Category Archives: Uncategorized

FDA

Country Fresh Orlando LLC, Recalls Product Because of Possible Health Risk

Country Fresh Orlando, LLC. of Orlando, Florida, is recalling 5,999 cases of diced bell pepper, vegetable kabobs, and creole and fajita mixed diced vegetables (product descriptions attached), because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is 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 high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The product in question was shipped to retailers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, under the Country Fresh and store brand labels described in the product listing.

The product bears “BEST IF USED BY” dates between August 12, 2017 (8/12/17) through August 20, 2017 (8/20/17). The product is in either a clear plastic container as labeled below or in Styrofoam trays overwrapped with clear plastic film as labeled below. No products except those on this list are subject to this recall.

To date, no illnesses have been confirmed by public health authorities.

Journal of Food Protection

2015 Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis Linked to the Consumption of Imported Sugar Snap Peas in Ontario, Canada

An outbreak of cyclosporiasis in Ontario, Canada, was investigated in the fall of 2015. Thirty-five confirmed and 10 probable cases were linked to the investigation. Epidemiological and food safety evidence implicated fresh sugar snap peas imported from Guatemala as the source of the outbreak. We describe here the first documented cyclosporiasis outbreak in Canada involving the consumption of sugar snap peas

Outbreak News Today

NSW Health has launched an investigation into a hepatitis A outbreak following confirmation of 12 cases in the past five weeks alone in Sydney and surrounding areas.

Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director Communicable Diseases with NSW Health, said 10 of these people contracted the disease in Australia – considerably higher than the average two cases of locally acquired hepatitis A each year.

Journal of Food Protection 

Removal of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis after Hand Washing with Antimicrobial and Nonantimicrobial Soap and Persistence of These Bacteria in Rinsates

Food handlers are important sources of contamination in the agricultural environment. This study was conducted (i) to evaluate the activity of antimicrobial soaps against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis using a hand washing model with soiled hands and (ii) to determine the survival and persistence of these bacteria in rinsates. Sterilized agricultural soil from tomato and pepper farms was inoculated with E. coli or E. faecalis at 10³ or 10⁶ CFU/g. Decontaminated hands were placed in contact with contaminated soil for 2 min and were then washed with soaps with or without antimicrobial compounds (citric extracts, chloroxylenol, triclosan, or chlorhexidine gluconate). As the control, hands were washed with sterile distilled water. The levels of bacteria remaining on the hands and recovered from the rinsates were determined using a membrane filtration method and selective media. Antimicrobial soaps removed levels of E. coli similar to those removed by distilled water and nonantimicrobial soap on hands contaminated with E. coli at 10³ CFU/g. However, when hands were contaminated with E. coli at 10⁶ CFU/g, more E. coli was removed with the chlorhexidine gluconate soap. When hands were contaminated with E. faecalis at 10³ CFU/g, bacteria were removed more effectively with soaps containing chloroxylenol or chlorhexidine gluconate. When hands were contaminated with E. faecalis at 10⁶ CFU/g, all of the antimicrobial soaps were more effective for removing the bacteria than were distilled water and nonantimicrobial soap. E. coli grew in all of the hand washing rinsates except that containing triclosan, whereas E. faecalis from the 10⁶ CFU/g treatments grew in rinsates containing chlorhexidine gluconate and in the distilled water rinsates. Washing with antimicrobial soap was more effective for reducing bacteria on soiled hands than was washing with water or nonantimicrobial soap. However, persistence or growth of bacteria in these rinsates poses health risks.

Outbreak News Today

NSW Health has launched an investigation into a hepatitis A outbreak following confirmation of 12 cases in the past five weeks alone in Sydney and surrounding areas.

Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director Communicable Diseases with NSW Health, said 10 of these people contracted the disease in Australia – considerably higher than the average two cases of locally acquired hepatitis A each year.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Consumers may have been exposed to hepatitis A from produce that may have been contaminated by a worker at a street-side fruit vendor, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The fruit vendor was located on the corner of W Ave L and 20th Street West, in Lancaster, CA. Anyone who bought fruit from the vendor’s fruit cart at this location from August 15 through August 22, 2017 may be at risk for hepatitis A.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Dr. Brown’s Natural Bottle and Dish Soap is being recalled for possible bacterial contamination. Exposure to these bacteria pose a risk of infections. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue.

The recalled products are Dr. Brown’s Natural Bottle & Dish Soap sold separately and with Dr. Brown’s bottle brush as a bottle cleaning kit. The soap bottles were sold in two sizes: a clear plastic 16-ounce bottle with a pump and a 4-ounce clear squeeze bottle. A label on the front of the bottles reads “Dr. Brown’s natural bottle & dish soap” and “100% plant-based ingredients.”

If you purchased this product, immediately stop using it. Bottles and dishes that were cleaned with the recalled soap should be boiled or sanitized in the dishwasher.

FDA 

Country Fresh Orlando LLC, Recalls Product Because of Possible Health Risk

Country Fresh Orlando, LLC. of Orlando, Florida, is recalling 5,999 cases of diced bell pepper, vegetable kabobs, and creole and fajita mixed diced vegetables (product descriptions attached), because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is 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 high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The product in question was shipped to retailers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi, under the Country Fresh and store brand labels described in the product listing.

The product bears “BEST IF USED BY” dates between August 12, 2017 (8/12/17) through August 20, 2017 (8/20/17). The product is in either a clear plastic container as labeled below or in Styrofoam trays overwrapped with clear plastic film as labeled below. No products except those on this list are subject to this recall.

To date, no illnesses have been confirmed by public health authorities.

HPS

Shellfish alerts – Argyll and Bute Council

On 30 August, Argyll and Bute Council reported that raised levels of E. coli bacteria at Campbeltown Loch had returned to normal.

Argyll and Bute Council monitors shellfish harvesting areas regularly to keep the quality of the area’s shellfish high. Bacteria levels were now normal at Campbeltown Loch, with alerts at Loch Craignish and Kilfinichen Bay also recently lifted.

Warnings to the public not to harvest shellfish remained in place at Dunstaffnage, Kerrera East, Kerrera West, Loch na Cille, Loch Riddon and Otter Place at Loch Fyne.

Eating shellfish such as cockles, mussels, oysters or razor fish from these areas may pose a risk to human health and notices to warn the public and casual gatherers have been posted at various locations on the shore. Commercial shellfish harvesters in affected areas are notified by the Council and steps taken to postpone harvesting until bacterial levels subside.

It is a sensible precaution to avoid eating shellfish from these areas until further notice. [Source: Argyll and Bute Council News Release, 30 August 2017. https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/news/2017/aug/shellfish-alert-lifted-campbel…]

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