A Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning infection is one of the most common foodborne-diseases worldwide, and one of the most common reported in the United States, with about 241,000 people sickened every year, leading to about 10,000 hospitalizations. So how do you know if you have a Staphylococcus aureus infection? The Staphylococcus aureus bacteria produces a toxin that is called an enterotoxin, which is a toxin that is produced in or affects the intestines. This toxin is very heat stable, which means that even if a food containing the bacteria is heated to a safe final internal temperature, the toxins can remain and make people sick. The toxin is also resistant to freezing and drying. And the bacteria can grow at a ride range of temperature, pH levels, and sodium chlorine … [Read more...]
Armour Dried Beef Recalled For Possible Bacterial Contamination
Pinnacle Foods of Iowa is recalling about 32,479 pounds of heat-treated, shelf-stable Armour dried beef products because of a processing deviation that may have led to Staphylococcal enterotoxin and clostridial toxin contamination. There have been no confirmed ports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products. The items were produced on January 2, 2018 and April 9, 2018. They have a shelf life of three years. The recalled products include: 2.25 ounce glass jars containing “ARMOUR GROUND & FORMED SLICED Dried Beef” with best by dates JAN-07-21, JAN-08-21, JAN-09-21, JAN-10-21, JAN-11-21, APR-15-21, APR-16-21, APR-17-21, APR-18-21 and APR-19-21 and lot codes 0707011Y11, 0708011Y11, 0709011Y11, 0710011Y11, 0711011Y11, 0715041Y11, 0716041Y11, 0717041Y11, 0718041Y11 and … [Read more...]
Target Recalls Frozen Meat and Poultry Products for Temperature Abuse
Target Corporation is recalling an indeterminate amount of frozen ready-to-eat and not-ready-to-eat meat and poultry products due to temperature abuse during transport, which may have caused the grows of pathogens or spoilage organisms. The products were over the temperature of 60°F for more than five hours. That could have aided the growth of Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Shiga-toxin producing E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella bacteria. These products were sold from March 23, 2018 to March 27, 2018. You can see the complete list of recalled products along with the UPC numbers and pictures of product labels at the USDA web site. Fifty-nine different products are on that list. The products include Healthy Choice Simply Grilled Chicken Pesto, Jimmy Dean Meat … [Read more...]
Staphylococcus Outbreak Prompts Frozen Chicken Recall in Canada
An outbreak of Staphylococcus illnesses in Canada has prompted the recall of some frozen breaded chicken breast strips. There is no more information about the outbreak; it was just mentioned in the recall notice. We do not know how many people are sick, their ages, their status, if anyone has been hospitalized, or where they live. The recalled product is Maple Leaf Foods Maple Leaf brand Chicken Breast Strips in 840 gram packages. The best before date is 2018 SE 29, and the UPC number on the product is 0 63100 03089 6. The chicken may contain the toxin produced by Staphylococcus bacteria. This bacteria is found on the skin and in the nose of about 25% of healthy people and animals. The bacteria itself doesn't cause illness in healthy people, but the toxin can make you sick. Staph is … [Read more...]
Breaded Chicken Products Recalled in Canada for Possible Staphylococcus
Maple Leaf Foods is recalling various breaded chicken products in Canada for possible Staphylococcus aureus contamination. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue. The recalled products are Maple Leaf Chicken Breast Strips in 840 gram packages, with code 2018-04-20 and UPC number 0 63100 03089 6. Also recalled is Sufra Halal Chicken Burgers in 828 gram packages, with code 2018-01-20 and UPC number 0 61483 05778 3. Finally, Mina Halal Chicken Burgers in 828 gram packages are recalled. The code on that product is 7118, and the UPC number is 0 63100 42143 4. You can see pictures of product labels at the CFIA web site. If you purchased these products, do not eat them. Discard them in a sealed container or double bagged package, or take them back to the place … [Read more...]
Staphylococcus Aureus Sickened Students at Science Olympiad
The Florida Department of Health in Columbia County has issued a press release stating that the illnesses that took place at the Science Olympiad at Gateway College in Lake City on February 4, 2017 were caused by Staphylococcus aureus toxin. At least 30 people were taken by ambulance from that event to the hospital after suffering from vomiting. Samples were taken of the pulled pork, smoked chicken, macaroni salad, chicken sandwiches, and baked beans from the lunch that was served at the event. The samples were tested for Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus, which all can cause food poisoning in a matter of minutes or hours. All of those pathogens can cause food poisoning symptoms relatively quickly. All cause nausea and vomiting, and some can also … [Read more...]
Stone Meadow Farm Raw Milk Cheese Recalled for Staph
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is warning consumers not to eat certain batches of raw milk cheese from Stone Meadow Farm in Centre County. Samples taken on December 12, 2016 tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus. The warning is for Stone Meadow Farm's raw 60 day aged Havarti cheese and raw 60 day aged Colby Cheese. The cheese are labeled with the Stone Meadow Farm name and its address at 190 Quarry Road in Woodward, Pennsylvania. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the consumption of these products. The cheese were sold between October 2016 and mid-December 2016. The cheeses were sold in half-pound blocks at the Susquehanna Valley Growers Market in Lewisburg, Union County; the Boalsburg Farmers Market in Centre County; and the Millheim Farmers Market … [Read more...]
Raw Milk Cheese Recalled in Canada for Staphylococcus Toxin
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Portuguese Cheese Co. Ltd. is recalling St. Jorge and Queijo São Jorge raw milk cheese from commerce because they may contain the toxin produced by Staphylococcus bacteria. Foods contaminated with this toxin will not look, smell, or taste spoiled. And the toxin is not destroyed by normal consumer cooking temperatures. No illnesses have been reported to date. The recalled products are St. Jorge raw milk cheese sold in variable size packages. The code on the product is Lot #914 and the UPC number is variable. Also recalled is Queijo São Jorge raw milk cheese in about 9 to 10 kg packages. There is no UPC number on that cheese. The code on that product, which appears only on the case, is AEE0215. The products were sold in Ontario at the retail level. … [Read more...]
Onondaga County NY Outbreak Caused by Food Poisoning
A gastrointestinal outbreak at a wedding reception at the Arrowhead Lodge in Onondaga County, New York last summer was caused by food poisoning, according to the New York Health Department. At least 35 people were sickened in July 2015; nine people had to be transported to hospital emergency rooms. Two people had to be hospitalized overnight. Lab tests on patient samples were positive for staphylococcus aura enterotoxin, a compound produced by that bacteria that makes people sick. The toxin can survive the cooking process and it can even grow in a salty medium, such as ham. Foods can be contaminated with Staphylococcus bacteria in several ways. Food workers can contaminate the food, or it can be contaminated during processing or transport. Past Staphylococcus outbreak have been … [Read more...]
Safeway in Canada Recalling Chicken Wings for Staphylococcus
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Safeway are recalling store packaged, cooked chicken wings because they may be contaminated with a toxin produced by Staphylococcus bacteria. The toxin produced by this bacteria is not destroyed at normal cooking temperatures. No illnesses have been reported to date. The recalled products are all Safeway brand name. All codes up to and including August 14, 2015 are recalled. The products were sold in variable sizes. Party Pack Chicken Wings Hot Salt N Pepper with UPC number that beings with 236500 are recalled, along with PPK Wings Mix flavors Hot with UPC number that begins with 256870. Pinty's Wings Salt and Pepper Hot with UPC number that begins with 236542 are recalled, along with Pinty's Wings Salt and Pepper Cold with UPC number that begins … [Read more...]
