Tag Archives: health

Dutch US Smoked Salmon – Salmonella Hundreds Sick

BBC

Scores of people in the Netherlands and the US have caught salmonella after eating Dutch smoked salmon, say Dutch health authorities.

About 200 people have fallen ill in the Netherlands along with about 100 people in the US, said the National Institute for Public Health (RIVM).

USA Today

Smoked salmon tainted with salmonella bacteria has sickened hundreds of people in the Netherlands and the U.S., sparking a major recall, health authorities said Tuesday.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment said the salmon has been traced to Dutch company Foppen, which sells fish to many major Dutch supermarkets and to stores around the world, including the U.S.

The institute said in a statement that around 200 people — and likely more — in the Netherlands and more than 100 people in the U.S. have been sickened

Foppen Company producing the products recall list.

US – Popcorn Recall – Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria Blog

Dale and Thomas Popcorn is voluntarily recalling a limited number of ready-to-eat bags of select flavors of Popcorn, Indiana-brand popcorn products (listed below) because of possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Anyone who is concerned about a possible health problem or illness should contact a healthcare provider immediately.

The potential for contamination was noted after testing by the company revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in some ready-to-eat bags of Popcorn, Indiana-brand products.

Even More Peanut Butter Product Recalls – Salmonella

FDA

Whole Foods Market is recalling Peanut Butter Power Chews and Treasure Trove Mix, both sold as bulk items, in seven stores in Florida and one store in southern California due to possible Salmonella contamination. Salmonella is 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 Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

No illnesses have been reported related to the bulk bin items. This recall is in response to a recall by Sunridge Farms/Falcon Trading who was supplied peanut butter by Sunland, Inc which has been connected to 30 illnesses in 18 states.

FDA

Jer’s™ Chocolates announced today that it has taken the precautionary measure of issuing a voluntary limited recall of some of its Gourmet Peanut Butter Bars and Gourmet Jer’s Squares produced from July 9, 2012 to September 24, 2012. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.

SUNLAND, Inc. has stated that twenty-nine people have reported Salmonella Bredeney PFGE matching illnesses in approximately 18 states. These illnesses were associated with Almond Butter, Peanut Butter, Cashew Butter, Tahini and Roasted Blanched Peanut Products produced by Sunland, Inc.

Jer’s™ Gourmet Peanut Butter Bars and Jer’s™ Squares HAVE NOT been associated with any of the reported illnesses and ALL of Jer’s Chocolates products have passed its internal quality control tests and procedures

“Our customers’ health and safety is paramount. This precautionary step is to protect our customers and their families from any, even if remote, possible risk”, says Jerry Swain, Founder/CEO of Jer’s Chocolates.

Norovirus – Wales and New Zealand

BBC News

A total of 74 people have become ill after visiting a hotel in Newport.

An investigation is being carried out after 51 guests and 23 staff were affected by a viral infection, which is probably norovirus, at the Hilton Hotel in Langstone.

They started to become ill last Tuesday and suffered diarrhoea and vomiting.

Hilton Worldwide said the wellbeing of guests and staff was of “paramount importance” and it had brought in “stringent” health and safety measures.

Public health officials say the outbreak is not linked to a particular function or event, but the virus was passed by someone originally infected.

Newport council alerted Public Health Wales two days after the first illnesses.

TVNZ

Virus outbreak hits Wellington childcares, resthomes

Outbreaks of norovirus and rotavirus have been reported at Wellington childcare centres and resthomes.

Regional Public Health had responded to outbreaks of gastroenteritis at four childcare centres and two rest homes since the beginning of the month, medical officer of health Jill McKenzie said.

The number of outbreaks was higher than usual and indicated stomach bugs were circulating in the community.

“The nature of these bugs is they don’t tend to infect one person because their viruses are quite infectious.

On-going Problem Salmonella and Small Pet Turtles

CDC

A total of 196 persons infected with outbreak strains of Salmonella Sandiego, Salmonella Pomona, and Salmonella Poona have been reported from 31 states.

  • 36 ill persons have been hospitalised, and no deaths have been reported.
  • 63% of ill persons are children 10 years of age or younger, and 29% of ill persons are children 1 year of age or younger.
  • 55% of ill persons are of Hispanic ethnicity. Information about the association between reptiles and Salmonella is now available in Spanish.

European Alerts – Listeria, Salmonella, Lactic Acid Bacteria

RASFF –  Listeria in Processed Pork in France sourced in Belgium

Germany – Listeria in Salmon

Denmark – Salmonella in Seasame Paste sourced in the Lebanon

Denmark – Lactic Acid Bacteria in Remoulade

 

FDA Recall – Tinned Smoked Salmon – Listeria monocytogenes

FDA

Spence & Co Ltd, Brockton MA, a smoked salmon company is recalling Wellsley Farms brand 16oz Nova Lot: 6704701 and Spence & Co brand 8oz Smoked Trim Lot: 6704701 due to an abundance of caution because of possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant woman.

No illnesses have been reported. The bacterium was discovered during routine sampling.

CFIA – Recall Fresh Cut Grillers – Listeria monocytogenes

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Pure Hothouse Foods Inc. are warning the public not to consume the Freshly Cut Grillers described below because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

These products have been distributed in Ontario.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

The manufacturer, Pure Hothouse Foods Inc., Leamington, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Tiny Turtles – 6 Linked Salmonella Outbreaks

Food Safety News

A series of 6 Salmonella outbreaks linked to contact with small turtles is now affecting 168 people from 30 states. That’s up from the 149 illnesses reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in its last update July 3. 

The 19 new cases have been connected with 4 of the 6 outbreak strains tied to these reptiles, including Salmonella Sandiego, strain A; Salmonella Pomona; Salmonella Poona, strain A and Salmonella Pomona, strain B. No new cases of Salmonella Sandiego, strain B or Salmonella Poona, strain B have been detected according to the CDC update issued Wednesday.
 
A total of 34 people have been hospitalized.

Another US Prison Food Borne Illness?

Food Safety News

Health department officials Tuesday were all over the maximum security Arkansas prison now known simply as the “Tucker Unit” as almost half its inmates are down with mystery gastrointestinal illnesses.
 
What’s causing the illnesses at the Tucker Unit, with a capacity of 796 prisoners, still was not known with suspect list including both foodborne illnesses and viruses. State health officials have stepped up their work to find the source.
 
“The number of inmates who have displayed symptoms is at 357, which is about what it was yesterday afternoon,” Shea Wilson, spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Corrections said. “We hope to hear a determination of what the cause is from the Health Department soon.”
 
About 15 officials from the Arkansas Department of Health were at the prison on Tuesday, interviewing staff and inmates and taking stool samples. Samples of all food served in the prison during the last five days are also being tested.