An alleged Kumo Sushi Bacillus cereus outbreak in Stony Brook, New York has sickened dozens of patrons, according to news reports. People got sick on Saturday, September 9, 2023. The Suffolk County Department of Public Health believes that rice is the culprit. At least 28 people were sick and some were hospitalized. The Kumo Sushi & Steakhouse restaurant, also known as Kumo Japanese Steakhouse, is located at 2548 Nesconset Highway in Stony Brook. Known as "fried rice syndrome," when rice is not properly stored after being cooked, Bacillus cereus can grow. And the symptoms of a Bacillus cereus food poisoning infection can happen just hours after people eat the rice. The Suffolk County Police Department and local fire departments went to the restaurant after people called, … [Read more...]
Lazeez Shawarma Hot Sauce Recalled For Bacillus Cereus
Lazeez Shawarma Hot Sauce is being recalled in Canada because it may be contaminated with Bacillus cereus bacteria. The product was sold to hotels, restaurants, and institutions. The recall notice did not state whether or not any illnesses have been reported to the company or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to date in connection with the consumption of this item. The recalling firm is Lazeez Shawarma. Bacillus cereus can cause illness within 6 to 15 hours after eating food contaminated with this pathogen. It is commonly associated with fried rice, and causes "fried rice syndrome." The bacteria produces a toxin that is not destroyed by heat, so cooking food that contains this microbe will not make it safe to eat. Symptoms of this type of food poisoning include vomiting and … [Read more...]
How Do You Know If You Have a Bacillus Cereus Infection?
Bacillus cereus infections are very common in the United States. This pathogen causes about 63,000 cases of food poisoning every year in this country. It is responsible for the so-called "fried rice syndrome," where people get sick after eating reheated rice. The problem with fried rice is that when rice is cooled at room temperature, the bacteria present in that product can grow and produce toxins. And those toxins are not destroyed by heat. So when that leftover rice is used to make fried rice, people can get sick. Rice isn't the only vehicle for this pathogen, however. It is also associated with dishes containing potatoes, pasta, and cheese. And food poisoning associated with this pathogen is common in catering situations and restaurants. One of the toxins this pathogen … [Read more...]
Margherita Meats Pepperoni Recalled For Possible Bacillus Cereus
Margherita Meats Pepperoni is being recalled for possible Bacillus cereus contamination. About 10,990 pounds of the ready to eat product are being recalled. No illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with the consumption of this item. The recalling firm is Smithfield Packaged Meats Corporation, doing business as Margherita Meats, Inc. of Omaha, Nebraska. The recalled product was produced and packaged on June 17, 2021. It is 8 ounce plastic shrink-wrapped packages containing unsliced Margherita Meats Pepperoni. The lot code stamped on the product label is P1931C. The "use by date" is December 14, 2021. The product has the establishment number "EST. 19" inside the USDA mark of inspection. The pepperoni was shipped to retail locations nationwide. The … [Read more...]
Baked Potatoes and Cooked Rice: Why Are They Risky?
Did you know that baked potatoes and cooked rice are potentially risky foods? Those foods seem so innocuous, but they both can cause serious illness if not refrigerated promptly and reheated properly before eating. Both of these foods are called TCS, which stands for time/temperature control for safety. For baked potatoes, the risk is botulism, but only if the potato is cooked and cooled while completely wrapped in aluminum foil. The foil can create a low oxygen environment where the pathogen can grow and produce the toxin. Potatoes are a low acid food, which puts them in the high risk category for botulism poisoning. In fact, a botulism outbreak linked to home canned potato salad served at a church picnic in 2015 sickened 21 people. One woman died. When you cook a baked potato … [Read more...]
Center For Food Safety Challenges New Swine Inspection System
Center for Food Safety (CFS) is challenging the USDA's new swine inspection program with a lawsuit filed earlier this month. That agency, along with Food & Water Watch, is suing the USDA, stating that new rules about pork safety inspection in slaughter plants are dangerous for employees, consumers, and the animals themselves. The New Swine Inspection System (NSIS) lets corporation employees inspect the carcasses themselves instead of using federal inspectors, and also surrenders federal control over removing contamination from carcasses "without any minimum training requirements for slaughter-plant employees," according to CFS. This is a reversal to the swine slaughter inspection system that was put in place in the United States in 1906, when the Pure Food and Drug Act was … [Read more...]
DG/health Naturals Baby Cough Syrup Recalled For Contamination
Kingston Pharma, LLC of Massena, New York is recalling one lot of DG/health Naturals Baby Cough Syrup + Mucus because it may be contaminated with Bacillus cereus/Bacillus circulans. Bacillus cereus in food products can cause two syndromes: one of vomiting, and the other of diarrhea. These illnesses are usually mild and self-limiting, meaning that patients can recover without medial care. But some populations, including infants, young children, and those with weakened immune systems, can suffer serious and even fatal illness if they ingest these pathogens. No illnesses have been reported to the company to date in connection with this problem. The product was sold nationwide in Dollar General retail stores. The product, DG/health Naturals baby Cough Syrup + Mucus was sold in … [Read more...]
