Category Archives: Uncategorized

Outbreak News Today 

Image CDC

Salmonella outbreak possibly linked to Stuttgart, AR restaurant

Officials with the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) report receiving approximately 30 reports of people ill with a possible foodborne illness since Friday.

To date, we have four confirmed cases of salmonella. At this point, epidemiological information suggests that the Chuck Wagon Restaurant in Stuttgart, AR is the likely site of the outbreak.

The ADH is taking steps to address this outbreak. Biological specimens are being collected from patients that are ill. In addition, health officials are collecting information about where they have eaten and any other common exposures they might have had. This may include animal or worksite exposure.

Cherries Recalled over Listeria worry

Listeria Blog

SunOpta Inc’s subsidiary, Sunrise Growers Inc., has issued a voluntary recall of certain frozen organic dark sweet pitted cherry products due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

This recall includes certain frozen organic dark sweet pitted cherry products distributed from Sunrise Grower’s facility in Edwardsville, Kansas on August 10, 2017. The issue was discovered during routine testing by Sunrise Growers.  No illnesses related to the consumption of these products have been reported.

Expresco Foods Inc. Recalls Chicken Skewer Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

FSIS USDA

WASHINGTON, Aug. 23, 2017 – Expresco Foods, Inc., a Montréal, Québec establishment, is recalling approximately 20,446 pounds of imported chicken skewer products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The fully cooked chicken skewer items were packaged on August 9 and 15, 2017. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF only)]

• 1.31-lb. packages of “WEST END CUISINE GRILLED MEDITERRANEAN STYLE CHICKEN SKEWERS HAND-MADE WITH CHICKEN BREAST” containing the UPC code 621588314947 with lot codes: 172562, 172640, 172571 and 172704.
• 1.09-lb. packages of “EXPRESCO GRILLED Garlic & Herb CHICKEN SKEWERS” containing the UPC code 621588315555 with lot codes: 172563, 172668, 172669 and 172670.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “36” inside the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan and Texas.

The problem was discovered by the FSIS import inspector during routine inspection of foreign shipments. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers.

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.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Garry Arpin, Expresco Foods, Inc. Principal Communications Director at (514) 843-2353.

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.

Fair Oaks Farms, LLC Recalls Pork Sausage Patties Due to Possible Listeria Contamination

FSIS-USDA

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22, 2017 – Fair Oaks Farms, LLC, a Pleasant Prairie, Wis. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,134 pounds of pork sausage patties that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The fully cooked pork sausage patties were produced on August 8, 2017. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF only)]

• 2-lb. plastic sleeve packages containing “BREAKFAST Best FULLY COOKED ORIGINAL PORK SAUSAGE PATTIES,” with a sell-by date of 05/15/2018.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 17479T” above the sell by date. These items were shipped to distribution and retail locations in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.

The problem was discovered when firm’s routine testing indicated positive results for Listeria monocytogenes. The products were on hold at a distribution center, however, the products were inadvertently shipped. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.

Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. An invasive infection spreads beyond the gastrointestinal tract. In pregnant women, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn. In addition, serious and sometimes fatal infections in older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. Persons in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers.

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.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Laura Villarreal, Fair Oaks Farms Director of Quality Assurance, at 800-528-8615 ext. 4116.

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.

Outbreak News Today 

Image CDC

Lubbock reports 40 cryptosporidium cases in past month

In a follow-up on the “crypto” situation in Lubbock, TX, the City of Lubbock Health Department reports more than 40 cases in the last 30 days compared to 25 cases reported in all of 2016.

New Food Magazine

Technological advances now mean it is possible to test for an ever growing list of potentially harmful emerging organisms. But this raises the question: when is the right time to start testing for them? Eurofins Food Testing UK’s Head of Microbiological Services, Catherine Cockcroft, explains the dilemma facing the food industry…

NEW threats which should concern the food industry with regard to testing for foodborne viruses regularly feature in the media. However, differentiating the true emerging organisms of concern from the ‘background noise’ can be difficult, and addressing those threats within food businesses a still greater challenge.

Those within the industry must recognise the hazards relevant to their products, assess the risks and manage them through the use of food safety Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles and prerequisite programmes.

Microbiological testing can provide verification that HACCP and Good Manufacturing Practices are in place and under control. However, with some of the emerging organisms of concern it may not be as straightforward to carry out verification testing, and even more difficult to interpret the results.

Food Safety News 

Backyard flock Salmonella victims triple, 1 dead; more expected

So far this year, preschoolers account for a third of the 961 confirmed victims in a Salmonella outbreak that has turned deadly and been traced to backyard poultry flocks.

There had already been more confirmed infections related to backyard flocks by Aug. 11 this year than in all of 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal agency is actually tracking 10 separate Salmonella outbreaks traced to contact with backyard poultry pens.

The CDC’s investigators expect the outbreaks to continue to expand for the next several months, according to a public warning posted Monday. Lab tests have confirmed victims in Washington D.C. and all states, except Alaska and Delaware. The CDC did not report which state reported the death, which was made public for the first time Monday.

“Contact with live poultry or their environment can make people sick with Salmonella infections. Live poultry can be carrying Salmonella bacteria but appear healthy and clean, with no sign of illness,” according to the CDC  warning.

Hepatitis A Outbreak in Oakland County, Michigan Grows

Eight new cases of hepatitis A in the last week have been diagnosed in Oakland County, Michigan, according to the Health Division. Food Poisoning Bulletin reported in March 2017 that there were skyrocketing cases of the viral illness in that county, along with the counties of Wayne and Macomb and in Detroit itself.

Food Poisoning Bulletin 

How to Handle, Cook, and Safely Store Shellfish

The Washington State Department of Heath has posted information about how to safely handle, store, and cook shellfish. There have been Vibrio and norovirus outbreaks linked to eating uncooked shellfish, especially oysters, this year.

CFIA

Updated Food Recall Warning – par Sophie! brand Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake recalled due to norovirus

Recall details

Ottawa, August 21, 2017 – The food recall warning issued on August 16, 2017 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Pâtisserie Jessica is recalling par Sophie! brand Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake from the marketplace due to norovirus. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.