Category Archives: Illness

USA – Norovirus likely cause of 155 ill at Monical’s Pizza

Posted on November 30, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Norovirus Food Safety kswfoodworld

Monical’s Pizza at 6 Cherry Tree Shopping center in Washington, Illinois is currently closed due to an outbreak of an illness.

According to the Tazewell County Health Department, Monical’s was temporarily closed by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) due to an outbreak of a currently unknown foodborne illness. IDPH is currently working with the Tazewell County Health Department to identify the source.

155 people have currently reached out to the Tazewell County Health Department and reported symptoms of diarrhea and vomiting lasting 12 to 24 hours.

The health department is encouraging everyone to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer currently.

Anyone who ate at Monical’s since November 21st, and is experiencing symptoms, is encouraged to complete an online form.

Leave a comment

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 outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Norovirus, outbreak

Major E. coli, and Salmonella outbreaks highlighted at a conference; investigations ongoing

Posted on November 30, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Two major foodborne outbreaks have recently been highlighted at a European conference on infectious diseases.

Presentations at the European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE) covered an E. coli outbreak from Nestlé pizzas in France and a multi-country monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak due to Ferrero chocolate.

In February 2022, Santé Publique France identified more cases of the pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) than usual with eight infections. Cases were positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O26:H11 or O103:H2 identified by whole genome sequencing (WGS). Only two people were sick from E. coli O103.

Leave a comment

Posted in E.coli, E.coli O103, E.coli O26, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Microbiology Research, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, O103, outbreak, Research

UK – Milk and cheese linked to English E. coli outbreaks

Posted on November 30, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Three E. coli outbreaks were reported in England earlier this year with two linked to dairy farms.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) helped the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) investigate Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O103, O145, and O26 outbreaks between July and September.

The E. coli O26 outbreak also involved cryptosporidium and began in the previous quarter. There were 11 cases of cryptosporidium and two people also had confirmed E. coli O26.

Cryptosporidium cases visited an open farm attraction during the incubation period of their illness. STEC cases had links to the same premises.

Health officials visited and advised on actions that would improve hygiene for visitors and reduce potential exposure to the pathogens.

APHA collected fresh faeces samples in the O103 and O145 incidents, from the yard where the cows had been prior to milking. In both cases, the outbreak strain was not detected.

The STEC O103 outbreak with 11 cases was associated with soft, raw cheese from a dairy farm in the East of England. An investigation pointed to brie-like unpasteurized soft cheese being contaminated sometime during spring.

The STEC O145 outbreak with 10 patients was linked to the consumption of milk products from a dairy farm in North West England, with illness onset from mid-July. Investigations identified an issue with pasteurization and problems with the cleaning and storage of milk crates which made external contamination of packaging plausible.

Leave a comment

Posted in Cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium, E.coli O103, E.coli O145, E.coli O26, 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, O103, outbreak, Uncategorized

USA – Enoki Mushrooms are the Most Recalled Food of 2022

Posted on November 30, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

With one month to go before the end of the year, there have already been 11 Listeria recalls for enoki mushrooms, making them the food most recalled for bacterial contamination in 2022. It wasn’t a close contest. Any commodity vying for the distant second-place finish  -cheese, leafy greens, ground beef, has had fewer than half as many recalls so far this year.

And there’s a decent chance that, before the year’s end, there will be a 12th enoki mushroom recall. That’s because no recall has been issued in connection with an ongoing enoki mushroom Listeria outbreak.

Leave a comment

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 outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

India – 123 people affected by food poisoning after eating prasad in a religious program

Posted on November 29, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Irshad Gul

In Padra of Vadodara district on Sunday evening, a large number of people present at a religious function were affected by food poisoning after consuming prasad. All 123 people, including children, were immediately admitted to the government hospital in Padra. Some people whose condition was known to be critical were shifted to private hospitals. It is known that the condition of all the admitted patients is improving

Leave a comment

Posted in Decontamination Microbial, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Poisoning

Norway – Outbreak of Salmonella

Posted on November 28, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Matportalen

kswfoodworld Salmonella

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has been notified by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health about a national outbreak of the gastrointestinal bacterium Salmonella Agona. So far, infection has been detected in 31 people. The source of infection is unknown.

The people who have been diagnosed with the bacteria live in 8 different counties. It is therefore likely that they are infected through a food product that is distributed throughout the country.

Salmonella Agona is rarely found in Europe, according to the Institute of Public Health. It has previously been detected in Norway, but then only as isolated cases and usually related to infection abroad.

– The Norwegian Food Safety Authority assists the Norwegian Institute of Public Health and municipal chief physicians in obtaining information from the sick persons and their relatives. Interviews are conducted about what the people have eaten and what they have been in contact with. It may also be appropriate to take samples of food and food residues and food packaging, if possible, to find the source of infection, says Catherine Svindland, senior adviser in the biological food safety section of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

If a common source of infection from food, animals or the environment is identified, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will follow up the tracing work along the food chain.

Leave a comment

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

Slovenia – Salmonella outbreak in Slovenia, Steak tartare linked as possible source

Posted on November 28, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

kswfoodworld salmonella

The Administration for Safe Food, Veterinary Medicine and Plant Protection (UVHVVR) together with the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) is investigating the increased number of reported cases of salmonella infections in Slovenia, which are being handled by the regional units of the NIJZ Ravne na Koroškem, Murska Sobota, Celje and Ljubljana. On the basis of the information received from the epidemiological service of the NIJZ, the UVHVVR started inquiries and inspections.

The epidemiological investigation showed that there were mostly unrelated cases, but the probability of consuming the same food stood out.

Leave a comment

Posted in 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, Salmonella

Research – Salmonella enterica Outbreaks Linked to the Consumption of Tahini and Tahini-Based Products

Posted on November 26, 2022 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

kswfoodworld Salmonella

Abstract

Salmonella is a leading cause of bacterial foodborne illness in the world. Although typically associated with foods of animal origin, low-moisture foods, such as tahini, are quickly gaining recognition as an important vehicle of Salmonella exposure. This review offers the Canadian perspective on the issue of Salmonella in tahini and tahini-based products. A summary of several recent food product recalls and foodborne outbreaks related to the presence of Salmonella in tahini and tahini-based products such as halva are presented. The properties of the food vehicles, their production practices, and potential routes of contamination are discussed. Particular focus is placed on the ecology of Salmonella in the tahini production continuum, including its survival characteristics and response to intervention technologies. View Full-Text

Leave a comment

Posted in 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, Research, Salmonella

USA – Patient count growing in Salmonella outbreak from unknown source; other investigations ongoing

Posted on November 25, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

An outbreak of infections from Salmonella Typhimurium is slowly growing according to the FDA, and an investigation into an outbreak of E. coli infections has been closed.

For the Salmonella outbreak, the number of patients has increased from 264 to 269, but the Food and Drug Administration has not reported the patients’ states of residence.

The agency has begun traceback efforts but has not revealed what food or foods are being traced. The FDA has begun sample collection and analysis, but has not revealed what is being collected or sampled.

Leave a comment

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 outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

Viet Nam – Salmonella, Bacillus cereus, E.coli detected in food samples in Nha Trang school outbreak

Posted on November 24, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

In a follow-up on the food poisoning outbreak that affected hundreds of schoolchildren at the Ischool Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam, health officials now report test results from the Pasteur Institute Nha Trang show pathogenic bacteria were found in the fried chicken wings of the meal, causing the outbreak which sickened students at a Ischool Nha Trang.

Specifically, Salmonella sp., Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli were detected in food samples. In addition, Bacillus cereus was also detected in fish sauce samples.

According to our previous report, some 400 students were sickened including more than 200 hospitalizations and one death was reported in a first grade student after eating a school lunch.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacillus cereus, E.coli, escherichia coli, 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, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella