Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ingenta

Fresh fruit has been associated with a number of foodborne outbreaks in recent years. In particular, a large outbreak of listeriosis in the United States in 2011 was associated with consumption of cantaloupe melon, and an outbreak of Salmonella Newport in the United Kingdom and Europe (also in 2011) was linked to watermelon consumption. A study of precut fruit products from catering and retail premises in the United Kingdom was, therefore, carried out to assess their microbiological safety. Between January and March 2012, samples (1,188) of ready-to-eat precut fruit were collected from retail and catering premises in the United Kingdom, and 99% were of satisfactory microbiological quality. However, four samples (0.3%) were of an unsatisfactory quality (one with 800 CFU/g Listeria monocytogenes and three with >100 CFU/g Escherichia coli), and five samples (0.4%) were of a borderline quality owing to the presence of E. coli (two samples with a level of 20 CFU/g), Staphylococcus aureus (two samples with levels of >50 CFU/g), or L. monocytogenes (one sample with a level of 80 CFU/g). L. monocytogenes or other Listeria species were detected in a further 54 samples (4.5%) at levels below the threshold considered to be borderline or unsatisfactory. A significantly larger proportion of samples from one national supermarket chain was contaminated with L. monocytogenes than other supermarkets, and two types were, in this study, unique to this supermarket. This study shows that overall, the microbiological quality of ready-to-eat precut fruit was good. However, the presence of Listeria species in 5% of samples highlights the need for good hygiene during preparation and satisfactory temperature and time control during storage of these food products.

Ingenta – Transfer of Pathogens from Cantaloupe Rind to Preparation Surfaces and Edible Tissue as a Function of Cutting Method

Ingenta – Capacity of Listeria monocytogenes Strains from the 2011 Cantaloupe Outbreak To Adhere, Survive, and Grow on Cantaloupe

Ingenta – An Outbreak of Human Listeriosis in England between 2010 and 2012 Associated with the Consumption of Pork Pies

Ingenta – Fate of Listeria monocytogenes in Fresh Apples and Caramel Apples

Infectious Clinical Disease – Implementation of Nationwide Real-Time Whole-Genome Sequencing to Enhance Listeriosis Outbreak Detection and Investigation

PLOS One : Vomiting as a Symptom and Transmission Risk in Norovirus Illness: Evidence from Human Challenge Studies

PLOS One :A Multi-Site Study of Norovirus Molecular Epidemiology in Australia and New Zealand, 2013-2014

PLOS One : The Vast and Varied Global Burden of Norovirus: Prospects for Prevention and Control

PLOS One :Global Economic Burden of Norovirus Gastroenteritis

Barfblog

More than 400 people have been sickened by norovirus in Denmark by lettuce from France.

Mirror Online

Parents are being advised not to send their child to school for seven days if Hepatitis A is suspected following a number of cases in Caerphilly, South Wales

Parents are being warned over an outbreak of hepatitis across schools in the UK.

Public Health Wales have confirmed that two more cases – including one at a secondary school – have been diagnosed in Caerphilly.

Food Poisoning Journal

. Dannemiller Co. is recalling SunOpta 50# bags and 30# cases of roasted sunflower kernels roasted and salted, and sunflower kernels roasted no salt because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria.

The recalled Sun Opta Roasted Sunflower kernels – roasted and salted and Sun Opta Roasted No Salt were distributed in the following states: AR, VA, IN, MI in bulk packaging between Feb.22, 2016 and May 17, 2016.

Food Safety News

Troyer Cheese Inc. of Millersburg, OH, is recalling nuts and nut mix products distributed to 31 states because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The following four products sold under the Backroad Country brand are subject to the recall, according to a notice on the Food and Drug Administration website:

• Cranberry Nut Delight Mix, 9-ounce packages with code 15359, best-by date of May 2017 and product barcode number 0 49646 11038 4;
• Honey Island Crunch Mix, 9-ounce packages with code 15356, best-by date of May 2017 and product barcode number 0 49646 10090 3;
• Walnut Halves/Pieces, 6-ounce packages with code 15318, best-by date of May 2017 and product barcode number 0 49646 12073 4; and
• Pretzels Peanut Butter, 7-ounce packages with code 15372, best-by date of May 2017 and product barcode number 0 49646 12079 6.

Recalled retail items were sold in packaged bags and are marked with best-by dates on the front or back of the packages.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Tommee Tippee Sippee spill-proof cups are being recalled because there is a risk of mold exposure to small children. Mold can develop on the valve inside the cups. At least 68 children nationwide have been sickened after drinking from this product.

CDC

Abstract

To determine antimicrobial drug resistance mechanisms of Shigella spp., we analyzed 344 isolates collected in Switzerland during 2004–2014. Overall, 78.5% of isolates were multidrug resistant; 10.5% were ciprofloxacin resistant; and 2% harbored mph(A), a plasmid-mediated gene that confers reduced susceptibility to azithromycin, a last-resort antimicrobial agent for shigellosis.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

School field trips to a Litchfield, MN farm have resulted in more than 10 cases of diarrheal illness from animal contact, including three cases of laboratory-confirmed Cryptosporidium infection.  All of those sickened reported visiting Nelson Farm on a school field trip starting on May 9.

The children sickened are from five different schools, but numerous school groups visited the farm through May 25, so there could be many more children who become ill.

The Minnesota Department of Health is investigating an outbreak and has issued a health advisory to local and tribal health departments, hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers. Stool samples from patients with with vomiting and diarrhea should be tested  for bacterial and parasitic pathogens with a specific request for Cryptosporidium, according to the advisory.

Independent

A virus found in a pond in Connecticut could help kill lethal superbugs that infect wounds and severe burns, according to new research.

The virus, which is a type of bacteriophage, a name that means “devourer of bacteria”, was discovered by Yale University scientists in Dodge Pond in East Lyme, according to a paper in the journal Scientific Reports.

They discovered that the virus, called OMKO1, attacks a type of multi-drug resistant bacteria that can cause the death of people with damaged immune systems.