Category Archives: Microbiology

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Hepatitis A Virus Infections: Frozen Strawberries (February 2023)

Posted on May 9, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Product

California Splendor Recall: Kirkland Signature 4-lb. bag Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries in certain states with specific lot codes.

Scenic Fruit Recall: frozen organic strawberries with the following brand names and Best By Dates distributed to specific states:

  • Simply Nature, Organic Strawberries, Best By 06/14/2024
  • Vital Choice, Organic Strawberries, BEST BY 05/20/2024
  • Kirkland Signature, Organic Strawberries, Best If Used By 10/08/2024
  • Made With, Organic Strawberries, Best Before 11/20/2024
  • PCC Community Markets, Organic Strawberries, Best By 29/10/2024
  • Trader Joe’s, Organic Tropical Fruit Blend with the following Best By dates: 04/25/24; 05/12/24; 05/23/24; 05/30/24; 06/07/24

Stores Affected

California Splendor supplied recalled product to Costco stores in Los Angeles and Hawaii, and to two San Diego business centers. Scenic Fruit supplied recalled product to Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in specific states, and to Trader Joe’s nationwide.

On March 17, 2023, the retailer, Meijer, also issued press to voluntarily recall Made-WithExternal Link Disclaimer brand frozen organic strawberries from certain market store locations.

This is not an exhaustive list of products or stores. FDA is continuing to work with the firms to identify potential additional product information.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Illness usually occurs within 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool. In some instances, particularly in children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection may be asymptomatic.

Status

Ongoing

Recommendation

  • Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not sell, serve, or eat recalled frozen strawberries. These recalled products should be returned or thrown away.
  • If consumers purchased the recalled frozen organic strawberries and ate those berries in the last two weeks, and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A, they should immediately consult with their healthcare professional to determine whether post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is needed. PEP is recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to hepatitis A virus in the last two weeks because vaccination can prevent a hepatitis A virus infection if given within 14 days of exposure. Those with evidence of previous hepatitis A vaccination or previous hepatitis A virus infection do not require PEP.
  • Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a hepatitis A virus infection after eating these frozen organic strawberries, or if you believe that you have eaten these strawberries in the last two weeks.

Current Update

May 8, 2023

As of May 5, 2023, a total of 9 outbreak-associated cases of hepatitis A have been reported from 3 states. Based on epidemiological data collected by CDC, 9/9 (100%) people who provided information about what they ate before becoming ill reported eating frozen organic strawberries.

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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 Virus, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Hepatitis A, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Virus

Research – Salmonella Outbreaks Associated with Not Ready-to-Eat Breaded, Stuffed Chicken Products — United States, 1998–2022

Posted on May 9, 2023 by | Leave a comment

CDC

Not ready-to-eat (NRTE) breaded, stuffed chicken products (e.g., chicken stuffed with broccoli and cheese) typically have a crispy, browned exterior that can make them appear cooked. These products have been repeatedly linked to U.S. salmonellosis outbreaks, despite changes to packaging initiated in 2006 to identify the products as raw and warn against preparing them in a microwave oven (microwave) (1–4). On April 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed to declare Salmonella an adulterant* at levels of one colony forming unit per gram or higher in these products (5). Salmonella outbreaks associated with NRTE breaded, stuffed chicken products during 1998–2022 were summarized using reports in CDC’s Foodborne Disease Outbreak Surveillance System (FDOSS), outbreak questionnaires, web postings, and data from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)† and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Eleven outbreaks were identified in FDOSS. Among cultured samples from products obtained from patients’ homes and from retail stores during 10 outbreaks, a median of 57% of cultures per outbreak yielded Salmonella. The NRTE breaded, stuffed chicken products were produced in at least three establishments.§ In the seven most recent outbreaks, 0%–75% of ill respondents reported cooking the product in a microwave and reported that they thought the product was sold fully cooked or did not know whether it was sold raw or fully cooked. Outbreaks associated with these products have occurred despite changes to product labels that better inform consumers that the products are raw and provide instructions on safe preparation, indicating that consumer-targeted interventions are not sufficient. Additional Salmonella controls at the manufacturer level to reduce contamination in ingredients might reduce illnesses attributable to NRTE breaded, stuffed chicken products.

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Posted in 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

Research – Study looks at Listeria contamination patterns in processors

Posted on May 8, 2023 by | Leave a comment

CPS

While several studies have examined Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) prevalence in dairy and meat processing facilities, few have looked at Lm contamination patterns and related sanitation programs in produce processing facilities.
But Ana Allende, Ph.D., and her team from the CEBAS-CSIC research institute in Spain, hope their two-year CPS-funded research will change that. The project is designed to yield practical data about produce facilities’ environmental monitoring plans as well as the efficacy of sanitation programs.

