USA – 2023 – Research – Multiple Salmonella Outbreaks linked to Boston Restaurant

Food Poison Journal

In the summer of 2023, an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections occurred in the Boston area. Public health officials from the Boston Public Health Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health conducted investigations into what would become three rounds of illnesses associated with food prepared at Los Amigos Taqueria located at 366 Washington Street in Brighton, Massachusetts. A total of 126 ill patrons were identified. Sixteen people were hospitalized. No one died.

Research – Turkish study reveals high prevalence of Salmonella in poultry meat

Food Safety News

A study in Turkey has found nearly 40 percent of chicken products sampled contained Salmonella.

Researchers investigated prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and genomic diversity of Salmonella in raw poultry meat products across Turkey.

A total of 293 samples were collected, including chicken breast, skinned drumstick, skinned chicken chop, wing, chicken offal, and chicken patty.

Taiwan – Lethal toxin found in stool of chef from Taiwan restaurant in food poisoning case

Must Share News

A lethal toxin, found in blood samples of Taiwan restaurant customers suffering from food poisoning, has also been found in stool samples of a chef from the establishment.

The toxin is suspected to be responsible for the deaths of two customers after eating char kway teow from Polam Kopitiam.

Taiwan – Two more Taipei restaurants closed due to suspected food poisoning

Focus Taiwan

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Two restaurants in Taipei, owned by Wowprime Corp., have been closed temporarily, after a total of 22 customers fell ill with food poisoning symptoms, the Taipei City Government Health Department said Sunday.

The suspected food poisoning at the two Wowprime restaurants in the bustling Ximending area followed the recent closure of three restaurants in the city owned by the Malaysian brand Polam Kopitiam, after over 30 of its diners fell ill with food poisoning, and two of them died.

Sri Lanka – 120 plantation workers hospitalised due to food poisoning

Daily Mirror

Hatton, April 8 (Daily Mirror)- Some 120 plantation workers including children were hospitalized due to food poisoning after consuming food served at a Kovil in Nallatanniya last night.

The people had suffered vomiting, stomach ache, diarrhea and had been faintish after consuming the food served at a dansala of the Kovil and were admitted to the Maskeliya Divisional Hospital.

A medical officer at the hospital said 25 of them were receiving in-house treatment while the others had left the hospital after treatment.

Public Health Inspectors have obtained food samples to be sent to the Government Analyst.

UK Research – Campylobacter data 2013 to 2022

Gov UK

Main points for 2022

The 2022 report shows that:

  • the number of reported Campylobacter cases in England decreased from 55,642 cases in 2021 to 54,461 cases in 2022, a decrease of 1,181 cases
  • the region that reported the highest number of Campylobacter laboratory reports was the South East with 9,540 reports; however, the region with the highest rate per 100,000 population was the North East with 133.3 per 100,000.
  • overall, 54% of Campylobacter laboratory-confirmed cases in England were male
  • the age group with the highest number of laboratory reports was the 50 to 59 year old age category
  • consistent with previous years’ 5-year median, in 2022 Campylobacter reporting peaked in the month of June
  • species was only reported for 23% of laboratory reports, the majority of which were Campylobacter jejuni (20% of all cases)

France – Raw milk goat cheese – STEC E.coli

Gov France

Product category
Food
Product subcategory
Milk and dairy products
Product brand name
Earl Louet
Model names or references
Faisselle,Pyramid,log,round,White pyramid,Touré,Crottin
Product identification
Batch Date
03/25, 03/26, 03/27 Use-by date 05/17/2024
Packaging
Wooden box Paper packaging
Start/end date of marketing
From 03/25/2024 to 03/29/2024
Storage temperature
Product to keep in the refrigerator
Geographical sales area
Whole France
Distributors
Carrefour Buzançais, Intermarché Buzançais, Farm, Marché Palluau, Marché Pellevoisin, Ricardel, Marché Buzançais

Viet Nam – 1 student dead, dozens hospitalized for suspected food poisoning in Vietnam

English News

HANOI, April 5 (Xinhua) — A fifth-grade student died and dozens of others were hospitalized on Friday morning in Vietnam’s central city of Nha Trang after having breakfast sold by street vendors or at local food stalls, Vietnam News Agency reported.

After having breakfast on Friday morning, a student from Vinh Truong primary school reportedly felt sick and fainted.

Doctors said the cases were suspected to be caused by food poisoning, VnExpress reported.

As of Friday noon, those students’ state of health has been stable, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Local authorities were further investigating the cause of the case

New Zealand – Prolife Foods Value Pack and Refill Pack Products Containing Peanuts – Aflatoxin

MPI

New Zealand – Recall of peanut products due to aflatoxin above acceptable levels

MPI

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is supporting Prolife Foods in its recall of specific batches of various Value Pack and Refill Pack products containing peanuts.

“The concern with these products is that they contain levels of aflatoxins above the allowable level in New Zealand,” says NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

The products affected by this recall are:

  • Value Pack (VP) Nuts and Raisins (400g) with a Best Before: 29 SEP 2024
  • Value Pack (VP) Roasted Salted Peanuts (400g) with a Best Before: 08 OCT 2024 and 15 OCT 2024
  • Value Pack (VP) Roasted Salted Peanuts (750g) with a Best Before 08 OCT 2024
  • Refill Pack brand Roasted Nut Mix (850g) with a Best Before: 05 OCT 2024
  • Refill Pack brand Raw Nut Mix (850g) with a Best Before: 05 OCT 2024

“If you have bought any of these products, don’t consume them and return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

“Aflatoxins are naturally occurring in many food products and are produced by a group of moulds that grow on foods produced in hot and tropical climates.

“Levels of aflatoxin in the New Zealand diet are usually very low and don’t represent a health risk, however, consumption of food products with increased levels of aflatoxin over an extended period of time can be harmful.”

The affected products are sold at selected supermarkets throughout New Zealand.

Visit New Zealand Food Safety’s recall page for more information about batch details and photographs of the affected product.

“The recalled products are imported and, although they have undergone the necessary testing, they were released by the importer in error without confirming the results,” says Mr Arbuckle.

The products have been removed from stores. The affected products are not available overseas.

“As is our usual practice, NZFS will work with Prolife Foods to understand how the products were released and to prevent it happening again,” Mr Arbuckle said.

New Zealand Food Safety has not received any notifications of associated illness.

If you have consumed any of this product and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 61 11 16 for free advice.