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Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health and their colleagues at the University of Texas at Austin and the National Institutes of Health Vaccine Research Center have discovered an antibody that broadly inhibits multiple strains of pandemic norovirus, a major step forward in the development of an effective vaccine for the dreaded stomach virus.
The recall is due to microbial (E. coli) contamination.
Food products contaminated with E. coli may cause illness if consumed.
Consmers must not consume this product and should return the product or proof of purchase to any Coles Supermarket or Coles Express for a full refund.
Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.
For further information, please contact on Coles Customer Care on 1800 061 562.
Victorian Coles Express sites
Four Coles Express stores in southern NSW – Deniliquin North, Tocumwal, Albury and Albury North
“Over the past 22 years, the FDA has investigated 50 reported outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with contaminated sprouts. Together, these outbreaks resulted in more than an estimated 2,600 cases of illness. Last year, there were two reported outbreaks associated with sprouts, resulting in more than an estimated 100 illnesses. Studies indicate that contaminated seed is the likely source of most sprout-related outbreaks, as this commodity is inherently more susceptible to these issues because they are grown in warm and humid conditions that are favorable for bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli,” said FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas. “The FDA is committed to taking swift action to respond to outbreaks related to sprouts and keep our food supply safe, but we also know that measures to prevent issues from happening in the first place are an important element of protecting consumers. By studying outbreaks related to sprouts over the years, we have been able to recommend changes in the industry to help lower the incidence of sprout-related outbreaks. Today’s new draft guidance is another critical step, like the Sprout Safety Alliance or sprout-specific requirements of the Produce Safety Rule, the agency is taking to prevent illnesses related to sprouts.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today released a proposed draft guidance, “Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards in the Production of Seed for Sprouting,” intended to make the sprout seed industry (seed growers, conditioners, packers, holders, suppliers, and distributors) aware of the agency’s serious concerns with the continuing outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with the consumption of raw and lightly-cooked sprouts.
Incorporating aspects of the Codex Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Annex II, Annex for Sprout Production; the International Sprout Growers Association-Institute for Food Safety and Health’s “U.S. Sprout Production Best Practices”; and Good Agricultural Practices, the FDA’s draft guidance issued today provides the agency’s recommendations to firms throughout the production chain of seed for sprouting. It states that if a grower, holder, conditioner, or distributor reasonably believes that its seeds are expected to be used for sprouting, we recommend that the grower, holder, conditioner, or distributor take steps that are reasonably necessary to prevent those seeds from becoming contaminated. We also recommend that firms throughout the supply chain – from seed production and distribution through sprouting – review their current operations related to seeds for sprouting.
During the 60-day comment period for this draft guidance, stakeholders will be able to provide comments on the draft provisions. For more information on this guidance, as well as instructions on how to submit your comments, please visit Draft Guidance for Industry: Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards in the Production of Seed for Sprouting.
Posted in E.coli, E.coli O104, E.coli O157:H7, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Uncategorized
New research has demonstrated the presence of S. aureus in 40% of the cell phones of students sampled at a university. S. aureus is a common cause of hospital and community-based infections and is currently considered an important pathogen because of its level of antibiotic resistance. The research, conducted at the Western University of São Paulo, Brazil, is presented at ASM Microbe, the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
Of the bacteria isolated, 85% were resistant to the antibiotic penicillin and 50% had the ability to adhere to surfaces. In addition, the presence of genes related to adhesion, antimicrobial resistance and toxins were present a high level. Samples were collected from 100 cell phones of students from the Biomedicine (20), Pharmacy (20), Dentistry (20), Nutrition (20), and Nursing (20) courses. The vast majority of the bacteria isolated belonged to students of the nursing course.
Nursing students are very likely to become carriers of S. aureus since clinical practice in hospital settings is part of their coursework and exposure to occupational hazards is inherent to this setting, which could favor the colonization and contamination of the surface of cell devices. Cell phones used in healthcare environments allow for the transmission of bacteria that harbor genes of virulence and resistance, contributing to increasing the infection rates as well as an increase in the morbidity/mortality from these infections.
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Consumers should not purchase oysters marketed as being harvested from Estero El Cardon, in Baja California Sur, Mexico from restaurants. Consumers who have recently experienced symptoms of foodborne illness should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms and receive care.
