Category Archives: microbial contamination

Research – New bacteria strain isolated to reduce Zearalenone – Mycotoxin – Lysinibacillus sp

All About Feed

Several physical and chemical technologies are used for inactivation or elimination of the mycotoxin zearalenone. A new bacteria strain that can reduce this mycotoxin has now been added to the list.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is produced by various strains of the genus Fusarium, most notably Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium cerealis. The growth of Fusarium is affected by various factors (temperature, moisture content of grains, microbial interactions, etc.), and a large amount of ZEA can accumulate in mouldy crops and cereal-derived food products, which frequently leads to reproductive abnormalities of domestic animals and occasionally in hyperoestrogenism in humans.

Research – Short-term consumption of a high-fat diet increases host susceptibility to Listeria monocytogenes infection

Microbiome Journal

Background

A westernized diet comprising a high caloric intake from animal fats is known to influence the development of pathological inflammatory conditions. However, there has been relatively little focus upon the implications of such diets for the progression of infectious disease. Here, we investigated the influence of a high-fat (HF) diet upon parameters that influence Listeria monocytogenes infection in mice.

Results

We determined that short-term administration of a HF diet increases the number of goblet cells, a known binding site for the pathogen, in the gut and also induces profound changes to the microbiota and promotes a pro-inflammatory gene expression profile in the host. Host physiological changes were concordant with significantly increased susceptibility to oral L. monocytogenes infection in mice fed a HF diet relative to low fat (LF)- or chow-fed animals. Prior to Listeriainfection, short-term consumption of HF diet elevated levels of Firmicutesincluding Coprococcus, Butyricicoccus, Turicibacter and Clostridium XIVa species. During active infection with L. monocytogenes, microbiota changes were further exaggerated but host inflammatory responses were significantly downregulated relative to Listeria-infected LF- or chow-fed groups, suggestive of a profound tempering of the host response influenced by infection in the context of a HF diet. The effects of diet were seen beyond the gut, as a HF diet also increased the sensitivity of mice to systemic infection and altered gene expression profiles in the liver.

Conclusions

We adopted a systems approach to identify the effects of HF diet upon L. monocytogenes infection through analysis of host responses and microbiota changes (both pre- and post-infection). Overall, the results indicate that short-term consumption of a westernized diet has the capacity to significantly alter host susceptibility to L. monocytogenes infection concomitant with changes to the host physiological landscape. The findings suggest that diet should be a consideration when developing models that reflect human infectious disease.

RASFF Alert – Animal Feed – Enterobacteriaceae – Dog Chews

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RASFF – too high count of Enterobacteriaceae (160; 180; 180 CFU/g) in dog chews from China in Estonia

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Rapeseed – Sesame Cake Expeller – Organic Soybean Cake

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RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in rapeseed from Germany in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Llandoff (presence /25g), Salmonella enterica ser. Meleagridis (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Tennessee (presence /25g) in sesame cake expelled from the Netherlands in Austria

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Tennessee (presence /250g) in organic soybean cake for feed from China in Germany

New Zealand – Shellfish biotoxin alert – Bay of Plenty and Waikato region

MPI Map highlighting in red the areas affected.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) today issued a public health warning advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish harvested from the Bay of Plenty/Waikato region from Te Ororoa Point, just north of Tairua, down to Bowentown Heads but not including Tauranga Harbour.

Routine tests on shellfish samples taken from this region have shown levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins above the safe limit of 0.8 mg/kg set by MPI. Anyone eating shellfish from this area is potentially at risk of illness.

Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish should not be eaten.

Note: Cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin.

Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

Symptoms typically appear between 10 minutes and 3 hours after ingestion and may include:

  • numbness and tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, and extremities (hands and feet)
  • difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • dizziness
  • a headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  • paralysis and respiratory failure and in severe cases, death.

India -Govt. of Assam prohibits sale of Bailley brand packaged drinking water – Biological Parameter Issues

FNB News

The state of Assam has prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of Bailley brand packaged drinking water effective from January 18 citing violation of  Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

It is learnt that some samples tested by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Assam, were found violating biological parameters. Also there were issues with high fluoride content.

In this regard, a statement by the FDA says, “In the interest of public health, the packaged drinking water has been banned from production for a period of 30 days, effective today (January 18).”

The packaged drinking water in question is being manufactured by Udayak Agro Products Pvt. Ltd in Kahilakuchi, Satgaon in Guwahati, while the testing was done at various labs including reference lab in Kolkata.

Meanwhile, L R Nampui, designated officer, food safety, Kamrup (M), Guwahati, revealed that during a routine drive, it was found that the packaged water concerned was not complying with the norms.

He pointed out, “As a part of routine work, food safety officers set out on the duty with their team to M/s Udayak Agro Products Pvt. Ltd in Kahilakuchi, Satgaon in Guwahati and collected the samples of packaged drinking water in which fluoride and microbiological parameters were found in violation of the prescribed norms.”

He informed that the Assam government has given 30 days rectification time to the brand.

Bailley is a packaged drinking water brand of Parle Agro. When contacted, the company did not respond to queries.

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Enterobacteriaceae – Dog Chews – Fish Meal

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RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Agona (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in dog chews from Germany in Austria

RASFF – too high count of Enterobacteriaceae (9000 CFU/g) in fish meal from Poland in Spain

Europe – Legionnaires’ disease – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2017

ECDC

Publication series: Annual Epidemiological Report on Communicable Diseases in Europe
Time period covered: This report is based on data for 2017 retrieved from The European Surveillance System (TESSy) on 13 July 2018.

USA – A+ Answers Straight Beef Formula For Dogs Recalled For Salmonella

Food Poisoning Bulletin

 

The FDA has issued a press release, warning pet owners to not feed their dogs one lot of A+ Answers Straight Beef Formula for Dogs because it has tested positive for Salmonella bacteria. The lot number is 2018 20/08 20. Federal law requires all pet food be free from pathogens.

Salmonella can make pets and people sick. Symptoms of a Salmonella infection in both species include vomiting, diarrhea that may be bloody, and nausea. Pets can carry the bacteria but show no symptoms, and can pass it on to people. The bacteria is shed in their feces, which can get onto their coats and paws. Petting a pet can then transfer the pathogen to humans. And people can get sick if they handle the pet food and then eat or touch their mouths without washing their hands first.

Research – University of Cincinnati professor studies hamburger E. coli (O157) with NIAID grant

Eurekalert

kswfoodworld E.coli O157

Image CDC

 

Alison Weiss, PhD, professor in the Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology in UC College of Medicine, has been awarded a four-year grant of $1.6 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to study Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli 0157:H7, also sometimes referred to as Hamburger E. coli.

Hamburger E. coli is the cause of foodborne illness and is an infection that often leads to bloody diarrhea and can result in kidney failure. It is mostly associated with eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef, and can be spread by person-to-person contact. In severe cases it can be fatal.

The infection was first discovered in hamburger meat, but it is carried asymptotically by many creatures so anything that has fecal matter from cattle can contaminate food, says Weiss. Vegetables and fruits can also carry E. coli if contaminated with animal fecal matter during field irrigation or as a result of harvesting or preparation of produce. Human hygiene practices can also spread E. coli.

Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), including 0157:H7, are an important cause of diarrheal disease, causing about 265,000 illnesses in the United States annually.