USA – Whole Foods Market in Beverly Hills linked to Hepatitis A scare

Food Poison Journal

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating a report of hepatitis A virus infection in an employee of Whole Foods Market in Beverly Hills (239 N. Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210).

No additional cases have been identified at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

Based on the employee’s job duties and symptoms while at work, Public Health is recommending that anyone who purchased products from the seafood counter section of the store between April 20th and May 13th receive hepatitis A vaccine if they are not already immune. People who have not received the hepatitis A vaccine or had a previous hepatitis A infection may not be protected from the virus.

UK – Cases double in cryptosporidium parasite outbreak as ‘100 more have symptoms’

UK News Yahoo

The number of confirmed cases of a waterborne disease caused by a microscopic parasite has more than doubled, while more than 100 further people have reported similar symptoms. Around 16,000 households and businesses in the Brixham area of Devon have been told not to use their tap water for drinking without boiling and cooling it first.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Friday that 46 cases of cryptosporidium had now been confirmed in the fishing town, up from 22 cases on Thursday, and that more cases were anticipated. It added other reported cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in residents and visitors to Brixham were also under investigation.

Dr Bayad Nozad, consultant in health protection at UKHSA, said the Government agency was aware of further reports of illness above their confirmed numbers.

P&O Ventura cruise ship on lockdown plagued by Norovirus with hundreds of cases

Mirror Online

A cruise ship plagued with hundreds of cases of Norovirus has been placed on lockdown while health agencies investigate, insiders have told the Mirror.

Countless passengers have shared horror stories in recent weeks after boarding the P&O Ventura from Southampton. Holidaymakers described violent bouts of sickness, toilets “covered in excrement” and slammed the cruise ship company for its “disgraceful handling” of the situation. The outbreak allegedly started six weeks ago, during which time several cruises have gone ahead.

India – 90 persons hospitalised after eating food during temple feast in Maharashtra’s Nanded

Indian Express

“A feast was organised and food was served to devotees just outside a Shiva temple. They were given ‘ambil’ (porridge) and ‘khir’ (a sweet dish made from milk) to eat,” a police official said.

USA – Update to Palmer Candy Company Recall of White Confectionary Products Because of Possible Health Risk – Salmonella

FDA

The firm previously issued a public notification on 05/06/2024. The firm is issuing this public notification to include additional best by dates and products.

This press release was updated to include additional best by dates of the products:

Caramel Swirl Pretzels 4oz
Cookies & Cream Yummy Chow 14#
Munchy Medley 4oz
Peanut Butter Snack Mix 12oz
Vanilla Yogurt Covered Pretzels 10oz
Zebra Fudge Cookies 7oz

and to include the following two items:

Patriotic White Fudge Cookies 13.5oz
Drizzled Caramel Corn 5oz and 12oz

The revisions are identified in bolded and highlighted text.

The recalled confectionary items were distributed nationwide in Walmart, HyVee, Target, Dollar General, and to distributors in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The product comes in a variety of retail packaging like bags, pouches and tubs.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

Palmer Candy was notified by its liquid coating supplier that there was a potential for contamination with salmonella from an ingredient that was potentially contaminated from one of their suppliers.

Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.

Consumers who have purchased White coated confectionary items manufactured by Palmer Candy Company are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-831-0828 Monday through Friday 8am – 5pm.

PRODUCTS BEST BY DATES
CARAMEL SWIRL PRETZELS 4oz 12/18/24-12/28/24
CARAMEL SWIRL PRETZELS 6oz 12/19/24, 12/20/24 and 1/19/25
CLASSIC YOGURT PRETZELS 28# 12/11/24 – 1/8/25
COOKIES & CREAM YUMMY CHOW 14# 12/6/24 – 1/23/25
ENROBED PRETZEL RODS 8oz 1/22/2025
FAVORITE DAY BAKERY WHITE FUDGE MINI COOKIES 7oz 4/4/25, 4/5/25, 4/15/25 – 4/18/25
FROSTED MUNCHY MEDLEY BOWL 15oz 1/3/2025
FROSTED PATRIOT FROSTED PRETZELS 28# 1/2/25, 1/3/25
FROSTED PRETZELS 6oz 1/23/2025
MUNCHY MEDLEY 15# 12/14/24, 1/3/25
MUNCHY MEDLEY 4oz 12/25/24 – 12/28/24 and 1/19/25
MUNCHY MEDLEY TO GO 4oz 12/25/24 – 1/19/25
MUNCHY MEDLEY 6oz 12/20/24, 4/25/25
PATRIOTIC MUNCHY MEDLEY BOWL 15oz 1/19/2025
PATRIOTIC PRETZELS 14oz 1/25/25, 1/26/25
PATRIOTIC PRETZELS 6oz 1/19/2025
PATRIOTIC RED, WHITE & BLUE PRETZEL TWISTS 14oz 12/13/24 – 1/15/25
PATRIOTIC SNACK MIX 13oz 1/19/25 – 2/1/25
PATRIOTIC WHITE FUDGE COOKIES 13.5oz 4/22/2025
PATRIOTIC WHITE FUDGE COOKIES 7oz 4/23/25, 4/24/25
PEANUT BUTTER SNACK MIX 12oz 11/13/24 – 12/22/24
PEANUT BUTTER SNACK MIX TO GO 4.5oz 1/18/2025
SNACKIN’ WITH THE CREW! MIZZOU MUNCHY MEDLEY 7oz 12/18/24, 12/19/24
SNACKIN’ WITH THE CREW! TIGER TREATS 7oz 12/18/24, 12/19/24
STAR SNACKS CHOW DOWN 25# 12/6/24, 12/7/24
STRAWBERRY YOGURT COATED PRETZELS 10oz 1/5/25, 1/23/25
SWEET SMILES YOGURT COVERED PRETZELS 3.25oz 12/18/24 – 1/4/25
VANILLA YOGURT COVERED PRETZELS 10oz 12/18/24, 1/5/25, 1/22/25
YOGURT PRETZEL 14# 12/14/24 – 12/21/24
ZEBRA FUDGE COOKIES 7oz 3/20/25 – 4/30/25
DRIZZLED CARAMEL CORN 5oz 1/22/2025
DRIZZLED CARAMEL CORN SNACK MIX BOWL 12oz 1/22/2025

Original Press Release


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Palmer Candy Company
 1-800-831-0828

Germany – Sliced ​​Cloud Ear Fungus – dried mushrooms – Salmonella

Lebensmittelwarnung

Alert type: Groceries
Date of first publication: May 17, 2024
Product name:

Sliced ​​Cloud Ear Fungus – dried mushrooms

Manufacturer (distributor):

Hung Van Do Halberstädter Straße 183, 39112 Magdeburg

Reason for warning:

Detection of salmonella

Packaging Unit: 1 kg
Durability: Best before: April 16, 2025
Production date: October 16, 2023
Additional Information:

We have determined that this product is contaminated with Salmonella Weltevreden. If prepared incorrectly, salmonella causes symptoms such as sudden diarrhea, headaches, stomach aches, general malaise and occasionally vomiting, and often a slight fever. If symptoms persist, please seek medical help immediately.
We ask all customers who have purchased this product not to consume or resell it and to return it immediately to the following store:
Address:
Hung Van Do Halberstädter Straße 183, 39112 Magdeburg Tel.:0172 8186146
You will be refunded the full purchase price, too without presenting the receipt.

Click to access SOFORTIGER+PRODUKTR%DCCKRUF.pdf

USA – United Supermarkets Advises Guests in New Mexico and Texas of Palmer Candy’s Voluntary Recall of White Coated Confectionary Items Due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

FDA

LUBBOCK, TX — May 17, 2024 — United Supermarkets is advising guests about a recall by its supplier Palmer Candy of its white coated confectionary items due to possible Salmonella contamination. Palmer Candy was notified by its liquid coating supplier that there was a potential for contamination with Salmonella from an ingredient that was potentially contaminated from one of their suppliers. The white coated confections items include Chocolate Caramel Corn and Candy Trays available for purchase at Albertsons Market, Amigos, Market Street and United stores in New Mexico and Texas. The FDA’s recall announcement can be found here.

