Category Archives: outbreak

2011 Clostridium botulinum Editorial – John Cowden HPS

Posted on December 14, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Editorial Link

Short paper on recent Clostridium botulinum outbreaks in 2011 in Europe.

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Posted in Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Recall

Eurosurveillance Report – Korma Sauce – Botulinum 2011

Posted on December 14, 2011 by | Leave a comment

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HPS Link

An investigation is currently underway to explain an outbreak of food-borne botulism in Scotland. Three children in the same family were confirmed as having botulism following consumption of a meal made with a jar of korma sauce. Residual sauce from the jar, the jar lid and a remnant of the meal, all tested positive for Clostridium botulinum type A toxin. The children are recovering, although two remain ventilated and in intensive care unit.

Comment centres, in particular, on the fact that all three arose from consumption of widely distributed, commercially produced foods while the number of cases in all three was surprisingly low were a production fault assumed to have been the source of contamination. In the Scottish outbreak, indeed, the food originated from a state-of-the-art food-production facility where intensive investigation has yet to find any shortcomings, and no post-production event has been identified which could explain the contamination.

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Posted in Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak

Premier Foods – Botulinum Scare – No Closer to Being Solved.

Posted on December 12, 2011 by | Leave a comment

An article in Food Production Daily has reported that the FSA are no nearer solving the Botulinum scare in Premier Foods, Loyd Grossman Korma Curry sauce. Investigations are still ongoing.

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Posted in Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Recall

CDC – Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce

Posted on December 9, 2011 by | Leave a comment

CDC 

  • As of November 30, 2011, 60 persons infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli serotype O157:H7 have been reported from 10 states.
  • Collaborative investigative efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that romaine lettuce is the likely source of illnesses in this outbreak, and contamination likely occurred before the product reached retail stores.
  • This particular outbreak appears to be over and consumers are not being advised to avoid eating any specific foods at this time.

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Posted in E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, outbreak

CDC – US Cantaloupe Melon Listeria Outbreak is Over

Posted on December 9, 2011 by | Leave a comment

An article in Food Navigator USA  has reported on the US CDC confirming that the Jensen Farms Listeria outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes is over leaving in its wake 30 dead and 140 infections.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, outbreak

Health Protection Scotland – Campylobacter Outbreaks – 2011

Posted on December 8, 2011 by | Leave a comment

New figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have revealed that over 90% of outbreaks of Campylobacter infection at catering venues in 2011 were linked to chicken liver pâté consumption. In light of this, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has again reminded caterers to cook poultry livers thoroughly to avoid the risk of food poisoning.

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Posted in Campylobacter, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak

HPA – 2010 UK Salmonella Outbreak – Green Salad Vegetables

Posted on November 26, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Food Production Daily has an article reporting on the HPA findings that the UK 2010 outbreak of Salmonella was likely to have been caused by green salad vegetables.

Full HPA Report

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Salmonella

FSA – Reminder on Botulinum Avoidance

Posted on November 26, 2011 by | Leave a comment

The FSA have issued a reminder on how to avoid Botulinum poisoning following recent cases of the rare foodborne poisoning cases in Olives and Korma Sauce.

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Posted in Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak

Olives – Botulinum Again – Canada

Posted on November 26, 2011 by | Leave a comment

After the Botulinum contamination of Olives which resulted in a death in Finland and withdrawal of the product in the UK and USA. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency have recalled another batch of Olives. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Marché Transatlantique Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Domaine de l’Oulivie brand Lucque Olives de Pays described below because the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

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Posted in Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak

Botulism All Clear – Premature?

Posted on November 25, 2011 by | Leave a comment

An article in Food Production Europe has reported that the FSA have stated that the all clear for Premier Foods in regards to the Botulinum scare is “premature”.

The FSA has said it that is too early to rule out any avenue of possible contamination.

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Posted in Clostridium botulinum, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Recall