Restaurants and retailers should not serve oysters from the Estero El Cardon harvest area in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Restaurants and retailers should dispose of any products with harvest tags that indicate a growing area of Estero El Cardon by throwing them away.
The Barry-Eaton District Health Department (BEDHD) in Hastings, Michigan has closed Tequila’s Mexican Grill again as of 11:45 AM on Friday, June 21st.
BEDHD received additional information from the investigation and from epidemiology that suggests the 39 individual illnesses is not norovirus. Based on this information, BEDHD staff reviewed additional food handling procedures at the restaurant and determined it was in the best interest of public health to close the restaurant. BEDHD staff will continue working with Tequila’s Mexican Grill to assure food handling standards are being met. Once all requirements are implemented, BEDHD will consider re-opening the restaurant.
According to British press reports, Enid Heap and Beverley Sowah both died at Manchester Royal Infirmary, likely from eating Listeria tainted sandwiches.
Ms. Heap, from Beswick, died with her family at her bedside on May 6 after she was admitted to the hospital in March when suffering breathing difficulties, Manchester Coroner’s Court heard. Mrs. Sowah, who was born in Jamaica and lived in Manchester, was admitted to the same hospital on April 15 and died on April 26. Coroner Nigel Meadows confirmed before the listeria deaths were uncovered an inquest had already been held into Mrs. Sowah’s death and he had concluded no inquest hearing was needed for Ms. Heap’s death.
In other news, a Derbyshire man, Ian Hitchcock, with liver cancer, who was diagnosed with Listeria at the Royal Derby Hospital, was later transferred to Nottingham City Hospital where he died on June 8. An inquest into Mr. Hitchcock’s death has been opened at Derby Coroner’s Court.
In cooperation with ADM Milling Co., Brand Castle, LLC of Bedford Heights, Ohio is voluntarily recalling 25 oz and 32 oz glass jars of cookie and brownie mix out of an abundance of caution because it may be contaminated with pathogenic E. coli.
The product is being recalled because an ingredient supplier, ADM Milling Co., has issued a recall for the flour used in these products due to E. coli contamination found in a single lot code of H&R Flour at their Buffalo production plant.
To date, no illnesses have been reported with these products and no further product have been shipped from our facility.
Ottawa, June 21, 2019 – The food recall warning issued on June 4, 2019 has been updated to include additional product and distribution information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.
France Délices Inc. is recalling France Délices brand Choco-Raspberry Crunchy from the marketplace due to possible norovirus contamination of the raspberries used in this product. Consumers should not consume and retailers, should not sell, or serve the recalled product described below.
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| European Foods Inc. | 8705 53 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB |
| Fruit & Légumes Tardif Inc. | 559, chemin St-Jean, Laprairie, QC |
| Hospitality Corner | 1650, avenue Cedar, Montréal, QC |
| IGA Vanier | 1035, boul. Wilfrid Hamel, Vanier, QC |
| IGA Boischatel | 5114, avenue Royale, Boischatel, QC |
| IGA Alimentation Famille Gaouette Inc. | 2020, route 112, St-Césair, QC |
| IGA | 17010, boul. Henri-Bourassa, Québec, QC |
| IGA Baie-Comeau | 1500, rue de Bretagne, Baie-Comeau, QC |
| IGA Crevier Terrebonne | 1115, Montée des Pionniers, Terrebonne, QC |
| Métro Plus St-Zotique | 350, rue Principale, St-Zotique , QC |
| Métro Plus Supermarché Boucher | 341, chemin de Joliette, St-Félix de Valois, QC |
| Metro Gatineau | 214, boul. de la Cité des Jeunes, Gatineau, QC |
| Métro Turgeon | 1550, boul. Talbot, Chicoutimi, QC |
| Provigo Lorraine | 95, boul. de Gaulle, Lorraine, QC |
| Trésors Sucrés | 3640, Jean Talon Est, Montréal, QC |
This product has been sold clerk-served from retail counters, with or without a label or coding, up to and including June 21, 2019. Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the affected product are advised to contact their retailer.
| Brand Name | Common Name | Size | Code(s) on Product | UPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France Délices | Choco-Raspberry Crunchy | 95 g | 08519 | 7 74461 16122 7 |
If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.
Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.
People with norovirus illness usually develop symptoms of gastroenteritis within 24 to 48 hours, but symptoms can start as early as 12 hours after exposure. The illness often begins suddenly.
