Category Archives: Uncategorized

USA – Cow Milk and Sheep Milk Cheese Recalled – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on December 18, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Listeria Blog

Bleating Heart Cheese (BHC) is conducting a voluntary recall of a few of its sheep milk and cow’s milk cheese produced in late May, late June and early July of 2014, based on sampling by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) that found the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in at least one sample of the following cheeses. At this time, no illnesses have been reported, but to reduce possible health risks and ensure that all suspect product is removed from the marketplace, BHC is initiating this voluntary recall in cooperation with the California Departments of Food & Agriculture and Public Health.

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USA – Research – Farmers Markets Herbs – Salmonella – E.coli

Posted on December 18, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Phys/org

Researchers in Chapman University’s Food Science Program and their collaborators at University of Washington have just published a study on the presence of Salmonella and E. coli on certain herbs sold at farmers’ markets. The study focused on farmers’ markets in Los Angeles and Orange counties in California, as well as in the Seattle, Washington, area. Specifically tested were samples of the herbs cilantro, basil and parsley. Of the 133 samples tested from 13 farmers’ markets, 24.1 percent tested positive for E. coli and one sample tested positive for Salmonella.

Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2014-12-farmers-presence-salmonella-coli.html#jCp

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USA – Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis Infections Linked to Bean Sprouts

Posted on December 18, 2014 by | Leave a comment

CDC  Salm2

  • As of December 15, 2014, a total of 111 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from 12 states.
  • Twenty-six percent of ill persons have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
  • Collaborative investigation efforts of state, local, and federal public health and regulatory agencies indicate that bean sprouts produced by Wonton Foods, Inc. are the likely source of this outbreak.
  • In interviews, 48 (66%) of 73 ill persons reported eating bean sprouts or menu items containing bean sprouts in the week before becoming ill.
  • Wonton Foods, Inc. continues to cooperate with state and federal public health and agriculture officials.
  • On November 21, 2014, Wonton Foods Inc. agreed to destroy any remaining products while they conducted a thorough cleaning and sanitization and implemented other Salmonella control measures. On November 24, the firm completed the cleaning and sanitation and resumed production of bean sprouts. The firm resumed shipment on November 29, 2014.
  • Contaminated bean sprouts produced by Wonton Foods, Inc. are likely no longer available for purchase or consumption given the maximum 12-day shelf life of mung bean sprouts.
  • CDC recommends that consumers, restaurants, and other retailers always practice food safety for sprouts.
  • Children, older adults, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts).
  • Cook sprouts thoroughly to reduce the risk of illness. Cooking sprouts thoroughly kills any harmful bacteria.
  • CDC’s National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) laboratory conducted antibiotic resistance testing on Salmonella Enteritidis isolates collected from three ill persons infected with the outbreak strains.
  • All three isolates were susceptible to all antibiotics tested on the NARMS panel.
  • This investigation is ongoing, and CDC will update the public when more information becomes available.

 

 

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Research – Microbiological Risk Assessment of Raw Milk Cheese

Posted on December 17, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSANZ

The risk assessment brings together information on the public health risks associated with the consumption of raw milk cheeses. Included in the assessment is an evaluation of the impact of cheesemaking steps on the microbiological safety of these cheeses.

The risk assessment was undertaken to answer the following questions:

(1) What are the risks to public health and safety posed by the consumption, in Australia, of raw milk cheese?

(2) What are the factors that would have the greatest impact on public health and safety along the production chain for raw milk cheese?

 

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Canada – CFIA Recall – Possible Microbial Issue – Improper Refrigeration

Posted on December 17, 2014 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Shoppers Drug Mart is recalling From Our Chefs brand meat products sold at the Shoppers Drug Mart located at 1630 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario from the marketplace due to possible improper refrigeration. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described in the link above.

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UK – Norovirus Outbreaks in November

Posted on December 16, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today  Eurofins

From the week beginning Nov. 3 through the week beginning Nov. 24, Public Health England (PHE) reported 56 suspected and laboratory confirmed hospital norovirus outbreaks with the West Midlands and North East regions/PHE center accounting for the most with 16 and 15 outbreaks, respectively.

Forty-seven, or 84 percent of the outbreaks led to ward/bay closures or restriction to admissions. Three quarters were laboratory confirmed.

This brings the annual total to 572 hospital norovirus outbreaks through the week of Nov.24

 

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USA – Vibrio vulnificans in 2014 – 7 Dead

Posted on December 16, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today V

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has reported an additional case of Vibriosis caused by the bacterium, Vibrio vulnificus in Pinellas County in the west-central part of the state. This is the fourth V. vulnificus case reported from Pinellas County this year.

This brings the state total to 32 cases and the death toll remains at seven.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium in the same family as those that cause cholera and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. It normally lives in warm seawater and is part of a group of vibrios that are called “halophilic” because they require salt.

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USA- FDA Recall – Cheese – Salmonella

Posted on December 16, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FDA FDA

Swainsboro, GA – Flat Creek Farm & Dairy of Swainsboro, GA has recalled 3 lots of cheese with lot codes 140802XAZ (Aztec Cheddar), 140702XAZ (Low Country Gouda voluntary recall) and 140725XGO (Aztec Cheddar voluntary recall) because of potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Long-term complications can include severe arthritis. The lot codes can be found on the front of the packages.

As of November 25, 2014 at 11:00am, according to Flat Creek records, all of the purchasers have been notified and all but 1.5 pounds of the cheese has been recovered. Two of the batches of raw milk cheese (lot codes 140702XAZ and 140725XGO) have been tested by an independent lab. The results were negative for contamination, but they are being voluntarily recalled and destroyed by Flat Creek.

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World – Raw Milk – USA – Australia

Posted on December 16, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Barf Blog

Wisconsin state officials are refusing to identify a dairy farm that supplied unpasteurized milk at a potluck dinner where 38 participants, including members of the Durand High School football team, were sickened with Campylocater.

Barf Blog

Raw milk producers are not being subjected to the same rigorous testing as dairy farmers who produce milk for ­human consumption.

United Dairy Farmers of Victoria president Tyran Jones said milk from dairy farms was subjected to stringent tests to ensure its safe consumption, but no such tests existed for “raw” milk or “bath” milk.

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USA – Norovirus Outbreaks

Posted on December 16, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

According to the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC), Washington state has issued a recall of shellfish after a norovirus-like outbreak occurred after an event. The Washington State Department of Health has also issued a notice. At least six people were sickened in this Oregon outbreak; two cases have been confirmed as Norovirus.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

According to the Mountain Mail, a norovirus outbreak at a Subway sandwich shop in Buena Vista, Colorado has sickened at least 20 people. The illnesses occurred in mid-November 2014. Chaffee County Public Health was contacted by five people claiming illness after eating at the restaurant.

Samples from five patients tested positive for norovirus.

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