Key Take-Aways

• Project looked at Listeria contamination patterns in three produce processing facilities.
• Whole genome sequencing, a type of genetic fingerprinting, helped link positive Lm samples to possible sources.
• Researchers tested biocides against resident Lm populations to gauge efficacy and potential loss of sensitivity.
“We started to become interested in the role of environmental contamination following years of attending the CPS Symposium where some researchers, such as Dr. Martin Wiedmann and Dr. Laura Strawn, focused on Listeria control in produce packinghouses and processing facilities,” she said. “We’re trying to bring our experiences from another point of view. The facilities we’re able to sample here could also help us understand the significance of this problem.”
Joining her as co-principal investigators were Mabel Gil, Ph.D., and Pilar Truchado, Ph.D., both from the CEBAS-CSIC.
As part of the project, the researchers enlisted the cooperation of three processing plants: one with a cut iceberg lettuce line, one with a cut fruit line and one with a salad bowl line.
While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has zero tolerance for Lm in processed produce samples, the European Commission has set a threshold of up to 100 colony-forming units per gram.
Read More at the Link Above

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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, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

Research – Demystifying Cronobacter and Actions FDA is Taking to Keep the Food Supply Safe

Posted on May 8, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Last year, following the February Abbott recall and subsequent shortage of infant formula, many households across the U.S. heard about a pathogen (bacterium) for the first time called Cronobacter sakazakii. This pathogen isn’t new to the food industry but is not well-known among the general public, so I thought I would catch up with you on some basics about Cronobacter.

What We Know about Cronobacter

Cronobacter is found naturally in the environment – for example, in our yards, kitchens, and living rooms. It can live on surfaces like kitchen counters, sinks, or also on food facility manufacturing equipment. While Cronobacter is harmless for most people, it can cause life threatening infections in infants, particularly those who are younger than two months old, premature, immunocompromised, or of low birth weight.

Evidence has pointed to Cronobacter contamination occurring both in the food facility manufacturing environment and in the home, as demonstrated in the CDC’s recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Because this pathogen is so ubiquitous in the environment, public health officials stress the importance of safe preparation and storage of powdered infant formula to avoid contamination at home, and the FDA sets certain requirements to help control for it in the manufacturing environment. As part of our work here at the agency to continue to enhance safety in the infant formula manufacturing environment, the FDA recently sent a letter to industry with recommendations for improvements that can be made industry wide.

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Posted in Cronobacter sakazakii, Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak

Research – Meat Microflora and the Quality of Meat Products

Posted on May 8, 2023 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Meat and meat products are not only a source of nutrients for humans [1,2], but also an excellent substrate for the development of many microorganisms [3]. Fresh meat is always exposed to the action of many species of microorganisms, causing deterioration of its sensory quality and limiting its usefulness, both culinary and technological. The microbiological quality of meat is important both for consumers and from a safety point of view. Meat can be a habitat for saprophytic and pathogenic microorganisms that can deteriorate its quality or threaten the safety of consumers [1,4].
However, microorganisms present in meat products are not always a threat. Such microorganisms include lactic acid bacteria present in meat, which ferment sugars into lactic acid. This has a positive effect on the durability of the manufactured products. The presence and growth of lactic acid bacteria under controlled conditions have long been used in meat processing [5]. This enables the production of products with characteristic and desirable quality features, and at the same time with an extended shelf life. Running lactic acid fermentation processes in optimal conditions, however, often requires the use of highly selected microorganisms with precisely defined and stable characteristics. Such microorganisms are then deliberately introduced into meat in a certain amount during technological processes [5].
Due to the role played by starter cultures in meat products, they can be divided into the following groups: acidifying cultures, cultures supporting the curing process (denitrifying cultures) and stabilizing the curing color, cultures flavoring meat products and cultures stabilizing microbiological products (extending shelf life) [5,6].
A less durable raw material than the meat of animals is fish meat, which deteriorates faster and therefore should be frozen and stored at −20 °C. The cause of spoilage is most often psychrophilic microorganisms that develop at temperatures close to 0 °C. One way to improve the freshness and extend the shelf life of fish is multifunctional composite coatings. They are an interesting alternative to preserve the quality of fish fillets, but also to improve the quality of meat [7].
Appropriate use of selected strains of lactic acid bacteria may be useful in improving the microbiological quality of meat and meat products during storage. The purpose of this Special Issue was to compile original research and review papers covering various aspects of the impact of meat microflora on the quality characteristics and safety of meat and meat products.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, LAB, lactic acid bacteria, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

