Category Archives: Virus

USA – Hepatitis A “hat trick” – food service workers in Virginia, Indiana and Georgia putting patrons at risk

Posted on October 7, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Virginia: According to the Peninsula Health District, people who consumed food from Mr. C’s Pizza & Subs, located at 493 Wythe Creek Road, between September 12 through 21, September 30 and October 1 may have been exposed to the disease.

The PHD said risk to the public from this exposure is low, and there is no indication of any food products at this restaurant being the source of the infection.

If you have not been previously vaccinated and have never had hepatitis A, you are susceptible to the disease, and may be at risk if you ate anything from Mr. C’s Pizza & Subs on the dates mentioned above. Hepatitis A vaccines are available at various urgent care clinics and pharmacies and can be received at the PHD for free or at a reduced cost.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized, Virus, Virus Vaccination

USA – Cornerstone Premium Foods Voluntarily Recalls Frozen Blackberries Due to Possible Health Risk of Norovirus

Posted on October 7, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Cornerstone Premium Foods of Syracuse, New York is recalling a specific lot of product containing frozen blackberries (noted below) due to the potential of being contaminated with Norovirus. FDA testing of frozen blackberries was reported to have tested positive for Norovirus.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus. Consumption of product contaminated with Norovirus may cause acute onset of symptoms of gastroenteritis including severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Less common symptoms are low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Although most symptoms end within 48 hours, the elderly, young children and immunocompromised persons may develop prolonged, or more severe symptoms.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall. Impacted retailers have removed these products from store shelves. The FDA and the company continue to investigate the source of the issue.

Specific lot information is as follows:

Product

UPC Code

Lot Number

Expiry Date

Distribution Dates
16 oz Cornerstone Frozen Blackberries 8 55104 00765 9 GC 1 1092 9 April, 2021 4/2/2019-8/7/2019

Consumers who have purchased the products are urged to destroy or urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Cornerstone Premium Foods at 1-800-333-0949, Monday – Friday, 8:00AM – 5:00PM EST.

This product was sold to various retailers in NY, MA, PA, ME, FL, AL, WI, CT, and WV.

Label, Cornerstone Frozen Blackberries

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Posted in FDA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, Uncategorized, Virus

Australia – Byul Mi Kim Chi — Byul Mi Salted Clams 150g – Hepatitis A

Posted on September 27, 2019 by | Leave a comment

ACCC

Photograph of Byul Mi Salted Clams 150g

What are the defects?

The recall is due to possible microbial (Hepatitis A virus) contamination.

What are the hazards?

Food products contaminated with Hepatitis A virus may cause illness if consumed.

What should consumers do?

Consumers must not eat this product and anyone concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

Return affected product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Further information is available from Byul Mi Kim Chi on 0410 596 688.

Supplier
Byul Mi Kim Chi
Traders who sold this product

Korean grocery stores in NSW

Where the product was sold
New South Wales

Recall advertisements and supporting documentation

Recall advertisement.pdf (506.82 KB)

Coordinating agency

Food Standards Australia New Zealand is the coordinating agency for this recall.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Research, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized, Virus

USA – Worker Diagnosed With Hepatitis A At Yumcious Donuts in Philadelphia

Posted on September 23, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A food worker at Yumcious Donuts at the Quick Stop at 3001 Kensington Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to news reports. That person worked at that location between August 20, 2019 and September 4, 2019.

While the risk of contracting the illness is “very low” according to the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, they are recommending that anyone who ate there within the last two weeks get vaccinated against the pathogenic virus. Unfortunately, at this time everyone who ate there when the worker was contagious is past the two week window when the vaccine is effective.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized, Virus

USA – Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks, United States, 2017 Annual Report

Posted on September 23, 2019 by | Leave a comment

CDC

  • Highlights
  • In 2017, 841 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported, resulting in 14,481 illnesses, 827 hospitalizations, 20 deaths, and 14 food product recalls.
  • Norovirus was the most common cause of confirmed, single-etiology outbreaks, accounting for 140 (35%) outbreaks and 4,092 (46%) illnesses. Salmonella
    was the next most common cause, accounting for 113 (29%) outbreaks and 3,007 (34%) illnesses, followed by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, which caused 19 (5%) outbreaks and 513 (6%) illnesses, and Clostridium perfringens, which
    caused 19 (5%) outbreaks and 478 (5%) illnesses.
  • Mollusks (41 outbreaks), fish (37), and chicken (23) were the most common single food categories implicated. The most outbreak associated illnesses were from turkey (609 illnesses), fruits (521), and chicken (487).
  • As reported in previous years, restaurants (489) outbreaks, 64% of outbreaks for which a single location of preparation was reported), specifically
    restaurants with sit-down dining (366, 48%), were the most commonly reported locations of food preparation associated with outbreaks.

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Posted in Clostridium perfringens, E.coli, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, Salmonella, STEC, Uncategorized, Virus

USA – Deadly Doughnuts? Yet another food service worker with Hepatitis A

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has issued a warning of possible hepatitis A exposure after a Kensington doughnut shop worker tested positive for the infection. Health officials say the employee works at Yumcious Donuts at 3001 Kensington Ave.

The health department recommends anyone who purchased doughnuts from Yumcious or the Quick Stop at the same address between Aug. 20 and Sept. 4, should receive a hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible. People who have previously received two doses of hepatitis A vaccine or have had hepatitis A in the past do not need to be vaccinated.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized, Virus

RASFF Alert – Foodborne Outbreak Norovirus (GI, GII) – Live Oysters

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – foodborne outbreak suspected to be caused by and norovirus (GI, GII) in live oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from France in Denmark

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Norovirus, outbreak, RASFF, Uncategorized, Virus

Australia – Koryo Food Pickled clams – Hepatitis A

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FSANZ

Koryo Food Pickled clams

180g

Product information

Koryo Food Co. is conducting a recall of the above product. The product has been available for sale at Independent Korean/Asian Grocery Stores in NSW.

Date markings

Use By dates 191119 and 281119

Pickled clams

Problem

The recall is due to possible microbial  (Hepatitis A virus) contamination.

Food safety hazard

Food products contaminated with Hepatitis A virus may cause illness if consumed.

Country of origin

Produced in Australia from imported ingredients

What to do​

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact:

Koryo Food Co.
02 9718 9545

Related links:

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, FSANZ, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized, Virus

Australia – Byul Mi salted clams – Hepatitis A

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FSANZ

Product information

Byul Mi Kim Chi is conducting a recall of Byul Mi Kim Chi Salted Clams, 150g. The product has been available for sale at Korean Grocery Shops in NSW.

Date markings

Best Before 31/OCT/19 to 31/DEC/19

Kim Chi salted clams

Problem

The recall is due to possible microbial (Hepatitis A virus) contamination.

Food safety hazard

Food products contaminated with Hepatitis A virus may cause illness if consumed.

Country of origin

Produced in Australia from imported ingredients.

What to do​

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice. and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact:

Byul Mi Kim Chi
0410 596 688

Related links:

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, FSANZ, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized, Virus

Korea – KCDC pegs salted clam as culprit behind Hepatitis A rise

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Korea Biomed

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said that it has confirmed that contaminated fermented shellfish was the main culprit behind the hepatitis A outbreak this summer.

The KCDC came to the conclusions after conducting an in-depth epidemiological investigation.

The agency randomly sampled 270 of the 2,178 hepatitis A patients, diagnosed between July 28 and August 24, and surveyed whether they consumed fermented shellfish this summer. It found that 42 percent of the patients had eaten fermented shellfish during the incubation period.

KCDC also found that 80.7 percent of the 26 patients diagnosed with hepatitis A in August also ate fermented shellfish, while discovering Hepatitis A virus genes in 11 batches out of the 18 batches collected after the outbreak.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, KCDC, Uncategorized, Virus