The Food Standards Agency is reminding those who work with food and are suffering from symptoms of food poisoning, or those in close contact with someone who is, to stay away from work and see their GP. This is in light of the current outbreak of E.coli O157 in Northern Ireland.
At least 269 people are suspected to have fallen ill in an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 after eating at a restaurant in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s Public Health Agency announced on Sunday. This is by far the largest E. coli outbreak in the nation’s history.
The number ill consist of 90 laboratory-confirmed cases and another 179 probable cases. Probable cases are those with exposure and corresponding symptoms, but who have not been tested for E. coli infection in a clinical laboratory.
Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen
Tagged belfast northern ireland, e coli outbreak, food safety news, public health agency, science
RASFF – Salmonella in Rump Beef Meat in Italy sourced in Poland
RASFF – Yessotoxin in Mussels in Italy (Other Link BBB) Planktonic Algae (Dinoflagellates)
Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, RASFF, Shellfish, Toxin, Yessotoxin
Tagged food, planktonic algae, science
A new report suggests that hospital food is frequently contaminated with the dangerous diarrhea bug Clostridium difficile (C. diff).
Houston researchers found that about one-fourth of nearly 100 hospital food samples they tested were positive for C. diff. Among the worst culprits: turkey, chicken, and egg products, vegetables and fruits, and desserts. Almost all were cooked.
It’s only one hospital. And no cases of human infection were linked to the food.
But together with past research, the findings suggest that contaminated food may be an important route of spread of C. diff in hospitals, says researcher Hoonmo Koo, MD, an infectious diseases specialist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
Moreover, the temperatures at which hospital foods are cooked may be too low to kill the bug, he says.
An infectious diseases expert not involved with the research says the major C. diff strains that contaminate food are different from the ones responsible for human disease.
C. diff has been recovered from pigs, cows, and chickens, and the bug has been found in retail meat and salad greens. A few studies have found that the C. diff strains found in animals are the same ones causing human disease, but others have found the opposite.
A 2008 CDC study concluded that “although they share similar clinical features, evidence suggests that the predominant strains causing C. diff [disease] in humans and different animal species are distinct.”
Overall, though, surprisingly few studies have examined the possible link between C. diff disease in food, animals, and humans, according to both the CDC and Koo.
So the researchers tested about 2 tablespoons of each food item served over 80 days at a university hospital in Houston. The number that tested positive for C. diff:
Unsafe drinking water continues to burden developing countries despite improvements in clean water delivery and sanitation, in response to Millennium Development Goal 7. Salmonella serotype Typhi and Vibrio cholerae bacteria can contaminate drinking water, causing waterborne typhoid fever and cholera, respectively. Household water treatment (HWT) systems are widely promoted to consumers in developing countries but it is difficult to establish their benefits to the population for specific disease reduction. This research uses a laboratory assessment of halogenated chlorine beads treating contaminated water to inform a quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) of S. Typhi and V. cholerae disease in a developing country community of 1000 people. Laboratory challenges using seeded well water resulted in log(10) reductions of 5.44 (±0.98 standard error (SE)) and 6.07 (±0.09 SE) for Salmonella serotype Typhimurium and V. cholerae, respectively. In well water with 10% sewage and seeded bacteria, the log(10) reductions were 6.06 (±0.62 SE) and 7.78 (±0.11 SE) for S. Typhimurium and V. cholerae, respectively. When one infected individual was contributing to the water contamination through fecal material leaking into the water source, the risk of disease associated with drinking untreated water was high according to a Monte Carlo analysis: a median of 0.20 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.017-0.54) for typhoid fever and a median of 0.11 (IQR 0.039-0.20) for cholera. If water was treated, risk greatly decreased, to a median of 4.1×10(-7) (IQR 1.6×10(-8) to 1.1×10(-5)) for typhoid fever and a median of 3.5×10(-9) (IQR 8.0×10(-10) to 1.3×10(-8)) for cholera. Insights on risk management policies and strategies for public health workers were gained using a simple QMRA scenario informed by laboratory assessment of HWT.
At least 950 people in the Netherlands are now known to have fallen ill in a Salmonella Thompson outbreak linked to salmon. Three elderly victims have died.
The outbreak was first reported October 1 after more than 200 Salmonella illnesses were linked to smoked salmon sold by Netherlands-based Foppen. Subsequent environmental testing revealed the presence of the outbreak strain of the bacteria in one of the company’s manufacturing plants in Greece.
Now the outbreak has grown to include almost 1,000 Dutch victims, three of whom have died, reported the Netherlands’ National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) Thursday, according to MedicalXPress.
Meanwhile, health officials have identified a cluster of Salmonella Thompson infections in the U.S. The genetic fingerprint of this bacteria is indistinguishable from that of the strain causing the Dutch outbreak; however, patient interviews have revealed that Foppen smoked salmon was not a likely source of infection for these cases, according to Lola Russell, spokesperson for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella
Tagged food safety news, genetic fingerprint, science, smoked salmon
E. coli outbreak in Belfast is ‘a major crisis’ says PHA
The PHA said there are now 20 confirmed cases and 118 suspected cases of food poisoning following an investigation at Flicks restaurant at Cityside Mall.
Six people have been hospitalised since the start of the outbreak, but most have since been discharged.
Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen
Tagged e coli outbreak, public health agency, public health crisis, science
JagRma LLC of San Diego, CA is doing a Limited Voluntary recall on it’s 16oz NuttZo Original (Blue Label/UPC code 894697002030) manufactured in Oct and November 2011 with “Best Buy Dates 10/7/12-12/31/12 stamped on lid or bottom of jar,” because it has 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 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 to date.
With the FDA’s announcement of an expanded recall of Sunland Inc.’s peanut butter, AdvancePierre Foods of Cincinnati, OH, is initiating a voluntary recall of select frozen products including Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, Peanut Butter and Jelly Graham Cracker sandwiches and Peanut Butter cup products all produced at its Easley, South Carolina factory. In the best interest of consumers, AdvancePierre has decided to recall all of the potentially affected products, including those beyond the one-year shelf life.
The affected products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. To date, there have been no confirmed illnesses or injuries reported in connection with any of the AdvancePierre recalled products, and no other AdvancePierre products are being recalled at this time.
LIN-MAR PARTNERS, INC of Austin, Texas is recalling two varieties of Longhorn Bars: Roasted Peanut with Chocolate Energy Bars and Peanut Butter Trail Mix Protein Bars because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
No complaints of illnesses have been reported to date. Consumers are urged not consume the product and to return the bars to the place where they purchased them for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-512-561-5000 between 8 am and 5 pm CST.
Creative Energy Foods, Inc. (CEF) is voluntarily recalling Ridgebar brand nutrition bars which contain blanched roasted peanuts supplied to CEF by Sunland, Inc. The decision was made as the result of the expanded recall of peanut butter, nut butters and peanut products by Sunland because of potential contamination with Salmonella.
No illnesses associated with any of these products have been reported to date.
Creative Energy Foods, Inc. (CEF) is voluntarily recalling Crunch® thinkThinnutrition bars which may contain blanched roasted peanuts supplied by Sunland , Inc. to CEF. The decision was made as the result of the expanded recall of peanut butter, nut butters and peanut products by Sunland because of potential contamination with Salmonella.
Salmonella bacteria 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 cramps. Consumers with the above symptoms should consult their physician.
While no illnesses associated with any of these products have been reported to date, as part of our commitment to the safety and quality of our products we have decided to issue a voluntary recall.
The public warning issued on October 10, 2012 has been updated to include additional products. Previously identified products included in this recallcan be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/recalls.
The CFIA is warning the public, distributors and food service establishments not to consume, sell, or serve the beef products described in this link because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the Xan Confections brand Peanut Butter Chocolate products described in the link above because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain Clef Des Champs brand Organic Ground Ginger because these products may be contaminated with Salmonellabacteria.
The following Clef Des Champs brand Organic Ground Ginger products are affected by this alert:
| Product | Size | UPC | Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Organic Ground Ginger | 35 g | 6 97026 73441 7 | BFO11441B06 |
| Organic Ground Ginger | 500 g | 6 97026 70441 0 | BFO11441B07 |
These products have been distributed nationally.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.
Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella
Tagged science
Four Seasons Dairy Inc, 255 58thSt, Brooklyn, NY 11220 is recalling Herring Fillets “Atlantic Recipe” in oil in 16.66 ounces/500g because it may be contaminated with 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 persons may suffer only short term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
The product comes in a 16.66 oz/500g clean plastic tub with an expiration date of 12/11/12 stamped on the bottom. The recalled herring fillets were distributed nationwide and are a product of the Ukraine.
The contamination was discovered after sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Market Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. Consumers who have purchased 16.66oz/500g of Herring Fillets “Atlantic Recipe” in oil are advised not to eat them, but should return them to the place of purchase. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 718-567-7877.
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FoodWorld 