Category Archives: outbreak

China 110 Students Ill After School Dinner – Cause Unknown

Posted on October 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

China DailyFood Poisoning

Yunnan – More than 100 students in southwest China’s Yunnan province contracted infectious diarrhea from a school meal on Thursday, local authorities have confirmed.

Some 365 students from the Nationality Middle School in the Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Xishuangbanna developed symptoms of fever and diarrhea after their supper at 6 pm and were sent to hospital, and 110 of them have been confirmed as suffering from infectious diarrhea, said an official with the prefecture government.

The local government has launched an investigation into the cause of the incident.

 

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

Dutch Smoked Salmon and Salmonella

Posted on October 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

At least 950 people in the Netherlands are now known to have fallen ill in a Salmonella Thompson outbreak linked to salmon. Three elderly victims have died.

The outbreak was first reported October 1 after more than 200 Salmonella illnesses were linked to smoked salmon sold by Netherlands-based Foppen. Subsequent environmental testing revealed the presence of the outbreak strain of the bacteria in one of the company’s manufacturing plants in Greece.

Now the outbreak has grown to include almost 1,000 Dutch victims, three of whom have died, reported the Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) Thursday, according to MedicalXPress.

Meanwhile, health officials have identified a cluster of Salmonella Thompson infections in the U.S. The genetic fingerprint of this bacteria is indistinguishable from that of the strain causing the Dutch outbreak; however, patient interviews have revealed that Foppen smoked salmon was not a likely source of infection for these cases, according to Lola Russell, spokesperson for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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61 Now Ill in North Carolina E. coli Outbreak

Posted on October 18, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

The deadly E. coli outbreak linked to the Cleveland County Fair in North Carolina grew to 61 cases by Wednesday. At least 10 people have been hospitalized.

This latest figures comes less than a week after 2-year-old Gage Lefever died from his infection last Friday. His funeral services were held on Wednesday afternoon.

FSN Link

 

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Spoilage, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Parasite

Northern Ireland Public Health – E.coli Outbreak Belfast

Posted on October 16, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BBC

E. coli outbreak in Belfast is ‘a major crisis’ says PHA

 The outbreak has been linked to An E. coli outbreak linked to a Belfast restaurant has been described as “major public health crisis” by Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency (PHA).

The PHA said there are now 20 confirmed cases and 118 suspected cases of food poisoning following an investigation at Flicks restaurant at Cityside Mall.

Six people have been hospitalised since the start of the outbreak, but most have since been discharged.

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

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CDC – Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney Infections Linked to Peanut Butter Manufactured By Sunland, Inc.

Posted on October 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CDC

  • A total of 35 persons infected with the outbreak strain of SalmonellaBredeney have been reported from 19 states.
    • Eight ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
    • 63% percent of ill persons are children under the age of 10 years.
  • Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Salted Peanut Butter made with Sea Salt, manufactured by Sunland, Inc. of Portales, New Mexico, is a likely source of this outbreak.
    • Testing conducted by the Washington State Department of Agriculture laboratory isolated the outbreak strain from an opened jar of Trader Joe’s Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter collected from a case-patient’s home.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella

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CDC – Multistate Outbreak of Human Salmonella Montevideo Infections Linked to Live Poultry in Backyard Flocks

Posted on October 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CDC – Final Update on the outbreak

 A total of 93 persons infected with the outbreak strain of SalmonellaMontevideo were reported from 23 states and Puerto Rico.

  • The number of ill persons identified in each state was as follows: Alaska (1), California (4), Colorado (1), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (3), Indiana (10), Iowa (2), Kansas (15), Kentucky (2), Massachusetts (2), Missouri (28), Nebraska (8), Nevada (1), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (5), South Dakota (1), Texas (1), Vermont (1), West Virginia (1), Wyoming (1), and Puerto Rico (1).
  • 21 ill persons were hospitalized. One death was reported in Missouri, but Salmonella infection was not considered a contributing factor in this person’s death.
  • 38% of ill persons were children 10 years of age or younger.
  • Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback findings linked this outbreak of human Salmonella infections to contact with chicks, ducklings, and other live baby poultry from Estes Hatchery in Springfield, Missouri.

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Posted in Bacteria, CDC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella

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Daily Peanut Butter Products Recall Notices – Salmonella

Posted on October 12, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The Flying Food Group of Illinois is recalling Starbucks brand Protein Bistro Box with Enjoy By dates of 8/10/12 to 10/06/12 because they contain Justin’s Nut Butter peanut butter squeeze packs that may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The Justin’s peanut butter was made with Sunland products that are linked to a Salmonella Bredeney outbreak in the U.S.

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Starbucks Coffee Canada Inc. are warning the public not to consume the peanut butter product described below because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Justin’s brand Honey Peanut Butter Blend, is a 0.5 oz pouch bearing UPC 894455000391 and a Best By date between 07-14-13 and 08-30-13.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

FDA

As an update to the 09/27/2012 press release by Oregon Ice Cream Company in Eugene, Oregon, additional lot codes are now included in this recall. Oregon Ice Cream Company is issuing this voluntary recall linked to the Sunland, Inc recall to minimize the risk to the public health.

FDA

Velvet Ice Cream has been notified that peanut products sold to their company from Sunland, Inc., which were used to make select peanut butter-flavored ice creams, may be contaminated with Salmonella. Thus, the Ohio-based ice cream manufacturer is voluntarily recalling products that may contain contaminated nut products. The recalled products are only sold at convenience stores, small, independent retailers and ice cream parlors in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Not all peanut products sold to Velvet Ice Cream are at risk, consequently, only the items with corresponding code numbers are affected.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall

CFIA – XL Products Another Expanded Alert – E.coli O157:H7

Posted on October 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

The public warning issued on October 5, 2012 has been updated to include additional products. Previously identified products included in this recallcan be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/recalls.

The CFIA is warning the public, distributors and food service establishments not to consume, sell, or serve the beef products described in this link because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

The CFIA is advising consumers who are unsure if they have the affected beef in their home to check with the store(s) where the product was purchased or throw it out.

Public health authorities have confirmed a number of illnesses linked to products from XL Foods Inc. or illnesses associated with the XL Foods Inc. food safety investigation. For more information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website at http://www.phac.gc.ca

This voluntary recall is part of an ongoing food safety investigation. The CFIA is working with the recalling firms and distributors to identify and verify all affected products.  If additional affected products are confirmed, this table will be updated on the CFIA website. To stay informed of product updates throughout the investigation, consumers are also encouraged to subscribe to CFIA food recalls and allergy alerts at http://www.foodsafety.gc.ca.

The affected products are associated with the same XL Foods manufacturing dates of August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5, 2012, as the previously recalled ground beef products. The trace out from XL to secondary and tertiary distributors, manufacturers and retailers could result in a large number of affected products over a wide range of codes and dates.

This recall also includes unlabelled and/or unbranded beef products sold at retail stores not identified in the CFIA’s product list below, which may include small retailers, local meat markets and butcher shops, etc. Therefore, the CFIA is advising consumers who are unsure if they have the affected beef products in their homes to check with the store(s) where the products were purchased or throw them out.

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, E.coli, E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall

Orkney 3 Cases of E.coli in Children Source Unknown

Posted on October 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BBC News

Two more cases of E. coli have been confirmed in Orkney, with a third suspected case currently being investigated. All three cases are children who attend the same nursery in Kirkwall. NHS Orkney said there was no evidence to suggest transmission of the infection had taken place at the premises.

Health officials will now screen children and staff from the nursery concerned as a precaution.

There have already been six other confirmed cases of E. coli infection in Orkney since August.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Virus, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

German Norovirus Outbreak – Chinese Strawberry’s Implicated

Posted on October 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Business Insider

It started on September 19. In the East German states of Brandenburg, Saxony, Berlin, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt, a lot of children and adolescents as well as a few adults suddenly fell ill with vomiting and diarrhea.

Turns out, a wholesaler had sold contaminated frozen strawberries to commercial kitchens of three companies that made cafeteria food for schools and kindergartens, among them Sodexo. Sources among the food investigators stated that the strawberries had most likely come from China.

When the strawberries were thawed to be used in desserts, they weren’t always fully heated, and the noroviruses, which are particularly resistant to cold and heat, survived. The different thawing processes used in various facilities could explain why infections occurred in some schools but not in others, though all used the strawberries from the same shipment.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, outbreak, Pathogen, Virus

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