UK Stomach bugs cause 11 million working to be lost each year according to joint research by the FSA and the University of Manchester. With Campylobacter and Norovirus being the two major causes. There has already been interest shown in testing food products for viruses and this type of data will only add to the pressure for looking at testing food for viruses. It also emphasises the FSA campaign for reducing Campylobacter levels in raw poultry in the UK.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak
Food Navigator USA reports that the presence of Listeria on Jensen Farms has been confirmed, to date 35 people across 10 states have been infected with 4 deaths. Another 2 deaths in New Mexico are being investigated by the FDA.
Listeria monocytogenes has been isolated from packaging equipment at the Colorado packaging site and in store on cantaloupes in Denver, thus confirming the source of the outbreaks.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, outbreak
The CDC have released a full report on Foodborne illness in the USA for 2008. During 2008, the most recent year for which data are finalised, 1,034 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported, which resulted in 23,152 cases of illness, 1,276 hospitalisations, and 22 deaths. Among the 479 outbreaks with a laboratory-confirmed single etiological agent reported, norovirus was the most common, accounting for 49% of outbreaks and 46% of illnesses. Salmonella was the second most common, accounting for 23% of outbreaks and 31% of illnesses. Among the 218 outbreaks attributed to a food vehicle with ingredients from only one of 17 defined food commodities (3), the top commodities to which outbreaks were attributed were poultry (15%), beef (14%), and finfish (14%), whereas the top commodities to which outbreak-related illnesses were attributed were fruits and nuts (24%), vine-stalk vegetables (23%), and beef (13%).
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak
FoodWorld 