Category Archives: microbial contamination

Research – Prevalence and Association of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and Blastocystis sp. in Poultry

Posted on August 8, 2023 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Foodborne Pathogen

Abstract

Poultry and poultry meat are considered the most important sources of human campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis. However, data about the occurrence of Campylobacter and Salmonella concomitantly with intestinal protozoa such as Blastocystis sp. in poultry remain very scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the presence and possible interactions between these three microorganisms in fecal samples from 214 chickens collected either on farms or from live bird markets in Egypt. The results obtained showed that Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and Blastocystis sp. were present in 91.6% (196/214), 44.4% (95/214), and 18.2% (39/214) of tested samples, respectively, highlighting an active circulation of these microorganisms. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was reported between the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. and Blastocystis sp. together with a significant negative correlation between Blastocystis sp. and Salmonella spp. This study confirms the association reported previously between Blastocystis sp. and Campylobacter spp. while disclosing an association between Blastocystis sp. and Salmonella spp.; it also highlights the need to improve studies on the interactions between bacteria and eukaryotes in the gut microbiota of poultry.

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Posted in Campylobacter, campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Salmonella, Salmonella in Chicken

Wales – Wrexham: 25 salmonella cases linked to single venue

Posted on August 8, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Leader Live

kswfoodworld Salmonella

Public Health Wales (PHW) launched an investigation last week alongside Wrexham Council and Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board to find the source of the outbreak.

A multi-agency Outbreak Control Team (OCT) made up of the three organisations was set up.

And PHW has issued an update in relation to the investigation.

“We are currently investigating 25 confirmed and 4 probable cases of salmonella associated with a single venue in the city.” The venue has not yet been named

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Posted in 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, Salmonella

Norway – Outbreak of E. coli (EHEC infection)

Posted on August 8, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Matportalen

This outbreak is caused by a different EHEC bacterium than the outbreak reported in June. FHI has started an outbreak investigation together with relevant municipal chief medical officers, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Veterinary Institute. All the infected fell ill in July and none of them have traveled abroad.

The infected are aged < 5 to 45 years, and live in Trøndelag (4), Viken and Vestfold and Telemark. Two of them have developed the serious complication haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). In addition, a further HUS case has been notified where EHEC has been detected, but we are awaiting more analyzes before we can say whether the person is infected with the same strain of bacteria as the other cases. It is not yet known what the source of infection is, but it is common for gastrointestinal bacteria to become infected through food.

– At the present time, we cannot say whether this is a limited outbreak or whether there may be new cases, says Silje Bruland Lavoll, senior physician in the section for infection from food, water and animals at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Investigative work can be complicated and take time, and in many cases we are unable to find the source of infection or to clarify whether it is a common source.

– We follow the situation closely and work closely with the municipal health service, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority and the Veterinary Institute, she adds.

– 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, says senior advisor Turid Berglund in the biological food safety section of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Preliminary analyzes show that it is the bacterium EHEC O26:H11, which has been detected in all those infected. FHI is now working on further analyzes (whole genome sequencing) to confirm this.

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Posted in E.coli, EHEC, 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, HUS, Illness, Matportalen, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, STEC, STEC E.coli

USA – FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Fresh Salads and Wraps with Meat and Poultry due to Possible Lettuce Contamination – Deer Feces

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FSIS USDA

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns that ready-to-eat (RTE) salads and wraps with meat and poultry may contain contaminated lettuce. The lettuce, which is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), may be contaminated with deer feces. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that this product should not be consumed.

The RTE salad and wrap products were produced on August 1, 2023, and August 2, 2023. The following products subject to the public health alert are [view labels]:

  • 8.65-oz. plastic film packages containing “Chicken Caesar Wrap FRESH SEASONS Kitchen” with lot code 21323 and 21423 and Sell by dates of 8/9/2023 and 8/10/2023.
  • 7.2-oz. plastic film packages containing “Chicken Caesar Wrap FRESH SEASONS Kitchen” with lot code 21323 and Fresh Thru date of 8/10/2023.
  • 8.5-oz. plastic clam shell packages containing “Chicken Caesar Salad FRESH SEASONS Kitchen” with lot code 21323 and Fresh Thru date of 8/9/2023.
  • 8.55-oz. plastic clam shell packages containing “Chef Salad FRESH SEASONS Kitchen” with lot codes 21323 and 21423 and Sell by dates of 8/9/2023 and 8/10/2023.
  • 5.85-oz. plastic clam shell packages containing “Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Salad FRESH SEASONS Kitchen” with lot codes 21323 and 21423 and Sell by dates of 8/9/2023 and 8/10/2023.

