Category Archives: Microbiology Risk

USA – Legionnaire’s Disease Outbreak Linked to American Cruise Lines

Posted on February 16, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Daily Hornet

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to American Cruise Lines after 3 passengers got Legionnaire’s disease and the company failed to adequately treat the ships’ drinking water.

The first confirmed case of Legionnaire’s disease was reported in April 2021, with two more cases reported in September and October 2021.

Between April and August 2022, FDA inspectors tested the drinking water on the American Star and American Heritage and found ongoing evidence of Legionella bacteria.

Shockingly, 93% of water samples on the American Star tested positive for Legionella bacteria in April 2022, including samples taken from showerheads in the rooms for passengers and crew.

In June 2022, multiple samples of drinking water from showerheads and faucets on the American Heritage also tested positive for Legionella, according to the FDA.

Despite problems with Legionella contamination and illnesses, the FDA said that American Cruise Lines failed to take adequate stops to treat the ships’ water supply.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Jordan – 120 food poisoning cases reported in Jerash

Posted on February 16, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Roya News

Approximately 120 food poisoning cases have been reported in Jerash, including two children, according to Roya’s correspondent Wednesday.

The Jodan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) had shut down a fast food restaurant in Jerash Tuesday, as a precaution, after a significant number of people reported feeling ill after eating from that restaurant.

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Posted in 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, Poisoning

Sweden – The number of sick in the Swedish egg Salmonella outbreak continues to increase

Posted on February 16, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

hazegg.jpg

The number of people sick in a Salmonella outbreak in Sweden traced to eggs has gone up again to nearly 80.

The Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten) said 76 people were sick, which is up from 48 in a previous update.

Patients from 16 different regions have been confirmed as infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Enteritidis.

Sick people include 36 women and 40 men who fell ill between early December 2022 and the end of January 2023. They are one to 91 years old with a median age of 35.

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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, Salmonella in Eggs

Kenyans warned against eating meat from animals fed with contaminated maize

Posted on February 16, 2023 by | Leave a comment

The Star

The Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation has warned Kenyans against consuming livestock, and chicken from animals fed with contaminated maize.

Kalro director general, Dr Eliud Kireger told the Star on Tuesday that contaminated maize that is given to livestock passes over residual effects to humans.

“The residual effects are passed on to humans through the consumption of related products including milk, eggs and meat,” he said.

He said aflatoxin is a fungal toxin that commonly contaminates maize and other types of crops during production, harvest, storage or processing.

In Kenya, acute aflatoxin poisoning results in liver failure and death in up to 40 per cent of cases.

In May 2006, an outbreak of acute aflatoxicosis was reported in the Makueni, Tharakanithi and Machakos regions of Kenya where aflatoxin contamination of homegrown maize was a recurrent problem.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Animal Feed Mould Toxin, Aspergillus Toxin, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Fusarium Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin

USA – FDA Core Investigation Table – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on February 16, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Date
Posted

Ref
#

Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness

Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses
(if any)

Total
Case
Count


Status

2/15/2023

1123

Listeria
monocytogenes

Not Yet
Identified

See CDC
Investigation
Notice

Active

12/28/2022

1137

Salmonella
Typhimurium

Alfalfa Sprouts

See
Outbreak
Advisory

Active

11/9/2022

1127

Listeria
monocytogenes

Enoki
Mushrooms 

See
Outbreak
Advisory

Active

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, FDA, 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, Salmonella

USA – Listeria Outbreak with Unknown Food Source

Posted on February 16, 2023 by | Leave a comment

CDC

Image of listeria pathogen

A specific food item has not yet been identified as the source of this outbreak. However, CDC is concerned that several recent illnesses have been reported. Listeria illness is rare, but it can result in serious illness or death.

Listeria is especially harmful if you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system. If you are in any of these groups and have Listeria symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away.

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 11
  • Hospitalizations: 10
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 10
  • Recall: No
  • Investigation status: Active

A specific food item has not yet been identified as the source of this outbreak.

Public health officials are interviewing people in this outbreak to find out what foods they ate before getting sick. Investigators are collecting as much information as they can to solve this outbreak.

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Posted in CDC, 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 – FDA – Enforcement Report – Fiber Powder, Dietary Supplement – Raw material tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii.

Posted on February 15, 2023 by | 1 comment

FDA

Product Description:

Fiber Powder, Dietary Supplement, Apple Cinnamon Flavored, packaged under the following brands and sizes. 1. Ortho Molecular Products Fiber Plus, Product #608445, Net Wt. 15.9 oz (450 Grams) UPC 6 15033-00608 2. Ortho Molecular Products, Inc., 3017 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54482. 2. Utzy Naturals, Daily Fiber Drink Mix. Net Wt 5.95 oz (168.75 Grams), UPC 8 56420-00632 6. Manufactured for Utzy Naturals, 623 West Main St., Lake Geneva, WI 53147. 3. Ortho Molecular Products Fiber Plus, Product #608445CAN, 450 g, UPC 6 15033-04608 8. Ortho Molecular Products, Inc. 54482 United States. Product is sold in Canada. 4. Ortho Molecular Products Fiber Plus, Product #608445C, Net Wt. 15.9 oz (450 Grams) UPC 6 15033-01608 1. . Ortho Molecular Products, Inc., 3017 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54482. Contains CA Prop 65. 5. Unbranded bottled product in 1000cc bottle to be given out by healthcare provider. 608.008J UPC 6 15033 60608 4. 6. Unbranded bottled product in 1000cc bottle to be given out by healthcare provider. 608C.009H UPC 6 15033 61608 3. Contains CA Prop 65.

Raw material tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii.

Recalling Firm:

Ortho Molecular Products, Inc.
3017 Business Park Dr
Stevens Point, WI 54482-8835
United States

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Posted in Cronobacter sakazakii, cross contamination, Decontamination Microbial, FDA, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

Jordan – Restaurant shut down after 19 suspected food poisoning cases

Posted on February 14, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Roya News

Jerash Governor Firas Al-Faour told Roya that the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) closed the restaurant Tuesday morning after a number of people reported not feeling well after eating from that restaurant.

He noted that the closure decision was taken as a precautionary step until the results of the samples taken by the JFDA come out.

All cases were admitted to the Jerash Governmental Hospital and all, except for two children, have been discharged.

The two children are between four and five years of age, who are currently in stable/good health condition.

Faour warned citizens and residents to be careful when it comes to restaurant discounts and offers.

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

India – Over 40 taken ill in Ri-Bhoi; food poisoning suspected

Posted on February 14, 2023 by | Leave a comment

The Shillong Times

NONGPOH, Feb 13: In a suspected case of food poisoning, more than 40 people from Nongkhrah village in Ri-Bhoi were admitted to hospitals a day after they attended a bachelor party on February 10.
As per sources, it was informed that the attendees of the bachelor party, which was held in the same village, were mostly locals.
It was also informed that more than 40 people, including women and children, fell sick a day after consuming pork at the gathering, and were rushed to Nongpoh Civil Hospital, Nongpoh and Bethany Hospital, Pahamsyiem for treatment.
The other attendees, who did not consume pork, did not, however, complain of any health issue.

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

Research – Surveillance plan proposal for early detection of zoonotic pathogens in pigs and poultry

Posted on February 14, 2023 by | Leave a comment

EFSA

Abstract

In the framework of the EU4Health Programme, the European Commission has allocated specific resources for Member States for setting up a coordinated surveillance system under the One Health approach for cross‐border pathogens that threaten the Union (CP‐g‐22‐04.01 Direct grants to Member States’ authorities). This initiative required the development of surveillance plan proposal for early detection of zoonotic pathogens in animals and the environment. This report summarized the preparatory work undertaken for the development of surveillance plan proposals for early detection of zoonotic pathogens in pigs and poultry. Two diseases were in the focus of this work, namely Hepatitis E and Influenza in Swine. Four so‐called surveillance activity cards were developed for Hepatitis E and one surveillance activity card for Influenza in Swine. These surveillance plan proposals serve the purpose of outlining scientifically sound surveillance options for zoonotic pathogens for review and further development by experts of the EFSA Working Group on One Health surveillance.

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Pathogen, pathogenic, Zoonosis