Category Archives: Uncategorized

USA – Caribbean Princess: Another outbreak on latest voyage sickens 200

Posted on February 27, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an GI outbreak of unknown etiology that sickened more than 400 passengers and crew, requiring the ship’s voyage to be cut short.

Today, federal officials reported another outbreak aboard the vessel on it’s February 16–March 1, 2020 voyage. 186 passengers and 15 crew have been sickened with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

Princess Cruises and crew aboard the ship to the usual actions: cleaning and sanitation procedures, collecting samples from passengers and crew and sending daily gastrointestinal illness reports to CDC and Caribbean public health port authorities.

Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness that often goes by other names, such as viral gastroenteritis, stomach flu, and food poisoning.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, Uncategorized, Virus

USA – WARNING LETTER Sprouts Unlimited Inc MARCS-CMS 603883 — FEBRUARY 21, 2020 – E.coli O103

Posted on February 27, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Dear Mr. Beach:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspected your sprouting operation located at 799 51st Street, Marion, Iowa, from December 31, 2019, to January 9, 2020.  FDA conducted this inspection because sprouts grown at your operation were linked by the state of Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals, Department of Public Health, and the (b)(4) to an outbreak of human infections with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O103 (E. coli O103) in the state of Iowa.  This outbreak sickened 22 people between November 21 and December 14, 2019.  Shiga toxin-producing E. coli is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause serious illness in humans, including diarrhea, often with bloody stools.  Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).  HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly.  This condition can lead to serious kidney damage and death.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O103, FDA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, STEC, STEC E.coli, Uncategorized

USA – WARNING LETTER Jimmy John’s Franchise, LLC – STEC E.coli

Posted on February 27, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Dear Mr. North:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, have collaboratively investigated several outbreaks linked to Jimmy John’s restaurants.  In this letter we detail evidence from five outbreaks, including the most recent outbreak in the state of Iowa during December 2019 of human infections with Escherichia coli O103.  The evidence demonstrates that your corporation, through your franchised Jimmy John’s restaurants, engaged in a pattern of receiving and offering for sale adulterated fresh produce, specifically clover sprouts and cucumbers.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O103, FDA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

Canada – Food Recall Warning – Aqua Okeano brand and Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets brand fish products recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria

Posted on February 27, 2020 by | Leave a comment
Canada Gov

Recall details

Ottawa, February 25, 2020 – Fresh 7 Baskets Limited is recalling Aqua Okeano brand and Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets brand fish products from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Aqua Okeano Fish Ball with Cuttlefish 200 g 6 285048 270002 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano Fried Fish Ball 200 g 6 285048 270248 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano Handmade Fish Cake with Vegetable 300 g 6 285048 270484 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano White Fish Ball 200 g 6 285048 270316 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets Fish Ball with Cuttlefish 190 g 6 28504 82707 9 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets Fried Fish Ball 180 g 6 28504 82713 0 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets Handmade Fish Cake with Vegetable 270 g 6 28504 82751 2 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets White Fish Ball 180 g 6 28504 82711 6 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.

Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking or including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness.

Symptoms of foodborne botulism in children can include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis. In all cases, botulism does not cause a fever. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Related recalls

2020-02-24 – Aqua Okeano brand and Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets brand fish products recalled due to undeclared egg

2020-02-07 – Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets brand fish products recalled due to undeclared egg

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Aqua Okeano - Fish Ball with Cuttlefish
  • Aqua Okeano - Fish Ball with Cuttlefish (Nutrition Facts Table)
  • Aqua Okeano - Fried Fish Ball
  • Aqua Okeano - Fried Fish Ball (Nutrition Facts Table)
  • Aqua Okeano - Handmade Fish Cake with Vegetable
  • Aqua Okeano - Handmade Fish Cake with Vegetable (Nutrition Facts Table)
  • Aqua Okeano - White Fish Ball
  • Aqua Okeano - White Fish Ball (Nutrition Facts Table)
  • Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets - Fish Ball with Cuttlefish
  • Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets - Fish Ball with Cuttlefish (Nutrition Facts Table)
  • Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets - Fried Fish Ball
  • Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets - Fried Fish Ball (Nutrition Facts Table)
  • Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets - Handmade Fish Cake with Vegetable
  • Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets - Handmade Fish Cake with Vegetable (Nutrition Facts Table)
  • Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets - White Fish Ball
  • Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets - White Fish Ball (Nutrition Facts Table)

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Posted in CFIA, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

USA – Outbreak Investigation of E. coli O103: Clover Sprouts (February 2020)

Posted on February 27, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FDA

February 26, 2020

Case Counts

Total Illnesses: 14
Hospitalizations: 0
Deaths: 0
Last illness onset: February 11, 2020
States with Cases: IA (3), IL (6), MO (1), TX (1), UT (3)

Recommendation

FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, are investigating an outbreak of 14 illnesses caused by E. coli O103 in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Texas and Utah. CDC is reporting that the epidemiologic evidence indicates that clover sprouts from Jimmy John’s restaurants are a likely source of this outbreak.

The CDC is recommending that consumers who have recently eaten clover sprouts on a sandwich from Jimmy John’s restaurants and who are experiencing symptoms of E. coli infection, such as severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and/or vomiting, should contact their doctor and report their illness to their local health department. If consumers have a leftover sandwich with clover sprouts from Jimmy John’s, do not eat it and throw it away.

Generally, it is recommended that children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons with weakened immune systems should avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind.

Jimmy John’s LLC reported that all of its restaurants stopped serving clover sprouts on February 24, 2020. At this time, clover sprouts should not be available at Jimmy John’s.

FDA has activated a team to coordinate this outbreak investigation. This team is currently collecting records and initiating a traceback investigation to determine the source of the clover sprouts. Authorities are investigating whether implicated sprouts have been distributed elsewhere and will continue monitoring for additional illnesses.

Background

On February 21, 2020, the FDA issued a warning letter to Jimmy John’s Franchise LLC for engaging in a pattern of receiving and offering for sale adulterated fresh produce, specifically clover sprouts and cucumbers. On February 24, 2020, Jimmy John’s reported to FDA that they had removed sprouts from their restaurants.

The warning letter lays out evidence from five outbreaks, including recent outbreaks in the state of Iowa during November and December 2019, of human infections with Escherichia coli O103, a Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) linked to sprouts.

These 14 illnesses are new and are not associated with the outbreaks mentioned in the Jimmy Johns warning letter. FDA will continue its investigation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O103, FDA, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, STEC, STEC E.coli, Uncategorized

Canada – Unomundo brand tuna loins and steaks recalled due to histamine

Posted on February 26, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Canada Gov

Recall details

Ottawa, February 25, 2020 – Seven Seas Limited is recalling Unomundo brand tuna loins and steaks from the marketplace due to elevated levels of histamine. Consumers should not consume and retailers, restaurants and institutions should not sell or use the recalled products described below.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes Additional Information
Unomundo Tuna loin Variable None Lot # 59831 (the lot code appears only on the master case) This product may have been sold clerk-served from counters with or without a label or coding. Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the affected product are advised to contact their retailer.
Unomundo Tuna steak Variable None Lot # 59831 (the lot code appears only on the master case) This product may have been sold clerk-served from counters with or without a label or coding. Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the affected product are advised to contact their retailer.

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home or establishment. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with high levels of histamine may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Histamines are not destroyed by cooking. High levels of histamine in fish can cause an allergic-type reaction known as scombroid poisoning. Symptoms can include burning throat, diarrhea, dizziness, facial swelling, headache, vomiting and peppery taste in mouth.

Background

This recall was triggered by consumer complaints. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There has been reported reactions associated with the consumption of these products.

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Unomundo - Tuna loin
  • Unomundo - Tuna loin in package

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Posted in CFIA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Temperature Abuse, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Histamine, Uncategorized

USA – E. coli O103 Jimmy John’s Clover Sprouts Outbreak Sickens 22 in Iowa

Posted on February 26, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin alfalfa

An E. coli O103 Jimmy John’s clover sprouts outbreak has sickened at least 22 people in Iowa, according to a warning letter the FDA sent to Jimmy John’s and Sprouts Unlimited on February 21, 2020. This outbreak was briefly mentioned by the FDA in a recall notice on December 18, 2019, but there were very few details about the outbreak at that time.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O103, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

Canada – Aqua Okeano brand and Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets brand fish products recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria – Clostridium botulinum

Posted on February 26, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Canada Gov

cdc clost spore

Image CDC

Recall details

Ottawa, February 25, 2020 – Fresh 7 Baskets Limited is recalling Aqua Okeano brand and Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets brand fish products from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Aqua Okeano Fish Ball with Cuttlefish 200 g 6 285048 270002 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano Fried Fish Ball 200 g 6 285048 270248 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano Handmade Fish Cake with Vegetable 300 g 6 285048 270484 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano White Fish Ball 200 g 6 285048 270316 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets Fish Ball with Cuttlefish 190 g 6 28504 82707 9 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets Fried Fish Ball 180 g 6 28504 82713 0 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets Handmade Fish Cake with Vegetable 270 g 6 28504 82751 2 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23
Aqua Okeano / Seven Baskets White Fish Ball 180 g 6 28504 82711 6 All best before dates up to and including 2021 AU 23

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.

Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking or including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness.

Symptoms of foodborne botulism in children can include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis. In all cases, botulism does not cause a fever. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

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Posted in CFIA, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

Canada -Celebrate brand frozen profiteroles and eclairs recalled due to Salmonella

Posted on February 26, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Canada Gov

Recall details

Ottawa, February 24, 2020 – Giant Tiger Stores Limited is recalling Celebrate brand frozen profiteroles and eclairs from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume and retailers, restaurants and institutions should not sell or use the recalled products described below.

The following products were sold at the Giant Tiger locations listed below:

  • 417 Wellington St., St. Thomas, Ontario
  • 350 Scott St., St. Catharines, Ontario
  • 29 Chambers St., Smith Falls, Ontario
  • 2480 Walkley Rd., Ottawa, Ontario
  • 6061 Hazeldean Rd. Stittsville, Ontario
  • 4501 Tecumseh Rd. East, Windsor, Ontario
  • 330 avenue St-Laurent, Louiseville, Quebec
  • 1254 boulevard Louis-XIV, Quebec City, Quebec
  • 46 Robie St., Truro, Nova Scotia

Recalled products

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Celebrate Mini Chocolate Eclairs 365 g 8 858762 720047 All codes
Celebrate Classical Profiteroles / Classic Profiteroles 325 g 8 858762 720009 All codes

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Background

This recall was triggered by findings by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) during its investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak. A Food Recall Warning was previously issued for these products on April 26, 2019. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

The Public Health Agency of Canada investigated an outbreak of Salmonella infections associated with these products. The outbreak appears to be over, and the investigation has been closed. Please refer to the Public Health Notice for further details on this closed outbreak investigation.

Related recalls

2019-04-26 – Certain Celebrate brand frozen profiteroles and eclairs recalled due to Salmonella

2019-07-25 – Certain Celebrate brand frozen profiteroles and eclairs recalled due to Salmonella

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Research – Predictive model for growth of Salmonella Newport on Romaine lettuce

Posted on February 25, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

 

Cross‐contamination of ready‐to‐eat (RTE) salad vegetables with Salmonella from raw chicken followed by growth during meal preparation are important risk factors for human salmonellosis. To better predict and manage this risk, a model (general regression neural network) for growth of a chicken isolate of Salmonella Newport (0.91 log) on Romaine lettuce (0.18 g) at times (0–8 hr) and temperatures (16–40°C) observed during meal preparation was developed with Excel, NeuralTools, and @Risk. Model performance was evaluated using the acceptable prediction zones (APZ) method. The proportion of residuals in the APZ (pAPZ) was 0.93 for dependent data (n = 210) and 0.93 for independent data (n = 72) for interpolation. A pAPZ ≥0.70 indicates acceptable model performance. Thus, the model was successfully validated for interpolation and can be used with confidence to predict and manage this important risk to public health.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Testing, Research, Salmonella, Uncategorized