Category Archives: Uncategorized

Rochdale Online

TRS Jeera Powder and TRS Dhania Powder (cumin and coriander powder) are being recalled after salmonella was detected.

TRS Wholesale Company Ltd, the manufacturer, will be displaying point-of-sale notices in all stores telling consumers why the products are being recalled and what to do if they have bought them.

Salmonella bacteria can cause food poisoning. Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. On average, it takes from 12 to 72 hours for the symptoms to develop after swallowing an infectious dose of salmonella.

Dehydration caused by the illness can be life-threatening.

Cambridge University Press

Although infection by the pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is relatively rare, consequences can be severe, with a high case-fatality rate in vulnerable populations. A quantitative, probabilistic risk assessment tool was developed to compare estimates of the number of invasive listeriosis cases in vulnerable Canadian subpopulations given consumption of contaminated ready-to-eat delicatessen meats and hot dogs, under various user-defined scenarios. The model incorporates variability and uncertainty through Monte Carlo simulation. Processes considered within the model include cross-contamination, growth, risk factor prevalence, subpopulation susceptibilities, and thermal inactivation. Hypothetical contamination events were simulated. Results demonstrated varying risk depending on the consumer risk factors and implicated product (turkey delicatessen meat without growth inhibitors ranked highest for this scenario). The majority (80%) of listeriosis cases were predicted in at-risk subpopulations comprising only 20% of the total Canadian population, with the greatest number of predicted cases in the subpopulation with dialysis and/or liver disease. This tool can be used to simulate conditions and outcomes under different scenarios, such as a contamination event and/or outbreak, to inform public health interventions.

Mary Ann Leibert

The objectives of this study were to characterize the phenotype and genotype of 36 non-O157 Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains isolated from humans, ovines, or bovines, including the top 6 (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) and three other serogroups implicated in serious illness (O91, O113, and O128). Biofilms were formed by all strains with intermediate to strong biofilm producers (n = 24) more common at 22°C than at 37°C (p < 0.001) and 48 and 72 h (p < 0.001) than 24 h of incubation time. Biofilm-forming potential differed by serogroup and origin with O113 and human strains exhibiting the highest potential (p < 0.001). Biofilm-associated genes, csgA/csgD/crl/fimH (100%), flu (94%), rpoS (92%), ehaA^α (89%), and cah (72%), were most prevalent, while mlrA (22%) and ehaA^β (14%) were least prevalent, although there was no clear compliment of genes associated with strains exhibiting the greatest biofilm-forming capacity. Among 12 virulence genes screened, iha and ehxA were present in 92% of the strains. The occurrence of stx₁ in the top 6 serogroups (8/12, 67%) did not differ (p = 0.8) from other serogroups (17/24, 71%), but stx₂ was less likely (confidence interval [CI] = 0.14–1.12; p = 0.04) to be in the former (9/24, 38%) than the latter (9/12, 75%). Excluding serogroups, O91 and O121, at least one strain per serogroup was resistant to between three and six antimicrobials. Streptomycin (31%), sulfisoxazole (31%), and tetracycline (25%) resistance was most common and was 35–50% less likely (p < 0.05) in human than animal strains. All non-O157 STEC strains were able to form biofilms on an abiotic surface, with some exhibiting resistance to multiple antimicrobials. Potential as a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes may be another hazard of biofilms in food-processing plants. As a result, future strategies to control these pathogens may include measures to prevent biofilms.

FSCJP

Aflatoxins are fungal toxins that possess acute life threatening toxicity, carcinogenic properties and other potential chronic adverse effects. Dietary exposure to aflatoxins is considered a major public health concern, especially for subsistence farming communities in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where dietary staple food crops such as groundnuts and maize are often highly contaminated with aflatoxin due to hot and humid climates and poor storage, together with low awareness of risk and lack of enforcement of regulatory limits. Biomarkers have been developed and applied in many epidemiological studies assessing aflatoxin exposure and the associated health effects in these high-risk population groups. This review discusses the recent epidemiological evidence for aflatoxin exposure, co-exposure with other mycotoxins and associated health effects in order to provide evidence on risk assessment, and highlight areas where further research is necessary. Aflatoxin exposure can occur at any stage of life and is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, especially when hepatitis B infection is present. Recent evidence suggests that aflatoxin may be an underlying determinant of stunted child growth, and may lower cell-mediated immunity, thereby increasing disease susceptibility. However, a causal relationship between aflatoxin exposure and these latter adverse health outcomes has not been established, and the biological mechanisms for these have not been elucidated, prompting further research. Furthermore, there is a dearth of information regarding the health effects of co-exposure to aflatoxin with other mycotoxins. Recent developments of biomarkers provide opportunities for important future research in this area.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The Connecticut State Department of Public Health (DPH) issued an update on the E. coli outbreak linked to Oak Leaf Farm in Lebanon. As of 1:00 p.m. on March 28, 2016, there are 15 confirmed cases of E. coli O157 infection. The number of cases could increase in the next few days. DPH is actively identifying people who were not initially included in the outbreak count.

Deccan Chronicle

Hyderabad: In response to a DC report about the city’s water containing faecal bacteria or E.coli published on March 27, Water Board managing director B. Janardhan Reddy reviewed the quality of drinking water on Monday.

“Complaints about bad water in Kameshwar Rao Nagar of Saroor-nagar, Rajivnagar and Ambedkarnagar of Al-wal, Prince Bodyguard Lane of Malakpet and Church Colony, Gokul-nagar of Ramanthapur areas was rectified immediately and pres-ently potable water is being supplied,” the Water Board said.

According to Board officials, the Institute of Health Systems had tested 11,247 samples up to March 24. Seven were found to be unclean.

RNZ

A South Taranaki District Council spokesperson said it had begun chlorinating the town’s water supply after the bacteria was discovered during routine testing on Monday.

E coli causes cause stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, and fevers, while severe cases can lead to kidney failure.

Patea’s 1100 residents were advised to boil all water used for drinking, brushing teeth or food preparation until further notice.

The discovery at Patea came only weeks after the bug was found in the water supply in the small settlement of Toko.

The Local

More than a quarter of ice cubes used in Swiss bars and restaurants contain faecal bacteria such as E. coli, according to a nationwide study by the Swiss cantonal chemists association (VKCS).

HPS

Vol: 50 No: 13 Year: 2016 Type: Current Note

FSA

Baketime Ltd is recalling various branded biscuit, snack and confectionery products on a precautionary basis as they have been manufactured in unhygienic conditions. These products are sold by Aldi, Asvina, Booker and LBV.