RASFF Alert – Animal Feed – Salmonella Poultry PAT

Posted on October 27, 2023 by | Leave a comment

RASFF

Presence of Salmonella spp in PAT from Italy in Spain and France

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Posted in Animal Feed, Animal Feed Salmonella, Animal Feed Testing, RASFF

A Dozen Salmonella cases linked to Raw Farm Milk

Posted on October 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

County of San Diego health officials are reporting three additional cases of Salmonella illness linked to unpasteurized or “raw” milk from a producer in Fresno, CA.

This brings the total number of local cases to 12, including three people who were hospitalized. The cases began in late September and the most recent person became ill on Oct. 17.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued a recall of Raw Farm milk and heavy cream Oct. 24, and a PDF that contains the specific product identification numbers with “best by” dates between Oct. 11 and Nov. 6. Additional raw milk products were not recalled.

The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency urges anyone who may have recently purchased Raw Farm LLC raw milk to not consume it and discard the product.

The illnesses have been caused by Salmonella bacteria, which is commonly found in human and animal intestines. The 12 San Diego County residents who became ill have reported consuming Raw Farm LLC raw milk the week before they became ill. Cases in other parts of the state are being tracked by CDPH and other local health departments.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Raw Milk, Salmonella

Research -Preliminary investigation of a significant national Cryptosporidium exceedance in the United Kingdom, August 2023 and ongoing

Posted on October 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Eurosurveillance

Across the UK, routine surveillance of cryptosporidiosis relies on mandatory laboratory notification. Since the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) week 33 2023 (starting on 14 August), and as at week 39 2023 (ending on 1 October), the combined weekly number of laboratory notifications of  spp. detections in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has exceeded the expected upper threshold (Figure); an exceedance in Scotland has only been present since ISO week 39.

Figure.Laboratory notifications of  species in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, by week of specimen, 2023
Figure

Observed case numbers are compared to an exceedance threshold as derived from the Farrington Flexible algorithm, using published methodology [10]; the model can account for seasonal effects and changing trends. The upper threshold limit reflects the 99.5% percentile of a negative binomial distribution for the expected case frequency.

Given the scale and geographical spread of the exceedance across regions and nations of the UK, a single local exposure is an unlikely cause.

In England, local practice varies in the routine collection of exposure information in cryptosporidiosis cases. To allow for consistent capture of information as part of this investigation, a standardised electronic questionnaire was deployed. This includes questions on foreign travel, food and water exposures and interaction with animals. Data collection through this method has been ongoing since ISO week 38 (and in retrospect), for cases meeting the following definition: any person resident in England, with a clinical specimen dated 14 August 2023 or later, positive for  (any species). In Wales, a standard questionnaire for gastrointestinal disease has been in place since before the exceedance.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

USA – Raw Farm Milk Salmonella Outbreak expands to Orange County

Posted on October 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) has identified seven cases of Salmonella illness in Orange County (OC) residents following consumption of unpasteurized or “raw” milk from Raw Farm LLC, which recently issued a recall of its raw whole milk and raw heavy creams products.

The HCA urges those who may have purchased raw whole milk or raw heavy cream products from Raw Farm LLC to not consume the products and discard them immediately. Anyone who becomes ill after consuming raw milk or products made from raw milk, particularly products from Raw Farm LLC, should seek medical care immediately.

All confirmed cases had illness onset within the past 30 days, with affected individuals ranging in age from one to 20 years old. The HCA continues to investigate the situation in coordination with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). The HCA is also reaching out to stores in the county who may be selling these products to assure that they are aware of the recall.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Raw Milk, Salmonella

USA – Utah Natural Meat and Milk Source of Campylobacter Outbreak

Posted on October 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Utah Natural Meat and Milk has been identified as the source of the Campylobacter outbreak in that state that has sickened at least 14 people, according to news reports. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services and the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food said that the pathogen came from that dairy that is located in West Jordan. According to the Salt Lake County Health Department, one patient was hospitalized but is recovering at home. The patient age range is from 2 to 73 years.

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Posted in Campylobacter, campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Raw Milk

Quebec – Absence of information necessary for the safe consumption of smoked salmon sold by the company Marché D. Boutin St-Félicien inc

Posted on October 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Quebec

QUEBEC CITY , Oct. 25 , 2023 /CNW/ – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the company Marché D. Boutin St-Félicien inc. (Metro), located at 1200, boulevard Saint-Félicien, in Saint-Félicien, advises the population not to consume the product indicated in the table below beyond 14 days following the packaging date. In fact, the retailer did not follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the lifespan of the product.

Product name

Brand

Format

Target lot

“Artisanal hot smoked salmon”

Henri
‘s Buccaneer

Unitary

Units sold until
October 25, 2023

The product which is the subject of this warning was offered for sale until October 25, 2023 inclusive, and only at the establishment designated above. The product was vacuum-packed in plastic wrap bearing the manufacturer’s image and sold refrigerated.

The operator has agreed with MAPAQ to broadcast this warning as a precautionary measure.

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Posted in food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, product recall, Recall

Research- Three clusters of Salmonella Enteritidis ST11 infections linked to chicken meat and chicken meat products

Posted on October 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

EFSA

Abstract

From 1 January–24 October 2023, 335 laboratory-confirmed Salmonella Enteritidis ST11 cases belonging to three distinct microbiological clusters have been reported in 14 EU/EEA countries, the United Kingdom and the United States, affecting all age groups. Most interviewed cases reported consumption of chicken meat, including chicken kebabs. Nine cases in three countries were hospitalised and one case in Austria died, highlighting the potential for severe and fatal infections from this outbreak. Following the food exposure information and the national investigations in 2023, the food safety authorities in Austria, Denmark and Italy investigated 10 food products (six contaminated by Salmonella Enteritidis ST11 cluster 1 and/or cluster 2), seven final producers in Poland and one in Austria. Traceability information revealed that three Salmonella-contaminated kebabs shared a number of Polish food business operators. The trading link of the suspected kebab suggests one or more common source(s)/point(s) of contamination in Austria, Denmark, and Italy. Following the collection of genomic information, the cluster analysis revealed the presence of the outbreak strains in the food chain in multiple European countries. Most positive foods sampled in 2022–2023 with shared epidemiological data originated from Poland. Given the information collected, contaminated chicken kebab and chicken meat are the plausible vehicles of the human infections reported in these three clusters. In the absence of conclusive microbiological evidence and comprehensive traceability, the role of the identified final producers, their meat suppliers, and the possible involvement of other food business operators as sources of the infections could not be confirmed or excluded. Further investigations are needed to identify the root cause of the contamination and the source of infections, which is crucial for prompt implementation of targeted effective control and corrective measures. As the source(s) have not been identified, new cases are likely to occur in this prolonged multi-country outbreak.

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Posted in Death, food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Polish Chicken Salmonella, Salmonella, Salmonella Poland

Norway – Outbreak of Salmonella infection

Posted on October 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Matportalen

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has been notified by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health about a national outbreak of the gastrointestinal bacterium Salmonella Napoli. So far, infection has been detected in seven people. The source of infection is not known.

An outbreak investigation has been initiated in collaboration between the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the Veterinary Institute and municipal chief medical officers. It is currently unknown what the source of infection is, but it is common for gastrointestinal bacteria to become infected through food. According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, the most common symptoms are diarrhoea, headache, abdominal pain, nausea and possibly fever.

– The Norwegian Food Safety Authority collects information from the sick persons about what they have eaten and what they have been in contact with. It may also be relevant to take samples of food and food packaging, says Anne Mæland, senior advisor in the biological food safety section of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Outbreak investigation takes time and the work is complicated. It is not always possible to find the source of infection in such outbreaks. If a common source of infection from food, animals or the environment is identified, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will follow up the tracing work along the food chain.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella

USA – FDA – Core Table -Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on October 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • An Outbreak Advisory was issued for the outbreak of Salmonella Thompson (ref #1190) linked to recalled Gills Onions brand diced onions. An onsite inspection and sample collection have been initiated. Additional information is available in the Outbreak Advisory.
Date
Posted		 Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness		 Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses
(if any)		 Total
Case
Count
Status
10/4/

2023

 1190 Salmonella
Thompson		 Onions See

Advisory

 Active
8/9/

2023

 1172 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Ice
Cream		 See
Advisory		 Active

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Posted in FDA, food bourne outbreak, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak, Salmonella

Canada – Lian Teng brand Enoki Mushroom recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on October 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Gov Canada

Lian Teng - Enoki muchrooms - Front

Product
Enoki Mushroom
Issue
Food – Microbial Contamination – Listeria
What to do

Do not consume, use, sell, serve or distribute recalled products.

Distribution
Ontario
Quebec

Issue

The affected product is being recalled from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

What you should do

  • If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider
  • Check to see if you have recalled products
  • Do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products
  • Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

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Posted in CFIA, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria Enoki Mushrooms, Listeria monocytogenes