Category Archives: Uncategorized

USA- Poppies International, Inc. Recalls Delizza Belgian Custard Cream Mini Eclairs 30 Count, Due to Potential Health Risks – Listeria monocyotgenes

FDA

Poppies International, Inc. of Battleboro, NC is issuing a voluntary recall of selected products that were made during March 5-9, 2018 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term symptoms such as fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

They can be identified by the following lot number (L1M1018 Best Before 09/09/19)  which can be found on the side of each tub by the lid as shown below.

The recall was a result of a routine sampling program by the company which revealed that finished product ran on the same line contained the bacteria. The company did not release any product that tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and as a precautionary measure is recalling all product ran on the line during that production week. No illnesses or adverse health effects resulting from these events have been reported to date.

Canada – Salmonella Enteritidis Outbreak in Canada Linked to Poultry Sickens 30

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections in four provinces. These illnesses are linked to poultry, including frozen raw breaded chicken products.

 

USA – PDX Aromatics Issues Second Expanded Recall of Kratom Products for Possible Salmonella – Tamarack Inc. Recalls Eclipse Kratom

Food Poisoning Bulletin

PDX Aromatics, doing business as Kraken Kratom, Phytoextractum, and Soul Speciosa is issuing a second expanded recall of their products because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The company is aware of four confirmed cases of Salmonella associated with the consumption of red and white vein products.

FDA

Tamarack Inc. of Roy, Utah is voluntarily recalling Eclipse Kratom-containing powder products 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.

The affected powder products are packaged in plastic heat sealed pouches or plastic sealed bottles sold in one gram capsules and powder. Distribution of an estimated 120 units were sold directly to five retailers in Utah.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Australia – Vaccines work even at fancy food places: Hepatitis A case linked to Melbourne restaurant

Barf Blog

Hundreds of people who dined at one of Melbourne’s best restaurants will be contacted by the health department after a food handler was diagnosed with a highly contagious liver infection.

The Age reports the staff member at Cumulus Inc., in the fine-dining hotspot of Flinders Lane, was recently found to have hepatitis A.

An alert issued by Victoria’s Department of Health on Thursday afternoon said anyone who ate at the restaurant between February 26 and March 19 should visit their GP for a free hepatitis A vaccine, and seek urgent medical attention if they feel unwell.

The department is also contacting anyone who booked at the restaurant during the same time period.

It is not yet clear how the male staff member contracted hepatitis A.

However, Victoria has been recently experiencing a local outbreak of the infectious disease, which has already claimed one life.

Australia – Recall: Washed Rind cheeses Listeria monocytogenes

Food Authority NSW

The NSW Food Authority advises:

Washed Rind Pty Ltd has recalled a variety of cheeses made in France from IGA and Supa IGA in NSW, independent retailers in QLD and ACT, Foodworks and independent retailers in VIC, Foodlands IGA and independent retailers in SA and IGA, Supa IGA and independent retailers in WA due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Product details:

  • Saint Simeon 200g, Plastic container, Best before 08-04-201
  • Brie de Nangis 1kg, Wrapped in cheesepaper/plastic and set in ½ wooden box, Best before 08-04-2018
  • Le Vignelait Brillat Savarin 500g, Plastic container, Best before 8-04-2018
  • Coulommiers Truffe 800g, Wrapped in cheesepaper/plastic and set in ½ wooden box, Best before 08-04-2018 and 22-04-2018
  • Le Coulommiers 500g, Wrapped in cheesepaper/plastic and set in ½ wooden box, Best before 08-04-2018 and 22-04-2018
  • Brie de Brie Pasteurise 2.8kg, Wrapped in cheesepaper/plastic and set in ½ wooden box, Best before 08-04-2018 and 22-04-2018

Consumers should not eat this product and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Listeria monocytogenes may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems.

If you are concerned about your health you should seek medical advice.

Research USA – Preliminary Incidence and Trends of Infections with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 10 U.S. Sites, 2006–2017

CDC

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

The incidence of infections transmitted commonly through food has remained largely unchanged for many years. Culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDTs) are increasingly used by clinical laboratories to detect enteric infections. CIDTs benefit public health surveillance by identifying illnesses caused by pathogens not captured routinely by previous laboratory methods.

What is added by this report?

Decreases in incidence of infection of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 and Salmonella serotypes Typhimurium and Heidelberg have been observed over the past 10 years. These declines parallel findings of decreased Salmonella contamination of poultry meat and decreased STEC O157 contamination of ground beef.

What are the implications for public health practice?

As use of CIDTs continues to increase, higher, more accurate incidence rates might be observed. However, without isolates, public health laboratories are unable to subtype pathogens, determine antimicrobial susceptibility, and detect outbreaks. Further prevention measures are needed to decrease the incidence of infection by pathogens tranmitted commonly through food.

USA- FDA Investigates Salmonella Typhimurium Outbreak Linked to Dried Coconut

FDA 

 

Fast Facts

  • The FDA is investigating a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to dried coconut.
  • CDC reports 13 cases in eight states with three hospitalizations and no deaths.
  • Testing by the FDA has confirmed that Salmonella found in two retail product samples of dried coconut collected from Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Market and International Harvest are a match to the outbreak strain.
  • As a result of this testing, Vitamin Cottage Natural Food Markets has recalled coconut smiles labeled under the Natural Grocers name and International Harvest has recalled Go Smiles Dried Coconut Raw and International Harvest Brand Organic Go Smile! Dried Coconut Raw. If anyone has these coconut products in their home, they should not eat them.

Canada – Vancouver Island cholera warning: Cases linked to eating herring eggs

Outbeak News Today 

 

The First Nations Health Authority and Island Health are warning the public following confirmed cases of Vibrio cholerae infection associated with eating herring eggs. The bacteria can be found in the aquatic environment and can cause intestinal illness after eating contaminated foods. Illness may include mild to severe nausea, vomiting, and very severe watery diarrhea. Some people don’t become ill and don’t know they have been infected. Health authorities are asking you to take the following precautions and actions:

  • Do not consume herring eggs harvested from French Creek to Qualicum Bay area from kelp, seaweed or other surfaces.
  • If you are ill, ensure you are drinking small amounts of fluid frequently to keep hydrated. Visit your physician or health center to ensure treatment and confirmation of the cause of illness. Letyour health care provider know if you have eaten raw or lightly-cooked herring eggs within 5
    days of onset of illness or caring for someone who became ill after eating herring eggs.
  • The bacteria can be passed from person to person, even if you don’t have symptoms. Always wash your hands well after going to the bathroom or caring for someone who has been ill.
  • If you have stored herring eggs, please call First Nations Health Authority Environmental Public Health Services at 250-924- 6125. Samples are being requested for testing (keep cold and in original packaging).
  • Discard any extra stored herring eggs to avoid further illness. Freezing does not kill the bacteria.
  • When handling herring eggs, practice proper handwashing and sanitize dishes and equipment to avoid cross contamination.
  • Ensure other community members who may have received herring eggs are aware of these precautions and actions. If they are ill, we request that they be in contact with their physician or Health Center.
  • A sanitary shellfish closure exists for bivalves in the French Creek/Qualicum Bay area. Harvesters are reminded to check area closures prior to harvesting bivalves to prevent illness.

Europe – Frozen corn likely source of ongoing Listeria monocytogenes outbreak

EFSA Listeria kswfoodworld food safety food poisoning

Frozen corn is the likely source of an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes which has affected five EU Member States (Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom) since 2015. This is the conclusion of a rapid outbreak assessment published today by EFSA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). As of 8 March 2018, 32 cases including six deaths had been reported.

Whole genome sequencing was used to define the multi-country outbreak of L. monocytogenes serogroup IVb, multi-locus sequence type 6 and to identify the implicated food source.

Investigations point towards frozen corn packed in Poland and processed and produced in Hungary. The report recommends further investigations to identify the exact point of contamination in the food chain.

Food business operators in Poland, Finland, Sweden and Estonia have withdrawn and recalled the implicated products. These measures are likely to reduce the risk of human infections in these countries.

However, new cases may be identified due to the long incubation period of listeriosis (up to 70 days), the long shelf-life of frozen corn products and the potential consumption of frozen corn bought before the recall was implemented.

To reduce the risk of L. monocytogenes infection from frozen corn, consumers should adequately heat frozen vegetables that are not ready-to-eat products. This applies especially to consumers at the highest risk of contracting listeriosis – such as the elderly, pregnant women, new-borns and adults with weakened immune systems.

What is a rapid outbreak assessment?

Coordination at EU level is crucial when there are multi-country foodborne outbreaks. One aspect of this coordination is the production of a rapid outbreak assessment (ROA) by EFSA and ECDC in close cooperation with affected countries.

The ROA gives an overview of the situation in terms of public health and identifies the cause of the infections. It also includes trace-back and trace-forward investigations to identify the origin of the outbreak and where contaminated products have been distributed. These help to identify measures that will prevent further spread of the outbreak.

South Africa – Tiger Brands says Listeria outbreak could cost it 1 billion Rand

Food Safety News

The world’s worst listeriosis outbreak is likely to cost Tiger Brands more than financial markets were expecting. And the party coming up with the higher tally is Tiger Brands itself.

As a publicly traded company on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Tiger Brands is providing financial markets with the company’s own estimates. The $2.5 billion South African food business says the ongoing listeriosis outbreak could cost the company 800 million Rand, or more than $67.5 million.