Category Archives: Uncategorized

USA – CDC – Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infections Linked to Raw Turkey Products – One Death

Posted on November 12, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CDC

CDC and public health and regulatory officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella infections linked to raw turkey products. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) is monitoring the outbreak.

  • Seventy-four more ill people from 26 states were added to this investigation since the last update on July 19, 2018.
  • As of November 5, 2018, 164 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Reading have been reported from 35 states.
    • 63 people have been hospitalized, and one death has been reported from California.
  • Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence(https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/outbreaks/investigating-outbreaks/index.html) indicates that raw turkey products from a variety of sources are contaminated with Salmonella Reading and are making people sick.
  • In interviews, ill people report eating different types and brands of turkey products purchased from many different locations. Three ill people lived in households where raw turkey pet food was fed to pets.
  • The outbreak strain has been identified in samples taken from raw turkey pet food, raw turkey products, and live turkeys.
  • A single, common supplier of raw turkey products or of live turkeys has not been identified.
  • The outbreak strain of Salmonella Reading is present in live turkeys and in many types of raw turkey products, indicating it might be widespread in the turkey industry. CDC and USDA-FSIS have shared this information with representatives from the turkey industry and asked about steps that they may be taking to reduce Salmonella contamination.

 

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Posted in food contamination, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Canada Herb brand culantro (Ngò Gai) recalled due to Salmonella

Posted on November 12, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CFIA Salm2

Recall details

Ottawa, November 9, 2018 – The food recall warning issued on October 31, 2018 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Canada Herb is recalling Canada Herb brand culantro (Ngò Gai) from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Canada Herb Culantro (Ngò Gai) Variable weight None – all packages sold up to and including November 9, 2018 None

 

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

Research – Sand bedding as a reservoir for Lactococcus garvieae dissemination in dairy farms

Posted on November 11, 2018 by | Leave a comment

NRC

Lactococcus garvieae is now recognized as a species with clinical significance for human and veterinary medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of this pathogen in sand bedding and milk samples. Two farms in Minnesota with problems of clinical and subclinical mastitis due to streptococci-like organisms were selected. Twenty-four Lactococcus garvieae isolates from sand bedding and 18 isolates from quarter milk were comparatively studied using a genotypic approach. RAPD (random amplification of polymorphic DNA) PCR and REP (repetitive element palindromic) PCR experiments highlighted a similar electrophoretic profile. When genes belonging to the core genome of L. garvieae were tested through a MLRT (multilocus restriction typing), we again observed that all L. garvieae isolates coming from sand bedding and milk shared a common profile, distinguishable from previously studied representative L. garvieae strains. These data indicate that the L. garvieae isolated from sand bedding and milk originated from a few strains adapted to persist in the same habitat. This supports the hypothesis that sand bedding can represent a reservoir of L. garvieae strains and be a potential vehicle for their dissemination in dairy farms.

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Research – Aflatoxin M1 occurrence in fluid milk commercialised in Monterrey, Mexico

Posted on November 10, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Abstract

The occurrence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk samples commercialized in the Metropolitan area of Monterrey (Mexico) was evaluated by employing the competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. For this, 84‐fluid milk samples, with diverse origin (80% national production, 20% imported milk) and heat treatments (26% pasteurized and 74% Ultra High Temperature (UHT)‐treated) were collected in different sales points. In all the evaluated samples, the AFM1 was detected, with values oscillating from 0.1 to 1.27 μg/L. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Mexican standards, concerning a maximum limit of 0.5 μg/L, 39% of the analyzed samples were out of the standard limit, with different results depending on the milk origin (46% and 18% for national and imported milks, respectively) and heat treatment applied (45% and 23% for UHT and pasteurized samples, respectively). Based on these results, it is necessary a higher effort to control AFM1 levels in milk consumed in Mexico.

Practical applications

The practical application of this document is to serve as a first approach to know the presence of aflatoxins in milk in northern Mexico, both in domestic and imported products, and under different heat treatments applied and from this, take different measures by authorities and producers with a view to reducing their presence in milk and other dairy products.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Mycotoxin, Uncategorized

Research – Migratory birds along the Mediterranean – Black Sea Flyway as carriers of zoonotic pathogens

