There are now seven active outbreak investigations on the FDA's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. Of those outbreaks, only one is solved. The others, including three cyclospora outbreaks, one Salmonella outbreak, one E. coli O26 outbreak, and one E. coli O157:H7 outbreak, remain unsolved. For the first cyclospora outbreak, the case count has increased to 47 sick, up from 39 in the last update. Traceback has been initiated, and samples have been collected and are being analyzed. In the second cyclospora outbreak, the case count has increased from 121 sick to 140. In that investigation, traceback has started and samples have been collected and analyzed. In the third cyclospora outbreak, the case count has increased by one more patient, from 68 to 69. Traceback has started, an … [Read more...]
Canadian Ground Beef Recall For E. coli O157 Updated
The Canadian ground beef recall for possible E. coli O157 contamination has been updated with more information. The ground beef was produced by JBS Food Canada ULC. No illnesses have been reported to the company or the government to date in connection with this problem. The products were sold in Quebec at the retail level. These products were further processed by other companies into raw ground beef products. The recalled items were sold exclusively at Provigo Hull, located at 1 du Plateau in Gatineau, Quebec, and at Metro (Marche Kelly), located at 910 Maloney Boulevard East, also in Gatineau, Quebec. The Canadian ground beef recall items are Provigo medium ground beef club pack, sold in variable package sizes. The UPC number starts with 0 213026, and all best before dates from … [Read more...]
Provigo Ground Beef Recalled For Possible E. coli O157 Contamination
Provigo ground beef is being recalled in Canada by JBS Food Canada for possible E. coli O157 contamination. The ground beef was sold in Quebec at the retail level. The ground beef was sold at Provigo Hull, 1 du Plateau, in Gatineau, Quebec. No illnesses have been reported to the company or the government to date in connection with this issue. The recalled products are Provigo ground beef in medium grind, in a club pack. The package sizes are variable. The UPC number on the label starts with 0 213026. All packages with the best before dates of 16.SE2020, 17.SE2020, or 18.Se2020 are recalled. Also recalled is Provigo lean ground beef fresh club pack, also packaged in variable size packages. The UPC number on that product starts with 0 217334. All packages with the best before dates … [Read more...]
Carnivora Fresh Frozen Patties Recalled For E. coli O157 in Canada
Carnivora fresh frozen patties recalled for E. coli contamination in Canada. There is an outbreak linked to some of these recalled pet food products that has sickened four people as of June 12, 2020. There is a risk that pets fed this food could get sick or become healthy carriers and could pass the illness on to humans. There is also a risk of cross-contamination between the food and objects in the home. About 1,803 units of the affected product were sold in Canada from January 13, 2020 to June, 2020. The recalled products are all Carnivora brand. They include Whole Animal Chicken Dinner with Vegetables 'n' Fruit, Ultra Premium Fresh Frozen Patties for Dogs & Cats, sold in 4 pound (1820 gram) bags. The UPC number on the product is 689076622271, and the date codes are 13 01 … [Read more...]
E. coli O157 Outbreak Linked to Carnivora Raw Pet Food in Canada
An E. coli O157 outbreak linked to Carnivora raw pet food in Canada has sickened four people in three provinces as of June 12, 2020. The outbreak is ongoing, as more illnesses continue to be reported to Public Health Agency of Canada. This is not the first time human illnesses have been linked to raw frozen pet food. Exposure to Carnivora brand frozen raw pet food has been identified as the likely source of the outbreak. All of the ill persons said they were exposed to Carnivora brand frozen raw pet food or to dogs who have been fed this product, before they got sick. The patient case count by province is: British Columbia (1), Alberta (2), and Manitoba (1). Illness onset dates range from early March and mid-May 2020. Two of the patients have been hospitalized. And the patient … [Read more...]
The Butcher’s Blend Ground Beef Recalled in Canada for Possible E. coli O157 Contamination
The Butcher's Blend is recalling some extra lean ground beef products in Canada for possible E. coli O157 contamination. Consumers should not eat these recalled products, even if they are going to cook them. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall. The recalled products include Extra Lean Ground Beef with no brand name in 1 pound packages. There are no codes on this product because it was sold by The Butcher's Blend at the Western Fair District Farmer's Market on June 16, 2018. The product also does not have a UPC number. Mitchell's Butcher's Blend/Old East Village Grocer Extra Lean Ground Beef is also recalled. It was sold in about 1 pound packages. The best before date is JUN 23/18, and the UPC number starts with 0 200150. Finally, Mitchell's … [Read more...]
IFSAC Releases Foodborne Illness Source Attribution Estimates for 2013 for Salmonella, E. coli O157, Listeria, and Campylobacter
The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration (IFSAC) has released foodborne illness source attribution estimates for 2013 for four bacteria: Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter. This agency is a collaboration between the CDC, the FDA, and the USDA-FSIS. The agency identifies foods that are important causes of human illness. It focuses its efforts on those four bacteria, which are responsible for most food poisoning illnesses in the United States. The CDC estimates that these four pathogens cause 1.9 million foodborne illness cases every year. They base that estimate by calculating the most common food sources that are linked to illnesses. Overall, about 9,000,000 Americans are sickened with food poisoning. More than 56,000 are … [Read more...]
E. coli O157 Outbreak in Canada Linked to Romaine Lettuce Grows; One Person Has Died
The E. coli O157 outbreak in Canada that is linked to romaine lettuce has grown. Nine more people are sick, Ontario and Nova Scotia have been added to the case count, and one person has died. There are now 30 people sick in five provinces. There are no product recalls linked to these illness at this time. Romaine lettuce has been identified as the product that has caused this outbreak. The investigation is ongoing and Public Health Agency of Canada will update the outbreak on a regular basis. The case count by province is: Ontario, (6), Quebec (5), New Brunswick (5), Nova Scotia (1), and Newfoundland and Labrador (13). People got sick in November and December 2017. Twelve people have been hospitalized in this E. coli O157 outbreak. The patient age range is between 4 and 80 years … [Read more...]
An E. coli O157 Outbreak in Canada is Linked to Romaine Lettuce, Sickening 21 People in 3 Provinces
An E. coli O157 outbreak in Canada is linked to romaine lettuce. There are no product recalls at this time associated with this outbreak. At least 21 people are sick in three provinces. The case count by province is: Quebec (3), New Brunswick (5), and Newfoundland and Labrador (13). Ten of those patients have been hospitalized because their illness is so serious. All of these people got sick in middle and late November 2017. The patient age range is from 5 to 72. Most of the cases, 72%, are female. Many of these people reported eating romaine lettuce before their symptoms started. A common source of E. coli O157 bacteria is raw fruits and vegetables. They can come into contact with feces from infected animals, in the fields, during harvest, and during transportation. Leafy greens … [Read more...]
E. coli Research Will Continue at University of Nebraska
An E. coli research program that has led to improved detection methods and food safety education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with continue.The $25 million project is investigating Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains that can contaminate beef. The project began in 2011. This type of bacteria can cause serious infections, which can lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in some cases. HUS can cause kidney failure and death. The project is in its final phase. It has also improved eradication techniques for meat-packing pants and has given scientists a better understanding of how the bacteria grows and proliferates. Dr. Rodney Moxley, a professor of veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences at the University and the project director said, "the whole goal is to … [Read more...]
