Category Archives: Microbiological Risk Assessment

USA – FDA Core Investigation Table

Posted on July 7, 2022 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • For the Salmonella Braenderup outbreak in a not yet identified food (ref# 1075), the case count has increased from 42 to 59 cases.
  • For the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak (ref# 1057), a product linked to illnesses is ice cream from Big Olaf Creamery, located in Florida.
Date
Posted		 Ref
#		 Pathogen or
Cause of Illness
 Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses
(if any)		 Total
Case Count
Status
6/29/

2022

 1076 Not Yet Identified Frozen Food See Outbreak
Advisory		 Active
6/22/

2022

 1075 Salmonella
Braenderup		 Not Yet Identified 59 Active
6/22/

2022

 1072 Salmonella
Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+		 Not Yet Identified 14 Active
6/15/

2022

 1070 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Not Yet Identified 12 Active
6/8/

2022

 1068 E. coli
O157:H7		 Not Yet Identified 10 Active
6/1/

2022

 1066 Hepatitis A Virus Strawberries See Outbreak
Advisory		 Active
5/25/

2022

 1067 Salmonella 
Senftenberg		 Peanut Butter See Outbreak Advisory Active
4/20/

2022

 1064 Not Yet
Identified		 Dry Cereal 558 adverse
event reports		 Active
4/13/

2022

 1057 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Ice Cream See CDC’s Investigation Notice Active
3/30/

2022

 1060 None
Identified		 Meal Replacement
Drink		 6 adverse
event reports		 Closed
3/16/

2022

 1055 Salmonella
Saintpaul		 Not Identified 60 Closed
2/17/

2022

 1056 Cronobacter
sakazakii		 Powdered
Infant
Formula		 See
Advisory		 Active (IMG)
2/9/

2022

 1040 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Not Identified 20 Closed
2/2/

2022

 1054 Enteroinvasive
E. coli
O143:H26		 Not
Identified		 16 Closed
1/10/

2022

 1050 E. coli
O121:H19		 Romaine 4 Closed

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Posted in Cronobacter sakazakii, E.coli O121, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, 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 monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, O143:H26, outbreak, Salmonella

Research – Source of 7-year Listeria outbreak found in Germany

Posted on July 6, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

German officials believe they have solved a seven-year Listeria outbreak that included the death of one man.

Using next generation sequencing (NGS) methods, the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL) helped identify a likely connection between Listeria infections in Lower Bavaria and in the district of Altötting since 2015 and a food company.

The company was not named by authorities but they described it as a small businesses in the district of Passau that had various customers in the region. Local media reported it was a produce company that supplied canteens and care homes but not retailers.

Alongside the results from the NGS analysis, there are indications of an epidemiological connection to those sick based on the sales area.

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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 Technology, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, NGS, outbreak, Research, Technology

Spain – Establishment of the safe shelf life of certain ready-to-eat, sliced ​​​​and prepacked foods in the retail trade, in relation to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on July 6, 2022 by | Leave a comment

ACSA

Report approved by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Food Safety in April 2022.

The Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB) asked the Scientific Advisory Committee on Food Safety for an opinion on the safe shelf life of Listeria monocytogenes in certain products (cheeses, cooked meats, including pâtés, and cured meats) sliced ​​​​and prepackaged. before sale in retail.

The results of the evaluation indicated that the pre-packaged foods ready for consumption evaluated from the group of cheeses, cooked ham, pâtés and foie require the indication of “expiration date”, since the handling conditions expose the product to a potential contamination. by L. monocytogenes and the pH and w (water activity) characteristics associated with these products are favorable for their growth.

The report was presented on June 20, 2022.

Report

EditorCatalan Food Safety Agency
pages37
Year2022

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Research

Singapore – Lifting of suspension of Burger and Lobster Singapore Pte Ltd at Jewel Changi Airport

Posted on July 5, 2022 by | Leave a comment

SFA

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and SFA received reports of gastroenteritis involving 131persons after consuming food prepared by Burger and Lobster Singapore Pte Ltd in Jewel Changi Airport between 7 and 15 May 2022. Five were hospitalised. To protect consumers from further public health risks, the food business operations of the outlet was suspended by SFA since 16 May and the suspension was lifted on 05 July 22.

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, gastroenteritis, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

Czech Republic – Officials warn of increase in E. coli infections

Posted on July 5, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

A rise in Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections has prompted a warning by health officials in the Czech Republic.

The National Institute of Public Health (SZU) reported that in the first six months of this year 25 cases have been recorded and 15 of them occurred in the past two months.

Eight were reported in May and seven in June. That is more than half of all cases so far in 2022. The majority of those sick are children under the age of five. In 2021, 46 cases were recorded.

Sick people come from across the country but mostly Prague, the South Moravian and South Bohemian regions. Twelve infections were caused by E. coli O26 and six by E. coli O157.

People can become infected by contact with animals, eating insufficiently cooked meat, drinking unpasteurized milk, or by contact with an infected person.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, E.coli O26, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Research

India – 15 students fall ill after suspected food poisoning in UP residential school

Posted on July 5, 2022 by | Leave a comment

India Tv News

Food poisoning in school: At least 15 girl students of a residential school in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district were admitted to a community health centre following complaints of vomiting and uneasiness, a senior official said on Monday.

The incident took place on Sunday at the Kasturba Gandhi Residential School in Mehngi village, District Magistrate Akhilesh Singh said. Among the 15, condition of three was stated to be serious, he said, adding prima facie it appears to be a case of food poisoning.

A magisterial probe has been ordered into the matter by Additional District Magistrate, Administration, Chief Medical Officer and district basic education officer. The team of officers will give their report within 48 hours, the DM said.