The products bear the establishment number “P-45091” or “Est. 45091” on the front label. The products were shipped to retail locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

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Posted in bacterial contamination, Contaminated water, food contamination, microbial contamination

Hong Kong – Dozens of kids taken to hospital with food poisoning

Posted on August 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

RTHK

Forty-four young people were taken to hospital on Monday following a suspected food poisoning outbreak at a Jockey Club camp in Tai Po.

An organiser said the group, aged 11 to 18, were suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting.

The children had been camping at the Hong Kong Award for Young People Jockey Club Duke of Edinburgh Training Camp in Lam Tsuen since Saturday, the organiser said.

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Posted in 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

Afghanistan – 200 people suffer food poisoning in E. Afghanistan

Posted on August 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Asia Pacific

KHOST, Afghanistan, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) — At least 200 people were sickened in food poisoning in east Afghanistan’s Khost province, an official said on Monday.

The incident occurred in Satkai village of Zazai Maidan district on Sunday evening when the villagers attended a charity meal, and all the victims had been taken to nearby hospitals and clinics, said provincial police spokesman Mustaghfar Garbaz.

Without providing more details, the official added that further investigations were underway.

In the meantime, villager and eyewitness Tahir Azimi claimed that around 400 people were sick with the charity meal.

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

USA – Irrigation water likely link in Utah E. coli Outbreak

Posted on August 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

According to Utah health official and media, in the last two weeks, eight cases of E. coli (likely a shiga-toxin producing E. coli like E. coli O157:H7) were reported in Utah County residents, with at least five of the subjects hospitalized (likely with hemolytic uremic syndrome – HUS) due to the severity of symptoms.

Currently, all reported cases are residents of Lehi or have close ties to the city, says a statement from the Utah County Health Department.

Epidemiologists are working to identify the source of infection, it says. Preliminary investigation links the likely source of spread to using pressurized irrigation water for drinking and play.

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Posted in Contaminated water, E.coli, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, STEC, STEC E.coli, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Pakistan – 100 factory workers hospitalised for food poisoning

Posted on August 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Dawn

GUJRANWALA: About 100 workers fell ill after eating food from a factory in the Alipur Chatha on Friday.

The condition of 10 workers is said to be critical.

The incident happened in the plywood and chipboard manufacturing factory located on the Gujranwala Road. The condition of the workers deteriorated after having breakfast in the morning.

After having breakfast, about 100 workers fell ill. After their condition deteriorated, they were transferred to different hospitals where doctors diagnosed food poisoning.

The Alipur Chatha Rural Health Centre confirmed food poisoning. The assistant commissioner reviewed the situation while a committee was formed to probe the incident. After the patients were shifted to various hospitals across the region, emergency has been declared in hospitals.

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

Taiwan – 340 people fall ill from suspected food poisoning in Taoyuan

Posted on August 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Focus Taiwan

Taipei, Aug. 5 (CNA) A Vietnamese-French sandwich stand at a traditional market in Taoyuan’s Zhongli District was forced to suspend operations Friday, after scores of its customers reported illnesses from suspected food poisoning, according to local authorities.

An inspection of the street vendor’s premises on Thursday identified 14 issues, including the temperature of the freezer, which was too high to keep food fresh, according to a press release from the city’s Department of Public Health on Friday.

In addition, there were vectors at the site, and the food ingredients were not properly covered or elevated above ground, the public health office said.

As of noon Saturday, 340 people had reported symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and fever after eating sandwiches purchased at the stand on Wednesday, the department said, citing reports it had received from hospitals and individuals.

The department’s inspectors have collected samples of the sauces, fillings, and other food items at the Vietnamese-French sandwich stand, as well as knives, cutting boards, and other kitchenware, which will be tested to determine the cause of the suspected food poisoning, the health office said.

If pathogenic microorganisms are found and the matter is confirmed as a food poisoning case, the operators of the food stand may be subject to a fine of between NT$60,000 (US$1,894) and NT$200 million, in accordance with the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation, the office said.

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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, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

USA – Cyclospora outbreak tops 1,000; investigators continue to look for source

Posted on August 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Almost 500 more people are sick in an outbreak of infections from the microscopic Cyclospora parasite. Sick people have been identified in 34 states.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting that there are now 1,063 patients identified as part of the outbreak. Of those with complete information available, 79 have been so sick they had to be admitted to hospitals. No one has died.

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Posted in Cyclospora, Cyclosporiasis, 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