Category Archives: Uncategorized

Eastern Mirror

Diphu food poisoning: 18 more hospitalised.

Diphu, Oct. 13 (EMN): Another 18 people were reported to have been admitted to Diphu civil hospital in nearby Assam, reportedly after consuming unhygienic food – taking the total to 35 people since the case of food poisoning was first reported on October 10.
It is widely suspected that the source of this ‘suspected food poisoning’ is a popular bakery in Diphu, Assam. The first case was reported on October 10, when 17 people were hospitalised following reports of mass food-poisoning.
Most of the victims reportedly share similar symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and high fever. It was also informed that a woman identified as 42-year old Teyen Rengma has been referred to Referral Hospital, Dimapur.
Several social and student organisations have condemned the turn of event, and has demanded appropriate action be taken against the owner as well as workers of the bakery “for playing with the lives of thousands people living in the town.”The All India Students’ Association (AISA), Students and Youth for Justice (SYJ), All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) have issued a memorandum to the deputy commissioner of Karbi Anglong, Adil Khan demanding immediate judicial inquiry into the matter. They have also demanded that the bakery should be closed down till completion of investigation.

India Today

Food poisoning on Goa-Mumbai Tejas Express, more than 20 passengers fall ill.

More than 20 passengers of Goa-Mumbai Tejas Express were today admitted to hospital for food poisoning. The passengers complained of illness after eating the food served on the premium train Tejas Express.

The train was stopped at Chiplun in the Konkan region of Maharashtra. All the passengers with symptoms of food poisoning were admitted in a hospital. The passengers are said to be stable. But, they are still under observation of the doctors of the private hospital, where they were taken to.

Food Poisoning Journal

Nearly 400 Hepatitis A Illnesses and 15 Deaths in Southeast Michigan.

Public health officials and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) are continuing to see an elevated number of hepatitis A cases in the City of Detroit, and counties of Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Wayne, and St Clair.

Since the beginning of the outbreak in August 2016, public health response has included increased healthcare awareness efforts, public notification and education, and outreach with vaccination clinics for high-risk populations.No common sources of food, beverages, or drugs have been identified as a potential source of infection. Transmission appears to be through direct person-to-person spread and illicit drug use. Those with history of injection and non-injection drug use, homelessness or transient housing, and incarceration are thought to be at greater risk in this outbreak setting. Notably, this outbreak has had a high hospitalization rate.

Vermont Livestock Slaughter And Processing LLC, Recalls Ground Beef Due To Possible E. Coli O157:H7 Contamination

USDA

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2017 – Vermont Livestock Slaughter and Processing, LLC, a Ferrisburg, Vt., establishment, is recalling approximately 133 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The ground beef was produced on July 24 and 25, 2017.  The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF Only)]

• 1-lb. vacuum sealed packages containing “Bread & Butter Farm Ground Beef” with lot codes #072517BNB and #072417BNB.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 9558” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were sold at Bread & Butter farm in Shelburne, Vt.

On September 30, 2017, FSIS was notified of an investigation of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses. Working in conjunction with the Vermont Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FSIS determined the cooked beef burgers that were served at an event at Bread & Butter Farm was the probable source of the reported illnesses. Based on the epidemiological investigation, two case-patients were identified in Vermont with illness onset dates ranging from September 18, 2017, to September 23, 2017. Traceback information indicated that both case-patients consumed ground beef products at Bread & Butter Farm which was supplied by Vermont Livestock Slaughter & Processing. Vermont Livestock Slaughter and Processing, LLC is recalling the products out of an abundance of caution. FSIS continues to work with public health partners on this investigation and will provide updated information as it becomes available.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2–8 days (3–4 days, on average) after exposure to the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age, but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, http://1.usa.gov/1cDxcDQ.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Carl Cushing, the owner, at (802) 877-3421.

Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov or via smartphone at m.askkaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day. The online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/reportproblem.

Food Poisoning Journal  

Hawaii News Now reports that at least 29 people have reported falling ill after dining at popular upscale Waikiki eatery Herringbone this week, the state Health Department said.

Health officials say they’re investigating a “possible norovirus issue.”

The Health Department got its first report of illness from a diner on Monday.

That person had dined at the restaurant over the weekend. Five people in the diner’s party had become ill, the Health Department said.

Officials then received several other reports from other patrons of the restaurant. All have recovered after one to two days of being ill.

BBC

Isle of Wight E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk from farm

Three people have a potentially fatal kidney condition following an outbreak of E. coli which has been linked to unpasteurised milk from a farm.

The Isle of Wight patients are being treated in hospital for haemolytic uremic syndrome, a complication of E. coli that can lead to kidney failure.

Another four people affected by the bacteria have made a good recovery, Public Health England said.

The source has been traced to Briddlesford Lodge Farm near Newport.

Journal of Food Protection 

A Predictive Model for the Growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Commercial Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)

During the processing and handling of commercial blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), Listeria monocytogenes can potentially contaminate cooked meat and grow to hazardous levels. To manage this risk, predictive models are useful tools for designing and implementing preventive controls; however, no model specific for blue crab meat has been published or evaluated. In this study, a cocktail of L. monocytogenes strains was added to pasteurized blue crab meat, which was incubated at storage temperatures from 0 to 35°C. At selected time intervals, L. monocytogenes was enumerated by direct plating onto modified Oxford agar. A primary model was fitted to kinetic data to estimate the lag-phase duration (LPD) and growth rate (GR). Listeria monocytogenes replicated from 0 to 35°C, with GR ranging from 0.004 to 0.518 log CFU/h. Overall, the LPD decreased with increasing temperature, displaying a maximum value of 187 h at 0°C; however, this trend was not consistent. The LPD was not detected at 10°C, and it occurred inconsistently from trial to trial. A secondary GR model (R² = 0.9892) for pasteurized crab meat was compared with the L. monocytogenes GR in fresh crab meat, demonstrating bias and accuracy factors of 0.98 and 1.36, respectively. The model estimates varied from other published data and models, especially at temperatures ≥5°C, supporting the need for a specific predictive tool for temperature deviations.

Outbreak News Today

E. coli prompts recall Bread & Butter Farm Ground Beef

Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced a recall of ground beef packages sold by Bread & Butter Farm of Shelburne, Vermont that may have been contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled ground beef was produced by Vermont Livestock Slaughter and Processing, LLC, of Ferrisburgh, which is voluntarily recalling the product.The one-pound, vacuum sealed packages of ground beef were produced on July 24 and 25, 2017. The packages are branded “Bread & Butter Farm Ground Beef” with lot codes #072517BNB and #072417BNB. The products bear establishment number “EST. 9558” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Approximately 133 pounds of ground beef are being recalled.

In late September, the Vermont Department of Health investigated reports of two children who became ill after eating cooked beef burgers at Bread & Butter Farm on September 15, 2017. One of the children was hospitalized, and both have since recovered. Working in conjunction with the Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FSIS determined the burgers that were served at a Bread & Butter Farm event were the probable source of the reported illnesses.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium, especially for children. It can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps two to eight days after exposure. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure. Illnesses caused by E. coli O157:H7 have previously been linked to undercooked ground beef.

The ground beef should not be eaten. Anyone who has this product should throw it out or return it to the place of purchase.

CFIA

Yummy Market brand Smoked Lake Trout w/Pepper with Cracked Black Pepper recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria

Ottawa, October 14, 2017 – Yummy Market Inc. is recalling Yummy Market brand Smoked Lake Trout w/Pepper with Cracked Black Pepper from the marketplace because it may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

The following product has been sold from Yummy Market – 1390 Major Mackenize Drive W, Maple, ON

Outbreak News Today

Sydney: Hepatitis A warning issued for patrons of Sokyo restaurant

Health officials in New South Wales (NSW) are warning recent visitors to Sokyo restaurant at The Star in Sydney that a staff member has been diagnosed with hepatitis A.  Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director of Communicable Diseases at NSW Health, said the risk of anyone developing the infection is considered low and there is no ongoing risk to other diners.