Category Archives: Pathogen

Research – Poultry Control of Salmonella

Posted on March 14, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

Salmonella Enteritidis is one of the most prevalent foodborne pathogen, its main reservoir being considered the shell egg. As the concerns related to the increasing human salmonellosis cases grow, the need for an application of preventive methods either at the farm level or during the processing steps is crucial for a better control of the foodborne outbreaks due to the consumption of this specific food product. This review focuses on the application of preventive methods at the farm level, on preharvest step, in order to reduce the risk of shell eggs contamination with Salmonella, especially S. Enteritidis, through a better control of the laying hens’ infection with this pathogen. As postharvest methods, a 1st approach is the egg storage conditions and the prevention of Salmonella spp. growth and multiplication. In addition, shell eggs may be subjected to eggshell decontamination, to reduce the risk of foodborne outbreaks. Several of these latter mentioned methods are already authorized to be put in place in different countries, as it is the case in the United States of America and Canada. Their efficacy has been proven and their use is regarded by some as mandatory for ensuring shell eggs safety for the consumers.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella

Tagged egg storage, environment, science, shell egg, shell eggs

UK -HPA -Burger Vans – Ecoli Contamination

Posted on March 14, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

ITV News

HPA Report

Research from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed that food, water, chopping boards, cleaning cloths and security wristbands sampled from mobile and outdoor food vendors were contaminated with a range of bacteria including E.coli.

The bacteria, which originates from human or animal faeces is usually an indicator of either poor hygiene, undercooking or cross-contamination in the kitchen.

The events where samples were taken included 50 concerts or music festivals, 20 sports events, 39 carnivals, fetes and fairs and 44 ‘other’ events.

8% of food samples were of an unsatisfactory quality with a further 1% containing potentially hazardous levels of bacteria.

Water samples tested revealed that 27% contained unacceptable levels of coliform bacteria which can be found in the environment in soil, water and on plants and may also be a sign of faecal contamination.

E.coli and/or enterococci bacteria (of faecal origin) were found in 8%.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hand Washing, HPA, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

Tagged aviation, climate, environment, science, water

Research – Antibiotic-Resistant Strain of E. Coli Increasing Among Older Adults and Residents of Nursing Homes

Posted on March 14, 2013 by KSW | 1 comment

Science Direct

Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) continues to proliferate, driven largely by expansion of a strain of E. coli know as sequence type ST131. A new study points to hospitals and long-term care facilities (LTCF) as settings in which this antibiotic-resistant strain is increasingly found.

The study is published in the April issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

E. coli is the most common gram-negative pathogen, causing both gastrointestinal disease and extraintestinal infections such as pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream, urinary tract, abdominal, and wound infections. Strains of E. coli that are resistant to single or multiple classes of antibiotics are becoming more prevalent. E. coli ST131 is commonly associated with fluoroquinolone resistance.

“The expansion of E. coli strain ST131 is recognized as a pandemic, but has received comparatively little attention in the United States,” said Ritu Banerjee, lead investigator of the study. “Alarmingly, the pace of new antibiotic development has not kept up with the emergence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli, making development of strategies to halt further emergence and spread of these strains a public health priority.”

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Posted in Antibiotic Resistance, Bacteria, E.coli, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

Research – Pesticide Application as Potential Source of Noroviruses

Posted on March 14, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

HACCP Europa

Human norovirus (hNoV), also known as the winter vomiting bug, is one of the most common stomach bugs in the world. The virus is highly contagious, causing vomiting and diarrhea, and the number of affected cases is growing. Currently there is no cure; sufferers have to let the virus run its course for a few days.

The consumption of fresh produce is frequently associated with outbreaks of hNoV but it remains difficult to identify where in the supply chain the virus first enters production.

A new study, published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology investigated whether contaminated water used to dilute pesticides could be a source of hNoV. Farmers use various water sources in the production of fresh fruits and vegetables, including well water and different types of surface water such as river water or lake water — sources which have been found to harbour hNoV.

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Virus, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Research

Tagged environment, international journal of food microbiology, nature, science, water

USA – MDA Issues Salmonella Consumer Advisory for Raw Pet Food

Posted on March 14, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Journal

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is alerting consumers to avoid feeding or handling two separate brands of poultry-based raw pet food after the MDA laboratory found Salmonella bacteria in routine sample tests. The brand varieties include:

Bravo! Raw Food Diet 2 lb. Chicken Blend for Dogs and Cats manufactured by Bravo!, LLC, of Manchester, Connecticut. This is a frozen pet food product with the production code of 06/14/12, which is located on the white tag on the end of the package. This advisory is for the 2 lb. size of Bravo! Chicken Blend with the “best used by date” of 6/12/14 only. No other products, sizes, or production dates are involved.

Turducken Canine Diet 8oz. Patties, manufactured by Steve’s Real Food, Inc., of Murray, Utah. This is a frozen pet food product with the “Use By” date code of 10/27/13 B209, which is located on the lower front panel of package.

There are no reports of human or animal illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Consumers are asked to discard any of these products they may have.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Pet Food, Recall

Tagged food, health, raw food diet, science

USA – Chicken Polish Sausage – Recall – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 13, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

Listeria Blog

Hot Springs Packing Co., Inc., a Hot Springs, Ark. establishment, is recalling approximately 6,120 pounds of chicken polish sausage and chicken breakfast link products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The products subject to recall includes:

30-lb. packages of “DOUBLE D INTERNATIONAL FOOD CO., INC., 4/1 CHICKEN POLISH SAUSAGE, REDUCED SODIUM” with lot code numbers of “05013A” or “05013B” stamped on the box.
30-lb. packages of “DOUBLE D INTERNATIONAL FOOD CO., INC., 16/1 CHICKEN BREAKFAST LINK, REDUCED SODIUM” with a lot code number of “05013B” stamped on the box.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Canada – Recall Artisan Wraps Italian Style Meats around Fresh Mozzarella – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 13, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. are warning the public not to consume Formaggio brand Artisan Wraps Italian Style Meats around Fresh Mozzarella because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

The Importer, Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd., Ottawa, Canada is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Hygiene, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Tagged canadian food inspection, canadian food inspection agency cfia, costco wholesale canada, costco wholesale canada ltd, food

USA – Cuise Ship Norovirus Yet Again?

Posted on March 13, 2013 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning News

The Princess Cruise line Ruby Princess has reported a stomach illness outbreak on its latest cruise. The ship had voyage dates of March 3 to March 10, 2013. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. There is no known cause, although the cause of most outbreaks on cruise ships is norovirus. Symptoms of that highly contagious virus include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, along with possible headache and low grade fever.

Two hundred sixty six passengers (out of 3,129) and 10 crew (out of 1,189) reportedly became ill during the voyage. The outbreak was communicated to the Vessel Sanitation Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 10, 2013, so no on board response to the outbreak was conducted.