According to a new study in the journal Nature, E. coli infections may be linked to bowel cancer. Some species of the intestinal microbiota, which is the collection of bacteria and viruses that live in the human gut, have been associated with colorectal cancer, but a direct role hasn't been proven. As it turns out, E. coli bacteria carry what is called a pathogenicity island pks, that creates enzymes that synthesize a compound called colibactin. Colibactin causes double-strand breaks in cultured cells. This damage can lead to cancer over time. Colibactin is found more often in fecal samples of people who do have bowel cancer than healthy people. Scientists don't know how many cases of bowel cancer may be linked to the E. coli bacteria, but estimate that as many as 5% of these … [Read more...]
Silani Mozzarella Ball Recalled in Canada for Generic E. coli
Silani Sweet Cheese Ltd. is recalling Silani Mozzarella Ball for possible generic E. coli contamination. That means this E. coli does not necessarily cause human illness, but it is an indicator of contamination with fecal matter. Generic E. coli is found in the intestines of animals. The recalled product was sold nationally in Canada at the retail level. This is a Class 2 classification recall, which means "in which the use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote." The recalled product is Silani Mozzarella Ball, sold in 260 gram packages. The UPC number on the product is 0 65052 51369 4, and the code on the product is Best Before: 2021.01.08. Check your … [Read more...]
Purdue and Kansas State Develop Rapid Tests For E. coli Detection
Researchers at Purdue and Kansas State University have developed new rapid tests for E. coli detection to improve food safety. This will hopefully reduce the number of illnesses caused by this pathogen and save lives. The Kansas State project detects Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in ground beef. The traditional standard test for STEC can take as long as a week to get results, which means that people can get sick before a recall can be announced. This new method takes just one day to obtain confirmatory results. The method uses a "partition-based multichannel digital polymerase chain reaction system." Jamie Henningson, director fo the Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, said in a statement, "We believe the new digital polymerase chain reaction detection method developed … [Read more...]
Quesos La Ricura Cotija Cheese Recalled For Possible E. coli
Quesos La Ricura Cotija Cheese is being recalled for possible Shiga toxin-producing E. coli contamination (STEC). The company is located in Hicksville, New York. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue. The Cotija Cheese (Queso Cotija) was distributed in retail stores in New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Florida. the cheese is contained in a 12 ounce plastic wrapped yellow styrofoam container with a label reading "Quesos La Ricura Queso Cotija, Cotija Cheese aged over 60 days." The UPC number on the product is 7 69087 00933 6. The recalled cheese has a sell by date of May 20, 2020-3/May 20, 2020-4. Sampling at the retail level by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services found the E. coli bacteria in the cheese. If … [Read more...]
What Food Poisoning Outbreaks Are Carrying Over From 2019?
As we enter 2020, there are four multistate food poisoning outbreaks that have not ended, and may still grow. There were many outbreaks in 2019, sickening thousands of people, hospitalizing hundreds, and even killing some. These food poisoning outbreaks that were first announced in 2019 and are still not over include: A deadly Listeria monocytogenes outbreak linked to Almark Foods hard cooked eggs. was first announced on December 19, 2019. This outbreak has triggered seven secondary recalls for products that were made with those eggs. Seven people are five states are sick. Four of those patients have been hospitalized, and one person who lived in Texas died. Almark Foods has now recalled all hard cooked eggs produced at its facility in Gainesville, Georgia for potential … [Read more...]
What Are the Symptoms of Common Foodborne Pathogens?
Since 48,000,000 Americans are sickened with food poisoning every year, which hospitalizes 128,000 and kills about 3,000, consumers should know the symptoms of these illnesses so they can get prompt treatment. There are 31 different pathogens that are known to cause foodborne illness, but the three most common are Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and Listeria monocytogenes. What are the symptoms of common foodborne pathogens? Salmonella Symptoms Symptoms of a Salmonella food poisoning illness include a mild fever, a headache, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea that may be bloody. Symptoms usually start 12 to 72 hours after ingestion of the pathogen. Most people do recover on their own without medical treatment, which is why food safety experts use … [Read more...]
Learn How to Handle Flour Safely in Holiday Baking to Avoid Illness
It's time to make Christmas and Hanukah desserts, including cookies, cakes, and pies. Everyone should learn how to handle flour safely during the holiday baking time with tips from the FDA. Flour is a raw food. Most people don't realize that because it is processed, but it's a raw agricultural product. Wheat is grown outdoors, and can be exposed to many different types of pathogens, including E. coli and Salmonella. Unfortunately, processing raw grains into flour doesn't kill these pathogens. Eggs, too, are another health risk. Raw eggs can be contaminated with Salmonella; in fact, there have been quite a few food poisoning outbreaks over the years linked to eating raw or undercooked eggs. As with flour, cooking to a safe final temperature is the only way to destroy pathogens on … [Read more...]
Wild Harvest Organic Flour Recalled For Possible E. coli
UNFI is recalling five pound bags of its Wild Harvest Organic Flour for possible E. coli contamination. The pathogen was fond during routine sampling of this product. There have not been any direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product. The recall is for Wild Harvest Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached. the package UPC number is 711535509158 and the best if used by date is AA BEST IF USED BY 010820 CC 15:58. These numbers can be found on top of the product label. This recall only affects this one code date of the flour currently in stores or in consumers' pantries. Check your pantry to see if you have purchased this flour. If you have, or if you have decanted the flour into another container and no longer have the label, discard it. Throw it away after … [Read more...]
Hodgson Mill Flour Recalled For Possible E. coli Contamination
Hodgson Mill flour recalled for possible E. coli contamination. Hodgson Mill of Effingham, Illinois is voluntarily recalling specific lots of its Unbleached All Purpose White Wheat Flour sold in 5 pound bags. The potential presence of pathogenic E. coli was found when sampling raw uncooked flour. No reports of illness associated with the consumption of this product have been received to date. The recalled product is Hodgson Mill Unbleached All Purpose White Wheat Flour sold in 5 pound bags. The UPC number on the product is 0-71518-05009-2. The best by dates printed on the packages are 10-01-2020 and 10-02-2020, and the lot codes are 001042 and 005517. The use by and lot code information are on the bottom back panel of the bag. This recall is, again, a good reminder not to eat … [Read more...]
How to Report a Problem With Food to the FDA and USDA
Most Americans have had food poisoning at one time or another, giving that 48,000,000 Americans contract this form of illness every year. Most people think they have the "stomach flu" or a "24 hour bug" when they actually have food poisoning. How do you report a problem with food? What do you do if you think you have food poisoning? First, know the symptoms of food poisoning for various pathogens: E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella. You can report your illness to the government if you think that a problem with food (such as the Northfork Bison E. coli outbreak) purchased from a store is the problem. First, call your doctor to get necessary treatment. Many foodborne illnesses can have long term health complications and this should be noted on your medical … [Read more...]