Posted on November 10, 2018 by | Leave a comment

NRC

At the crossroad between Europe, Asia, and Africa, Bulgaria is part of the Mediterranean – Black Sea Flyway (MBSF) used by millions of migratory birds. In this study, bird species migrating through Bulgaria were investigated as carriers of zoonotic pathogens. In total, 706 birds belonging to 46 species were checked for the presence of various bacterial pathogens (Campylobacter, Yersinia, Salmonella, Listeria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Francisella tularensis, Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Brucella spp.). From 673 birds we investigated fecal samples, from the remaining 33, blood samples. We detected Campylobacter 16S rDNA gene in 1.3% of birds, but none were of pathogenic Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli species. Escherichia coli 16S rDNA gene was found in 8.8% of the birds. Out of 34 birds that transported Yersinia enterocolitica strains (5.05%), only 1 carried a pathogenic isolate. Three birds (0.4%) were carriers of nonpathogenic Salmonella strains. Four avian samples (0.6%) were positive for Listeria monocytogenes and 1 (0.15%) was positive for Brucella spp. None of the birds tested carried the tick-borne pathogens C. burnetii or B. burgdorferi sensu lato. Antibiotic-resistant strains were detected, suggesting that migratory birds could be reservoirs and spreaders of bacterial pathogens as well as antibiotic resistance genes.

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Posted in Campylobacter, E.coli, Food Pathogen, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Pathogen, pathogenic, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Uncategorized, Yersinia

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Chilled Marinated Chicken Breasts – Chicken Preparation -Chilled Turkey Merguez Sausages – Nettle Leaves – Chicken Wings – Turkey Fillets – White Sesame Seeds – Sesame Seeds – Sesame Paste – Shrimps – Black Pepper -Mussels – Minced Turkey Meat

Posted on November 9, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF -Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen chicken preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF -Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (present /25g) in chilled marinated chicken breasts from Italy in Austria

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in chilled turkey merguez sausages from France in the Netherlands

RASFF -Salmonella (group F, presence /25g) in dried and cut nettle leaves from Albania in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in chilled chicken broiler wings from Lithuania in Lithuania

RASFF -Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium monophasic (1 ,4, [5], 12:i:-) (presence /25g) in chilled turkey fillets from France in France

RASFF-Salmonella (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in organic unhulled white sesame seeds from Poland, with raw material from Burkina Faso in Poland

RASFF-Salmonella (Presence /25g) in sesame paste (tahini) from Syria in Cyprus

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium monophasic (1 ,4, [5], 12:i:-) (presence /25g) in chilled chicken leg quarters from Poland in Croatia

RASFF -Salmonella (present /25g) in frozen shrimps (Penaeus monodon) from Vietnam in the Netherlands

RASFF -Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. London (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from India in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Spain

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in live organic mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Italy, harvested in Spain in Italy

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen chicken preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (present /25g) in chilled marinated chicken breasts from Italy in Austria

RASFF -Salmonella (in 3 out of 5 samples /25g) in frozen minced turkey meat from Germany in Italy

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

RASFF Alerts – Listeria monocytogenes -Chilled VP Black Angus Steak Tartare – Mini Blinis – Chilled Beef

Posted on November 9, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (present /25g) in chilled vacuum-packed black angus steak tartare from Ireland in the Netherlands

RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (present CFU/g) in chilled smoked Norwegian salmon from Poland in Italy

RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (> 1500 CFU/g) in mini blinis from France in France

RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (presence /25g) in chilled beef from Belgium in the Netherlands

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – dried Sultanas – Berbere Spice Mixture – Raisins – Mulberries – Dried Figs

Posted on November 9, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-ochratoxin A (15.7 µg/kg – ppb) in dried sultanas from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-ochratoxin A (28.21 µg/kg – ppb) in berbere spice mixture from Ethiopia in Germany

RASFF-ochratoxin A (22 µg/kg – ppb) in raisins from Turkey in Portugal

RASFF-ochratoxin A (47 µg/kg – ppb) in mulberries from Turkey in the Netherlands

RASFF-ochratoxin A (10.7 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alert – Bacillus cereus – TVC – Moulds – Dried Black Fungus

Posted on November 9, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF-Bacillus cereus (10000 CFU/g), too high count of aerobic mesophiles (2000000 CFU/g) and high count of moulds (230000 CFU/g) in dried black fungus from China, via Germany in Austria

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Posted in Bacillus, Bacillus cereus, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, mold, Moulds, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – STEC E.coli – Cheese – Lamb Ribs

Posted on November 9, 2018 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF -shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (presence /25g) in cheese from Italy in Italy

RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC stx1-; stx2-) in lamb ribs from the United Kingdom in the Netherlands

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Posted in E.coli, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, RASFF, STEC, STX 1, STX 2, Uncategorized