Tag Archives: food poisoning

USA – Petting Zoo’s – E.coli O157

Food Poisoning Bulletin 19243

An E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to various county fairs and events around the state of Minnesota has sickened at least 13 people. The illnesses were caused by a traveling petting zoo, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

That traveling group, Zerebko Zoo Tran, goes from fair to fair during the summer. All of the confirmed cases have infections with E. coli O15:H7 bacteria with the same genetic fingerprint. Two of those cases are secondary cases, who were exposed to people sickened in the primary outbreak.

Environmental and animal fecal samples collected from Zerebko Zoo Tran yielded the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7.

USA – Soup Recall Possible – Clostridium botulinum

Food Poisoning Bulletin Clost

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is warning consumers not to eat any soup products made by Souperb of Richmond. The products were improperly processed, making them susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum toxin. A voluntary recall will be issued by the company later today.

No cases of illness have been reported to date. But botulinum toxin can causer serious illness and death, even in tiny quantities

USA – Cyclospora Outbreak Updates

Food Poisoning Bulletin 220px-Cyclospora_cayetanensis_stained

According to Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), there is a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora going on right now that has sickened at least 202 people in 19 states. Last year a huge Cyclospora outbreak sickened at least 621 people in 25 states. Some of those cases were never solved; one group was linked to produce imported from Mexico.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Texas cyclosporiasis cases have surged to 110, the state health department is reporting. This is the second straight year that Texas has experienced a cyclospora outbreak. Last year, 270 Texans were sickened by the rare parasite normally associated with travel to tropical or sub-tropical regions.

Many of the 2013 cases were linked to contaminated cilantro imported from Mexico. A food source for this year’s cases has not yet been identified.

USA – Updates – Stone Fruits Recalls – Listeria monocytogenes

Food Poisoning Bulletin 

Wegmans Food Markets Inc. of Rochester, NY is recalling in-store baked desserts containing fresh peaches, nectarines, and plums that may be contaminated with Listeria. The fruit was supplied by California-based Wawona Packing Company which has recalled the produce. No illnesses have been reported at this time.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled products should not eat them as Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious illness and death.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Wawona Packing Company of Cutler, Calif, is recalling certain lots of whole peaches, nectarines, plums and pluots for potential contamination with Listeria monocytognes. The fruits were sold at a number of stores including Costco, Sam’s Club and Trader Joe’s. No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall, but consumers who have purchased these fruits should not eat them as Listeria can cause serious illness and death.

UK – Nottingham Restaurant Closed – Food Illness

BBC News

More than 100 people fell ill after an “outbreak” of E. coli at a Nottingham takeaway, prompting an investigation by Public Health England.

The city council shut down The Khyber Pass in Hyson Green last month after reports of 13 people falling ill.

Now it has discovered 135 cases of gastrointestinal problems, 17 of which have been confirmed as E. coli.

The cause of the bug is not known and the restaurant will remain closed until the investigation is complete.

Public Health England says most strains of E. coli are harmless and occur naturally in the intestines of humans and other animals.

But some variants, such as E. coli O157, can cause food poisoning or other problems such as urinary tract infections.

Paul Dales, from Nottingham City Council, said: “While a high number of cases with food poisoning-like symptoms relating to Khyber Pass have been reported to us, we are confident the closure of the premises has contained the outbreak.

“Tests will continue in order to establish the source of the outbreak and until this is clear and suitable measures have been taken, the premises will remain closed.”

Public Health England says most strains of E. coli are harmless and occur naturally in the intestines of humans and other animals.

But some variants, such as E. coli O157, can cause food poisoning or other problems such as urinary tract infections.

Paul Dales, from Nottingham City Council, said: “While a high number of cases with food poisoning-like symptoms relating to Khyber Pass have been reported to us, we are confident the closure of the premises has contained the outbreak.

USA – Food Poisoning Orlando Marriott + E.coli O111 Cases in Minnesota

Food Poisoning Bulletin

According to the Orlando Sentinel, an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness has sickened several dozen guests at the Orlando World Center Marriott. Guests who were sickened stayed at the hotel and attended a conference between June 29 and July 7.

Public health officials at the Orange County Health Department think it is too early to tell whether the illnesses were food poisoning or caused by a virus such as norovirus. Most of those sickened were adults. One employee and several children have also experienced symptoms of the illness.

E.coli Blog

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is investigating 13 cases of foodborne illness associated with a type of E. colibacteria known as E. coli O111. This form of E. coli is in the same family as the more well-known E. coli O157:H7. All of the illnesses were caused by the same genetic strain of E. coli O111, and the ill people do not all share any obvious commonalities; these facts indicate the illnesses resulted from a widely distributed food item.

While seven of the people with E. coli O111 infections reported eating at Applebee’s restaurants in Minnesota between June 24 and 27, there are multiple cases with no apparent connection to the restaurant.

 

USA – Costco Recalls Foster Farms Salmonella Chicken

Food Poisoning Bulletin imagesCAYZ5I84

Costco is reminding consumers that fresh chicken products sold under the Foster Farms and Kirkland brand produced in March are being recalled for Salmonella contamination. The products are linked to a huge nationwide outbreak that has been ongoing since March 2013.

The recalled items have “use or freeze by” dates ranging from March 17, 2014 to March 31, 2014. The identifying plant marks on the recalled products are P-6137, P-6137A or P-7632 that should be inside the USDA mark of inspection.

If you have these products in your freezer, discard immediately or return to the place of purchase for a refund. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling these products.

 

USA – Chia Seed – Salmonella – Shigella at Walmarts – STEC – Sprouts Increase – Hepatitis A – Chicken Flocks – Salmonella – Sauce – Botulinum – Raw Milk – E.coli

I have been on annual leave so here is a summary from the USA.

Food Poisoning Bulletin – Chia Seed Salmonella Outbreak Grows to 73 Sick in US and Canada

Shigell Blog – Salsarita’s Restaurant: 158 with Shigella after 9 Health Code Violations

Food Poisoning Journal – As of June 27, 2014, a total of 18 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O121 (STEC O121) have been reported from five states.

Food Poisoning Journal – Hepatitis A Scare: Fort Collins Tortilla Marissa’s Restaurant

Food Poisoning Bulletin – Salmonella from Backyard Poultry Flocks Sickens 251 in 37 States

Food Poisoning Bulletin – Richard’s Too Good BBQ Sauces Recalled for Botulism Risk

Food Poisoning Bulletin – Raw Milk, Cream Recalled for Possible E. coli Contamination

 

 

 

UK – FSA Reports – Food Poisoning -Food Incidents

I have been on annual leave so here is a summary from the UK.

FSA

New research published today by the Food Standards Agency gives the most detailed picture yet of how many people suffer from food poisoning in the UK every year and how much food poisoning can be attributed to different foods

FSA

The Food Standards Agency has today published its latest Annual Report of Food Incidents. The report highlights the wide range of incidents we have managed during 2013. Last year, a total of 1,562 food and environmental contamination incidents in the UK were reported to and investigated by us. This figure was 42 down on 2012 but higher than in many previous years.

 

UK – FSA – We are Urging the Public to Stop Washing Raw Chicken

FSA food_standards_agency_logo

We have issued a call for people to stop washing raw chicken to reduce the risk of contracting campylobacter, a potentially dangerous form of food poisoning. The call comes as new figures show that 44% of people always wash chicken before cooking it – a practice that can spread campylobacter bacteria onto hands, work surfaces, clothing and cooking equipment through the splashing of water droplets.