Category Archives: Illness

Canada – Public Health Notice: Outbreak of Listeria infections linked to recalled plant-based refrigerated beverages – Two Dead

Posted on July 18, 2024 by | Leave a comment

PHAC

This outbreak investigation is ongoing. The public health notice will be updated as the investigation evolves.

At a glance

Do not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute various recalled plant-based refrigerated beverages

At a glance
Illnesses 12
Provinces and territories with illnesses (number of illnesses)
  • Ontario (10)
  • Quebec (1)
  • Nova Scotia (1)
Hospitalizations 9
Deaths 2
Gender 67% female
Age range 37-89
58% of cases are 60 years of age or older
Food Recall Yes, various Silk and Great Value brand plant-based refrigerated beverages recalled nationally
Recall information
Investigation status Active

Food recall warnings have been issued for plant-based refrigerated beverages from:

  • Silk
  • Great Value

For more information on the recalled products, please consult the Canadian Food inspection Agency (CFIA) recall notice on the Government of Canada Recalls and Safety Alerts website.

Food recall warning: Various Silk and Great Value brand plant-based refrigerated beverages recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

Leave a comment

Posted in Death, food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak

UK – FSA sees incidents decline as Listeria claims top spot

Posted on July 17, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Listeria has overtaken Salmonella as the main pathogen in incidents involving the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

FSA was notified of 1,837 food and feed safety incidents in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales during 2023/24. This is the lowest amount for the past six years.

While incidents have declined, the agency said it deals with more complex events and outbreaks, which take longer to resolve. Examples include fake branded Wonka chocolate and glycerol in slush ice drinks.

Leave a comment

Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, fsa, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak

EU – Raw milk cheese linked to French Yersinia outbreak

Posted on July 17, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

More than 130 people are sick in France as part of a Yersinia outbreak linked to a raw milk goat’s cheese brand.

France has 133 cases, while Belgium, Norway, and Luxembourg all have one each in the Yersinia enterocolitica biotype 2, serotype O:9 outbreak.

Etoile de Provence Banon AOP 100-gram with dates up to Aug. 2, 2024, has been recalled from more than 20 countries, including Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Leave a comment

Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Raw Milk, raw milk cheese, Yersinia, yersinia enterocolitica

Macedonia – The number of food poisoning in Gostivar is growing

Posted on July 16, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Slobodenpecat

A total of nine people were cared for in the Infectious Disease Department of the Gostivar Hospital, with symptoms of poisoning. After the given therapy, everyone was sent home and there were no more serious cases.

According to the initial information, the persons got food poisoning in a restaurant. The epidemiological service of the Center for Public Health took all measures. Samples were taken for analysis, after which we will know the reasons that led to the deterioration of the health condition of the patients and whether it is a bacterial infection.

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Poisoning Illness, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Poisoning

Research – Greece dealing with Salmonella outbreak; Listeria increase

Posted on July 15, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

At least 100 people fell ill in Greece recently with contaminated water suspected as the source.

The Hellenic National Public Health Organization (EODY) said an increased incidence of gastroenteritis cases was observed in late May in residents of the areas of Rizomylos and Stefanovikiou, Magnesia.

A total of 100 cases, of all ages and both sexes, with symptom onset dates between May 24 and June 2, were reported. Nine children were hospitalized, as well as an elderly person with underlying conditions

Leave a comment

Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Salmonella

UK – Officials probe Raisins link in UK STEC E. coli outbreak

Posted on July 15, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

More than 35 people have fallen sick in an E. coli outbreak in the United Kingdom.

The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) outbreak has had 36 cases across the UK since November 2023.

Patient interviews have identified raisins from Turkey as a potential source, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has raised the issue with Turkish authorities.

Leave a comment

Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, STEC, STEC E.coli

Research – Microbial Contamination and Disease Outbreaks Associated with Rockmelons (Cucumis melo): Implications for Public Health Protection

Posted on July 13, 2024 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Abstract

Foodborne illnesses caused by consuming contaminated fresh produce not only pose serious public health risks but also lead to huge economic losses. Rockmelons (cantaloupes) have emerged as a recurrent source of disease outbreaks caused by foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Escherichia coli. The most common factor of the outbreaks was the microbial contamination of rockmelons at the farm, and subsequently, the pathogenic bacteria were transferred to the flesh during cutting and processing. One of the deadliest outbreaks occurred in the USA due to L. monocytogenes contamination of rockmelons which caused 33 deaths in 2011. Since then, several guidelines and recommendations have been developed for food safety management to reduce the microbial contamination of melons on farms and post-harvest operations. This article explicitly provides an updated overview of microbiological contamination, disease outbreaks, pathogens prevalence, and mitigation strategies to reduce public health risks due to the consumption of rockmelons.

Leave a comment

Posted in E.coli, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Microbiology Research, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak, Research, Salmonella

Taiwan – Taipei goose meat restaurant closed over alleged food poisoning

Posted on July 12, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Focus Taiwan

Taipei, July 11 (CNA) A goose meat restaurant in Taipei has been ordered to close following reports of customers experiencing severe food poisoning from food purchased on the premises, the city’s Department of Health said on Thursday.

Chou’s Goose Meat, located on Dongxing Street in Nangang District, was closed on the morning of July 7, after nearly a dozen customers filed complaints with Taipei and Taoyuan municipal health authorities, the department told CNA.

Customers reportedly exhibited severe symptoms of food poisoning including vomiting, diarrhea and fever after consuming smoked or salted goose slices purchased at the restaurant, with 11 saying they had sought medical assistance as a result, the department said.

According to the department, samples were collected from the hands of kitchen staff as well as from a wok, spatula, knife and chopping board. These were sent to the lab for testing, the results of which are expected in around two weeks.

Leave a comment

Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Poisoning Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Poisoning

Belgium – Outbreaks and related illnesses down for 2023 in Belgium

Posted on July 11, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Figures from Belgium show the number of outbreaks and people sick in them declined in 2023.

The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain’s (FASFC) annual report reveals that 722 outbreaks were reported: 3,194 people were affected, 76 were hospitalized, and one died. This is lower than the record number in 2022, which saw 830 outbreaks, 4,247 people sick, and two deaths.

Only in six cases in 2023 could it be demonstrated that food was the cause, as food and human samples contained the same bacteria, viruses, or toxins that triggered the disease.

Leave a comment

Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Microbiology Research, Food Poisoning Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Research

USA – Owner of raw milk creamery behind fatal outbreak sentenced to probation – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on July 10, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

A man who owned a raw milk creamery behind the deaths of two people has been sentenced to probation.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks in New York sentenced Johannes Vulto on July 9 to three years probation, a $100,000 fine and 240 hours of community service. Vulto and his company pleaded guilty in March to causing the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce, a misdemeanor, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York said in a news release.

Vulto’s raw milk cheese was found to be the source of Listeria monocytogenes that sickened eight people, killing two of them in 2016. He could have been sentenced to up to a year in prison. According to a plea agreement, he agreed to pay a $100,000 fine.

Leave a comment

Posted in food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak