The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported a multi-state outbreak of shiga-toxin producing E. coli 026 (STEC) infections linked to raw clover sprouts at Jimmy John’s restaurants.
So far, 12 people have been infected with the outbreak strain of STEC 026. The case distribution is:
Two people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have occurred as of February 15, 2012.
Posted in Clostridium botulinum, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella
Tagged fda, food and drug, food and drug administration, food and drug administration fda, food safety news
In October 2011, two primary cases of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection with identical HAV genotype IB strains to those seen in other outbreaks associated with semi-dried tomatoes were reported in England. Both cases had consumed semi-dried tomatoes. Epidemiological investigations revealed two additional cases of genotype IB strains with different sequences who also reported having consumed semi-dried tomatoes. In November, five cases of HAV infection with closely related strains were identified in the Netherlands. A foodborne multiple-strain outbreak is suspected.
In November 2011, a cluster of initially five cases of hepatitis A infection with closely related strains was identified in the Netherlands. England reported possibly related cases. Strains with identical sequences had been involved in previous outbreaks linked to semi-dried tomatoes. Investigation of the Dutch cluster suggested a link with ready-to-eat salads including those containing semi-dried tomatoes. Despite trace-back, a source was not identified. Vigilance is needed, and rapid sharing of data may help source-tracing.
ZIP INTERNATIONAL GROUP LLC, 160 Raritan Center Parkway #6, Edison, NJ 08837 is expanding its recall of sliced herring fillet (forelka) 330 gram and 600 gram in plastic packaging due to Listeria contamination.
While assuring the public that there is no evidence of an outbreak, the Central District Health Department is alerting the public that an employee of the Cheesecake Factory on North Milwuakee Road in Boise was infected with the hepatitis A virus, but is no longer infectious.
CDHD is alerting patrons who may have dined at the restaurant between Dec. 13, 2011, and Jan. 22, 2012, that they may have been exposed to hepatitis A. If a person has had a hepatitits A vaccine or have had the illness in the past, the CDHD said they are protected from the infection.
Symptoms usually occur abruptly and may include:
-fever
-loss of appetite
-abdominal discomfort
-jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
-tiredness
-nausea
-dark urine
Almost 300 people who violated Chinese food safety laws were handed sentences including life imprisonment and the death penalty in 2011, according to a Chinese news agency.
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang called for harsh punishments against food-safety violations as officials removed eggs that a shopper claimed were fake in southern China’s Guangzhou city.
Li said China faces a grave situation in ensuring food supplies are kept safe and authorities should take a proactive approach to deter violations.
Sources with the State Council’s Food Safety Committee said on Thursday that a total of 286 people in more than 5,200 food safety cases last year were handed sentences, including life imprisonment and suspended death penalties.
Almost 230,000 pounds of Robert’s cut leaf curly spinach is being recalled in 30 pound totes because of possible contamination with E. coli 0157:H7. The recall was announced only to the company’s customers by snail mail. (post)
Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak
Tagged contamination, e coli, food poisoning
OFFICIALS of a Mexican political party are apologising to 650 indigenous people who suffered food poisoning after attending a campaign rally in southern Mexico.
Authorities in the indigenous town of Chilapa had to open an auditorium on Wednesday to treat people who became sick after eating rice tacos and eggs handed out by former mayor Sergio Dolores, who is running for congress.
Guerrero state civil protection officials said adults and children were fainting, throwing up and suffering from diarrhoea.
Another cruise ship has been ordered back to port after the second consecutive outbreak of stomach illness the norovirus hit Princess Cruises, resulting in more than 3,000 passengers having their dream vacations cut short.
The ship was ordered back to Port Everglades on Tuesday for special cleansing, ending its voyage two days early.
Norovirus is making the rounds in Madison, Wisconsin, with five food-related outbreaks since last November.
Dane County health officials are still waiting for test results from the most recent outbreak. It took place Jan. 29 when at least 16 people had vomiting and diarrhea after eating sandwiches and other 
food at the Mandrake Road Church of Christ in Madison.
Also last month, 28 people got sick after eating at Erin’s Snug Irish Pub in Madison. The other outbreaks took place at a drama-filming session at Madison West High School, the Pyle Center at U W Madison, and a Madison art show.
This seems to be another product which has been caught up in the Listeria monocytogenes in hard boiled eggs.
Bost Distributing Company doing business as Harold Food Company, a Bear Creek, N.C. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,200 pounds of chicken salad products. The products contain eggs that are the subject of a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall due to concerns about contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
FoodWorld 