Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Packer 

Storage and packaging conditions have no effect on preventing the spread of E. coli and salmonella in cut iceberg lettuce, according to a new study.

Researchers from Ghent University in Ghent, Belgium, analyzed the effects of sanitizing wash, modified-atmosphere packaging and different light and temperature conditions on cut iceberg that had been infected with E. coli and salmonella, according to an abstract of the study, which was published in the December 2016 issue of the International Journal of Food Microbiology.

Barf Blog

In June and July, 2015, 15 people were sickened with E. coli O157 from Robinsons Butchers and Caterers in Billingham, UK.

In May 2016, Durham County Council decided it would take no action against the butcher even though cross-contamination was the likely cause.

Yesterday, Stockton Council decided to prosecute Robinsons

Food Safety News

Waterborne Legionnaires’ disease bacteria has killed two University of Washington Medical Center patients and closed a Memphis beltway hotel.

The UW Medical Center has diagnosed five patients with Legionnaires’ disease, including the two who died. In Memphis, six cases of the respiratory disease are linked to the now-closed La Quinta Inn at 2979 Millbranch Rd.

The Shelby County Health Department ordered the hotel closed on Sept. 22 after receiving the laboratory confirmation for the first five individuals who were diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease.

Theyeshiva World

CDC Photo

Once again, reports of salmonella infecting Telma branch breakfast cereals, this time Kariot Nougat. The report was released on erev Shabbos. Not long ago, in August, Telma announced a salmonella infection it is cornflakes. Unilever, which owns Telma, issued an apology to consumers for trying to cover-up the salmonella this first time, and now, is facing yet another incident. Following the cornflakes, another Unilever product was infected with salmonella; a tehina product. The Unilever announcement stated there was no doubt of a salmonella infection of 750 gram boxes of Kariot Nougat with the Telma brand manufactured between 18-20 September. The Health Ministry was involved and is probing the matter. The recall effect 52,400 boxes of the 750 gram Kariot Nougat. Unilever assures consumers none of the boxes in stores are infected and the recall impacts boxes that have not yet been delivered to stores.

Daily Mail Online

A mother-of-five has warned other parents to be wary of the hygiene of shopping trolleys after her 10-month-old son contracted a salmonella infection and meningitis.

Vivienne Wardrop, 35, went for a quick shop at Helensvale, on Queensland’s Gold Coast, on September 13 and took her baby boy with her, putting him in a trolley.

Almost 24 hours later, her son, Logan, started getting severe diarrhoea, vomiting and was running a high temperature.

At one point, the diarrhoea got so bad he started passing blood. 

USGS

Someone35

Someone35

Gulls commonly carry E. coli and often show no signs of illness. However, this is the first report of antibiotic resistant E. coli in birds in the southcentral Alaska region. While it is still unclear how gulls are picking up antibiotic resistant strains of E. coli, possible sources include landfills and wastewater discharge.

USGS and collaborators sampled gulls on the urban Kenai Peninsula and on the remote Middleton Island, a location far offshore in the Gulf of Alaska. The samples were tested, and results show more antibiotic resistant bacteria in birds in areas with higher levels of human use. Areas tested on the Kenai Peninsula’s Soldotna Landfill and the mouth of the Kenai River were chosen because of earlier water quality sampling performed by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation near these areas.

Food Poisoning Bulletin 

As of today, 105 Virginia residents who had tested positive for hepatitis A reported consuming a smoothie at Tropical Smoothie Café prior to becoming ill. Approximately 35% of the residents, for whom information is available, have been hospitalized for their illness. The 104 ill residents range in age from 14-70. Onsets of illness for the 104 cases range from early May through September. The count by region is: 59 Northern, 15 Northwest, 17 Eastern, 13 Central, 0 Southwest.

FSIS – USDA 

Caviness Beef Packers, a Hereford, Texas establishment, is recalling approximately 2,100 pounds of boneless beef trim products that may be contaminated withE. coli O103, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

• The 2,100-lb. Combo Bin of “boneless beef trim 84L” products were produced on September 14, 2016 and further processed into ground beef products by another establishment. The recalling establishment has control of all but 320 pounds of ground beef products.
• 10 lb. chub – 73% Regular Ground Beef products with a “Use By” or “Freeze By” date of October 10, 2016 and bear UPC number 52846-48935.
• 2-3 lb. tray pack of – 73% Regular Ground Beef products with a “Sell By” date of September 28, 2016 and bear UPC number 2-01656-00000.
• 1.5 lb. tray pack of – 73% Regular Ground Beef products with a “Sell By” date of September 28, 2016 and bear UPC number 2-01654-00000.

The products subject to this recall were further processed by a firm other than Caviness Beef Packers, “EST. 675” and may not bear the establishment number “EST. 675”, on products available for direct consumer purchase. These products were shipped to retail locations in Texas.

The problem was discovered when FSIS was notified of a USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) sample that tested positive for E. coli 0103. Because the company works with the AMS Commodity Program, AMS did routine microbiological testing. This shipment of beef was never intended for the National School Lunch Program (NLSP) and no sales were made to the NLSP. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Many clinical laboratories do not test for non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), such as STEC O103 because it is harder to identify than STEC O157. People can become ill from STECs 2–8 days (average of 3–4 days) after consuming the organism. Most people infected with STEC O103 develop diarrhea (often bloody), and vomiting. Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended.

Most people recover within a week, but, rarely, some develop a more severe infection. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is uncommon with O103 infection. HUS can occur in people of any age but is most common in children under 5 years old, older adults and persons with weakened immune systems. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

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.

FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to confirm that ground beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, http://1.usa.gov/1cDxcDQ.

Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Trevor Caviness, President, at (806) 372 – 5781.

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 4 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.

CFIA

Tre Rose Bakery is recalling sliced turkey and chicken products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following product products were sliced and sold at Tre Rose Bakery, 2098 Kipling Avenue, Toronto, Ontario from September 15, 2016 to September 16, 2016, inclusively.

There has been one reported illness associated with this investigation.

Mary Ann Leibert 

Background: Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoon Toxoplasma gondii, which is one of the most widespread parasites that infect animals and humans worldwide. One of the main routes of infection for humans is through the consumption of infected meat containing bradyzoites in tissue cysts. Pork is one of the foremost meat types associated with outbreaks of acute toxoplasmosis in humans.

Materials and Methods: Sixty blood samples were collected from finished pigs at slaughter and their sera was evaluated by an indirect-IgG ELISA. Matched muscle samples were obtained from the tongue and loin. Whole blood and tissue samples were evaluated to search for T. gondii DNA using a nested-polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Seroprevalence of T. gondii was 96.6% (58/60) of sampled pigs. Meanwhile, T. gondii DNA was present in 23.21% of tongue tissue samples (13/56), 7% of loin tissues (4/57), and 0% in blood samples (0/44), respectively. Two pigs were serologically indeterminate.

Conclusion: This is the first report of the presence of T. gondii DNA in tissue samples obtained from finalized pigs. Results from the present study suggest a high exposure to T. gondii in pigs intended for human consumption from the tropical region of Mexico. Thus, the consumption of some undercooked pork meat meals typical from the southern region of Mexico could represent a significant risk for acquiring infection for the human population.