Category Archives: STEC E.coli

Research – Risk Factors for Non-O157 Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli Infections, United States

Posted on June 1, 2023 | Leave a comment

CDC

Abstract

Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) causes acute diarrheal illness. To determine risk factors for non-O157 STEC infection, we enrolled 939 patients and 2,464 healthy controls in a case–control study conducted in 10 US sites. The highest population-attributable fractions for domestically acquired infections were for eating lettuce (39%), tomatoes (21%), or at a fast-food restaurant (23%). Exposures with 10%–19% population attributable fractions included eating at a table service restaurant, eating watermelon, eating chicken, pork, beef, or iceberg lettuce prepared in a restaurant, eating exotic fruit, taking acid-reducing medication, and living or working on or visiting a farm. Significant exposures with high individual-level risk (odds ratio >10) among those >1 year of age who did not travel internationally were all from farm animal environments. To markedly decrease the number of STEC-related illnesses, prevention measures should focus on decreasing contamination of produce and improving the safety of foods prepared in restaurants.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, STEC, STEC E.coli

UK – Large rise of E. coli O26 infections noted in England

Posted on May 28, 2023 | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

An increase in a type of E. coli over the past decade has prompted scientists to warn of an emerging threat to public health in England.

While part of the rise is because of better detection of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in labs, there is evidence more people are actually getting sick.

Researchers looked at STEC O26:H11 clonal complex (CC) 29 in England. Between January 2014 and December 2021, 834 human isolates from 724 patients belonging to CC29 were sequenced at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

STEC O26:H11 notifications in 2021 were eight times higher than those recorded in 2014. Diagnoses of STEC O26 in England have increased each year from 19 in 2014 to 144 in 2021. Most cases were female and the highest proportion belonged to the 0 to 5 age group, found the study in the Journal of Infection.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) was diagnosed in 40 cases and three children died. HUS is a severe complication associated with E. coli infections that causes kidney failure.

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Posted in Bacterial Toxin, Decontamination Microbial, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, E.coli O26, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, STEC, STEC E.coli

Luxembourg – CANTAL ENTRE-DEUX FROM THE AUCHAN BRAND – STEC E.coli

Posted on May 25, 2023 | Leave a comment

SAP

Auchan is recalling the following product in Luxembourg :

Name CANTAL BETWEEN TWO
Brand Auchan
Unit 250g
bar code 3596710160730
Date of minimum durability (MDD) 05/17/2023
Batch 23087128
Sale period  06/04/2023 to 17/05/2023

Danger  : Presence of E. coli STEC – Escherichia coli likely to produce toxins (shigatoxins)

E. coli STEC can cause food poisoning which can occur within a week after consumption and result in gastrointestinal disorders often accompanied by cramps. These symptoms may be aggravated in young children, immunocompromised subjects and the elderly. People who have consumed these products and have these symptoms are invited to consult a doctor and report this consumption to him.

Sale confirmed in Luxembourg by: Auchan

Source of information: Auchan recall notification

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Food Toxin, STEC, STEC E.coli

Research – Whole-Genome Sequencing of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli for Characterization and Outbreak Investigation

Posted on May 21, 2023 | Leave a comment

MDPI

Abstract

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) causes high frequencies of foodborne infections worldwide and has been linked to numerous outbreaks each year. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has been the gold standard for surveillance until the recent transition to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). To further understand the genetic diversity and relatedness of outbreak isolates, a retrospective analysis of 510 clinical STEC isolates was conducted. Among the 34 STEC serogroups represented, most (59.6%) belonged to the predominant six non-O157 serogroups. Core genome single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis differentiated clusters of isolates with similar PFGE patterns and multilocus sequence types (STs). One serogroup O26 outbreak strain and another non-typeable (NT) strain, for instance, were identical by PFGE and clustered together by MLST; however, both were distantly related in the SNP analysis. In contrast, six outbreak-associated serogroup O5 strains clustered with five ST-175 serogroup O5 isolates, which were not part of the same outbreak as determined by PFGE. The use of high-quality SNP analyses enhanced the discrimination of these O5 outbreak strains into a single cluster. In all, this study demonstrates how public health laboratories can more rapidly use WGS and phylogenetics to identify related strains during outbreak investigations while simultaneously uncovering important genetic attributes that can inform treatment practices.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, MLST, PFGE, Shigatoxin, STEC, STEC E.coli, WGS

RASFF Alerts – STEC/EHEC E.coli – Cheese – Pigtail

Posted on May 19, 2023 | Leave a comment

RASFF

Detection of E. coli STEC on cheese from France in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Northern Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom.

RASFF

STEC/EHEC in pigtail from the Netherlands in Belgium

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Posted in EHEC, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Food Toxin, RASFF, STEC, STEC E.coli

Norway tests flour for STEC; issues warning about Prime beverages

Posted on May 18, 2023 | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Norwegian surveillance has found a low level of flour samples positive for Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet) commissioned a survey of STEC in wheat flour to gather data on the problem.

A total of 151 samples of flour were collected from retailers in 2021 and analyzed in 2022. Enriched samples were examined for the presence of selected genetic markers. Attempts to isolate STEC were carried out from samples that were positive for Shiga toxin (stx) 1 and/or stx2. Isolates identified as STEC were further characterized using whole genome sequencing.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, STEC, STEC E.coli

Research – Six E. coli infections linked to fermented raw milk

Posted on May 18, 2023 | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Five people are sick in France, two seriously, and one in Belgium after drinking a brand of raw fermented milk.

In France, four children and one adult have been infected by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O26:H11. They fell ill between the end of March and the beginning of April this year.

Santé publique France has been investigating two cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) in the Hauts-de-France and Île-de France regions. The latter was in the context of a family outbreak. The suspected food was fermented raw milk. HUS is a severe complication associated with E. coli infections that causes kidney failure.

“The sequencing of the strains isolated within these outbreaks confirmed the same genomic profile. Food investigations made it possible to identify, for the case in Hauts-de-France, the place of purchase and to sample milk on sale at the time of the inspections. It was fermented raw milk made in Belgium,” agency officials told Food Safety News.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, E.coli O26, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, STEC, STEC E.coli

France – Selles-sur-cher AOP Monoprix Gourmet – STEC E.coli

Posted on May 16, 2023 | Leave a comment

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Milk and dairy products
  • Product brand name Monoprix Gourmet
  • Model names or references Selles-sur-cher AOP MONOPRIX GOURMET
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3350030174798 J30730039 Date of minimum durability 18/04/2023
    3350033410312 Use-by date between 03/24/2023 and 05/18/2023
  • Marketing start/end date From 03/15/2023 to 04/18/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark EN 36.233.001 EC
  • Further information Sold by the cut and fresh pre-packaged
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • DistributorsMONO PRICE

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Temperature Abuse, Food Testing, Food Toxin, STEC, STEC E.coli

France – Raw milk goat cheese – STEC E.coli

Posted on May 16, 2023 | Leave a comment

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Milk and dairy products
  • Product brand name Gaec closes the cravings
  • Model names or reference sValencay, saddles on expensive, farmhouse log, cottage cheese, dung, white pyramid heart of want
  • Identification of products
    Batch Date
    batch manufactured from February 17, 2023 to March 8, 2023 Date of minimum durability between 03/04/2023 and 23/04/2023
  • Packaging naked cheeses
  • Marketing start/end date From 02/18/2023 to 03/15/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark 36235001
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Regions: Centre-Val de Loire
  • Distributors sale at the farm and on the Tours market

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Raw Milk, raw milk cheese, STEC, STEC E.coli

France – Saddles on Cher AOP – STEC E.coli

Posted on May 16, 2023 | Leave a comment

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Milk and dairy products
  • Product brand name Chef’s refiner
  • Model names or references Saddles on Cher AOP
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3760038279935 J30730025 Use-by date 05/04/2023
    3760038279935 J30730025 Use-by date 06/04/2023
    3760038279935 J30730025 Use-by date 09/04/2023
    3760038279935 J30730025 Use-by date 04/10/2023
  • Packaging creamer paper
  • Marketing start/end date From 03/17/2023 to 03/23/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark FR.63.113.081.CE
  • Further information Raw goat’s milk cheese
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors POMONA, Flavors of Antoine

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Raw Milk, raw milk cheese, Raw Milk Cream, STEC, STEC E.coli