Category Archives: Microbiology

US- Jimmy Johns – Sprout Outbreak- Stands at 25 Ill – Ecoli O26

Posted on March 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Journal

A total of 25 people have been sickened in the Jimmy Johns sprouts E. coli O26 outbreak.  They reside in 8 states (Michigan, Alabama, Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Arkansas, and Alabama).  Michigan residents have been hit hardest in the Jimmy Johns outbreak, with 9 illnesses total.  Among these 24 ill persons, illness onset dates ranged from December 25, 2011 to February 15, 2012. Ill persons range in age from 9 years to 53 years old, with a median age of 26 years. Eighty-eight percent of ill persons are female. Among the 24 ill persons, 6 (25%) were hospitalized. None have developed HUS, and no deaths have been reported. Illnesses that occurred after February 19, 2012, might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O26, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall

Media Foodborne Illness Outbreak Communication Needs Work.

Posted on March 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Navigator USA

Effective media communication can be crucial to prevent the spread of foodborne illness outbreaks and to avoid misinformation, global government officials said at a meeting to discuss lessons learned from recent outbreaks.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Illness, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall

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US – Pregnant Woman – Listeriosis – Cheese

Posted on March 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety Talk 

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) Food and Drug Safety Program (FDSP) is warning the public not to consume any cheese products produced by El Ranchero del Sur, LLC of South River, NJ. On March 2, 2012, a 38-week pregnant woman was diagnosed with Listeria monocytogenes infection at a New Brunswick hospital.

Subsequent investigation by the Middlesex County Health Department and product analysis by NJDHSS Public Health Environmental and Agricultural Laboratories confirmed the presence of L. monocytogenes in a sample of Los Corrales Queso Fresco Fresh Cheese and Banana Leaf code dated 03/16/12.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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How Salmonella Avoids the Body’s Immune Response

Posted on March 15, 2012 by | 1 comment

Science Daily – Full Article

Pathogens like salmonella flourish and cause disease in humans through a process by which they acquire metal ions, such as zinc, from the body. One of the body’s key immune responses is to flood the infected area with antimicrobial proteins that include calprotectin, which removes zinc. Without enough of this vital element, most pathogens eventually die.

The study team found, however, that salmonellae overcome this immune response by expressing specialised transporter proteins that enable the bacteria to acquire zinc in spite of calprotectin reducing the amount available in the digestive tract. This distinctive mechanism lets salmonellae continue proliferating.

 At the same time, calprotectin inadvertently promotes salmonella growth by killing the microbes that normally reside within the intestines and help the immune system battle pathogenic bacteria.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Salmonella

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Killer Silk Fibres – Bacteriocidal

Posted on March 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Science Daily

A simple, inexpensive dip-and-dry treatment can convert ordinary silk into a fabric that kills disease-causing bacteria — even the armor-coated spores of microbes like anthrax — in minutes, scientists are reporting in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. They describe a range of potential uses for this new killer silk, including make-shift curtains and other protective coatings that protect homes and other buildings in the event of a terrorist attack with anthrax.

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Posted in Bacteria, Microbiology

Listeria Slows Foetal Heart Rate

Posted on March 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Listeriosis causes fetal heart rate to slow for sustained periods of time, according results of a new study by pediatric researchers published in Nature.com. The study was undertaken in mice.

 The ultrasound revealed sustained foetal bradycardia, the slowing of the foetal heartbeat, in infected foetuses, with an association between slowed foetal heart rate and strong bioluminescent signal.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen

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Canada CIFA – Recall Beef Burger Products – Ecoli O157

Posted on March 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CIFA

The public warning issued on March 13, 2012has been expanded to include additional products and distribution information.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and New Food Classics are warning the public not to consume certain Best Value beef burger products, described below, because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The following Best Value brand products are affected by this alert:

Product Size UPC Lot Code
10 Beef Burgers 1 kg 0 71212 88103 8 72991 EST 761, 82991 EST 761
20 Beef Burgers 2 kg 0 71212 88104 5 53011 EST 761, 63011 EST 761, 73011 EST 761, 83011 EST 761

These products have been distributed to Giant Tiger and Northern Canada retail stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of these products.

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Posted in Bacteria, CIFA, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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EFSA Video Links – Salmonella, Campylobacter, Pathogens

Posted on March 14, 2012 by | Leave a comment

EFSA Video Links

Short videos on the following subjects from the European Food Safety Authority.

What is Salmonella?

What is antimicrobial resistance?

What are foodborne zoonotic pathogens?

What is Campylobacter?

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Posted in Antibiotic Resistance, Bacteria, Campylobacter, EFSA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Salmonella

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Views Sought on Using Lactic Acid on Beef Carcasses – FSA

Posted on March 14, 2012 by | 1 comment

FSA

The Food Standards Agency is asking businesses to provide their views on the use of lactic acid to reduce microbiological surface contamination on beef carcasses, proposed in a draft EU regulation.

The FSA has already consulted widely to inform the UK voting position on the EU draft regulation, and would like to consult further in order to assess the likely impact on UK businesses. If authorised, the use of lactic acid on beef carcasses would be permissive rather than mandatory. A vote on the Commission regulation is expected in spring 2012.

Businesses in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are asked to submit their views, for instance whether they would use lactic acid if approved, what the cost might be, and whether staff would require additional training in the process.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology

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Electrochemical Treatment of Wash Water – E.coli

Posted on March 14, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Quality

Electrochemical treatment of wash water in fresh produce processing shows real potential to combat E.coli contamination and cut in-plant water consumption, according to recent research.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O104, E.coli O157, E.coli O26, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen