Category Archives: Microbiology

European and RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Listeria

Posted on February 19, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF – Ochratoxin A in Coffee in Lithuania sourced in Latvia

Denmark – Listeria in Club Ham

 

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Microbiology, RASFF, Recall

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India – 400 Ill After Food Poisoning

Posted on February 19, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Times of Indiaimages

GUWAHATI: At least 400 people, including children, were taken ill after food poisoning in North Dimoria block of Kamrup (Metro) district on Friday.

Children of Durung ME School, Koraiguri LP School and Koikari LP School went to their respective institutions for Saraswati Puja on Friday. They fell ill after they consumed grams and khichri. On Saturday morning, the patients were admitted to the 30-bed Khetri Hospital and Sonapur Primary Healthcare Centre from where the critical ones were referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital(GMCH).

Principal of GMCH Kabul Saikia, said: “More than 400 people fell ill after consuming grams and khichri. The figure may increase. In our hospital, about 23 patients were admitted till 7.30 pm and more patients are on their way. Among the 23 patients, 15 are adults. It is difficult to tell the exact figure now.”

“We have opened one relief camp at Khetri and five doctors have been sent to the site. The critical patients are being brought here for treatment. The patients complained of vomiting, fever, dizziness, diarrhoea and abdominal pain,” he added.

He said: “We are making all arrangements to provide best possible treatment.”

Bhojan Das, the father of Vikram who has been admitted to GMCH, said: “My son who studies in Durong ME School went to his institution on Friday and ate grams and khichri. From early morning, he complained of vomiting and abdominal pain and his body turned pale. Noticing this, we took him to the nearby clinic from where he was referred to GMCH.”

According to the report made available by the GMCH superintendent, Ramen Talukdar around 8.30 pm: “More than 100 patients have been admitted to the hospital and 300 are on their way. As there is limited capacity of beds in our hospital, around 50 patients have been sent to Mohendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital .

Ambulance have been called in from Morigaon, Guwahati and Jagiroad. Moreover, five buses have been engaged to bring patients to the hospital.”

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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European RASFF Alerts – Norovirus

Posted on February 18, 2013 by | 1 comment

RASFF– Norovirus in Clams in Italy sourced in Turkey

RASFF – Norovirus in Oysters in Italy sourced in France

RASFF – Salmonella in Frozen Turkey and Poultry Kebab in Italy sourced in Germany via Poland

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Salmonella, Virus, Water

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USA – Raw Milk Campylobacter Outbreak

Posted on February 18, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Alaska PublicCampylobacter

The State Department of Health is investigating an outbreak of a food borne illness linked to raw milk. Officials have confirmed four cases of Campylobacter infection in people who drank raw milk on the Kenai Peninsula. The illness causes diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

Dr. Brian Yablon is a medical epidemiologist with the state. He says the cases have all been identified by the state lab in the last three weeks:

“When they looked at these strains, they found that the four specimens were all exactly the same type, so that is consistent with a cluster of illnesses and when we found out additional information it seemed that all of the people who developed the infection had consumed raw milk or unpasteurized milk in the proceeding several days before they got sick,” Yablon said.

The state is still working to identify the source of the raw milk. A farmer named Kevin Byers in Kasilof distributes raw milk to families around the state. He did not agree to a recorded interview, but said he doesn’t know if his milk is responsible for the outbreak. He says his customers drink his milk for the perceived health benefits. According to a recent newspaper article, Byers has 150 customers as far away as Sitka.

Selling raw milk is illegal in Alaska. But farmers have found ways to do it legally.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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Research – Evaluation of PCR Detection of Salmonella in Alfalfa Sprouts

Posted on February 18, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Ingenta ConnectEurofins

Abstract:

This study evaluated the efficacy of a PCR-based system (DuPont Qualicon BAX) for detection of Salmonella in sprouts and spent irrigation water collected during sprouting of seeds naturally contaminated with Salmonella. Alfalfa seeds were grown in Mason jars at 20 and 30°C for 3 days. Levels of Salmonella present in the water and sprouts were determined by most-probable-number (MPN) analysis. Background microflora levels were also determined. Samples of spent irrigation water and sprouts were enriched overnight individually in tetrathionate broth and in buffered peptone water with novobiocin at 42°C and then run in the BAX system. Samples were also enriched according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Bacteriological Analytical Manual (FDA BAM) method for Salmonella as a comparison. Salmonella levels were lower at 20°C compared with 30°C for some trials, and background microflora levels ranged from 107 to 108 CFU/g or ml at 20°C and 108 to 109 CFU/g or ml at 30°C. In trials with a Salmonella level >1.1 MPN/g or ml, both the BAX and FDA BAM methods were able to detect Salmonella in all samples. In trials with lower levels (0.21 MPN/g or ml or lower) of Salmonella, BAX was able to detect more positive samples than FDA BAM. For one trial with <0.003 MPN/g or ml of Salmonella, the presence of the pathogen was not indicated by either the BAX or the FDA BAM method. The results suggest that PCR detected low levels of Salmonella in sprouts or spent irrigation water collected from sprouting of naturally contaminated seeds.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Methods, Microbiology, PCR, Salmonella

