Research – How safe is the US food supply?

Posted on December 3, 2024 by | Leave a comment

New Scientist

Food in the US has a bad rap thanks to outbreaks caused by bacteria, plus processing, additives and food dyes, but the food supply is actually much less risky than people think.

Apple sauce containing lead. Onions carrying E. coli. Deli meat spreading listeria. The past year has seen alert after alert from US public health officials warning of contamination in the food supply, both in packaged and prepared foods. Going to the grocery store – or even out to eat – has seemingly become a real gamble.

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Posted in E.coli, food bourne outbreak, Food Microbiology Research, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak, Research

Research – Simple lab-free test to detect bacteria in fluids from water to urine

Posted on December 2, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Science Daily

A novel new test for bacteria in fluids makes it as easy as observing a colour change to confirm the presence of disease-causing pathogens, promising much easier diagnostic tests and greater food safety.

Engineers and biochemists at McMaster university have brought their skills together to make it possible for untrained users to confirm contamination in fluids using a biogel test that changes colour in the presence of such bacteria as E. coli, listeria and other frequent testing targets.

The test uses harmless bacteriophages embedded in the gel to locate target bacteria in a sample of fluid such as lake water, urine or a container of milk, even in low concentrations.

Bacteriophages are the most common form of life on Earth. Each form of bacteriophage is specialized to destroy one form of bacteria.

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Posted in Bacteriophage, Bio-Preservative, E.coli, Food Technology, Research, Technology

Sweden suspects sprouts in Salmonella investigation

Posted on December 1, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

A rise in Salmonella infections in Sweden has been linked to the consumption of alfalfa sprouts.

Folkhälsomyndigheten (the Public Health Agency of Sweden) said 92 people from 18 regions have been infected with one of 12 genetically closely related Salmonella Typhimurium sequence type (ST) 36 variants.

Patients fell sick beginning in August. There are 60 women and 32 men who are ill. Cases range in age from 1 to 89 and the median is 44 years old. Most are in the age groups 0 to 10 and 40 to 50 years old.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Salmonella in Sprouts, Sprouting Seeds

Research – Isolation and Detection of the Emerging Pathogen Escherichia albertii in Clinical Stool Samples and the Potential Transmission by Meat Samples in Retail

Posted on November 30, 2024 by | Leave a comment

MDPI

Abstract

The significance of Escherichia albertii as a foodborne pathogen is increasingly acknowledged, but the assessment of its occurrence and transmission remains challenging due to the lack of validation of selective isolation, detection, and identification methods. The aim of the present study was to examine its presence on various meat samples at the retail level in order to assess a potential foodborne transmission and its occurrence in clinical stool samples. First, the evaluation and selection of a selective enrichment broth and isolation medium, combined with an optimized identification by MALDI-TOF MS, as well as a suitable DNA extraction method and a PCR-based detection strategy were developed. After the evaluation of existing isolation strategies and the formulation of an adapted enrichment and isolation medium, 100% isolation specificity was not achieved. An identity confirmation of suspected colonies remains necessary. A total of 292 samples, including 45 beef fillet, 51 minced beef, 50 pork fillet, 30 minced pork, 30 chicken carcass, 51 chicken fillet, and 35 minced chicken samples were examined. Samples were all collected at the retail level, including supermarkets and local butcheries. Escherichia albertii was isolated from two chicken fillets (3.9%) and additionally detected in one minced chicken (4.5%) and two other chicken fillet (4.5%) samples by a PCR assay. All beef and pork samples tested negative for its presence, but transmission through these meat types cannot be excluded, as it potentially correlates with the level of fecal contamination that was significantly higher on poultry products. With other hygienic conditions and processing steps applied, the presence of E. albertii on food can therefore differ in other parts of the world. Escherichia albertii was present in 0.4% of the 2419 clinical stool samples examined. The future development of a chromogenic isolation medium, as well as further extensive epidemiologic approaches and a genomic comparison of human, food, and animal isolates, could enhance the assessment of the emerging pathogen status and its potential as a foodborne hazard.

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Posted in E.albertii, Escherichia albertii, Food Microbiology Research, Food Technology, Research, Technology

EU – Outbreak results reported at ECDC conference

Posted on November 29, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Experts have shared findings from Cryptosporidium, Listeria, Trichinella, and Salmonella outbreaks at an event in Europe.

Among presentations at the European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE) was one about the Danish perspective on two multi-country outbreaks. These included a Salmonella outbreak linked to chicken meat from Poland and Listeria in fish from a Danish producer.

The meeting organized by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) also discussed a July 2023 botulism outbreak linked to potato omelets (tortilla de patata) eaten in Spain. Italy and Norway had two cases of people who had been to Spain. Potential contamination pathways remain unknown.

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Posted in Cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium, ECDC, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Microbiology Research, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak, Research, Salmonella

USA – Costco Recalls Eggs due to Salmonella Risk

Posted on November 28, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Handsome Brook Farms is voluntarily recalling 10,800 retail units of the Organic Pasture Raised 24-Count Eggs sold under the Kirkland Signature brand name because these eggs have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonellacan result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

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Posted in food recall, product recall, Recall, Salmonella, Salmonella in Eggs

USA – Buffalo Wild Wings tied to Hepatitis A scare

Posted on November 28, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating a report of hepatitis A virus infection in an employee of Buffalo Wild Wings in Monterey Park (4000 Market Place, Monterey Park, CA 91754).

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Posted in Food Virus, Food Virus Illness, Hepatitis A

USA – FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on November 28, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • A new outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium (ref #1277) linked to a not yet identified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback.
  • For the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (ref #1269) linked to a not yet identified product, the case count has increased from 21 to 25 cases.
  • For the outbreak of E. coli O121:H19 (ref #1273) linked to organic whole and baby carrots supplied by Grimmway Farms, FDA has updated the outbreak advisory. FDA has also initiated an onsite inspection and sample collection.
  • For the outbreak of E. coli O26:H11 (ref #1272) linked to a not yet identified product, the outbreak has ended.

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Posted in CORE Investigation Table, E.coli O121, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, E.coli O26, E.coli O26 :H11, FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Salmonella, STEC E.coli O121

USA – CDC – Listeria Outbreak Linked to Ready-to-Eat Meat and Poultry Products

Posted on November 28, 2024 by | Leave a comment

CDC

CDC and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to recalled Yu Shang Food ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. If you have any of these recalled products in your home, throw them out or return them to the store.

Recalled food

Yu Shang Food ready-to-eat meat and poultry products

  • All products with “Yu Shang” (establishment number “P46684” or “EST. M46684”) on the label.
  • Includes all products produced prior to October 28, 2024.

See recall notice for full product list.

What you should do

  • Do not eat recalled products. Throw them away or return them to where you bought them.
  • Clean your refrigerator, containers, and surfaces that may have touched the recalled foods. Listeria can survive in the refrigerator and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.
  • Call a healthcare provider right away if you have these symptoms after eating recalled products.
    • Pregnant people usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.
    • People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.

What Businesses Should Do

Symptoms of Listeria

  • Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems. This is because Listeria is more likely to spread beyond their gut to other parts of their body, resulting in a severe condition known as invasive listeriosis.
    • For people who are pregnant, Listeria can cause pregnancy loss, premature birth, or a life-threatening infection in their newborn.
    • For people who are 65 years or older or who have a weakened immune system, Listeria often results in hospitalization and sometimes death.
  • Symptoms usually start within 2 weeks after eating food contaminated with Listeria but may start as early as the same day or as late as 10 weeks after.
    • People who are pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness.
    • People who are not pregnant usually have fever, muscle aches, and tiredness. They may also get a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or seizures.

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Posted in CDC, food recall, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, product recall, Recall

USA – FDA Enforcement Report – Pero Family Farms Squash Sliced Zucchinni & Yellow Squash – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on November 28, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Pero Family Farms Squash Sliced Zucchinni & Yellow Squash, Net Wt. 11oz (311g) Plastic Tray, 4 trays per carton, Microwavable Tray, Keep Refrigerated. UPC 874896009764

F-0149-2025

Class II
Lot # 346918 Expiration Date: 10/28/2024

3149 cases

Squash products potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

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Posted in FDA, FDA Enforcement Report, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes