Category Archives: Pathogen

ECDC -Vibrio cholerae Outbreak Cuba

Posted on July 12, 2012 by KSW | Leave a comment

On 3 July the Cuban Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of cholera in the south-western city of Manzanillo. It is the first time in almost 150 years that an outbreak of cholera is reported in the island. The heavy rains and the high temperatures during the previous weeks have likely influenced the occurrence of the disease. As of 3 July, 53 cases of Vibrio cholerae, including three deaths, have been officially confirmed.

Since 7 July, several media sources report a higher number of cases and the disease has spread to other cities including the capital, Havana.

At this stage there is no information available about the outbreak strain, nor of the origin of the outbreak.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Vibrio, Vibrio cholera, Water

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella and Histamine

Posted on July 12, 2012 by KSW | Leave a comment

RASFF – Salmonella in frozen beef trimmings in Sweden sourced in Germany.

RASFF – Salmonella frozen skinless chickin in Estonia sourced in Brazil.

RASFF – Histamine frozen raw tuna in Belgium sourced in Viet Nam.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Histamine, Hygiene, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Salmonella

Tagged food, frozen beef, raw tuna, viet nam

Thailand – 460 Sick – Hard Boiled Eggs – Salmonella

Posted on July 12, 2012 by KSW | Leave a comment

Bangkok Post

The number of students who have fallen ill from salmonella poisoning at a Chiang Mai school has risen to 460.

Health authorities say the students fell ill after eating three-day-old boiled eggs tainted with salmonella bacteria.

Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, director-general of the Disease Control Department, said Chiang Mai Welfare School students became sick after eating donated eggs that were boiled three days previously and not reheated before they were consumed, allowing the bacteria to develop.

On Sunday evening, about 900 students of the school, located in Mae Rim district, ate chilli curry and donated boiled eggs at the cafeteria.

After the meal, 75 of the students became ill with headaches, high fever, nausea and diarrhoea.

The number of sick students increased to 460 yesterday, health authorities said.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

Tagged food, health, restaurants, travel

FSAI – Mussel Recall – Possible Illness

Posted on July 12, 2012 by KSW | Leave a comment

FSAI

Mussels from Cromane Mussels trading as Skellig Seafoods, withdrawn due to a possible association with human illness

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Foodborne Illness, FSAI, Pathogen, Recall

Tagged science

Kids Dietary Supplements Recall – Salmonella

Posted on July 11, 2012 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) is a “highly pure food grade powder derived from milk lactose” with uses including being an ingredient in dietary supplements for kids.

Since as early as May 10, 2012, Westchester, IL-based Corn Products International Inc. has recalled the GOS manufactured in South Korea and sold in 44.1 lb. plastic bags for food use only in the U.S.

Corn Products issued the recall in early May because almost 20 tons of GOS may be contaminated with Salmonella. The ingredient was distributed to eight states and Canada, Czech Republic, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

But only now has Sedona Labs recalls “certain lots” of its our iFlora® Kids Multi-Probiotic® and iFlora™ 4-Kids Powder distributed between 3/16/2011 and 5/3/2012 over concern for possible Salmonella contamination from the GOA ingredient

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

Tagged food, health

US Picnic 36 Sick – E.coli O157

Posted on July 11, 2012 by KSW | Leave a comment

E.coli Blog

As a result of eating food at a picnic at Neff’s Lawn Care in Germantown, at least 36 individuals have become ill. Of those, 9 have been hospitalized. Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County is continuing an investigation into the cause of the foodborne outbreak. Estimates are that as many as 200-300 people may have attended an annual customer appreciation picnic.

Public Health is continuing to gather information through interviews with those who became ill and those who prepared the food. Investigators are also looking at food sources, food handling and storage practices, food temperature controls, and the potential of cross contamination of the food.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

Sweden Burgers Withdrawn – Salmonella

Posted on July 10, 2012 by KSW | Leave a comment

Axfood

Axfood withdraws Garant Burgers 4-pack, Garant Burgers pack of 10, Garant Grill Washer and Garant Burgers 4-pack Barbeque because salmonella is detected in a routine examination. The hamburger is composed solely of Swedish raw material.

Customers who bought Garant Hamburger or BBQ Washer urged to return it to the store because it has to be sent for destruction and not fall into the normal household waste.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

Tagged food, health

USDA – Recall Ready to Eat Meat Products – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on July 10, 2012 by KSW | Leave a comment

USDA

WASHINGTON, July 7, 2012 – Buona Vita, Inc., a Bridgeton, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 324,770 pounds of various frozen, ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The packages bear the establishment number “P-954” or “Est. 954” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were sold to distribution facilities nationwide. When available, the retail distribution list will be posted on FSIS’ website at www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/
Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

The problem was discovered through microbiological testing by FSIS and the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). FSIS, ODA, and the company have not received reports of illesses due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Tagged science

US FDA – Recall More Romaine Lettuce – Salmonella

Posted on July 10, 2012 by KSW | Leave a comment

FDA

Pacific International Marketing (“Pacific”) is voluntarily recalling 19 cases of bulk Romaine Lettuce sold at Vons and Pavilions stores in California and Nevada due to potential Salmonellacontamination. The bulk Romaine Lettuce was sold in bulk produce bins from July 2, 2012 through July 4, 2012. The lettuce heads are banded with a red twist tie marked “Safeway.”

Consumers who may have purchased this product should discard it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. No Illnesses have been reported to date. This recall is being conducted out of an abundance of caution. The recall is the result of a positive Salmonella test taken at the field level. The source of contamination is unknown.

Salmonella is an organism which 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 pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.