Category Archives: Illness

Singapore – Food caterer fined $6,000 for hygiene breaches that led to 92 food poisoning cases

yahoo

Live cockroaches and rodents, as well as food waste strewn over premises, were found during inspections

Food and beverage catering company KG Catering was fined $6,000 on Wednesday (1 November) for multiple hygiene offences. This was after 92 people suffered food poisoning from consuming food prepared by the caterer.

According to a media release by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), none were hospitalised.

The gastroenteritis cases happened across three separate incidents, and were reported to the SFA and the Ministry of Health (MOH) between 20 September 2022 and 11 March 2023. The symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting.

Germany records rise in outbreaks in 2022

Food Safety News

Germany has reported an increase in outbreaks and people sick in them.

In 2022, the Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) and Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) received slightly more reports of foodborne outbreaks than in the previous year, according to a recent report.

A total of 211 outbreaks were recorded. At least 1,488 illnesses, 268 hospitalizations, and eight deaths were linked to them. As in previous years, the most common causes were Campylobacter and Salmonella.

In 2021, RKI and BVL reported 168 outbreaks with 1,179 cases, 196 hospitalizations, and two deaths.

USA – FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of E. coli O121:H19 (ref # 1195) in a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback.
  • For the outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes (ref # 1172) linked to Ice cream, the advisory was updated on October 26, 2023. The outbreak has ended, and FDA’s investigation is closed.
Date
Posted
Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness
Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses

(if any)
Total
Case
Count

Status
11/01/

2023

1195 E.Coli
O121:H19
Not
Yet
Identified
37 Active
10/4/

2023

1190 Salmonella
Thompson
Onions See Advisory Active

Norway -Updated: Serious E. coli outbreak is not over.

FHI

There is still a serious outbreak caused by the stomach and intestinal bacteria E. coli (EHEC), which in the worst case can cause acute kidney damage in children, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. Infection has so far been detected in 24 people. More than half of those infected are children under the age of 13, and 9 of these have developed serious illness.

The outbreak is still ongoing. Infection has so far been detected in 24 people. They fell ill from July to October 2023 and all are infected in Norway. They are aged 1 to 55 and live in Trøndelag (15), Viken (4), Vestfold and Telemark (2), Innlandet (1), Møre and Romsdal (1) and Nordland (1). 15 of the infected are under the age of 13. Nine of the children have developed the serious complication haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS).

There is close cooperation between the Institute of Public Health, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the Veterinary Institute and the concerned municipal chief medical officers. The outbreak bacterium has been found in hamburger, but other minced meat and stuffing products where the same raw materials have been used have also been withdrawn. The tracking work is complicated, and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority cannot rule out that more products may be withdrawn from the market. FHI clarifies that it is therefore very important that people follow the advice for good food hygiene. 

Research -Nestlé outbreak drives record HUS high in France

Food Safety News

The number of children who suffered a potentially fatal complication of E. coli infection in France reached a record high in 2022, influenced by the Nestlé pizza outbreak, according to statistics recently released.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can be a complication of E. coli infection, is a type of kidney failure that can result in lifelong, serious health problems and death.

In the outbreak caused by frozen Buitoni Fraîch’Up pizzas, 59 patients had a median age of 6. They fell ill between January and April 2022. Two children died.

Record HUS high
The 253 HUS cases in 2022 are the most since surveillance began in 1996. In 2021, 128 cases were reported. Santé publique France surveillance data on HUS only covers those younger than 15.

The sharp increase in incidence was partly driven by several outbreaks, including the one large Nestlé incident, but was also because of a lot of sporadic cases.

USA – 73 Victims in 22 States with 15 Hospitalizations: Salmonella in Onions to Blame Once Again

Food Poisoning News

Onions are once again at the center of a nation-wide salmonella outbreak that is leaving victims sick for weeks and hospitalizing at least 15, so far. Many more are expected to be identified as the investigation unfolds.

EU – Multi-country outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis in chicken meat and chicken meat products

EFSA

Between January and October 2023, 14 EU/EEA countries, the UK and the US reported 335 cases related to this outbreak.

Chicken meat and chicken meat products (kebab) are the likely source of a multi-country outbreak caused by three types of Salmonella Enteritidis, according to EFSA and ECDC’s latest Rapid Outbreak Assessment.

Bacteria similar to those causing the outbreak have been detected in samples of chicken meat and chicken kebab. While food traceability data points to producers located in Poland (7 producers) and Austria (1 producer), no microbiological evidence of a contamination at their facilities has been found.

Scientists expect that new cases are likely to occur in this multi-country outbreak as the source has not yet been identified. EFSA and ECDC experts recommend further investigations to identify the potential locations within the chicken meat production chain where the contamination may have occurred.

USA – 3 hospitalized as cases of salmonella tied to raw milk rise in San Diego County

NBC San Diego

County of San Diego health officials reported three more cases of salmonella linked to unpasteurized or “raw” milk products from a producer in Fresno on Wednesday, bringing the total number of local cases to 12.

Three of the 12 people were hospitalized, according to the county Health and Human Services Agency.

The cases began in late September with products from Raw Farm LLC, with the most recent person falling ill on Oct. 17, the HHSA said.

USA – Another 4 reported STEC E. coli cases bring total sick to 17 linked to 4S Ranch restaurant

NBC San Diego

Four more people have reported being sickened by an E. coli outbreak linked to Miguel’s Cocina in the 4S Ranch community of San Diego within the past two days, bringing the total to 17 cases, county health officials said Thursday.

Seven people had to be hospitalized, including four children, according to the county’s Health and Human Services Agency.

“The joint public health and environmental health investigation is ongoing,” HHSA spokesperson Fernanda Lopez said.

Those who fell ill, or their families, reported eating at Miguel’s 4S Ranch location from Oct. 6 to Oct. 18 and developed symptoms from Oct. 13 to Oct. 19, according to the HHSA.

County health officials are still investigating the specific food items that were the source of the Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) at the restaurant. Miguel’s voluntarily closed its doors on Tuesday and has been working closely with the County to identify the outbreak.

USA – Ice Cream recalled after two with Listeria in New York and Pennsylvania – Listeria monocytogenes

Food Poison Journal

recalled-ice-cream-2

Two people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria were reported from two states: one from New York and one from Pennsylvania. Sick people’s samples were collected in May and June 2023. Both sick people were hospitalized, and neither died.

The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and this outbreak may not have been limited to the states with known illnesses. This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria.

One sick person ate “Soft Serve on The Go” ice cream cups, and the other person likely ate the same ice cream cup at a long-term care facility they lived.

The outbreak strain of Listeria was found in “Soft Serve On The Go” ice cream cups, “Ice Cream House” mini dessert cigar novelty ice cream, and several environmental samples taken from two of The Ice Cream House stores.