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Hong Kong – Norovirus

Posted on February 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Dept Health Hong Kong

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (February 14) reminded members of the public and management of institutions to maintain personal and environmental hygiene to prevent gastroenteritis.

The appeal was made following the CHP’s investigation into an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis at an elderly home in North District involving 20 female residents and three female staff members.

The affected residents, aged between 77 and 96, together with three staff members, presented with symptoms of acute gastroenteritis, including vomiting, fever and diarrhoea, since February 4.

Two of them were admitted to North District Hospital. All the 23 affected persons are in stable condition.

Rectal swabs of three patients tested positive for norovirus. Investigations are continuing.

Officers of the CHP have visited the institution and provided health advice to the staff concerning proper disinfection, disposal of vomitus, and personal and environmental hygiene.

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Virus, Hand Washing, Hygiene, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Virus

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RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Norovirus

Posted on February 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF – Ochratoxin A in Dried Figs in Germany sourced in Turkey

RASFF – Norovirus in Clams in Italy sourced in Tunisia

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Virus, Microbiology, Mycotoxin, Norovirus, Ochratoxin, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall

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USA – CDC Report Salmonella Heidelburg Outbreak 2012

Posted on February 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CDCcdc

Since June 4, 2012, a total of 124 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg have been reported from 12 states.

32% of ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

Most of the ill persons have been reported from two states, Washington (56) and Oregon (38).

State public health officials are interviewing ill persons to obtain information regarding foods they might have eaten and other exposures in the week before illness.

Information available to date indicates that consumption of chicken is the most likely source of infection for many of the ill persons.

Oregon and Washington have identified Foster Farms brand chicken as the most likely source of the infections in their states.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) is currently conducting an investigation to determine the source of infections in this outbreak.

It is not unusual for raw poultry from any producer to have Salmonella. This underscores the importance for consumers to follow food safety tips to help protect themselves and others from foodborne illness.

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Posted in Bacteria, CDC, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Methods, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall

Research – Listeria and Biofilms

Posted on February 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is able to form biofilms on surfaces of food industry premises. Once established at certain plant sites, this pathogen can persist there for months or years, risking the transfer to raw materials or processed food by direct contact or other mechanisms. Though persistence of certain strains of L. monocytogenes isolated from food industry surfaces has been reported in several cases, experimental evidence has so far been inconclusive about the association of persistence to features such as better biofilm forming ability or higher resistance to disinfectants. This work has aimed at checking another possible cause of persistence, the ability to recover after exposure to antimicrobial compounds. Damaged cells in the biofilms formed by twelve L. monocytogenes strains previously isolated from an Iberian pig slaughterhouse and processing plant, six persistent and six non persistent, were compared in their recovery of viable cell counts during the 24 h following exposure to chitosan or peracetic acid. Persistent strains showed a better resuscitation rate after chitosan damage.

Highlights

► Persistent strains did not perform better at adherence or biofilm formation. ► Persistent strains biofilms resulted to be no more tolerant to chitosan treatment. ► Persistent strains did resuscitate faster than non persistent ones. ► RR (Recovery Rates) of the persistent group doubled those of the other group.

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Posted in Bacteria, Biofilm, Food Hygiene, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Rotavirus

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USA – Recall RTE Roast Beef – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on February 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Listeria Bloglisteria-hp

Perfect Pasta Inc., an Addison, Ill. establishment, is recalling approximately 315 pounds of ready-to-eat roast beef products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following product is subject to recall:

  • 5-lb. packages of “GINA FULLY COOKED ROAST BEEF WITH SEASONED JUICE” with a lot code number of “040615RB” and a pack date of “02-06-13.”

The products subject to recall bear the establishment number “EST. 19829” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced on February 6, 2013, and distributed to institutions in Chicago.

The problem was discovered by FSIS through microbiological testing by the Agency. After the company received a positive sample for Listeria monocytogenes, most of its products were held but a portion may have been cross-contaminated as a result of equipment not being cleaned between production shifts and shipped into commerce. FSIS and the company have not received reports of illnesses due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, FSIS, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, USDA

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