Category Archives: foodborne outbreak

Sweden – At least 100 ill in Swedish Cryptosporidium salad outbreak

Posted on November 18, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

water contamination

A rise in Cryptosporidium infections in Sweden has been attributed to contaminated salad by public health officials.

The Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten) said 101 cases of a certain type of Cryptosporidium parvum had been confirmed in 13 regions of the country.

Patients fell ill from Sept. 25 to Oct. 15 this year and women were more affected than men. Cases range from 4 to 86 years old with an average age of 42.

Link to salad
The agency added there are another 99 potential cases being investigated. The type of Cryptosporidium parvum involved is common so there could be several possible sources.

Local infection control units, the Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) and Folkhälsomyndigheten investigated the increase in infections to find a source.

Analysis of information from patients on what they had eaten before becoming ill shows they ate mixed or bagged salad more often than a control group.

Salad has a short shelf life so health officials don’t think it is still available for sale but no products have been sampled.

Livsmedelsverket has looked into possible producers and growers but has been unable to find the likely source of infection.

As reported cases of Cryptosporidium have decreased and are at similar levels to previous years, officials believe the outbreak is over.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – FDA – Core Outbreak Table Update

Posted on November 18, 2022 by | Leave a comment

 

 

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium (reference #1113) in a not yet identified food has been added to the table and traceback has been initiated. There are currently 264 cases. The FDA is working closely with federal, state, and local partners to investigate multiple food items of interest to determine the source of this outbreak and will update the public when more information becomes available.
  • For the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in a not yet identified food (reference #1121), the outbreak status has changed to “Ended”.

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Posted in E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella

Research – Fatal Listeria outbreak linked to Scottish fish processor

Posted on November 16, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

A deadly Listeria outbreak in the United Kingdom has been linked to one company but product testing has only found low levels of contamination.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) suspect the source of contamination to be a salmon-smoking processing factory in Scotland.

Food Standards Scotland wouldn’t name the company or answer questions about the incident from Food Safety News.

Instead, a spokesperson said: “This is an ongoing outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes and, as yet, no definitive source of contamination has been found. Investigations to determine the root cause continue. Investigations of any outbreaks of foodborne illness will comprise both patient questionnaires and sampling of products.

“Local authorities are responsible for working on mitigations with any implicated businesses, and FSS, alongside partners the UK Health Security Agency, Public Health Scotland, and the Food Standards Agency, have been involved in raising awareness of the outbreak with consumers, most recently with targeted messaging to vulnerable groups.”

There have been 14 confirmed Listeria monocytogenes cases in just under two years. At least 10 sick people are above 65 years old, and one was a pregnant woman.

Three people older than 65 have died and for two Listeria monocytogenes was a contributory cause of death. All cases had underlying health conditions.

Of the linked cases of listeriosis since October 2020, eight have been identified since January 2022. The majority of them reported eating ready-to-eat smoked fish.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

Research – EU and UK record travel-related Shigella infections

Posted on November 15, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

A multi-country Shigella outbreak in Europe has been linked to stays at some hotels in Cape Verde.

Confirmed Shigella sonnei cases have been reported in the Netherlands, Denmark, France, Germany, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said there is no information about the source of infection but given the increase in travel during the coming holiday season, new cases are likely.

However, Holiday Claims Bureau and Hudgell Solicitors in the UK have noted complaints of illness and poor hygiene standards from holidaymakers, suggesting the source could be contaminated food or water. Holiday Claims Bureau said it had been informed of sick people testing positive for Shigella.

Travelers have described symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and pains, which in some cases lasted until they returned home.

Anne Thomson, Hudgell Solicitors’ travel litigation executive, said people can suffer as a result of a change in diet and climate.

“However, when we are alerted to situations where a number of holiday guests are affected by similar symptoms, particularly when they are not part of the same traveling group, we feel an investigation is needed to contain any wider outbreak and prevent future problems,” she said.

“Holidaymakers becoming ill having only ever eaten at the specific hotel they are staying at, and concerns raised by guests over standards of hygiene and cleanliness throughout premises, and not just in dining areas, are often red flags to potential underlying problems.”

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Posted in Contaminated water, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Shigatoxin, Shigella, Shigella Sonnei, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Attribution Analysis of Foodborne Disease Outbreaks Related to Meat and Meat Products in China, 2002–2017

Posted on November 15, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Mary Anne Liebert

Abstract

kswfoodworld

This study aimed to understand the epidemiological characteristics of foodborne disease outbreaks related to meat and meat products in China from 2002 to 2017. Data collected from the National Foodborne Diseases Surveillance System and searched databases were analyzed. From 2002 to 2017, China reported 2815 outbreaks caused by foodborne diseases related to meat and meat products, resulting in 52,122 illnesses and 25,361 hospitalizations, and 96 deaths. Outbreaks were markedly seasonal and concentrated from May to September, accounting for 66.93%. Outbreaks were concentrated mainly in China’s eastern coastal and southern regions. Unidimensional attribution analysis revealed that livestock meat was the most commonly implicated food category causing the outbreaks, accounting for 28.67%. Bacteria were the most common pathogenic cause of outbreaks, accounting for 51.94%. Clostridium botulinum was the most common pathogenic cause of death, accounting for 34.38%. Improper processing was the most common contributing factor, accounting for 27.89%. Households were the most common food preparation location causing the outbreak, accounting for 34.39%. Two-dimensional and multidimensional attribution analysis found that Salmonella contamination occurred in different locations and regions, mainly caused by various contributing factors and improper processing. Nitrite poisoning is caused by improper processing in households in East China. Bacterial causes were the commonest agents associated with foodborne diseases related to meat and meat products, and improving the safety and quality of meat and meat product should be a priority.

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Posted in Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, foodborne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Research, Salmonella

USA – Cooper’s Hawk Duval County Cyclospora Outbreak Attributed to Contaminated Basil

Posted on November 14, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning News

The final investigation of the 2019 Cyclospora outbreak in Duval County, Florida found the most likely cause of the Cooper’s Hawk outbreak was serving food containing contaminated fresh basil – ironically, to-date Cooper’s Hawk continues to deny it served contaminated food. The Florida Department of Health of Duval County (DOH-Duval) first announced the potential outbreak on June 22, 2019 after one of Cooper’s Hawks own restaurant managers notified them of an estimated 20 employees who had became sick with gastrointestinal illness beginning on June 18, 2019. After the first report of employee infections, reports of illnesses in customers came pouring in, with a total of 153 gastrointestinal illnesses.

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Posted in Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

USA – FDA Core Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on November 11, 2022 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (reference #1127) in a not yet identified food has been added to the table and traceback has been initiated.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak

USA – Listeria Outbreak Linked to Deli Meat and Cheese

Posted on November 11, 2022 by | Leave a comment

cdc

You are at higher risk for severe Listeria illness if you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments. If you are in any of these groups, do not eat meat or cheese from any deli counter, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot.

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 16
  • Hospitalizations: 13
  • Deaths: 1
  • States: 6
  • Recall: No
  • Investigation status: Active
Listeria in Deli Meat and Cheese

Deli meats (cold cuts, lunch meats, hot dogs, and pâtés sold at the deli) and cheeses are known sources of Listeria illnesses. This is because Listeria can easily spread among food on deli countertops, deli slicers, surfaces, and hands. Listeria is a hardy germ that can be difficult to fully remove once it is in the deli. It can survive and grow at cold temperatures in the refrigerator.

Source of the Outbreak

Information collected so far shows that deli meat and cheese purchased at deli counters in multiple states are the likely sources of this outbreak.

It is difficult for investigators to identify a single food as the source of outbreaks linked to deli meats and cheeses. This is because Listeria spreads easily between food and the deli environment and can persist for a long time in deli display cases and on equipment. A contaminated food likely introduced the outbreak strain of Listeria into delis in multiple states. Investigators are working to identify any specific products or delis that may be contaminated with the outbreak strain.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food death, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak

USA – Deli Meat and Cheese with Listeria sickens 16 in 6 States since 2021

Posted on November 10, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Key Facts: 16 sick people in California (1), Illinois (2), Maryland (3), Massachusetts (2), New Jersey (1) and New York (7) range in age from 38 to 92 years, with a median age of 74, and 62% are male. Of 13 people with ethnicity information available, 11 are of Eastern European background or speak Russian. Of 14 people with information available, 13 have been hospitalized. One person got sick during their pregnancy, resulting in pregnancy loss. Additionally, one death has been reported from Maryland. Sick people’s samples were collected from April 17, 2021, to September 29, 2022.

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are collecting different types of data to investigate a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections.

Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that meat and cheese from deli counters contaminated with Listeria are making people sick. Investigators are still working to identify any specific products or delis that may be contaminated with the outbreak strain.

As of November 9, 2022, 16 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from 6 states – California, Illinois, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

USA – Cooper’s Hawk Winery Cyclospora Outbreak in Jacksonville, Florida:  Victims Still Coming Forward to Seek Justice as 4-Year Statute of Limitations Approaches

Posted on November 10, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning News

Cooper’s Hawk Winery Cyclospora Outbreak in Jacksonville, Florida:  Victims Still Coming Forward to Seek Justice as 4-Year Statute of Limitations Approaches

In June of 2019, the Florida Department of Health in Duval County (DOH-Duval) was notified of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness (food poisoning) among employees of the local Jacksonville Cooper’s Hawk Winery – the restaurant corporate manager called in the notification. By that time, about 20 employees had become ill. On Sunday, June 23 the Regional Environmental Epidemiologist (REE) was notified by Florida Poison Information Control Network that 16 out of 17 persons who dined at Cooper’s Hawk with a group on June 11, 2019 were ill with a gastrointestinal illness.  This information was sent to DOH-Duval who began an outbreak investigation on June 24.

That same day, another individual called to report he was in a different group (24 persons) who all became ill (except one person) after eating at Cooper’s Hawk Winery in Jacksonville on June 13.

Between June 24 and July 3, 2019, a total of six independent parties contacted DOH-Duval Epidemiology to report gastrointestinal illness after they ate food from the Jacksonville Cooper’s Hawk Winery between June 11 and June 15.

On July 8, the local news media reported on the outbreak which resulted in additional patrons calling in and reporting their illnesses.

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Posted in Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak