough cooking to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F kills the bacteria.

In the U.S. outbreak, Ruby’s Pantry network of food pantries in Wisconsin and Minnesota distributed the raw frozen breaded chicken patties without realizing they were raw. Labeling did not indicate the chicken was raw. 

Research – Behavior of 11 Foodborne Bacteria on Whole and Cut Mangoes var. Ataulfo and Kent and Antibacterial Activities of Hibiscus sabdariffa Extracts and Chemical Sanitizers Directly onto Mangoes Contaminated with Foodborne Bacteria

Journal of Food Protection

The behavior of foodborne bacteria on whole and cut mangoes and the antibacterial effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extracts and chemical sanitizers against foodborne bacteria on contaminated mangoes were investigated. Mangoes var. Ataulfo and Kent were used in the study. Mangoes were inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Montevideo, Escherichia coli strains (O157:H7, non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin–producing, enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive, and enteroaggregative). The antibacterial effect of five roselle calyx extracts (water, ethanol, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate), sodium hypochlorite, colloidal silver, and acetic acid against foodborne bacteria were evaluated on contaminated mangoes. The dry extracts obtained with ethanol, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine solvent residues. Separately, contaminated whole mangoes were immersed in five hibiscus extracts and in sanitizers for 5 min. All foodborne bacteria attached to mangoes. After 20 days at 25 ± 2°C, all foodborne bacterial strains on whole Ataulfo mangoes had decreased by approximately 2.5 log, and on Kent mangoes by approximately 2 log; at 3 ± 2°C, they had decreased to approximately 1.9 and 1.5 log, respectively, on Ataulfo and Kent. All foodborne bacterial strains grew on cut mangoes at 25 ± 2°C; however, at 3 ± 2°C, bacterial growth was inhibited. Residual solvents were not detected in any of the dry extracts by nuclear magnetic resonance. Acetonic, ethanolic, and methanolic roselle calyx extracts caused a greater reduction in concentration (2 to 2.6 log CFU/g) of all foodborne bacteria on contaminated whole mangoes than the sodium hypochlorite, colloidal silver, and acetic acid. Dry roselle calyx extracts may be a potentially useful addition to disinfection procedures of mangoes.

USA – Salmonella outbreak closes Georgia caterer until further notice By News Desk | May 22, 2018

Food Safety News kswfoodworld salmonella

County health officials continue to investigate a Salmonella outbreak linked to a Georgia caterer who provided food for recent events. At least 70 people reported becoming ill after the events, with at least four admitted to hospitals.

The Plain Nuts Catering & Deli of Covington, GA, closed voluntarily, according to the Gwinnett, Newton, & Rockdale County Health Departments. As of Monday evening the caterer’s website did not appear to have any information about the situation.

Sick people reported attending events on April 28 and May 9 that were catered by Plain Nuts. Another group of people who did not attend the events but did eat food from the caterer is also included in the outbreak count. 

Reports of the illnesses first reached the health department on May 4. With all of the sick people having attended the same invitation-only event on April 28, public health officials began investigating the caterer. On May 15, the department received word of illnesses among attendees of the May 9 event.   

USA – Salmonella outbreak over, but CDC says coconut threat lingers

Food Safety News

Federal officials say an outbreak of Salmonella traced to dried coconut appears to be over, but they are renewing their public warning about a lingering threat.

Fourteen people across eight states and the District of Columbia were confirmed with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium. Three people were admitted to hospitals. The strain was also laboratory confirmed in unopened packages of the coconut. 

“This outbreak appears to be over. However, recalled dried coconut products have a long shelf life and may still be in people’s homes. Consumers unaware of the recall could continue to eat these products and potentially get sick,” according to an update posted Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

USA – Pious Lion pulls kratom after illness, positive Salmonella result

Food Safety News 

 

A reported illness in North Carolina and state testing that showed Salmonella contamination spurred the Pious Lion company to recall an undisclosed volume of kratom products.

“This is a very serious issue and consumers should take immediate action if they have these products in their homes. Consumers are advised to discard these products and are warned not to consume them,” said Joe Reardon, assistant commissioner of regulatory programs for the North Carolina agriculture department.  

The Asheville, NC, company said in a news release and on its Facebook page that it does not agree with the test results from North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Rapid Response Team.

“Due to concerns about salmonella tainted kratom products, we sent samples of our 9 strains to an independent 3rd party lab for testing. The results just came back and we’re pleased to inform you that all 9 samples came back negative for salmonella,” according to the Pious Lion statement.

USA – Plain Nuts Catering & Deli tied to Salmonella Outbreak

Food Poison Journal

Approximately 70 individuals have reported illness to the Health Department.

The Newton County Health Department is continuing to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella. The initial outbreak was reported to our office on May 4th due to illness among attendees at a closed, invitation only event held in Newton County on April 28th. During the process of investigating this event, the caterer that provided food for this event, Plain Nuts Catering & Deli, was investigated per protocol. All food and drink items along with other exposure possibilities were fully investigated. A survey was developed and sent out to event attendees to gather information on exposures and subsequent illness.