Research – Foodborne Outbreak of Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase Producing Shigella sonnei Associated with Contaminated Spring Onions in the United Kingdom

Posted on May 7, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct

Shigella - kswfoodworld

Image CDC

Abstract

Globalization of the food supply chain has created conditions favorable for emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) foodborne pathogens. In November 2021, the UK Health Security Agency detected an outbreak of 17 cases infected with the same strain of MDR extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Shigella sonnei. Phylogenetic analysis of whole-genome sequencing data revealed the outbreak was closely related to strains of S. sonnei isolated from travelers returning to the UK from Egypt. None of the outbreak cases reported travel and all 17 cases reported eating food from a restaurant/food outlet in the week prior to symptom onset, of which 11/17 (64.7%) ate at branches of the same national restaurant franchise. All 17 cases were adults and 14/17 (82.4%) were female. Ingredient-level analyses of the meals consumed by the cases identified spring onions as the common ingredient. Food chain investigations revealed that the spring onions served at the implicated restaurants could be traced back to a single Egyptian producer. The foodborne transmission of ESBL-producing bacteria is an emerging global health concern, and concerted action from all stakeholders is required to ensure an effective response to mitigate the risks to public health.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, ESBL, 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, Shigella, Shigella Sonnei

Research – German testing finds Listeria and E. coli in raw milk

Posted on May 6, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Listeria and E. coli have been found during testing of unpasteurized, raw milk from farms in Germany.

From 2020 to 2022, the Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office (CVUA) in Stuttgart tested 54 raw milk samples from vending machines for a range of agents.

Parameters examined included somatic cell count, total germ count, spoilage organisms, hygiene indicator germs such as Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli, and pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

The sale of raw milk is mostly prohibited but it can be sold directly on the farm via self-service vending machines. The producers should put up notices telling the consumers to boil raw milk before consumption.

Some findings were positive as 30 samples were compliant but 24 had issues. Results highlight the importance of regular cleaning of milking machines, pipes, and tanks at dairy farms, said scientists. Insufficient cooling can also lead to contamination of raw milk.

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Posted in Campylobacter, Decontamination Microbial, E.coli, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Raw Milk, raw milk cheese, Raw Milk Cream, Research, Salmonella, STEC, STEC E.coli

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Rapeseed Expeller – Bovine Lung Feed

Posted on May 5, 2023 by | Leave a comment

RASFF

Salmonella Give in rapeseed expeller from Belarus in Lithuania

RASFF

Salmonella spp. in compound feed (bovine lung) from Poland in Germany

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Posted in Animal by Products, Animal Feed, Animal Feed Salmonella, Animal Feed Testing, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, RASFF, Salmonella

RASFF Alert- Animal Feed – Mould/Mold – Corn Feed

Posted on May 5, 2023 by | Leave a comment

RASFF

Mould in feed – corn from UA in Belgium. Poland and Ukraine

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Posted in Animal Feed, Animal Feed Mould Toxin, Animal Feed Testing, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Mould/Mold, Moulds, RASFF

USA- FDA – Core Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on May 4, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • For the investigation with the not yet identified cause of illness (ref # 1152), preliminary information reported by Gallatin City- County Health Department and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services indicates that a food containing imported morel mushrooms consumed at a single restaurant in Montana may be the exposure of concern. This restaurant is temporarily closed. The product linked to illnesses has been updated to morel mushrooms (suspect), the case count has increased from 13 cases to 30 cases, and sample collection and analysis have been initiated. FDA is assisting in this investigation, but at this time it appears to be a localized issue and no illnesses have been identified outside of this restaurant cluster. This is an ongoing investigation and more information will be provided as it becomes available.
  • An Outbreak Advisory was issued for the outbreak of Salmonella Infantis (ref # 1141) linked to specific lots of General Mills Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour. On 4/28/2023, General Mills, Inc. issued a voluntary recall.
Date
Posted		 Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness		 Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses
(if any)		 Total
Case
Count
Status
4/26/2023 1152 Not Yet Identified Morel Mushroom
(suspect)		 30 Active
3/29/2023 1141 Salmonella Infantis Raw Flour See
Outbreak
Advisory		 Active
3/1/2023 1143 Hepatitis A Virus Frozen Organic
Strawberries		 See
Outbreak
Advisory		 Active
2/15/2023 1123 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Not Yet
Identified		 See
CDC
Investigation
Notice		 Active

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Posted in 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, Hepatitis A, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella