Tag Archives: health

Finland – Two Children Sick – E.coli EHEC – Raw Milk

Posted on June 29, 2012 by | Leave a comment

This is the translation from Finnish.

 Southwest Finland, a native of the four year old child was brought on Monday, 18.6. the next day he was diagnosed with EHEC (enterohaemorrhagic E. coli)-induced severe symptomatic infection. The child was forced to ICU care, but is already recovering from their illness.  Infection is suspected as the source actually purchased directly from the farm to a Finnish non-pasteurized milk (raw or tinkimaito). Another 1.5-year-old child has also been found with EHEC infection. This child had also consumed non-pasteurized milk. His illness did not required hospitalization. In addition three other people are suspected of being infected after drinking non-pasteurised milk.

 

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen

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Research – Rapid Cooling of Eggs and Food Safety

Posted on June 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Science Daily

Taking just a few seconds to cool freshly laid eggs would add weeks to their shelf life, according to a Purdue University study.

The rapid-cooling process, developed by Kevin Keener, a professor of food science, uses liquid carbon dioxide to stabilize the proteins in egg whites so much that they could be rated AA — the highest grade for eggs — for 12 weeks. Earlier research showed that the same cooling technology could significantly reduce occurrences of salmonella illnesses

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

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US – Multistate Salmonelle Montevideo – Live Poultry

Posted on June 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

At least 66 people have fallen ill in 20 states in a Salmonella Montevideo outbreak linked to live poultry from a Missouri hatchery, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday. Sixteen people have been hospitalized while one infected person in Missouri has died, though Salmonella infection was not considered a contributing factor to the person’s death.

Live poultry, such as baby chicks and ducklings, can transmit Salmonella to humans via direct contact. The CDC advises not to kiss or snuggle live poultry and not to let children handle them. Those who do handle live poultry should wash their hands immediately afterwards.
 
This is the second outbreak associated with live poultry this year in the USA.
 
 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Hand Washing, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella

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Hong Kong – Two Fatal Cases – Vibrio vulnificus

Posted on June 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Center for Health Protection

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is investigating two fatal cases of Vibrio vulnificus infection, with one of them causing necrotising fasciitis (flesh-eating disease).
The case of necrotising fasciitis caused by Vibrio vulnificus affected a 48-year-old man with underlying medical conditions who lived in Shenzhen
His clinical diagnosis was necrotising fasciitis and bilateral above-knee amputations were performed. His condition continued to deteriorate and he passed away yesterday (June 19).
The patient’s blood culture grew Vibrio vulnificus and his tissue and wound swabs also detected Vibrio vulnificus.
 The case of Vibrio vulnificus infection involved a 61-year-old man with chronic illness who lived in Yuen Long. He developed fever since June 16 and loss of consciousness on June 17. He was admitted to Pok Oi Hospital on the same day. His condition deteriorated and he passed away on June 18.
His blood specimen taken during his admission yielded Vibrio vulnificus.
 The CHP’s investigation revealed that the patient had consumed raw mantis shrimp

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Vibrio, Vibrio vulnificans

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US Shigella Outbreak Source Unknown

Posted on June 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Shigella Blog

Public health officials are investigating an unusually large outbreak of shigellosis, a bacterial gastrointestinal illness that has sickened 25 people in Onondaga County.

The county Health Department announced there have been 15 laboratory confirmed cases and another 10 probable cases of shigellosis. More than half the cases involve children. Two of the people infected have been hospitalised and some others have been treated in emergency rooms and urgent care centers, said Dr. Cynthia Morrow, Onondaga County’s health commissioner.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Shigella

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US- Carrot Juice Recall- Clostridium botulinum

Posted on June 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Healthy Choice Island Blends, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA, is recalling all sizes of LIQUID GOLD CARROT JUICE including 128oz, 64oz, 32oz, and 16 oz, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a serious and potentially fatal foodborne illness.

Foodborne botulism is a severe type of food poisoning caused by the ingestion of foods containing the potent neurotoxin formed during growth of the organism. Foodborne botulism can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking, breathing and swallowing. Weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms.

People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Liquid Gold Carrot Juice was distributed in California and sold wholesale to produce companies.

Product was sold in plastic see-through containers in gallon, half-gallon, and quart sizes. Product has a white label branded Liquid Gold with picture of carrots and a glass of carrot juice, with UPC Code 7 63213 00130.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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Spain – Salmonella Outbreak from Mining Bar

Posted on June 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Lavadad 

There has been a trickle of cases throughout the week, although it was only last Friday when health officials confirmed that this was an outbreak of Salmonellosis.

About 30 patients who had moderate gastroenteritis being treated by emergency centres in La Union and Cartagena, had a common feature in addition to their condition: they had been guests at the popular bar Mining Union.

 

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Salmonella

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Cryptosporidium Cases – USA

Posted on June 17, 2012 by | Leave a comment

WKTV.COM

The Oneida County Department of Health has announced that there have been six confirmed cases of Cryptosporidium and that the Oneida County Health Department is currently investigating the origin of the outbreak.

Officials are looking into the possibility of the outbreak stemming from the recent Farmfest event, but caution that no direct causal link has yet been determined.

Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes the intestinal illness and that it is usually a self-limiting illness with watery diarrhoea as the most common symptom. Average incubation is one to 12 days.

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Posted in Cryptosporidium, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Parasite, Pathogen, Protozoan

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Japan Raw Beef Liver Restaurant Ban – E.coli O157

Posted on June 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Global Meat News

Japan has announced that it will ban the sale of raw beef liver in restaurants, following a spate of food poisoning cases last year.

The Daily Yomiyuri

The health ministry has decided to ban restaurants from serving raw beef liver from July 1 due to food poisoning concerns, and violators of the new rule could be fined or even imprisoned.

The ministry made the decision after its food sanitation council approved the policy at a meeting Tuesday.

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli O-157 and Campylobacter bacteria, both of which can cause severe stomachache, have been detected in raw beef liver. A research report said it is difficult to remove or kill the bacteria through screening tests or disinfection, and that liver can only be guaranteed safe to consume if it has been cooked.

Operators of barbecue restaurants and other establishments that ignore the ban on raw beef liver could be sentenced to up to two years in prison or fined up to 2 million yen.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry presented comments submitted by the public over the month through May 18. Although most of the 1,532 opinions were against outlawing raw liver, ministry officials insisted a ban–backed up by penalties–was necessary because there is no 100 percent safe way of eating raw beef liver.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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US Dietary Supplement Recalled – Salmonella

Posted on June 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Oregon Live

A company in Ferndale, Wash., announced a recall Thursday of certain bottles of a liquid dietary supplement that could be contaminated with salmonella.

Botanical Laboratories is pulling a limited number of its Digestive 3-in-1 Health supplement after a supplier said one of the ingredients could be contaminated with the bacteria, which can be fatal in young children and frail and elderly people. The supplier, Corn Products International, said its Purimune — galacto-oligosaccharide, a soluble fibre shown to be helpful in digestion — had tested positive for salmonella.

The recall affects 38 bottles of the 33.8 oz. size and 275 bottles of the 16 oz. size of the liquid dietary supplement.

The bottles were sold nationally in retail stores and online after May 1.

FDA Recall Link

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

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