Category Archives: Microbiology

US -Deli Recalls Products – Listeria Found on an Environmental Swab

Food Safety World

A Michigan-Based grocery chain is recalling over 100 deli items after an environmental swab revealed the presence of Listeria in a production facility. 

Spartan Stores of Grand Rapids, MI issued a voluntary recall of 134 productssold in the deli section at its Family Fare, D&W Fresh Markets, Glen’s and VG’s stores and at certain independent grocery stores in Michigan.

The problem was discovered during a routing inspection by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, during which an environmental sample was taken that later tested positive for  Listeria. 

 
A full list of the recalled products, which include fruits and vegetables, various dips and pasta salads, quiches and potato dishes, among other items, is available here. 
 
Customers who purchased any of the listed products should throw them out or return them to their point of purchase for a full refund. 

 
No products included in the recall are known to have come into contact with the bacteria, according to the recall announcement.

Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Newport Infections Linked to Cantaloupe

CDC

  • A total of 270 persons infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Typhimurium (240 persons) and SalmonellaNewport (30 persons) have been reported from 26 states.
    • The number of ill persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (16), Arkansas (6), California (2), Florida (1), Georgia (9), Iowa (10), Illinois (26), Indiana (24), Kentucky (70), Massachusetts (2), Maryland (1), Michigan (6), Minnesota (5), Missouri (15), Mississippi (7), Montana (1), New Jersey (2), North Carolina (7), Ohio (6), Oklahoma (1), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (5), Tennessee (8), Texas (2), and Wisconsin (6).
    • The number of ill persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Newport identified in each state is as follows: Illinois (8), Indiana (9), Michigan (1), Missouri (6), Ohio (3), Virginia (1), and Wisconsin (2)
    • 101 ill persons have been hospitalized. Three deaths have been reported in Kentucky

Malaysia – Norovirus Found in Lettuce

Medical Express

University Teknologi MARA researchers conducted a study on Norovirus (NoV) in lettuces. The virus causes outbreaks of Gastroenteritis among children below age 5 in Malaysia.

US – Listeria Tainted Cheese – At Least One Death

CBS News

Federal health officials say ricotta cheese tainted with listeria bacteria is linked to 14 illnesses including at least one death.

 The imported Italian ricotta salata cheese distributed by Forever Cheese Inc. of New York is linked to illnesses in 11 states and the District of Columbia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Forever Cheese issued a recall of one lot — 800 wheels of ricotta salata, or roughly 4,800 pounds — on Monday.

The cheese was distributed to retail stores and restaurants in California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington between June 20 and Aug. 9.

It was not immediately clear how many deaths were caused by the listeria outbreak. The CDC said listeriosis contributed to “at least one” of two deaths in New York and Nebraska but did not elaborate. A spokeswoman for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said Wednesday the department was investigating a death linked to the listeria and a spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Health said the same strain had contributed to the death of a woman in her 80s.

 A third deceased person in Minnesota was infected with listeriosis linked to the cheese but that was not thought to be the primary cause of the person’s death, a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health said.

 Three people from Maryland reported becoming ill from the strain of listeria linked to the ricotta. One person each from California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia also reported an illness. Two of the illnesses were in newborn babies, the CDC said.

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella, Aflatoxin,Ochratoxin

RASFF – Aflatoxin in Pistachios in Austria sourced in Iran via Germany

RASFF – Salmonella in Liquid Egg White in Austria sourced in France vis the UK

RASFF – Salmonella in Raw Milk Cheese in France.

RASFF – Ochratoxin in Organic Bay Mash in Luxembourg sourced in Switzerland

RASFF – Salmonella in Curry Powder in Germany.

US Fish Recall – Listeria monocytogenes

Food Poisoning Bulletin

3fish of North Carolina is recalling all of their seafood cakes and stuffed fish products that contain Gills onions because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The onion recall started on July 19, 2012 and expanded several times over the summer.

The recalled items were sold along the east coast and repackaged by individual stores. The products were sold to Harris Teeter, Ingles, MDI (Merchants Distributors Inc), and US Foodservice. Only products with use-by dates between 9/10/2012 and 9/15/2012 are included in the recall.

US – Multi State Listeria Outbreak in Cheese

Listeria Blog.

Forever Cheese inc. is recalling all Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand, Forever Cheese lot # T9425 and/or production code 441202, from one specific production date due to possible Listeria Monocytogenes contamination, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The cheese was sold to distributors for retailers and restaurants in CA, CO, D.C., FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MD, ME, MT, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OR, PA, VA, WA between June 20 and August 9, 2012. Products were sold to supermarkets, restaurants and wholesale distributors.

UK – Watermelons Salmonella Linked Death

LabSaints

An outbreak of salmonella linked to watermelons has claimed the life of one person and infected over 30 others in the UK.

The East of England has seen more cases of the food poisoning than other areas of the country, and seventy per cent of those affected are women. The person who died, who has not been named, had “serious underlying health complications”

Of the cases confirmed so far, 26 have been in England, three have been in Wales, one has been in Northern Ireland and four have been in Scotland. Five cases have also been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland and 15 have been confirmed in Germany.

The ages of people affected in England, Wales and Northern Ireland range from six months to 85 years.

The strain of salmonella found is called ‘salmonella Newport’. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever.

US – Salmonella Heidelberg in Eggs

Food Poisoning Bulletin

In 2010, Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms in north central Iowa were the center of a huge egg recall after eggs produced at those facilities were linked to a nationwide outbreak that sickened at least 2,000 Americans. On August 14, 2012, the FDA sent the company that acquired those facilities a warning letter about the presence of Salmonella Heidelberg (SH) bacteria in two of its six poultry houses.

Cruise Ship Norovirus Outbreak

Food Poisoining Bulletin

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) has issued an investigation update on the Norovirus outbreak on the Dawn Princess cruise ship. The ship of part of the Princess Cruises cruise line.

Voyage dates were August 21 to September 13, 2012. The number of passengers on the ship is 1,778, and crew members is 851. The passengers who reported being ill numbered 114, or 6.41%, and the number of crew who reported being ill numbered 11, or 1.29%. The symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea are consistent with Norovirus infection