Kansas officials are investigating an E. coli outbreak among people who attended an annual festival at Louisburg Cider Mill, with the cause proving elusive after initial tests did not find the pathogen in the production area, finished cider or whole apples.
Seven people have been laboratory-confirmed with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7, according to a statement issued Wednesday by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).
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The number of bacteria in raw milk is an important indicator for hygienic quality and milk grading system which consequently reflects a milk price. The proposed method allows satisfied performance for TBC determination in raw milk in 90 min as compared to the 48 hr required using the plate count method. The NIR method developed in this study seems to be an effective tool for a rapid evaluation of bacterial contamination in raw milk. An integration between determination of milk hygienic quality and chemical compositional quality using NIR spectroscopy will facilitate a rapid and multicomponents analysis and become a powerful tool for a practical use in the competitive dairy industry.
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Escherichia coli biotype O104:H4 recently caused the deadliest E. coli outbreak ever reported. Based on prior results, it was hypothesized that compounds inhibiting biofilm formation by O104:H4 would reduce its pathogenesis. The nonionic surfactants polysorbate 80 (PS80) and polysorbate 20 (PS20) were found to reduce biofilms by ≥ 90% at submicromolar concentrations and elicited nearly complete dispersal of preformed biofilms. PS80 did not significantly impact in vivo colonization in a mouse infection model; however, mice treated with PS80 exhibited almost no intestinal inflammation or tissue damage while untreated mice exhibited robust pathology. As PS20 and PS80 are classified as ‘Generally Recognized as Safe’ (GRAS) compounds by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), these compounds have clinical potential to treat future O104:H4 outbreaks.
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In total, 205 workers and 160 customers have fallen ill with norovirus linked to the popular Mexican chain.
Hundreds of staff and diners at Mexican restaurant chain Wahaca have been struck down with suspected norovirus .
Public health chiefs tonight confirmed they had launched a national probe into the outbreak.
In total, 205 workers and 160 customers have fallen ill in vomiting bug cases linked to the popular restaurant chain.
Mexican food chain founded by Thomasina Miers says nine outlets closed, with Public Health England reporting 205 staff and 160 members of the public fell ill
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Hong Kong (HKSAR) – The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (November 2) that a sample of prepackaged cut papaya was found to contain a pathogen, Salmonella. The CFS is following up on the case.
Product details are as follows:
Product name: Thailand solo papaya
Use-by date: October 26, 2016
A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS has previously announced that a prepackaged cut papaya sample taken from a supermarket in Diamond Hill was found to contain Salmonella. In its follow-up investigation, the Centre detected a similar irregularity in another sample of the same kind but of a different batch from the same vendor.
The test result showed the presence of Salmonella in a sample size of 25 grams, exceeding the standard of the Microbiological Guidelines for Food which states that Salmonella should not be detected in 25 grams of food.”
The spokesman said that the CFS has informed the vendor concerned of the irregularity. Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence. It was noted that the retail outlet concerned had stopped selling the affected product and the above-mentioned unsatisfactory sample was taken before the sale suspension.
The Centre has also provided health education on food safety and hygiene for the person-in-charge and staff of the vendor concerned, and has requested the vendor to carry out thorough cleaning and disinfection.
“Salmonella infection may cause fever and gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The effects on infants, young children, the elderly and persons with a weak immune system could be more severe and sometimes may even lead to death,” he added.
The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.
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Some salmonella microbes survived application of sanitizer to reusable plastic containers in a study done at the University of Arkansas.
The study, headed by Steven Ricke of the university’s Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science, was published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health. It tested two strains of salmonella using a pair of treatments.
“(Scanning electron microscopy) images showed that remaining attached cell populations were visible even after sanitizer application,” according to the researchers. Both treatments led to reductions, they found.
“It reinforces our industry’s commitment to use science in seeking facts about the performance of packaging materials,” Dennis Colley, president and CEO of the Fibre Box Association, said in a news release.
According to the association, separate research has shown that the process of combining linerboard and medium to make corrugated packaging is sufficient to destroy common food pathogens.
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With 177 shigellosis cases reported between March 1 and Oct. 26 from Michigan’s Genesee and Saginaw counties and no source yet identified, state and county health officials have called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for help.
CDC investigators are now on the scene in Flint, MI, to help track what caused the outbreak of this highly contagious gastrointestinal disease and see what can be done to prevent further illnesses.
They are busy reviewing the known cases and checking into potential connections with those being reported from other parts of Michigan, according to a community update posted Oct. 26 from CDC, state and county health officials.
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AC Creamery Inc. of Anaheim, CA, is recalling its 16 ounce packages of “Manila Sky Purple Yumm Ice Cream” 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 high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The recalled “Manila Sky Purple Yumm Ice Cream” were distributed nationwide in retail stores and events such as; Florida Food & Lodging Show, Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture and California State University Pilipino American Student Association (CSUF PASA) Friendship Games
The product comes in a 16 ounce, paper cup marked with an expiration date of Mar 06, 2018 stamped on the bottom.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found samples positive for Listeria monocytogenes in the contract manufacturer’s, Dr. Bob’s of Upland, LLC, facility, and in finished product of another company’s brand, leading the contract manufacturer to recall all ice cream products produced this year.
Consumers who have purchased 16 ounce packages of “Manila Sky Purple Yumm Ice Cream“ are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-714-871-9951, Mondays-Fridays from 9AM -5PM Pacific Time.
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The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety established a food safety management system to provide safer food. Domestic foods are managed through three stages: manufacturing, distribution, and consumption. In the manufacturing stage, the business operator must first submit a food manufacturing and item manufacturing report. In the manufacturing stage, self-quality inspections are conducted to ensure safety of products, and the HACCP system is applied to protect food from any hazardous risk in a preemptive manner. In the distribution stage, food products are collected and inspected to strengthen safe food distribution, and the food traceability system is operated to trace the distribution routes of harmful foods, along with the operation of the Hazardous Food Sales Prevention System. In the consumption stage, false or exaggerated advertisements are monitored and consumer food sanitation guard system is operated.
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Researchers at the University of Ghent have isolated Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4 (PT4), an important human pathogen, from a population of feral pigeons in Brussels.
Salmonella enterica infections in pigeons are generally associated with pigeon-adapted strains of serovar Typhimurium that are of little public health concern. A high prevalence of 33% of Salmonella Enteritidis in Brussels combined with dense pigeonpopulations suggest that feral pigeons may constitute a significant, but unrevealed reservoir forcontracting salmonellosis in the urban environment.
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