Category Archives: Salmonella

Research – An outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium associated with the consumption of raw liver at an Eid al-Adha celebration in Wales (UK), July 2021

Cambridge.org

Abstract

In July 2021, Public Health Wales received two notifications of salmonella gastroenteritis. Both cases has attended the same barbecue to celebrate Eid al–Adha, two days earlier. Additional cases attending the same barbecue were found and an outbreak investigation was initiated. The barbecue was attended by a North African community’s social network. On same day, smaller lunches were held in three homes in the social network. Many people attended both a lunch and the barbecue. Cases were defined as someone with an epidemiological link to the barbecue and/or lunches with diarrhoea and/or vomiting with date of onset following these events. We undertook a cohort study of 36 people attending the barbecue and/or lunch, and a nested case-control study using Firth logistic regression. A communication campaign, sensitive towards different cultural practices, was developed in collaboration with the affected community. Consumption of a traditional raw liver dish, ‘marrara’, at the barbecue was the likely vehicle for infection (Firth logistic regression, aOR: 49.99, 95%CI 1.71–1461.54, p = 0.02). Meat and offal came from two local butchers (same supplier) and samples yielded identical whole genome sequences as cases. Future outbreak investigations should be relevant to the community affected by considering dishes beyond those found in routine questionnaires.

USA -CDC – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cantaloupes is Over.

CDC

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 407
  • Hospitalizations: 158
  • Deaths: 6
  • States: 44
  • Recall: Yes
  • Investigation status: Closed   (first posted on November 17, 2023)

All recalls that resulted from this investigation are listed on FDA’s cantaloupe recall website. Recalled cantaloupes are no longer available for sale and the use-by dates have passed.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Cantaloupes (November 2023) – Update

FDA

Products and Stores Affected (Updated on 1/19/2024)

Recalled whole and pre-cut cantaloupes and recalled product containing pre-cut cantaloupes were sold or distributed from September to early December 2023 and should be past shelf-life. Consumers who froze cantaloupe products should check if they are part of the recalls. If you are unsure of where your cantaloupes are from, you should discard them.

Recalled whole cantaloupe from the following brands:

  • Whole fresh cantaloupes with a label on the cantaloupe that says “Malichita” or “Rudy”, “4050”, and “Product of Mexico/produit du Mexique”.
  • Retailers and wholesalers would have received recalled whole melons from Sofia Produce doing business as TruFresh in boxes labeled “Malichita” or “Rudy”, or from Crown Jewels Produce in boxes labeled “Malichita/Z Farms”, or from Pacific Trellis in corrugated cartons with certain lot codes.

Recalled pre-cut cantaloupe and products containing pre-cut cantaloupes (products made from recalled whole cantaloupes) can be found on the Major Recalls Page.

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection

Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food and usually lasts four to seven days. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections.

Status

Ended

Recommendation

  • Consumers, restaurants, retailers, and wholesalers should not eat, sell, or serve recalled cantaloupe or recalled products containing cantaloupe.
  • Recalled whole and pre-cut cantaloupes and recalled product containing pre-cut cantaloupes were sold or distributed from September to early December 2023 and should be past shelf-life. Consumers who froze cantaloupe products should check if they are part of the recalls. If you are unsure of where your cantaloupes are from, you should discard them.
  • Anyone who purchased or received recalled cantaloupes should follow FDA’s safe handling and cleaning advice and use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with recalled products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
    • Pre-cut fruit manufacturers should ensure proper cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces and evaluate the need to recall additional product due to the potential for cross-contamination in the processing facility.
  • Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a Salmonella infection after eating recalled cantaloupe.

USA – FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Ready-To-Eat Charcuterie Products Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

FSIS USDA

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert out of an abundance of caution due to concerns about Salmonella illnesses that may be associated with ready-to-eat (RTE) charcuterie meat products in Busseto brand Charcuterie Sampler and Fratelli Beretta brand Antipasto Gran Beretta.

The Fratelli Beretta brand Antipasto Gran Beretta was sold at Costco in a 24-oz. twin-pack (two 12-oz. trays). The Busseto brand Charcuterie Sampler was sold at Sam’s Club in an 18-oz. twin-pack (two 9-oz. trays). Any lot code associated with either product is potentially contaminated. The products are no longer available for purchase at Costco and Sam’s Club.

The products of concern bear establishment number “EST. 7543B” and/or “EST. #47967” inside the USDA mark of inspection or printed on the package. Label images can be found in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Food Safety Alert.

