Category Archives: outbreak

Canada – Gouda Cheese Updates – E.coli O157

CFIA

Ottawa, September 19, 2013 – The public warning issued on September 17, 2013 has been updated to include an additional product.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm (EST 4478) are warning the public not to consume the Mild Gouda Cheese described below because it may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

This recall is the result of an ongoing food safety investigation initiated as a result of a recent outbreak investigation. There may be recalls of additional products as the investigation at this facility continues.

Lot codes 122 to 138 are affected by this recall.

Some product packages may not bear a lot code or indicate that the cheese was made with raw milk. This product may also have been sold clerk-served from deli counters with or without a label or coding. Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the affected product are advised to contact their retailer.

There have been reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

The manufacturer, Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm, Salmon Arm, BC is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Food Safety News

The outbreak of E. coli linked to Gort’s Gouda Cheese Farm in Canada has resulted in one death, as well as 10 confirmed and six suspected illnesses, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The victim who died was from British Columbia. Three more B.C. residents fell ill, while the other seven cases are in Alberta. The agency is investigating another six illnesses that appear to be connected.

RASFF Alerts – DSP in Mussels – Hepatitis A in Berries – Histamine in Tuna

RASFF -Histamine (414; 345 mg/kg – ppm) in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacore) from Sri Lanka in Italy

RASFF -hepatitis A virus in frozen red berries mix from Poland, via France in Italy

RASFF -Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins – okadaic acid (221.3 µg/kg – ppb) in live mussels (Mytilus Galloprovincialis) from Spain in Italy

UK – FSA Salmonella Outbreak investigation

FSASalmonella

An outbreak of an unusual type of salmonella infection, Salmonella Typhimurium, across England and Wales is being investigated by Public Health England, Public Health Wales, the FSA and local authority environmental health officers.

A total of 21 confirmed cases in Wales and 30 in England have been reported, with 9 cases known to have required hospitalisation. Other potential cases are being investigated in both countries.

The outbreak was first detected in Wales in August and centred mainly in North Wales (Conwy and Gwynedd), with additional clusters being investigated in England in the Thames Valley, Leeds, Cumbria and Stafford areas.

Cases are widely geographically distributed in patients aged 7 months to 87 years.

USA – Cyclospora Outbreak Still Continues

Food Safety News

At least 646 people have now fallen ill with Cyclospora infections in connection with an outbreak that hit 24 states between June and August, according to the latest update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At least 44 of those individuals have been hospitalized. Those ill range in age from less than one year to 92 years old, with a median age of 52.

USA – Listeria and Smoked Salmon Risk

Food Safety NewsEurofins Food Testing UK

Listeria monocytogenes bacteria detected in some ready-to-eat smoked salmon samples sparked a rash of recalls in recent months, with major fish producers such as Ocean Beauty, Marine Harvest and Pacific Seafood Group, plus retail giants including Whole Foods Market, Walmart and Ralph’s, getting caught in the recall net.

But no outbreak of illnesses prompted these companies to voluntarily pull smoked salmon from store shelves.

The uptick in recalls led some to speculate that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) might be taking a new get-tough approach targeting Listeria in smoked salmon and stepping up inspections.

USA – Chicken Jerky Dog Chews – Salmonella 21 Cases

Food Safety News

At least 21 people in New Hampshire have fallen ill with Salmonella in an outbreak connected to Joey’s Jerky brand chicken jerky, a product made for dogs. The product has been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer, Kritters Kitchen Kreations.

The contaminated jerky was sold at the following six stores in New Hampshire: America’s Pet in Hudson, Blue Seal in Bow, K9 Kaos in Dover, Osborne’s Agway in Concord, Sandy’s Pet Food Center in Concord and The Yellow Dogs Barn in Barrington.

USA – Cyclospora Cases Still Building

Food Poisoning Bulletin220px-Cyclospora_cayetanensis_stained

In addition to battling an outbreak of Cyclospora infections and a Salmonella outbreak, the state of Iowa is reported increased Cryptosporidiosis cases this summer.  That parasite is usually spread through people with diarrhea swimming in pools, lakes, and rivers. The parasite gets into the water and people contract the illness when they swallow swimming water.

There have been at least 358 cases of Cryptosporidiosis reported to the Iowa Department of Public Health this year; 272 reported since June 1, 2013. An additional 138 cases are under investigation.

USA – Norovirus Restaurant Outbreak ?

Food Safety News

Grant County Health Department officials are waiting on state lab test results to determine whether norovirus was behind the outbreak of more than two dozen people who were sickened in John Day, OR, this past week.

According to an Aug. 5 story in the Blue Mountain Eagle, health officials suspected that the illness could have been transmitted between July 27 and Aug. 3 at the Snaffle Bit Restaurant. The owner of the restaurant was reportedly cooperating with the county and taking steps to prevent any other illness outbreaks.

USA – E.coli Outbreak at an Arizona Restaurant

E.coli BlogEcoli Istock

As of August 6, 2013, at least 33 people who ate at the Federico’s Mexican Restaurant in the West Valley outside of Phoenix, Arizona have fallen ill with E. coli infections. According to news reports, 15 cases were hospitalised.

USA – Hepatitis and Cyclospora Updates

Food Posioning Bulletin

The multi-state hepatitis A outbreak linked to Townsend Farms Organic Antioxidant Blend frozen berry and pomegranate mix sold at Costco stores has grown to include 151 sickened. Sixty-six people have been hospitalized in this outbreak. No deaths have been reported.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A multi-state Cyclospora outbreak has sickened at least 267 people and hospitalized eight of them, according to federal and state health authorities involved in a collaborative investigation. The rare parasite has infected at least 127 people Iowa, 68 people in Nebraska, 65 people in Texas, 4 people in Wisconsin, 2 people in Illinois and 1 person in Kansas.