Canada – Public Health Notice: Outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections linked to shellfish is over.

Posted on December 14, 2020 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Food Illness

In total, 23 confirmed cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus illness were reported in the following provinces: Saskatchewan (1), Quebec (7), New Brunswick (10), and Prince Edward Island (5). Individuals became sick between early July and late October 2020. One individual was hospitalized. No deaths were reported. Individuals who became ill were between 11 and 92 years of age. The majority of illnesses (61%) were male.

Table 1 – Number of people confirmed to be infected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus by week of illness onset or specimen collection
Week of symptom onset or specimen collection Number of cases
2020-06-28 1
2020-07-05 0
2020-07-12 0
2020-07-19 0
2020-07-26 1
2020-08-02 2
2020-08-09 2
2020-08-16 4
2020-08-23 3
2020-08-30 2
2020-09-06 5
2020-09-13 2
2020-09-20 0
2020-10-04 0
2020-10-11 0
2020-10-18 0
2020-10-25 0
2020-11-01 1

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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 Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Vibrio, Vibrio parahaemolyticus

New Zealand – Butchery at centre of Listeria scare says it is ‘devastating’

Posted on December 14, 2020 by | Leave a comment

STUFF

The butchery owner whose hams have been recalled due to fears they may contain listeria says the scare is stressful and devastating.

“We’ve been manufacturing hams for 23 years and had minimal complaints … and we’ve never had an outbreak of listeria like this before,” Pestell’s Rai Bacon Company Ltd owner Chris Pestell said.

The listeria cases were isolated to the ham, he said, and stressed that all other products were safe.

“We sell thousands of hams all over the south to lots of businesses and supermarkets, and lower North Island. We’ve built up a good reputation over the years.”

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes

USA – Cozy Vale Raw Milk again linked to E. coli

Posted on December 14, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Cozy Vale Creamery of Tenino, WA, is advising consumers to throw out or return any of the dairy’s retail raw milk and cream products with the best by dates of Dec. 12-14 through 12-23 because state tests showed E. coli contamination.

The unpasteurized dairy products were bottled in a gallon, half-gallon, quart, and pint containers, were sold to customers, including retail stores, in Western Washington. The dairy had pathogen problems at least twice in 2017.

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, Bacterial Toxin, Biotoxin, E.coli, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin

France – Product recall: Fromagerie des 2 Caps brand cheese from Les 2 Caps

Posted on December 14, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Oulah

Product recall: Fromagerie des 2 Caps brand cheese from Les 2 Caps

ENCOUNTERED PROBLEM

Presence of Escherichia coli

PROPOSED SOLUTION

People who hold the product in question are asked not to consume them – and more particularly young children, pregnant women, immunocompromised people and the elderly – and to return them to the point of sale where they were purchased.

People who have consumed it and who present symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting should consult their doctor as soon as possible, mentioning this consumption and the possible link with the bacterium Escherichia coli.

If there are no symptoms within 10 days of consuming the affected products, there is no need to worry and consult a doctor.

The E. coli bacterium is naturally present in the digestive microflora of humans and warm-blooded animals. Some strains of E. coli are pathogenic, and can be responsible in humans for various disorders ranging from mild diarrhea to more serious forms such as hemorrhagic diarrhea or severe kidney damage such as HUS, mainly in young children.

FURTHER INFORMATION

▸
320g packaging

▸ Barcode
3188500032848

▸ Lot
272

▸ DLC
• 11/17/2020
• 11/21/2020

▸ Veterinary identification number
FR 59.512.030 CE

▸ Consumer service contact
LOSFELD DISTRIBUTION is available to consumers to answer their questions on the telephone number: 03 20 28 99 60 (Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

▸ Areas concerned
• SUPER U CAMPHIN-EN-PEVELE
• SUPER U LUMBRES

▸ Source
https://www.coursesu.com/

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, E.coli, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin

France – Product recall: U brand Arugula and Mesclun salads – Salmonella

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Oulah

Product recall: System U brand Arugula and Mesclun salads

 

ENCOUNTERED PROBLEM

Presence of Salmonella

PROPOSED SOLUTION

Those in possession of this product are asked not to consume it and to return it to the point of sale where it was purchased for reimbursement.

Foodborne illness caused by salmonella results in gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain, often accompanied by fever; these symptoms may be more severe in young children, immunocompromised individuals and the elderly. The incubation period can range from 6 to 72 hours.
People who have consumed the products mentioned below and who have these symptoms are invited to consult their doctor, notifying him of this consumption.

FURTHER INFORMATION

▸
Arugula 150g • Lot: 27631323 – 27636358
• BBE : 10/12/20 – 11/12/20

▸ Mesclun 175g
• Lot: 27631353
• BBE: 12/10/2020

▸ Source
https://www.economie.gouv.fr/

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Oulah, Salmonella

France – Product recall: Mesclun 125g from Saint Eloi brand (Intermarché) – Salmonella

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Oulah

Product recall: Mesclun 125g from Saint Eloi brand (Intermarché)

ENCOUNTERED PROBLEM

Presence of Salmonella

PROPOSED SOLUTION

Those in possession of this product are asked not to consume it and to return it to the point of sale where it was purchased for reimbursement.

Foodborne illness caused by salmonella results in gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain, often accompanied by fever; these symptoms may be more severe in young children, immunocompromised individuals and the elderly. The incubation period can range from 6 to 72 hours.
People who have consumed the products mentioned below and who have these symptoms are invited to consult their doctor, notifying him of this consumption.

FURTHER INFORMATION

▸ Lot
27631329

▸ DLC
12/10/20

▸ Source
https://www.economie.gouv.fr/

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella

France – Product recall: Bonduelle brand Mesclun 145g – Salmonella

Posted on December 14, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Oulah

Product recall: Bonduelle brand Mesclun 145g

ENCOUNTERED PROBLEM

Presence of Salmonella

PROPOSED SOLUTION

Those in possession of this product are asked not to consume it and to return it to the point of sale where it was purchased for reimbursement.

Foodborne illnesses caused by salmonella result in gastrointestinal disturbances, diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain, often accompanied by fever; these symptoms may be more serious in young children, immunocompromised people and the elderly. The incubation period can range from 6 to 72 hours.
People who have consumed the products mentioned below and who have these symptoms are invited to consult their doctor, notifying him of this consumption.

FURTHER INFORMATION

▸ Lot, DLC and distributors 27631363 – 12/12/20 – Intermarché
• 27631345 – 12/12/20 – Intermarché
• 27631345 – 12/12/20 – System U
• 27631363 – 12/12/20 – System U
• 27631363 – 12/12/20 – Large grocery store in Paris
• 27631363 – 12/12/20 – Segurel (Transporter)
• 27631345 – 12/12/20 – Leclerc
• 27631363 – 12/12/20 – Leclerc
• 27631345 – 12/12 / 20 – Carrefour
• 27631363 – 12/12/20 – Carrefour

▸ Source
https://www.economie.gouv.fr/

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Oulah, Salmonella

Canada – Food Recall Warning – Eggs from Hilly Acres Farm recalled due to Salmonella

Posted on December 14, 2020 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, December 12, 2020 – Hilly Acres Farm is recalling eggs from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume and distributors, retailers, and food service establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals, and nursing homes should not serve, sell, or use the recalled products described below.

The recalled products have only been sold in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Only eggs from Hilly Acres Farm with best before dates indicated in the table below where the lot code contains “N38” or where there is no lot code on the package are implicated by the recall.

Recalled products

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Farmer John Eyking Large Size Eggs 12 eggs 0 73557 00002 1 DEC 27 N38
JAN 3 N38
JAN 10 N38
Farmer John Eyking Large Size Brown Eggs 12 eggs 0 73557 00005 2 DEC 27 N38
JAN 3 N38
JAN 10 N38
Nova Eggs Large Size White Eggs 18 eggs 0 59001 90118 2 JAN 10 N38

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home or establishment. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Background

This recall was triggered by test results. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Date code: JAN 10 N38
  • Farmer John Eyking: Large Size Brown Eggs - 12 eggs
  • Farmer John Eyking: Large Size Eggs - 12 eggs
  • Nova Eggs: Large Size White Eggs - 18 eggs

Public enquiries and media

Public enquiries
Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and U.S.)
Telephone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: cfia.enquiries-demandederenseignements.acia@canada.ca
Media relations
Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@canada.ca
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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, CFIA, food contamination, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Salmonella in Eggs

Research – Biofilm-Forming Ability of Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Retail Food in Poland

Posted on December 13, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Journal of Food Protection

ABSTRACT

Biofilms have a significant impact on food safety in the food industry. Many foodborne outbreaks have been associated with pathogenic bacterial strains that can form a biofilm. The present study was conducted under the Official Control and Monitoring Program in Poland to examine the ability of pathogenic bacteria collected from retail food samples to form biofilms. Biofilm formation was assessed by qualitative detection of extracellular polymeric substances on Congo red agar, by adherence to glass with the tube method, by the crystal violet biofilm (CV) assay, and by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. A total of 40 isolates from food samples (10 strains each of Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus) were examined. The strains were classified as adherent, slightly adherent, or nonadherent; biofilm production was classified as weak (WBP), moderate (MBP), or strong (SBP); and metabolic activity was classified as weak (WMA), moderate (MMA), or high (HMA). The incubation conditions and time influenced the amount of biofilm formed as well as did the growth medium. In the test tubes with Luria-Bertani broth (LBB), 22.5% of the strains were adherent and 77.5% were slightly adherent. Stronger adhesion was obtained in brain heart infusion (BHI) with 2% sucrose; 60% of the isolates were classified as adherent. With the CV assay with LBB, SBP was noted for 7.5% of the strains after 24 h of incubation and for 37.5% of the strains after 48 h. In BHI plus 2% sucrose, SBP was noted for 42.5 and 37.6% of the strains after 24 and 48 h, respectively. With the MTT assay with LBB, HMA was found for 15% of the strains after 24 h of incubation and for 25% of the strains after 48 h. In BHI plus 2% sucrose, 70 and 85% of the incubated strains were classified as HMA after 24 and 48 h, respectively.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • All tested bacterial pathogens isolated from food formed biofilms.
  • Biofilm formation was dependent on environmental conditions and the assay used.
  • Culture in BHI plus 2% sucrose produced more biofilm with higher metabolic activity.

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Posted in Bacillus, Bacillus cereus, Biofilm, E.coli, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Research, Staphylococcus aureus

Research – Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm-Forming Ability in Enterococcal Isolates from Red Meat and Poultry Preparations

Posted on December 12, 2020 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

kswfoodworld biofilm

This study investigated the resistance to antibiotics and the capacity to form a biofilm of 200 isolates of enterococci isolated from raw preparations of beef (51 strains), pork (47), chicken (50), and turkey (52) acquired in north-western Spain. Fifteen antimicrobials of clinical importance were tested by the disc diffusion method. The average number of resistances per strain was 4.48 ± 1.59. If resistant strains were taken together with those showing reduced susceptibility, the total number of resistances per strain was 6.97 ± 2.02. Two isolates (1.0% of strains) were resistant to a single antibiotic, twenty-two isolates (11.0%) presented resistance to two, one strain (0.5%) was resistant to three, and 175 isolates (87.5%) showed a multiple drug-resistant phenotype (MDR; defined as no susceptibility to at least one agent from each of three or more antimicrobial categories). The prevalence of resistance varied between 0.5% (gentamicin) and 100% (kanamycin). All strains produced biofilm on polystyrene microwell plates, determined using crystal violet assay. Isolates were classified as having a weak (51 strains; average optical density at 580 nanometers -OD580– = 0.206 ± 0.033), moderate (78 strains; average OD580 = 0.374 ± 0.068), or strong (71 strains; average OD580 = 1.167 ± 0.621) ability to produce biofilm (p < 0.05). Isolates from beef preparations produced the most substantial (p < 0.05) biofilms. The results of this study indicate that meat and poultry preparations are major reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant enterococcal strains capable of forming a biofilm. In order for food-borne infections to be prevented, the importance of careful handling of these foodstuffs during preparation, avoiding cross-contamination, and ensuring thorough cooking, is stressed.

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Posted in Antibiotic Resistance, antimicrobial resistance, Biofilm, food contamination, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Safety, Food Technology, Research, Technology