Four children are hospitalised; a total of five confirmed with E. coli – as many as seventeen sick
Oregon Public Health officials today report test results of samples taken from Foundation Farm cows, manure and surfaces as well as raw milk from a farm customer are positive for E. coli O157.
The samples came from leftover milk recovered from one household, rectal swabs from two of four cows, and multiple manure and other environmental samples collected at the farm.
Workers on a gas production platform in the Bass Strait want their barge returned to port after a major outbreak of salmonella and gastroenteritis.
One construction worker on the Origin Energy project has been flown to hospital in Melbourne.
In total, 36 of more than 200 workers have fallen ill in the two weeks since the outbreak, their union said.
Posted in Bacteria, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella
Fifty guests at a diamond wedding party in Wolverhampton were struck down with Norovirus prompting a city-wide alert to GPs.
The outbreak of the bug occurred after the anniversary party in Tettenhall. Everyone is understood to have now recovered but guests had to answer questions from doctors and the Health Protection Agency.
Wolverhampton City Council said tests of food samples indicated it was a viral infection and nothing to do with the venue itself or caterers.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA), Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust and the council worked together to establish the cause of the 50 cases of diarrhoea and vomiting and confirmed it was Norovirus.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain vacuum packaged fish products, described below, because the product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.
The following vacuum packaged fish products, sold in various weights, listed below are affected by this alert:
| Brand | Product | Best Before Date |
|---|---|---|
| North 44 | Smoked Salmon mcewan’s own | 04/20/12 |
| Kristapson’s | Smoked Salmon | 04/20/12 & 06/11/12 |
These products have been sold only at McEwan Gourmet Grocery Store located at 38 Karl Fraser Road, North York, Ontario.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.
CHENNAI: At least one man died in 11 cases of food poisoning reported by doctors from the Thousand Lights area over the past three days. Chennai corporation officials said the patients tested negative for cholera, after reports indicated that the death could have been due to the disease.
FSANZ
There have been outbreaks of Campylobacter food poisoning linked to dishes such as pâté, where poultry liver has been undercooked.
Like other poultry meat, livers need to be cooked all the way through to kill bacteria that may be present. Lightly frying the surface is not enough.
In recent surveys of raw chicken meat in Australia, campylobacter was found in more than 85% of samples tested. Studies in New Zealand have also shown that livers and other offal are often contaminated on the surface and internally.
A Canadian biotech company has developed a vaccine for cattle that prevents them from shedding E. coli in their manure, and its CEO now hopes the Canadian and U.S. governments will help spread the vaccine to combat the threat posed by E. coli contamination in beef.
E. coli illnesses cost the Canadian medical system more than $200 million a year, but vaccinating every cow in the country would cost less than $50 million.
Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Technology
Tagged food safety news, science
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was asked by the European Commission to evaluate the impact on public health of reducing Salmonella levels in turkeys across the European Union (EU). The presence of Salmonella in turkeys is considered a risk for public health through the consumption of contaminated meat from these animals. EFSA’s work will support any consideration by the Commission of setting new targets to control Salmonella in turkeys.
In a new scientific opinion, experts from EFSA’s Panel on Biological Hazards identify the main Salmonella serovars* in turkeys and indicate that transmission from breeding stock to fattening flocks is an important source of Salmonella infection as well as such sources as contaminated feed or turkey houses.
Dole Fresh Vegetables is recalling 756 cases of its DOLE Seven Lettuces salad because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.
FoodWorld 