Category Archives: Illness

Research – Contaminated Sponges in Kitchens

Posted on March 18, 2013 by | Leave a comment

JDCStaphylococcus

Introduction: Contaminated sponges might lead to cross-contamination in kitchens since they can transfer microorganisms to surfaces where microorganisms can survive for hours or days and contaminate food. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the transfer and the survival of bacteria from kitchen sponges to surfaces of AISI 316 stainless steel and polyethylene.

Methodology: Twenty-four sponges were collected from industrial kitchens in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and aseptically split into two equal parts. One part was subjected to enumeration of heterotrophic microorganisms, faecal coliforms, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and search detection of Salmonella enterica. The other part was rubbed on surfaces of AISI 316 stainless steel (12 sponges) or polyethylene (12 sponges). The transfer and survival of microorganisms was quantified by swab collection and pour-plate method using plate count agar.

Results: All sponges were contaminated by heterotrophic microorganisms (average of 6.8 log CFU/sponge) and 83.3% with faecal coliforms (average of 5 log CFU/sponge). None of the sponges were contaminated by S. enterica and/or coagulase-positive Staphylococcus. The average transfer of microorganisms varied between 3.3 and 5.5 log CFU/cm2 for stainless steel and from 3.5 to 5.6 log CFU/cm2 for polyethylene. Although the survival rate decreased over time, more than 1 log CFU/cm2 of heterotrophic microorganisms survived after 24 hours on both surfaces.

Conclusions: The sponges used in food services were significantly contaminated and could transfer large amounts of microorganisms to surfaces of AISI 316 stainless steel and polyethylene.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Micro Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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USA – Cruise Ship – Norovirus – Again

Posted on March 11, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletinnorovirus-2(1)

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Vision of the Sea has reported an outbreak of norovirus that has sickened at least 105 people, according to the San Francisco Gate. The ship had 1,991 passengers on board and 772 crew members, which means 5.3% of the passengers were sickened.

The ship docked in Port Everglades, Florida on Friday March 7, 2013 and was thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before its next journey. Passengers “responded well to treatment”, according to the company.

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Virus

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Denmark – Worlds Greatest Restaurant- 67 Sick

Posted on March 9, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Copenhagen Post

A total of 67 guests succumb to vomiting and diarrhoea after dining at Noma, Denmark’s most famous gourmet restaurant
Fødevarestyrelsen criticised Noma for not disinfecting the kitchen in time in order to prevent the contagion from spreading and also said there was no hot water in the taps that staff used to wash their hands (Photo: Scanpix)

Noma’s reputation as one of the world’s best gourmet restaurants was blighted today after it was revealed that 67 people had become ill after eating there.

The national food authorities, Fødevarestyrelsen, inspected the restaurant on February 20 after it received reports that a number of the restaurant’s guests had become ill with Roskilde Sickness, a norovirus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea, after dining there from February 12-16.

Out of 78 guests served over the period, a total of 63 fell ill, which prompted Fødevarestyrelsen to make an inspection in which it found hygiene problems.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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USA – Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak

Posted on February 18, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Alaska PublicCampylobacter

The State Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of a food borne illness linked to raw milk. Officials have confirmed four cases of Campylobacter infection in people who drank raw milk on the Kenai Peninsula. The illness causes diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

Dr. Brian Yablon is a medical epidemiologist with the state. He says the cases have all been identified by the state lab in the last three weeks:

“When they looked at these strains, they found that the four specimens were all exactly the same type, so that is consistent with a cluster of illnesses and when we found out additional information it seemed that all of the people who developed the infection had consumed raw milk or unpasteurized milk in the proceeding several days before they got sick,” Yablon said.

The state is still working to identify the source of the raw milk. A farmer named Kevin Byers in Kasilof distributes raw milk to families around the state. He did not agree to a recorded interview, but said he doesn’t know if his milk is responsible for the outbreak. He says his customers drink his milk for the perceived health benefits. According to a recent newspaper article, Byers has 150 customers as far away as Sitka.

Selling raw milk is illegal in Alaska. But farmers have found ways to do it legally.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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European Epdiemiological Report into the Salmonella Stanley Outbreak 2012

Posted on February 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

ECDCecdclogo

In July 2012, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) initiated a Europe-wide investigation on a Salmonella Stanley outbreak, together with the affected Member States, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Reference Laboratory for Salmonella (EURL Salmonella). Cases were associated with strains showing an indistinguishable PFGE pattern not previously reported in Europe.

Between July and September 2012, ECDC encouraged European Union (EU) and other European Economic Area (EEA) Member States to perform Xbal-PFGE typing on all S. Stanley human isolates. The image profile of the outbreak strain was shared with all EU countries. ECDC collected and analysed molecular typing data on S. Stanley from EU/EEA Member States to explore potential sources of infection within the food production chain in this multi-country outbreak.

Full report at the link above.

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Posted in Bacteria, ECDC, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hand Washing, Hygiene, Illness, Methods, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella

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USA – Walmart Cheese Recall – Salmonella

Posted on February 6, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin Salmonella

Walmart is recalling Stallings Head Cheese which has been linked to a cluster of Salmonella Uganda  illnesses in Louisiana.  Stallings, which is based in Houston, issued a recall for 4,700 pounds of the product on January 24 after health officials had discovered the link to the illnesses.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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CDC – Hedgehogs and Salmonella

Posted on February 1, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CDChttp://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Olaf1541

A total of 20 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 8 states.

  • The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Michigan (3), Minnesota (3), Ohio (3), Oregon (1), and Washington (7).
  • 31% of ill persons have been hospitalized. One death associated with Salmonella infection has been reported in Washington.
  • 45% of ill persons are children 10 years of age or younger.
  • Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback findings have linked this outbreak of human Salmonella infections to contact with pet hedgehogs purchased from multiple hedgehog breeders in different states.
  • It is very important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching hedgehogs or anything in the area where they live and roam. Adults should supervise hand washing for young children.

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Posted in Bacteria, CDC, Hygiene, Illness, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, Research

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USA – Norovirus Outbreak Deli

Posted on February 1, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Concord PatchNorwalk_Caspid

A Concord deli has been closed by Contra Costa County environmental health officials due to norovirus contamination.

Marilyn Underwood, environmental health department director, said the North Park Deli on Nelson Avenue was shut down late Tuesday afternoon. It’s uncertain when the eatery will re-open.

Underwood said two employees at the deli have tested positive for the virus.

She said her department was first notified of the illness when 15 people who were at an event catered by North Park Deli on Friday evening became sick over the weekend.

It usually takes 36 to 48 hours after exposure for norovirus symptoms to appear.

Underwood said anyone who visited the deli late last week or early this week and becomes sick should avoid contact with other people. In addition, surfaces and other contaminated items should be cleaned with bleach.

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, outbreak, Pathogen

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New Zealand Recall – Cheese Products Implicated in the Australian Listeria Outbreak

Posted on January 25, 2013 by | 1 comment

Ministry for Primary Industries

Jindi’ Brand Cheese  imported from Australia – includes brand names ‘Old Telegraph Road’ and ‘Top  Paddock’.

This is a precautionary recall due to an  outbreak of Listeriosis illness in Australia linked to other Jindi brand  products.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall

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FSA – Norovirus Advice and Information

Posted on January 24, 2013 by | 1 comment

FSANorwalk_Caspid

During the current norovirus outbreak, the FSA is reminding people what they can do when preparing food to minimise the likelihood of food contamination. Tackling foodborne norovirus is one of the priorities for the Agency, as part of its Foodborne Disease Strategy. (see link above)

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Research, Uncategorized

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