FSIS has been working with the CDC and state public health partners to investigate a multistate outbreak of 47 Salmonella I 4:i:- illnesses in 22 states with onset dates ranging from November 20, 2023, through January 1, 2024. In the ongoing outbreak investigation, the state of Minnesota identified the outbreak strain from an unopened Busseto brand charcuterie sampler, which led to recall 01-2024 on January 3, 2024. FSIS will continue the investigation and issue new information as it becomes available.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 6 hours to 6 days after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

USA – FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

Date
Posted
Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness
Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses

(if any)
Total
Case
Count

Status
12/6/

2023

1205 Listeria
monocytogenes
Not Yet
Identified
3 Active
11/22/

2023

1201 Salmonella
Newport
Not Yet
Identified
45 Active
11/22/

2023

1203 Salmonella
Sundsvall and
Oranienburg
Cantaloupe See Advisory Active
11/15/

2023

989 Listeria
monocytogenes
Peaches, Plums,
and Nectarines
See Advisory Active
11/8/

2023

1198 Elevated Lead
Levels
Apple
Cinnamon
Puree
See Advisory Active

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Polish Chicken Products – Sesame Seeds – Chicken Neck Skins – Spices – Raw Chicken – Shoarma Mix

RASFF

Presence of Salmonella spp. in Indian hulled sesame seeds in Greece

RASFF

Presence of Salmonella Enteritidis in official samples of chicken neck skins, country of origin Poland in the Netherlands and Hungary

RASFF

Presence of Salmonella in spices (bixa orellana seeds) from Côte d’Ivoire in Spain

RASFF

Salmonella enteritidis in raw chicken from the Netherlands in Belgium and Germany

RASFF

Salmonella spp in frozen chicken prime wings (in 5 out of 5 units) from Poland in Italy

RASFF

Salmonella spp in sesame seeds from Nigeria in Greece

RASFF

S. Infantis in poultry meat from Poland in Bulgaria

RASFF

Salmonella enteritidis in chicken products from the Netherlands in Germany

RASFF

Salmonella in shoarma mix from the Netherlands in Belgium

Research- New insights into what helps Salmonella cause infections

Science Daily

Salmonella is notorious for surviving and replicating in macrophages, which are normally lethal to invading bacteria because of their inhospitable environment. In a new study, researchers have discovered how a system of proteins, called TamAB, helps Salmonella survive under the harsh conditions inside macrophages.

Salmonella is a foodborne pathogen that causes more than a million infections each year in the U.S. Concerningly, it can kill young, old, and immunocompromised individuals.

What makes these bacteria especially dangerous is their ability to evade our immune responses. Read More at the Link Above

Hong Kong – CFS finds Salmonella in sample of salty chicken

CFS

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 15) that a sample of salty chicken was found to contain a pathogen, Salmonella. The CFS is following up on the case.

“The CFS collected the above-mentioned sample from a booth at an exhibition in Wan Chai for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme, the booth number was Booth 3B15 of Friendship Rainbow Company Limited at the Hong Kong Food Festival. The test result showed the presence of Salmonella in 25 grams of the sample, exceeding the criterion of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food which states that Salmonella should not be detected in 25g of a ready-to-eat food sample,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

The CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the above irregularity and instructed it to recall the relevant food product. Members of the public may call its hotline at 5708 1363 during office hours for enquiries about the recall. The CFS is also tracing the source and distribution of the product concerned. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.

For the sake of prudence, the CFS appealed to members of the public who had purchased salty chicken from the above-mentioned booth at the exhibition held from December 23 to 27, 2023 not to consume them. If symptoms develop after consuming the food, they should seek medical advice as soon as possible.

According to section 54 of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132), all food available for sale in Hong Kong, locally produced or imported, should be fit for human consumption. An offender is subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.

“Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and people with a weak immune system could be more severe and may even lead to death,” the spokesman said.

The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health. Investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Monday, January 15, 2024

Canada – Eagle brand Corn (frozen) recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Summary

Product
Corn (frozen)
Issue
Food – Microbial Contamination – Salmonella
What to do

Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute recalled products

Distribution
Ontario
Possibly other provinces and territories

Canada -Urban Fare brand UF Chia Tropical Fruit Parfait and Yogurt Parfait recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Summary

Product
UF Chia Tropical Fruit Parfait, Yogurt Parfait
Issue
Food – Microbial Contamination – Salmonella
What to do

Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute recalled products

Distribution
Alberta
British Columbia