Category Archives: Uncategorized

Research -The combined effect of high pressure processing and dimethyl dicarbonate to inactivate foodborne pathogens in apple juice

Research Gate

Novel processing technologies can be used to improve both the microbiological safety and quality of food products. The application of high pressure processing (HPP) in combination with dimethyl dicarbonate (DMDC) represents a promising alternative to classical thermal technologies. This research work was undertaken to investigate the combined effect of HPP and DMDC, which was aimed at reaching over 5-log reduction in the reference pathogens Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes inoculated in apple juice. Different strains of each species were tested. The pressure (ranging from 100 to 600 MPa), dwell time (from 26 to 194 s), and DMDC (from 116 to 250 mg/L) were tested based on a central composite rotatable design. The dwell time, in the studied range, did not have a significant effect (p > 0.1) on the pathogens´ reduction. All treatments achieved a greater than 5-log reduction for E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes. The reductions for S. enterica were also greater than 5-log for almost all tested combinations. The results for S. enterica suggested that it is more resistant to HPP and DMDC compared with E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes. The findings of this study showed that DMDC at low concentrations can be added to apple juice to reduce the parameters conventionally applied in HPP. The combined use of HPP and DMDC was highly effective under the conditions of this study.

USA -Campylobacter Illness Associated with Bad Farms PA Raw Milk

Food Poison Bulletin

 

One person is sick with a Campylobacter infection after allegedly drinking raw whole milk from BAD FARMS in Kempton, Pennsylvania, according to news reports. That farm is located in Berks County, Pennsylvania. The milk has been recalled and removed from store shelves.

USA – 4 with Salmonella from Outpost Natural Food locations in Wisconsin

Food Poison Journal

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and local health departments are investigating an outbreak of salmonellosis linked to consuming food from Outpost Natural Food locations.

On August 23, 2019, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the City of Milwaukee Health Department suspended meat and food processing at Outpost Natural Foods(link is external) located in Milwaukee at 2826 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. due to insanitary conditions. DATCP has suspended the cooperative’s meat establishment license and the City of Milwaukee has suspended the cooperative’s retail food processing activities.

Insanitary conditions were discovered during a routine inspection and ready-to-eat products tested positive for Salmonella.

USA – FDA alerts public about Listeria, Salmonella in some raw pet food

Food Safety News

Consumers should not feed their pets certain Aunt Jeni’s frozen raw pet foods because samples have tested positive for Listeria, which can cause life-threatening illness in humans. The food has also tested positive for Salmonella.

In a public alert this afternoon, the Food and Drug Administration said the implicated raw pet food poses a “serious threat” to human and animal health. People who handle the pet food can become infected. Cross contamination of countertops and other surfaces, as well as pet bowls and utensils, can also transfer the bacteria to people and pets. 

To determine whether they have the implicated pet food in their homes consumers should look for the following label information:

Aunt Jeni’s Home Made, Turkey Dinner Dog Food, 5 lb (2.3kg), lot 175199 JUL2020

Aunt Jeni’s Home Made, Chicken Dinner Dog Food, 5 lb (2.3kg), lot 1152013 JUL2020.

If you have any of the affected Aunt Jeni’s Home Made products, throw them away, the FDA alert says.

USA – Outbreaks of Salmonella Infections Linked to Backyard Poultry

CDC

Latest Outbreak Information
Illustration of a megaphone.
At A Glance
  • Reported Cases: 1003
  • States: 49
  • Hospitalizations: 175
  • Deaths: 2

Infographic with baby chickens on it reading Always wash your hands after handling live poultry.

  • Since the last update on July 19, 2019, illnesses in an additional 235 people and one state have been added to this investigation.
  • A total of 1003 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella have been reported from 49 states.
    • Of 605 people with hospitalization information available, 175 (29%) have been hospitalized. Two deaths have been reported, one from Texas and one from Ohio.
    • Of 850 ill people with age information available, 192 (23%) are children younger than 5 years.
  • Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicate that contact with backyard poultry, such as chicks and ducklings, from multiple hatcheries are the likely source of these outbreaks.
    • In interviews, 343 (67%) of 511 ill people reported contact with chicks or ducklings.
    • People reported getting chicks and ducklings from several sources, including agricultural stores, websites, and hatcheries.
    • Six of the outbreak strains making people sick have been identified in samples collected from backyard poultry environments at people’s homes in California, Minnesota and Ohio and from poultry environments at retail stores in Michigan and Oregon.
  • Poultry can carry Salmonella germs that can make people sick. Backyard poultry owners should always follow steps to stay healthy around their poultry.

Spain – Spain Listeria outbreak: More than 200 cases, 3 deaths

Outbreak News Today

In a follow-up on the listeriosis outbreak in Spain associated with the consumption of roasted pork meat, Spanish health officials report (computer translated) an additional 29 cases, bringing the total to 204.

Andalusia, in southern Spain has reported the bulk of the cases with 197, with most of the cases in this community reported from Seville (162).

Of the patients confirmed in Andalusia, 58 percent presented symptoms compatible with acute gastroenteritis, 47% presented with fever, 10% (19) developed meningeal forms and four patients had sepsis.

Three fatalities have been reported to date–two people over 70 with serious comorbidities and a person over 90 years old.

In the rest of the Autonomous Communities, 4 laboratory confirmed cases have been registered (1 in Aragón, 1 in Castilla y León, 1 in Extremadura and 1 pregnant woman of 8 weeks in Madrid who lost the baby) and 3 cases confirmed by epidemiological link (1 in Extremadura and 2 in Aragon).

Canada – Food Recall Warning – Certain The Deli-Shop brand Pâtés recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

CFIA

The Deli-Shop: Country-style Pâté - Cognac -150 g

Recall details

Ottawa, August 30, 2019 – Les Spécialités Prodal (1975) Ltée is recalling certain The Deli-Shop brand Pâtés from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size UPC Code(s) on Product
The Deli-Shop Country-style Pâté – Cognac 150 g 0 59749 95188 3 2019SE26
The Deli-Shop Country-style Pâté – Pepper 150 g 0 59749 95189 0 2019SE26
The Deli-Shop Country-style Pâté – Old Fashioned 150 g 0 59749 95187 6 2019SE26
The Deli-Shop Liver Pâté – Fine Herbs 150 g 0 59749 95191 3 2019SE26
The Deli-Shop Liver Pâté – Garlic 150 g 0 59749 95190 6 2019SE26
The Deli-Shop Liver Pâté – Old Fashioned 150 g 0 59749 95192 0 2019SE26

UK – Duck egg warning after Doncaster man dies of Salmonella

BBC News

The family of a man who died of salmonella has warned about eating duck eggs.

Niptoon Tavakoli’s family said he fell ill after consuming duck eggs bought at a village fair.

There has been a second case of salmonella involving someone who also said they ate duck eggs from the same farm – although this has not been confirmed as the source of infection.

The supplier of the eggs believes the salmonella came from elsewhere.

Mr Tavakoli’s sister-in-law Donna Martin said: “We just want to try and make people aware, if you buy duck eggs, please cook them thoroughly.

“We would never want another family to go through what we have.”

She “strongly believes” Mr Tavakoli, of Lindholme, Doncaster, contracted salmonella from duck eggs he bought at the Messingham Show in North Lincolnshire on Sunday 2 June.

USA – Mountain Mel’s Essential Goods, LLC Recalls The Milk Lady’s Herbal Tea Blend, Peaceful Baby Herbal Tea Blend, and Diges-teas Herbal Tea Blend, Because of Possible Health Risk – Salmonella

FDA

Mountain Mel’s Essential Goods, LLC of Welches, OR is recalling The Milk Lady’s Tea with LOT # ML6271950, Peaceful Baby Herbal Tea with LOT # PB781950, and Diges-Teas Herbal Tea with LOT # DT7619100, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonellacan result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The Milk Lady’s, Peaceful Baby, and Diges-Teas were distributed in Oregon and Washington through New Seasons Market, and nationwide through Azure Standard, Mountainmels.com and Amazon.com. The affected tea products were distributed by Mountain Mel’s Essential Goods June 27, 2019 and July 20, 2019.

The Milk Lady’s Herbal Tea Blend, UPC 7 99632 05658 4, is packaged in a tall thin tin container with 2 oz of tea per tin, with a purple label. The LOT# of the recalled batch is # ML6271950. The LOT# can be located on the bottom of the tin package. The Best By Date of the Milk Lady’s Tea is listed as 7/2021.

Peaceful Baby Herbal Tea Blend, UPC 7 99632 05656 0, is packaged in a tall thin tin container with 2 oz of tea per tin, with a blue label. The LOT# of the recalled batch is #PB781950. The LOT# can be located on the bottom of the tin package. The Best By Date of the Peaceful Baby Tea is listed as 7/2021.

Diges-Teas Herbal Tea Blend, UPC 7 99632 05665 2, is packaged in a tall thin tin container with 2 oz of tea per tin, with a brown label. The LOT# of the recalled batch is #DT7619100. The LOT# can be located on the bottom of the tin package. The Best By Date of the Diges-Teas Herbal Tea is listed as 7/2021.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

This recall was initiated because the herbal teas were made with the recalled fennel seed whole that was supplied and recalled by Mountain Rose Herbs in Oregon. Mountain Mel’s Essential Goods has ceased production and distribution of this product as of July 20, 2019.

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

Consumers who have purchased Mountain Mel’s The Milk Lady’s Tea with LOT # ML6271950, Peaceful Baby Herbal Tea with LOT # PB781950, and/or Diges-Teas Herbal Tea with LOT # DT7619100 are urged to take a photo of the product and lot label, email that to info@mountainmels.com for a full refund.

Consumers with further questions may contact Mountain Mel’s via email at info@mountainmels.com.

Research – Listeria monocytogenes in dairy plants in Southern Brazil: Occurrence, virulence potential, and genetic diversity

Wiley Online

Abstract

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen widely distributed in nature. The aims of this study were to evaluate the occurrence of Listeria spp. in three dairy plants located in Southern Brazil, and to characterize the L. monocytogenes isolates according to serotypes, virulence genes, and PFGE. A total of 212 samples were collected, and 15 were positive for Listeria spp., of which seven were L. monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes isolates harbored all the 11 virulence genes evaluated and belonged to the main virulent serotypes, indicating potential risks of listeriosis for consumers. The PFGE analysis indicated low genetic diversity among the isolates, and the same pulsotypes were detected in a 2‐month period, indicating persistence of L. monocytogenes.

Practical applications

The study evaluated the occurrence of Listeria spp. in three dairy plants located in Southern Brazil, as well as characterized the L. monocytogenes isolates according to serotypes, virulence genes and PFGE. The presence of Listeria species indicated postprocessing contamination in the dairy plants and threat to public health. Furthermore, the isolates showed a low genetic diversity, since only two pulsotypes were identified, highlighting the strain’s persistence in the processing environment and/or the presence of clones in this region.

Supporting Information