New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel Aubertine today warned consumers in the metropolitan New York area, including Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn, to not consume certain “Queso Fresco, Fresh Cheese” products made by Mexicali Cheese Corp. located at 91-52 87th Street in Woodhaven, New York due to possible Listeria contamination.
To date, no illnesses are known by the Department to be associated with this product.
CDC – Outbreak Earlier this year. Basketball Tournament
WZZM – Cheerleaders suffer Norovirus outbreak.
About 35-40 high school girls were affected by the outbreak, which began late Tuesday or early Wednesday. They suffered diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps, according to Kent County Health Department spokeswoman Lisa LaPlante, though none of the victims required medical treatment or hospitalisation.
WDRB – Notre Dame Norovirus Outbreak
The University of Notre Dame says Indiana State Department of Health lab tests confirm a norovirus cause of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness that affected more than 100 youths taking part in sports camps.
The university said Saturday it received that news from St. Joseph County Health Officer Dr. Thomas Felger.
Notre Dame says a norovirus is very contagious and the most common “stomach bug” in the United States. It says the specific reason for the outbreak at Notre Dame remains unknown.
Ingenta – Comparison of Sample Preparation Methods for the Recovery of Foodborne Pathogens from Fresh Produce
Ingenta – Foodborne Pathogens in In-Line Milk Filters and Associated On-Farm Risk Factors in Dairy Farms Authorized To Produce and Sell Raw Milk in Northern Italy
Ingenta – Ranking the Disease Burden of 14 Pathogens in Food Sources in the United States Using Attribution Data from Outbreak Investigations and Expert Elicitation
Ingenta – Bacteriological Survey of Ready-to-Eat Lettuce, Fresh-Cut Fruit, and Sprouts Collected from the Swiss Market
This is the translation from Finnish.
Southwest Finland, a native of the four year old child was brought on Monday, 18.6. the next day he was diagnosed with EHEC (enterohaemorrhagic E. coli)-induced severe symptomatic infection. The child was forced to ICU care, but is already recovering from their illness. Infection is suspected as the source actually purchased directly from the farm to a Finnish non-pasteurized milk (raw or tinkimaito). Another 1.5-year-old child has also been found with EHEC infection. This child had also consumed non-pasteurized milk. His illness did not required hospitalization. In addition three other people are suspected of being infected after drinking non-pasteurised milk.
Consumption of raw or undercooked poultry products contaminated with Campylobacter has been identified as a risk factor for human campylobacteriosis. We determined whether slaughtering of Campylobacter-positive flocks was associated with contamination of chicken products derived from Campylobacter-negative flocks slaughtered at the same abattoir. The presence of Campylobacter was investigated in 22 broiler farms 1 week prior to slaughter and in one abattoir on nine separate slaughter days. A total of 600 bulk packed chicken products were tested, with 198 (33.0%) of the products found to be Campylobacter positive. Of the 350 chicken products originating from Campylobacter-positive flocks, 180 (51.1%) were contaminated with the bacteria. In contrast, only 18 (7.2%) of 250 chicken products derived from Campylobacter-negative flocks were contaminated. In 14 of these 18 products, the Campylobacter isolates were identical to isolates obtained from the flock slaughtered immediately prior to the Campylobacter-negative flock. Notably, on 4/6 slaughter days, Campylobacter-negative flocks were slaughtered prior to the positive flocks, and Campylobacter was absent from all chicken products originating from the negative flocks. These results suggest that implementation of logistic slaughter (where Campylobacter-negative flocks are slaughter first) significantly decreases the prevalence of Campylobacter-positive chicken products.
Taking just a few seconds to cool freshly laid eggs would add weeks to their shelf life, according to a Purdue University study.
The rapid-cooling process, developed by Kevin Keener, a professor of food science, uses liquid carbon dioxide to stabilize the proteins in egg whites so much that they could be rated AA — the highest grade for eggs — for 12 weeks. Earlier research showed that the same cooling technology could significantly reduce occurrences of salmonella illnesses
Posted in Bacteria, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella
Tagged food, health, purdue university study, science
As a precautionary measure, Banner Mountain Sprouts is voluntarily recalling organic sprouts under the following names: 4oz. zesty greens, 5oz. sprout salad, 4oz. clover, 2lb. clover, 4oz. alfalfa/broccoli, 4oz. alfalfa sprouts, and 1lb. & 2lb. alfalfa sprouts because they may be contaminated with salmonella. Routine testing showed signs of salmonella and Banner Mountain Sprouts was notified of possible contamination.
Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause an acute infection that can have symptoms such as diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Symptoms usually develop within one to four days after eating contaminated food. Most cases resolve without the need for medical attention. However, some individuals develop a serious illness that can lead to hospitalization.
The sprouts were distributed through retail stores and wholesalers in California. The products come in a 4 or 5 oz. clear, plastic, clamshell container and a 1lb. or 2lb. ziplock bag with a sell by date from 6/17/12 to 7/6/12. No illnesses have been associated with any Banner Mountain sprouts.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Phoenicia Group Inc. are warning the public not to consume Alkanater brand Tahina, described below, because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.
The affected product, Alkanater brand Tahina, is sold in 454 g containers bearing the UPC 6 92551 00002 0, lot code TT3N-280312 and codes PRO: 28/03/2012 AND EXP: 28/03/2014.
This product has been distributed in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick and may have been distributed nationally.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.
At least 66 people have fallen ill in 20 states in a Salmonella Montevideo outbreak linked to live poultry from a Missouri hatchery, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday. Sixteen people have been hospitalized while one infected person in Missouri has died, though Salmonella infection was not considered a contributing factor to the person’s death.
Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Hand Washing, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella
Tagged food safety news, health, science
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating two fatal cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection, with one of them causing necrotising fasciitis (flesh-eating disease).
The case of necrotising fasciitis caused by Vibrio vulnificus affected a 48-year-old man with underlying medical conditions who lived in Shenzhen
His clinical diagnosis was necrotising fasciitis and bilateral above-knee amputations were performed. His condition continued to deteriorate and he passed away yesterday (June 19).
The patient’s blood culture grew Vibrio vulnificus and his tissue and wound swabs also detected Vibrio vulnificus.
The case of Vibrio vulnificus infection involved a 61-year-old man with chronic illness who lived in Yuen Long. He developed fever since June 16 and loss of consciousness on June 17. He was admitted to Pok Oi Hospital on the same day. His condition deteriorated and he passed away on June 18.
His blood specimen taken during his admission yielded Vibrio vulnificus.
The CHP’s investigation revealed that the patient had consumed raw mantis shrimp
Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Vibrio, Vibrio vulnificans
Tagged blood specimen, flesh eating disease, health, loss of consciousness, mantis shrimp, medicine
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