Category Archives: Uncategorized

FSA 

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Paxton & Whitfield recalls both flavours of its Pots of Pork because of a failure of procedures to control Clostridium botulinum

Food Safety.Gov

As a working mom of four boys, ages 8 and under, I’m asked on a near-daily basis: “how do you DO it?!” It’s a carefully orchestrated dance: keeping my family fed, healthy, dropped off at school and daycare at the appropriate times, with their respective accompaniments, whether homework, snacks or lunches. And then in the evening, allowing opportunity to focus on homework and dinner, without sacrificing quality family time. Making this happen on a daily basis takes a keen attention to detail, a little luck and some advanced planning.I’m game to try anything to help our daily routine run smoothly, and will cut any corners I can. However, one corner I won’t cut is safe food handling and preparation. Because let’s face it—a houseful of children in the throes of foodborne illness is no one’s idea of a good time.

Food Safety News

Fighting slime: Researchers develop bacteria-killing plastic film

Plastic films made with bacteria-killing polymers have been proven effective as a frontline defense — not to mention offense — in the battle against biofilms in food production operations.

A preferred place of residence for pathogens such as Listeria and E. coli, biofilms form easily and are extremely difficult to eradicate, according to the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Biofilms are aggregates of bacteria that highly increase bacterial resistance to antimicrobials, as well as to disinfectants, according to the American Society of Microbiology.

But, by modifying the polymer matrix of plastic films, researchers have developed a rechargeable disinfecting material that can be applied to conveyor belts, food-contact surfaces, utensils and other equipment and surfaces.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A Texas resident has been diagnosed with brucellosis and has been hospitalized after consuming raw milk from K-Bar Dairy in Paradise, Texas in Wise County.  An investigation by Texas Department of State Health Services has determined that milk from that facility is “the most probable source of the infection.” K-Bar Dairy is a licensed raw milk dairy. Officials are investigating additional illnesses that may be connected to this product

Food Poisoning Bulletin 

Eggs from LaBar Poultry Farm in Manistique, Michigan are being recalled because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. This recall has been reported by several news sources, but there is no information about the recall on any of Michigan’s government sites.

The eggs are packaged in cartons of one dozen each. The label is “LaBar Poultry Farm,” with dates August 30, 2017 or September 30, 2017. They were distributed to restaurants, grocery stores, and to consumers in the counties of Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Luce, Mackinaw, Marquette, Menominee, and Schoolcraft.

Outbreak News Today 

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UK reports 78 Cyclospora cases so far in 2017

Cyclosporiasis is a treatable intestinal disease caused by the protozoan Cyclospora. It is transmitted through contaminated food, water or beverages and has an average incubation period of 7 days after ingestion of sporulated oocysts.

Since the oocysts take approximately 10 days to mature before they are infective, direct person-to-person transmission is unlikely. Patients present with diarrhea, abdominal pain and fatigue. Symptoms are usually self-limiting but may persist for several weeks and can be particularly severe in those who are immunocompromised.

FSA

Cornish Charcuterie recalls various types of its pates and rillettes because of a failure of procedures to control Clostridium botulinum

Action taken by the company

Cornish Charcuterie is recalling the above products. A point-of-sale notice will be displayed in stores where the products are sold. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tells them what to do if they have bought any of the product. Please see the product recall notice below.

Product recall notice

Cornish Charcuterie product recall notice(95.52 KB)

Selection of Surrogate Bacteria for Use in Food Safety Challenge Studies:

Journal of Food Protection

Nonpathogenic surrogate bacteria are prevalently used in a variety of food challenge studies in place of foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Clostridium botulinum because of safety and sanitary concerns. Surrogate bacteria should have growth characteristics and/or inactivation kinetics similar to those of target pathogens under given conditions in challenge studies. It is of great importance to carefully select and validate potential surrogate bacteria when verifying microbial inactivation processes. A validated surrogate responds similar to the targeted pathogen when tested for inactivation kinetics, growth parameters, or survivability under given conditions in agreement with appropriate statistical analyses. However, a considerable number of food studies involving putative surrogate bacteria lack convincing validation sources or adequate validation processes. Most of the validation information for surrogates in these studies is anecdotal and has been collected from previous publications but may not be sufficient for given conditions in the study at hand. This review is limited to an overview of select studies and discussion of the general criteria and approaches for selecting potential surrogate bacteria under given conditions. The review also includes a list of documented bacterial pathogen surrogates and their corresponding food products and treatments to provide guidance for future studies.

JOurnal du Cameroun

South Sudan: Third soldier dies from hotel food poisoning

Another soldier has died in a suspected food poisoning incident at a hotel in the town of Wau, western South Sudan, a week after two others suffered the same fate, an army spokesperson says.The unnamed soldier died days after being hospitalized with food poisoning, alongside over 50 others after eating food prepared in a hotel they were staying.

This brings to three the food poisoning death toll.

The other two – a commander and a private – died shortly upon reaching the military hospital in Wau last week.

Brigadier Lul Ruai in a statement to journalists on Thursday said five people were arrested in connection with the food poisoning incident.

The Hitavada

Out of 38 students, eight were given primary treatment, 18 of them were admitted to City Hospital and remaining 12 are undergoing treatment at Marble City Hospital

As many 38 students of IIITDM fell ill due to suspected food poisoning on Thursday. Students reported symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea after having dinner on Wednesday night, informed Civil Surgeon, Government Victoria Hospital, Dr A K Sinha.

He informed that some of patients are also suffering from the viral fever. Out of 38 student, eight were given primary treatment, 18 of them were admitted to City Hospital and remaining 12 are undergoing treatment at Marble City Hospital. Students Aman Verma, Anshu Raj, Lalit, Shubham, Jai, Raunak Kumar, Isha, Manam, Nitin, Vikas Kumar, Gaurav Kumar are undergoing treatment at City Hospital and condition of Tanisha is ill, she was shifted to ICCU for treatment. Doctors attending the patient at hospital says that condition of except one, condition of student undergoing treatment is improving, they would be discharged as soon their condition would be normal, he added.