Category Archives: Pathogen

US – E.coli O157 Recalls

USDA

Main Street Quality Meats, a Salt Lake City, Utah establishment, is recalling approximately 2,310 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:

  • 10-lb cases of “GROUND BEEF BULK.”
  • 12-lb cases of “GROUND BEEF PATTIES.”

USDA

Higa Meat & Pork Market, a Honolulu, HI establishment, is recalling approximately 4,100 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:

  • 10-lb. bags of “HIGA MARKET-GROUND BEEF BULK” – 1 to 6 bags per carton/case.

 

Northern Irelands Biggest Ever E.coli Outbreak.

Food Safety News

At least 269 people are suspected to have fallen ill in an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 after eating at a restaurant in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency announced on Sunday. This is by far the largest E. coli outbreak in the nation’s history.

The number ill consist of 90 laboratory-confirmed cases and another 179 probable cases. Probable cases are those with exposure and corresponding symptoms, but who have not been tested for E. coli infection in a clinical laboratory.

European Alerts – Salmonella – Yessotoxin

RASFF – Salmonella in Rump Beef Meat in Italy sourced in Poland

RASFFYessotoxin in Mussels in Italy (Other Link BBB) Planktonic Algae (Dinoflagellates)

 

 

Hospital Food – Clostridium difficile?

WEBMD

A new report suggests that hospital food is frequently contaminated with the dangerous diarrhea bug Clostridium difficile (C. diff).

Houston researchers found that about one-fourth of nearly 100 hospital food samples they tested were positive for C. diff. Among the worst culprits: turkey, chicken, and egg products, vegetables and fruits, and desserts. Almost all were cooked.

It’s only one hospital. And no cases of human infection were linked to the food.

But together with past research, the findings suggest that contaminated food may be an important route of spread of C. diff in hospitals, says researcher Hoonmo Koo, MD, an infectious diseases specialist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Moreover, the temperatures at which hospital foods are cooked may be too low to kill the bug, he says.

An infectious diseases expert not involved with the research says the major C. diff strains that contaminate food are different from the ones responsible for human disease.

C. diff has been recovered from pigs, cows, and chickens, and the bug has been found in retail meat and salad greens. A few studies have found that the C. diff strains found in animals are the same ones causing human disease, but others have found the opposite.

A 2008 CDC study concluded that “although they share similar clinical features, evidence suggests that the predominant strains causing C. diff [disease] in humans and different animal species are distinct.”

Overall, though, surprisingly few studies have examined the possible link between C. diff disease in food, animals, and humans, according to both the CDC and Koo.

So the researchers tested about 2 tablespoons of each food item served over 80 days at a university hospital in Houston. The number that tested positive for C. diff:

  • Four of eight (50%) turkey samples
  • Four of 12 seafoods (33%)
  • Two of 17 beef servings (12%)
  • One of eight pork servings (13%)
  • Six of 14 chicken and egg products (43%)
  • Six of 27 vegetables and fruits (22%)
  • None of two grains
  • Three of five desserts (60%)

Another Fair/Petting Zoo E.coli Issue

E.coli BlogPetting Zoo Illness

The Division of Public Health of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services in collaboration with Local Health Departments is investigating an outbreak of E. coli infection in 106 people who attended the Cleveland County Fair. Preliminary findings suggest animal exposure may be the source of this outbreak.

As of 2 p.m., 64 children* and 42 adults are known to be/have been affected by this outbreak. Twelve individuals* have been or are currently hospitalized. The county case counts are as follows: Cleveland County – 61, Gaston County – 18*, Lincoln County – 14, Catawba County – 1, Mecklenburg – 1, Union County – 3, Rutherford – 4, York County, South Carolina – 2, Cherokee County, South Carolina – 2 *this number includes one death related to the outbreak

Peanut Butter Product Recalls – Canada – Salmonella

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume, sell or serve the food products described below because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

These recalls are part of an ongoing food safety investigation. This recall of peanut butter products in Canada is related to the expanding peanut butter product recall in the USA by Sunland Inc. due to possible Salmonella Bredeney contamination.

The following products are affected by this alert:

Brand Product Size UPC Best By dates /
Lot Codes
Distribution
Sunland Inc. Raw In Shell Peanuts 25 lb Bulk Item# 10108 Oct.12, 2012 to Oct.12, 2013 ON (Certain stores)
PureFit Peanut Butter Crunch bars 56.7 g 8 12787 00100 8 1 March 2013*;
12 July 2013
National
PureFit Peanut Butter Crunch Box of 15 8 12787 00200 5 1 March 2013*;
12 July 2013
National

China 110 Students Ill After School Dinner – Cause Unknown

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.

 

Dutch Smoked Salmon and Salmonella

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.

European Food Alerts – Salmonella, Campylobacter, Aflatoxin, Yeast

RASFF – Salmonella in Frozen Beef Fat in Italy sourced in Lithuania

RASFF – Aflatoxin in Ogi in the UK sourced in Nigeria.

RASFF – Salmonella in Turkey Breast Fillets in Denmark sourced in Poland

Denmark– Yeast Growth in Lactose Free Youghurts causing blowing

Denmark – Campylobacter in Frisee Salad

France – Salmonella in Ham Burgers in France

Daily Peanut Butter Products Update – Salmonella – USA – Canada

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume, sell or serve the food products described below because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

These recalls are part of an ongoing food safety investigation. This recall of peanut butter products in Canada is related to the expanding peanut butter product recall in the USA by Sunland Inc. due to possible Salmonella Bredeney contamination.

There have been no illnesses reported in Canada associated with the consumption of these peanut butter products. However, there are confirmed Salmonella Bredeney illnesses in multiple states in the United States.

CFIA

Reference Number: 7491
Recalling Firm: NESTLE CANADA INC.
Date of Recall: 10/15/2012
Recall Classification: 1
Distribution : National
Extent of the Product Distribution : Hotel/Restaurant/Institutional

Product List

Brand Name Common Name Size Codes(s) on Product UPC Reason for Recall:
NESTLE CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER ICE CREAM 11.4 L All codes None / Aucun Microbiological – Salmonella

FDA

Natural Selection Foods is voluntarily recalling Earthbound Farm Baby Spinach Grab & Go Salad Kits with Peanuts. The product is sold in a 3.5 ounce clamshell with UPC 0-32601-08875-0. All “Use By” dates are affected.

This is the result of the expanded recall of peanut butter, nut butters and peanut products by Sunland because of potential contamination with Salmonella. The peanuts in the packets were chopped by Sunland then supplied to a third party contract packer to Natural Selection Foods as a sealed package of chopped peanuts, sealed again within another package that includes dressing and a fork.

The salad kits were distributed to retail supermarkets and foodservice operators in the following states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, British Columbia (Canada) and Ontario (Canada). They are packaged in clear plastic clamshell containers with a blue label.

Salmonella bacteria can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Consumers with the above symptoms should consult their physician.

While no illnesses associated with any of these products have been reported to Natural Selection Foods to date, our unwavering commitment to the safety and quality of our products dictates that we voluntarily recall these products as a precaution.