Category Archives: Uncategorized

Scimex 

Increasing temperatures caused by climate change are expected to bump up New Zealanders’ likelihood of getting sick with salmonella, according to new findings from Kiwi scientists. Using current climate projections for Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, the researchers calculated inhabitants’ future risk of getting salmonella. They found that Aucklanders will be the most likely to get sick followed by Cantabrians, whereas Wellingtonians won’t see much of a difference.

Europsort

Sevilla manager Unai Emery could field a side without a recognised centre-back in their European Super Cup clash with Barcelona.

CDC

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a single-celled parasite that causes an intestinal infection called cyclosporiasis.

• As of August 10, 2015 (3pm EDT), CDC had been notified of 457 ill persons with confirmed Cyclospora infection from 29 states in 2015.
  • Most of these persons—275 (60%) of 457—experienced onset of illness on or after May 1, 2015, and did not have a history of international travel within 2 weeks before illness onset. These 275 persons were from the following 22 states: Arkansas (2), California (2), Connecticut (3), Florida (11), Georgia (22), Illinois (6), Iowa (1), Kansas (2), Maryland (1), Massachusetts (9), Michigan (2), Missouri (1), Montana (3), Nebraska (1), New Jersey (6), New Mexico (1), New York (excluding NYC) (8), New York City (21), Texas (157), Utah (1), Virginia (3), Washington (2), and Wisconsin (10).
  • Clusters of illness linked to restaurants or events have been identified in Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia.
  • Cluster investigations are ongoing in Texas and Georgia.
  • Cluster investigations in Wisconsin and Texas have preliminarily identified cilantro as a suspect vehicle.
  • Investigations are ongoing to identify specific food
    item(s) linked to the cases that are not part of the identified clusters.
• Previous U.S. outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to imported fresh produce, including cilantro from the Puebla region of Mexico. Read the related FDA Import Alert.
• Consumers should continue to enjoy the health benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a well-balanced diet.
• Consumers and retailers should always follow safe produce handling recommendations.
• More information about Cyclospora can be found on CDC’s Cyclospora pages.

BBC 

More than 300,000 households in Lancashire have been warned they may have to boil drinking water until at least Wednesday.

“Low levels” of a microbial parasite remain in the supply, United Utilities said.

There was one clear test overnight, but further tests are required before the boil notice can be lifted, the firm said.

Samples are said to have “improved” but not returned to normal.

The alert affects Blackpool, Chorley, Fylde, Preston, South Ribble, Wyre and the Mellor area of Blackburn.

Investigations continue into how traces of cryptosporidium, which can cause stomach upsets, got into Franklaw water treatment works outside Preston

FDA

Northwest Farm Food Cooperative of Burlington, WA, is voluntarily recalling frozen raw Cat Food with the code Jul12015B due to their potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some, or all, of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

No pet or consumer illnesses from this product have been reported to date. However, because of their commitment to safety and quality, Northwest Farm Food Cooperative is conducting a voluntary recall of this product.

The potentially affected lots of frozen raw Cat Food were sold from our facility 1370 S. Anacortes Street Burlington, WA 98233.

The affected products are sold in 50 pound blocks and cases of six 10 pound chubs; packaged in a white plastic bag labeled Cat Food. The products affected by this recall have the production code Jul12015B and have no UPC code. The production code can be found on the outside of the case (box).

The recall was the result of a sampling done by the Food and Drug Administration which revealed that the finished product contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continues their investigation as to what caused the problem.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Consumers who have purchased the above lots of frozen raw Cat Food are urged to stop feeding them and return product to place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them immediately. For further information about the recall please call (360) 757-4225 Monday through Friday from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm PST.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The Public Health Agency of Canada is announcing that there are 83 people in that country sick with the symptoms of Cyclospora. There is an outbreak in the U.S. that has sickened almost 400 people. Investigators do not know if the two outbreaks are related.

In Canada, the case outbreak by province is: British Columbia (3), Alberta (1), Ontario (74), and Quebec (5). Two people have been hospitalized; no deaths are reported. In past outbreaks, imported fresh produce has been linked to the illnesses. Most of these cases occurred in late June and early July. The last reported illness began on July 18, 2015.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in New York has sickened 100 people, killing ten of them. Although most of the case are concentrated in the South Bronx, the city has ordered owners and operators of cooling towers throughout the city to disinfect them if they haven’t done so within the last 30 days.

Legionnaires’ Disease is transmitted when water contaminated with legionella bacteria mist is inhaled. This water mist can come from showers, faucets, whirlpools, swimming pools, fountains or cooling towers in air conditioning systems. It cannot be transmitted from person to person.

CFIA 

Industry is recalling Heinz Apple broccoli, pea & brown rice and Mott’s Fruitsations Fruit Rockets – Unsweetened Strawberry from the marketplace due to potential loss of seal, causing spoilage. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

FSA 

newly revised 20-chapter version of Meat Industry Guidance has been published across the pond by the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency (FSA). The product is the work of a panel of government and industry representatives and was written to clarify legal requirements, provide useful tips, and teach good practice principles.

FSA says its new Meat Industry Guide sets out:

• The legal obligations that apply to food business operators in the meat sector and provides advice on how these obligations can be met.
• That compliance with the law is not voluntary, but operators are not obliged to follow the advice in the guide as there may be other ways of achieving compliance with the law that are equally valid.
• An interpretation of the law that is not authoritative because only the courts have that power.

The guide was written to help those UK’s meat plant operators whose premises require approval and veterinary control under the European Union Food Hygiene Regulations. It covers slaughter, cutting, and processing of fresh meat.

In addition to the outside experts, FSA used an editorial panel made up of representatives from industry organizations, enforcement authorities, and agency officials to fine-tune the newly revised guide. All 20 chapters are available online here.

The Food Standards Agency represents England, Wales and Northern Ireland on food safety and standards issues in the European Union. It is also involved in the nutrition and health agenda at a European level.

Ingenta Connect

The purpose of this study was to develop guidelines for Korean consumers with regard to safe food handling practices at home by identifying current food handling issues. Korean consumers’ behaviors regarding their safe food handling were identified via survey questionnaires that included items on individual hygiene practices, prepreparation steps when cooking, the cooking process, and the storage of leftover foods. The subjects were 417 Korean parents with elementary school children living in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in the central area of Korea. The survey results revealed gaps between the knowledge or practices of Korean consumers and scientific evidence pertaining to safe food handling practices. Based on these findings, a leaflet on safe food handling guidelines was developed in accordance with Korean food culture. These guidelines suggest personal hygiene practices as well as fundamental principles and procedures for safe food handling from the stage of food purchase to that of keeping leftover dishes. A pilot application study with 50 consumers revealed that the guidelines effectively improved Korean consumers’ safe food handling practices, suggesting that they can serve as practical educational material suitable for Korean consumers.