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Wiley Online Library

Abstract

Mary Ann Leibert

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Campylobacter spp. have been isolated from various animals, including poultry. They are rapidly transmitted throughout broiler sheds by the fecal–oral route. A promising strategy to reduce Campylobacter spp. in poultry may be done due to the beneficial properties of probiotic bacteria and their bacteriocins. In this study, inhibition spectrum/activity of different enterocins was evaluated against Campylobacter spp. (isolated from different poultry) to indicate further practical use of enterocins. Enterocins are antimicrobial proteinaceous substances produced mostly by enterococci. Feces from broiler chickens (10), laying hens (47), ostriches (140), and ducks (40) were screened. Altogether, 23 strains were allotted to the species Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli using MALDI TOF mass spectrometry and confirmed by genotyping (PCR method). In the feces of ostriches, Campylobacter spp. were not confirmed. Campylobacter spp. isolated from different poultry showed resistance to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and ampicillin. Interestingly, strains demonstrating antibiotic resistance revealed sensitivity to at least one of the nine enterocins used (except C. coli Kc1, SZ3, and C. jejuni 1/D). Almost 52% strains were inhibited by Ent A (P). Enterocins can therefore be used to prevent or reduce Campylobacter spp.; it is a basis for practical use.

FDA 

The International Company for Agricultural Production & Processing (ICAPP) is voluntarily recalling certain lots of its frozen strawberries out of an abundance of caution in response to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation of an outbreak of Hepatitis A. For more information about this investigation, please visit FDA’s outbreak investigation website at http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm518775.htm.

The recalled products were all distributed for sale to and use in food service establishments nationwide — not for use in food products offered for retail sale to consumers. Nonetheless, ICAPP is issuing this news release publicly to help mitigate any possible risk to the public health and to fully ensure that all recalled products are recovered. Although none of ICAPP’s own testing through an established surveillance program or through third party testing of retained samples has identified the presence of Hepatitis A in any of its products, ICAPP has decided to recall all frozen strawberries that it has imported into the United States since January 1, 2016 out of an abundance of caution.

No other ICAPP products, frozen or fresh, are covered by this voluntary recall.

ICAPP is conducting this voluntary recall after learning that frozen strawberries that it distributed may be linked to a recent Hepatitis A outbreak in the United States. ICAPP has been engaged with FDA in its investigation of this outbreak and is taking this action in consultation with FDA because Hepatitis A virus was detected in four lots of frozen strawberries that were exported to the U.S. by ICAPP. ICAPP is working closely with all of the U.S. distributors of this product to ensure that this recall is effective.

Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from exposure to the Hepatitis A virus, including from food. It can range from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a serious illness lasting several months. Illness generally occurs within 15 to 50 days of exposure and includes fatigue, abdominal pain, jaundice, abnormal liver tests, dark urine and pale stool. Hepatitis A vaccination can prevent illness if given within two weeks of exposure to a contaminated food. In rare cases, particularly consumers who have a pre-existing severe illness or are immune compromised, Hepatitis A infection can progress to liver failure. Persons who may have consumed affected product should consult with their health care professional or local health department to determine if a vaccination is appropriate, and consumers with symptoms of Hepatitis A should contact their health care professionals or the local health department immediately.

ICAPP is fully committed to producing safe and high quality products; consumer safety is its top priority. ICAPP is conducting a comprehensive review of all of its operations and its suppliers to ensure that the food it produces is safe. ICAPP continues to work closely with federal and state authorities and is conducting this recall in cooperation with FDA.

For questions or more information, consumers may contact ICAPP by email at customerservice@icapp.com.eg or by phone, between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Cairo local time, at +201-541-1624.

Food Saftey News 

It’s estimated that the average person will get norovirus five times during their lifetime. Globally, there are 685 million cases of norovirus each year, with approximately 20 million of those cases occurring in the United States. Norovirus is the number one foodborne illness – and the leading cause of foodborne illness outbreaks – in the United States.

Norovirus is a huge threat within the hospitality industry. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of norovirus outbreaks occur in foodservice settings, and 70 percent of infected workers cause 70 percent of those outbreaks. Several recent studies indicate that people work in foodservice industry jobs even when they’re sick.

Food Safety Brazil – Portuguese

Food Safety Brazil – English

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Let’s test your food safety knowledge in the day-to-day?

CDC

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To examine the association of colonization by Staphylococcus aureus and general population mortality, we followed 10,598 adults for 8.5 years on average. Methicillin-susceptible S. aureus colonization was not associated with death. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus carriage predicted death in a crude analysis but not after adjustment for socioeconomic status and co-morbidities.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of mild to life-threatening infections. It is differentiated into methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA); the emergence of isolates resistant to vancomycin has raised concern that the bacterium might become untreatable with current antimicrobial drugs (1). Whether S. aureus colonization influences general population mortality remains unclear (2,3). Therefore, we examined the association in a US population representative sample followed for nearly a decade.

Food Safety News

A Salmonella outbreak in Europe that may have been ongoing since 2012 is believed to be responsible for the recent death of a child in Croatia and is suspected to be wider spread than originally thought.

The outbreak has been traced by multiple countries to eggs from Poland.

Recalls are ongoing across Europe and in Hong Kong, as seven countries are reporting a total of 260 illnesses between May 1 and Oct. 12 this year. Of those cases, 112 are confirmed and 148 are listed as probable.

A joint technical report issued Thursday by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) came out as the Centre for Food Safety in Hong Kong was warning consumers and foodservice operators to look for the eggs and discard them.

“The first isolates belonging to one of the (whole genome sequence) WGS clusters associated with this outbreak were identified in 2012. The number of confirmed and probable cases has increased steadily since May 2016,” according to the joint report.

Science Daily

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According to the Centers for Disease Control, 48 million Americans contract foodborne diseases annually, with Salmonella being the leading cause of illness. Salmonella has a unique characteristic that allows the bacteria to penetrate through cell barriers and replicate inside its host. Now, scientists at the Cancer Research Center and the University of Missouri have developed a non-toxic strain of Salmonella to penetrate and target cancer cells. Results from this study could lead to promising new treatments that actively target and control the spread of cancer.

KBBI

As antibiotic-resistant super bugs become more common, they’re beginning to show up in places we wouldn’t expect.

A new study has found antibiotic-resistant E. coli in gulls living on the Kenai Peninsula.

NZCity

The first public hearing into the gastro outbreak that struck down more than 5000 people in Havelock North has begun.

Water contamination that caused a the widespread outbreak of campylobacter forced the closure of schools, required water chlorination and for fresh water to be trucked into the region in August.

The government announced in September it would hold an inquiry into the contamination incident, to be led by Lyn Stevens, QC.

The preliminary hearing at Hastings District Court on Thursday is open to the public to deal with preliminary and procedural matters and in order to identify “core participants”.

The inquiry set to focus on how the Havelock North water supplies became contaminated, how the contamination was addressed, the response to the public health outbreak, reducing the risk of recurring outbreaks and minimising the risk of future incidents.

It’s expected to report back by March 31 next year.