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

USA – Hy-Vee Voluntarily Withdraws All Potato Salad Varieties Due to Presumptive Positive Microbial Test Result

Posted on July 5, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Hy Vee

Out of an abundance of caution, Hy-Vee, Inc. is voluntarily withdrawing all varieties and all sizes of its Hy-Vee Potato Salad and Mealtime Potato Salad due to a presumptive positive microbial result on the line that the potatoes were processed on. While final test results are not expected for approximately 7-10 days, due to the holiday weekend Hy-Vee elected to withdraw all product today from its shelves and service cases pending final test results.

The voluntary withdrawal includes all varieties and all sizes of Hy-Vee Potato Salad and Mealtime Potato Salad available from grab-and-go refrigerated cases and/or deli service cases in all Hy-Vee, Hy-Vee Drugstore and Dollar Fresh Market locations – as we well as Hy-Vee Fast and Fresh convenience stores – across the company’s eight-state region of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The expiration dates are between July 31, 2022, and Aug. 4, 2022.

The list below outlines the products that have been withdrawn. No other Hy-Vee or Mealtime branded salads are impacted. To date, there have been no reports of illness or complaints involving the products addressed in this withdrawal.

• HY-VEE OLD FASHIONED POTATO SALAD
• HY-VEE COUNTRY STYLE POTATO SALAD
• HY-VEE DIJON MUSTARD POTATO SALAD
• HY-VEE GREEN ONION & EGG POTATO SALAD
• HY-VEE CHIPOTLE RANCH POTATO SALAD
• HY-VEE DICED RED SKIN POTATO SALAD
• HY-VEE LOADED BAKED POTATO SALAD
• MEALTIME OLD FASHIONED POTATO SALAD
• MEALTIME COUNTRY STYLE POTATO SALAD
• MEALTIME DIJON MUSTARD POTATO SALAD

Customers who have purchased any of these products are urged not to consume the product and dispose of it or return it to their local Hy-Vee for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact Hy-Vee Customer Care at customercare@hy-vee.com.

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

Austria – S-BUDGET ASTORIA Natural still mineral water in a 1.5 liter non-returnable bottle – Coliforms

Posted on July 5, 2022 by | Leave a comment

AGES

AGES informs about a recall of the company SPAR. On July 4th, 2022, the company recalled the product S-BUDGET ASTORIA still natural mineral water in the 1.5 liter non-returnable bottle:
recall reason
coliform bacteria
Marketed by
SAVE
Manufacturer
SPAR S BUDGET
Expiry Date
06/01/2023

As a precaution, SPAR is recalling S-BUDGET ASTORIA natural mineral water still in the 1.5 liter non-returnable bottle

Salzburg (OTS) – SPAR continuously controls the products of the SPAR brands to ensure the highest quality. During a routine quality control, the product “S-BUDGET ASTORIA natural mineral water still in the 1.5 liter disposable bottle” with best-before dates (MHD) 05/31/2023 and 06/01/2023 was found to contain a small amount of coliform bacteria that is greater than the permissible limit established. For this reason, SPAR is recalling the product with the above best before dates.

Customers are asked not to drink the “S-BUDGET ASTORIA natural mineral water still in the 1.5 liter disposable bottle”. All other S-BUDGET products or mineral water from other SPAR brands are not affected by this recall.

All customers who have already bought one of the products that may be affected can of course return it to the nearest SPAR, EUROSPAR or INTERSPAR store or Maximarkt. Customers are reimbursed the purchase price even without proof of purchase.

Customers who have questions about this are welcome to contact customer service at office@spar.at or call the freephone number 0800 / 22 11 20 .

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Posted in Coliforms, Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Is Our Ground Meat Safe to Eat?

Posted on July 4, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Consumer Reports

Americans love meat—especially ground meat.

We shape it into burgers, meatballs, and meatloaf; stir it into chili and pasta sauce; and stuff it into peppers, lasagna, and tacos. Americans like it so much that in 2021 alone, we purchased more than $13 billion worth of ground beef, turkey, pork, and chicken.

But our love of ground meat comes at a price: It’s a leading cause of food poisoning. Since 2018, 11 outbreaks of illness have been traced back to raw meat, sickening a reported 1,264 people—and at least eight of them involved ground meat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To assess the current state of the nation’s ground meat supply, Consumer Reports recently tested 351 packages of ground beef, pork, chicken, and turkey purchased at stores throughout the country. (Read more about how we tested (PDF).) What we found was alarming.

Almost a third of the ground chicken packages we tested contained salmonella. We also found those bacteria in a few samples of ground beef, pork, and turkey. Particularly worrisome: Every single strain of salmonella was resistant to at least one antibiotic (see “Why Superbugs Are in Your Meat,” below).

CR also found a strain of E. coli in a sample of ground beef that is so dangerous that we immediately alerted the Department of Agriculture to our findings, triggering a recall of more than 28,000 pounds of the meat from major grocery chains in seven Western states.

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Posted in E.coli, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Research, Salmonella

India – Bihar: Over 24 students contract food poisoning after consuming mid-day meal

Posted on July 4, 2022 by | Leave a comment

Times Now News

Bhagalpur: Over two dozen students in Jhallu Das Tola Middle School contracted food poisoning after consuming mid-day meals in Bihar‘s Bhagalpur district, reported IANS.
Following the incident, the district civil surgeon, sub-divisional officer, district education officer, block development officer, and police personnel of Naugachia reached the hospital and took stock of the situation.
According to officials, the school administration had prepared rice, pulses, and vegetables inside the school premises. After consuming the meal and entering the classroom, more than two dozen students between the age group of 10 to 14 complained about vomiting and loose motion, reported IANS.

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk