Abstract
Practical application
EP could be used for successful preservation of meat and meat products.
KSWFoodWorld
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Research – Determination of the effect of ethyl pyruvate on the surface contamination of sausage to Listeria monocytogenes by using Q‐PCR assay
New Zealand – MPI puts consumer health first – directs unregistered raw (unpasteurised) drinking milk producers to stop selling
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has directed unregistered raw (unpasteurised) drinking milk suppliers across the country to stop selling their product until they comply with the legal requirements for sale.
MPI compliance staff yesterday executed search warrants at non-compliant raw drinking milk suppliers in Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Nelson, and Southland following a year-long operation.
MPI’s manager of food compliance Melinda Sando says the purpose of the coordinated site visits was to gather evidence of the offending and to allow further investigation of non-compliant sales.
“We believe that the suppliers we visited today are operating outside of the regulatory framework. By not adhering to the rules for selling raw drinking milk, they are putting consumer health at risk.
“There have been multiple instances in the past of people getting sick after drinking raw milk from some of these suppliers. We can’t let this continue.
“Raw unpasteurised milk is a risky product as it hasn’t been heat-treated (pasteurised) to remove illness-causing bacteria including E. coli, listeria and Campylobacter.
“These types of bacteria most commonly cause severe diarrhoea and vomiting, but occasionally some have been linked with more serious complications that include miscarriage, paralysis, meningitis, and serious kidney problems in children. Raw milk may also be a source of tuberculosis (Tb).
USA – Outbreak Investigation of Hepatitis A Potentially Linked to Fresh Conventional Blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, Fall 2019
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of hepatitis A illnesses in Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin potentially linked to fresh conventional (non-organic) blackberries from the grocery store, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market.
On December 3, 2019, CDC updated their case counts to 16 illnesses, with the most recent illness onset date on November 15, 2019.
Based on the epidemiological information collected in the investigation thus far, ill patients reported consuming fresh conventional blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores in six states: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.
However, traceback information to date shows that these berries came from a distribution center that ships fresh berries to Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores in 11 states: IA, IL, IN, KY, MI, MO, MN, NE, OH, PA, and WI. As this investigation continues, the FDA will work with our federal and state partners to obtain additional information during the traceback investigation and will update this advisory as more information becomes available.
Recommendation
The FDA is urging consumers to not eat any fresh conventional blackberries if purchased between September 9 and September 30, 2019, from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores in the 11 states mentioned above. People who purchased the fresh blackberries and then froze those berries for later consumption should not eat these berries. They should be thrown away.
If consumers purchased fresh conventional blackberries from Fresh Thyme Farmers Market stores in the 11 states listed above between September 9-30, ate those berries in the last two weeks, and have not been vaccinated for the hepatitis A virus (HAV), they should consult with their healthcare professional to determine whether post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is indicated. PEP is recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to HAV in the last two weeks. Those with evidence of previous hepatitis A vaccination or previous hepatitis A infection do not require PEP.
Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have become ill from eating these blackberries, or if you believe that you have eaten these berries in the last two weeks.
Canada -Food Recall Warning – President’s Choice brand Coleslaw recalled due to Salmonella
Recall details
Ottawa, December 3, 2019 – Loblaw Companies Ltd. is recalling President’s Choice brand Coleslaw from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.
Recalled product
| Brand | Product | Size | UPC | Codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| President’s Choice | Coleslaw | 397 g | 0 60383 22267 3 | Best Before 2019 DE 04 – B318005 and Best Before 2019 DE 04 – B318006 |
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 product from the marketplace.
Illnesses
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.
Product photos
Printer ready version of photos
Cambodia – Two die from food poisoning in detox centre
Two young men out of more than 100 youths being treated for drug addiction at a detox centre in Banteay Meanchey province’s Serei Sorphoan city died today from food poisoning, a health official said.
Keo Sopheatra, director of Banteay Meanchey provincial Health Department, today said that more than 100 youths at Phnom Bak New Life Center had food poisoning on Sunday, but two of them died.
USA -Trader Joes Okami Sushi Recalled For Possible Listeria
Fuji Food Products is recalling ready to eat sushi, salads, and spring rolls thawed were sold to retailers and distributors in the Upper Midwest and East Coast for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The FDA notified the company that there is potential for contamination of their products. There have been no illnesses reported to date in connection with the consumption of these Trader Joes Okami sushi products.
The problem was discovered during a routine FDA inspection in the company’s Brockton, Massachusetts facility. The company has ceased production and distribution of their products as an investigation is launched.
Netherlands – Belgium – Outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections in Europe linked to meat products
03 December 2019
Article: 53/4804
A new rapid risk assessment from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) shows that twenty-one cases of Listeria monocytogenes IVb sequence type ST 6 infections have been reported in the Netherlands (19 cases) and Belgium (two cases). This outbreak was identified using whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis.
The patients involved had onset of illness between 2017 and August 2019. Three patients died and one suffered a miscarriage due to the infection. The close genetic relatedness of the strains, and the temporal distribution of the cases suggests a prolonged, intermittent, common source food-borne outbreak which occurred in at least two EU member states.
Nine isolates from six sliced ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products, produced between 2017 and 2019 by the Dutch manufacturing company A, were found to be contaminated with L. monocytogenes strains matching the outbreak strain.
Although the exact points of contamination have not yet been identified, the results of the investigation suggest that the contamination may have happened at the Dutch company, which was the only common manufacturing point of the contaminated products. The company distributed products to several EU countries as well as to countries outside the EU.
Company A stopped production in October 2019, and finalised the withdrawals and recalls of all RTE meat products. This measure lowered the risk of new cases occurring, which may be associated with this company’s products.
Pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised people are at higher risk of invasive listeriosis, which is associated with severe clinical course and potential death.
Specific attention should be paid to the administration of RTE meat products to people in hospitals, nursing homes and those belonging to vulnerable population groups.
Source: ECDC, 26 November 2019
Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized
UK – Dairy recalls milk and cream products due to potential E. coli infection
03 December 2019
Article: 53/4806
Darwin’s Dairy, located in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, has recalled all of its milk and cream products, as they may not have been effectively pasteurised. This means that these products may contain harmful bacteria such as E. coli.
Details of the products affected can be found on the Food Standards Agency (FSA) website. Point-of-sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores selling the products. The notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and what to do if they have bought the products.
The dairy has also contacted delivery customers to advise them of the product recall.
Source: FSA, 27 November 2019
Research – Evaluation of Bactericidal Effects of Phenyllactic Acid on Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium on Beef Meat
| ABSTRACT |
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Bactericidal effects of various concentrations of phenyllactic acid on Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC), including E. coli O157:H7, O26:H11, O103:H2, and O121:H19, and on Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 in pure culture and microplates assays were studied. Beef cuts were surface sprayed with phenyllactic acid or lactic acid for inactivation of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium. The 1.5% phenyllactic acid inactivated all inoculated E. coli O157:H7, O26:H11, O103:H2, and O121:H19 and Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 (>6-log reduction) within 1 min of contact at 21°C, whereas 1.5% lactic acid did not result in microbial reduction. Microplate assays (for STEC and Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 at 10 to 100 CFU per well) indicated that concentrations of 0.25% phenyllactic acid or 0.25% lactic acid inhibited the growth of STEC and Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Treatment of beef with 1.5% lactic acid or 1.5% phenyllactic acid reduced E. coli O157:H7 by 0.22 and 0.38 log CFU/cm2, respectively, within 5 min and reduced Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 by 0.12 and 0.86 log CFU/cm2, respectively. When meat treated with 1.5% phenyllactic acid was frozen at −20°C, inactivation of E. coli O157 and Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 was enhanced by 1.06 and 1.46 log CFU/cm2, respectively. Thus, treatment of beef with 1.5% phenyllactic acid significantly reduced the population of E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella.
| HIGHLIGHTS |
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Phenyllactic acid at 1.5% killed STEC and Salmonella (>6-log reduction) within 1 min.
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The MIC of lactic and phenyllactic acids was 0.25%.
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The bactericidal effect of phenyllactic acid on beef was enhanced by freezing.
Research – Salmonella Survival in Soil and Transfer onto Produce via Splash Events
| ABSTRACT |
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Nearly one-half of foodborne illnesses in the United States can be attributed to fresh produce consumption. The preharvest stage of production presents a critical opportunity to prevent produce contamination in the field from contaminating postharvest operations and exposing consumers to foodborne pathogens. One produce-contamination route that is not often explored is the transfer of pathogens in the soil to edible portions of crops via splash water. We report here on the results from multiple field and microcosm experiments examining the potential for Salmonella contamination of produce crops via splash water, and the effect of soil moisture content on Salmonella survival in soil and concentration in splash water. In field and microcosm experiments, we detected Salmonella for up to 8 to 10 days after inoculation in soil and on produce. Salmonella and suspended solids were detected in splash water at heights of up to 80 cm from the soil surface. Soil-moisture conditions before the splash event influenced the detection of Salmonella on crops after the splash events—Salmonella concentrations on produce after rainfall were significantly higher in wet plots than in dry plots (geometric mean difference = 0.43 CFU/g; P = 0.03). Similarly, concentrations of Salmonella in splash water in wet plots trended higher than concentrations from dry plots (geometric mean difference = 0.67 CFU/100 mL; P = 0.04). These results indicate that splash transfer of Salmonella from soil onto crops can occur and that antecedent soil-moisture content may mediate the efficiency of microbial transfer. Splash transfer of Salmonella may, therefore, pose a hazard to produce safety. The potential for the risk of splash should be further explored in agricultural regions in which Salmonella and other pathogens are present in soil. These results will help inform the assessment of produce safety risk and the development of management practices for the mitigation of produce contamination.
| HIGHLIGHTS |
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Salmonella was detected for 8 to 10 days after inoculation in soil and on produce.
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Salmonella in soil can be detected in splash water from rainfall/irrigation events.
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Salmonella was detected in splash water at heights of up to 80 cm.
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Soil moisture conditions may affect the transfer potential of Salmonella.