Product Name

UPC

Size

Sell Thru Dates

Store Banners

States

Chocolate Caramel Corn 20942400000 1/5 oz Sell thru dates from
August 26, 2024, up
To and including
September 12, 2024
Albertsons
Market, Amigos,
Market Street,
United
NM, TX
Candy Tray 20647600000 1/25 oz Sell thru dates from
August 26, 2024, up
To and including
September 12, 2024
Albertsons
Market, Amigos,
Market Street,
United
NM, TX

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Guests who have purchased these items are urged not to consume these products and to dispose of them or return the items to their local store for a full refund. There have been no known reports of injuries or adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Guests with questions should contact Albertsons Companies’ Customer Service Center at 1-877-723-3929 Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PST.


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Albertsons Companies’ Customer Service Center
 1-877-723-3929

Research – Rapid detection of the source of a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in Switzerland through routine interviewing of patients and whole-genome sequencing

SMW

In summer 2022, 20 patient-derived L. monocytogenes serotype 4b sequence type 388 strains were found to belong to an outbreak cluster (≤10 different alleles between neighbouring isolates) based on core genome multilocus sequence typing analysis. Geographically, 18 of 20 outbreak cases occurred in northeastern Switzerland. The median age of patients was 77.4 years (range: 58.1–89.7), with both sexes equally affected. Rolling analysis of the interview data revealed smoked trout from a local producer as a suspected infection source, triggering an on-site investigation of the production facility and sampling of the suspected products by the responsible cantonal food inspection team on 15 July 2022. Seven of ten samples tested positive for L. monocytogenes and the respective cantonal authority ordered a ban on production and distribution as well as a product recall. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office released a nationwide public alert covering the smoked fish products concerned. Whole-genome sequencing analysis confirmed the interrelatedness of the L. monocytogenes smoked trout product isolates and the patient-derived isolates. Following the ban on production and distribution and the product recall, reporting of new outbreak-related cases rapidly dropped to zero.

Research – Scientists call for more awareness of raw pet food risks for people

Food Safety News

A study has added to evidence of the risk posed by contaminated raw pet food to human health.

Researchers investigated whether dog food, including raw meat-based diets (RMBD), available in Portugal can be a source of Salmonella or other Enterobacteriaceae strains resistant to last-line antibiotics such as colistin.

Since 2020, there have been more than 20 reports or recalls of pet food and RMBD in the EU because of the detection of pathogens.

Fifty-five samples from 25 brands of various meat and dog food types from 12 suppliers were screened by standard cultural methods between September 2019 and January 2020. Forty-one of the 55 samples were processed, and 14 were raw, according to the study published in the journal Eurosurveillance.

Research – Inactivation mechanism of phenyllactic acid against Bacillus cereus spores and its application in milk beverage

Science Direct

Phenyllactic acid (PLA) as a natural phenolic acid exhibits antibacterial activity against non-spore-forming bacteria, while the inhibitory effect against bacterial spore remained unknown. Herein, this study investigated the inactivation effect of PLA against Bacillus cereus spores. The results revealed that the minimum inhibitory concentration of PLA was 1.25 mg/mL. PLA inhibited the outgrowth of germinated spores into vegetative cells rather than germination of spores. PLA disrupted the spore coat, and damaged the permeability and integrity of inner membrane. Moreover, PLA disturbed the establishment of membrane potential due to the inhibition of oxidative metabolism. SEM observations further visualized the morphological changes and structural disruption caused by PLA. Besides, PLA caused the degradation of DNA of germinated spores. Finally, PLA was applied in milk beverage, and showed promising inhibitory effect against B. cereus spores. This finding could provide scientific basis for the application of PLA against spore-forming bacteria in food industry.