Author: Kit Redwine
A recent E. coli outbreak in the United Kingdom (previously covered by Food Poisoning News here and here), traced to contaminated lettuce, has claimed its first life in England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that while two individuals died within 28 days of infection, one death is likely connected to the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection. Both deceased individuals had underlying medical conditions and passed away in May, according to Sky News. The outbreak has affected 275 people across the UK, with England reporting 182 cases, Scotland 58, Wales 31, and Northern Ireland 4. At least 122…
Despite Singapore’s reputation for cleanliness and stringent food safety regulations, gastroenteritis outbreaks continue to plague the city-state’s food establishments, according to a recent article on Channel News Asia. From street food kiosks to high-end restaurants, no sector seems immune to these incidents, highlighting the ongoing challenges in maintaining food hygiene standards. Recent statistics from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) paint a complex picture. While the number of major gastroenteritis incidents has fluctuated since 2019, ranging from 44 to 60 cases annually (excluding the pandemic-affected 2020), the rate of foodborne illness cases per 100,000 population has remained relatively stable, hovering around…
Foppen Seafood, based in Harderwijk, The Netherlands, has initiated a recall of a specific lot of their Smoked Norwegian Salmon Slices due to potential Listeria monocytogenes (“Listeria”) contamination. Listeria is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The presence of Listeria was discovered in a specific lot of the affected product was discovered during routine testing. The recalled smoked salmon was distributed to Kroger and Payless Supermarkets across 15 states, including AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MI, MO,…
Owings Mills, Maryland-based Totally Cool, Inc. has issued a nationwide recall of several ice cream products due to the potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (“Listeria”). Listeria is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background This recall comes after recent FDA sampling detected the presence of Listeria in certain products. The affected products were distributed across the United States and were available through both retail locations and direct delivery services. Totally Cool, Inc. has halted production and distribution of the affected…
Recent research has uncovered a concerning trend in infant care: over half of baby bottles tested positive for E. coli bacteria. This discovery, published in the Journal of Community Medicine & Public Health, has prompted health experts to emphasize the critical importance of proper sterilization techniques for infant feeding equipment. The study revealed a wide range of potentially harmful microorganisms present in baby bottles, including klebsiella, enterobacter, citrobacter, staphylococcus aureus, bacillus cereus, shigella, and salmonella. Most alarmingly, E. coli was detected in 56.3% of the bottles examined. Dr. Pamela Mason, co-author of the research review, explains that milk residue creates…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the conclusion of a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to organic basil. The outbreak, which affected 14 states, was investigated in collaboration with public health and regulatory officials across the country and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Poisoning News reported on the initial alert and subsequent recall expansion in April. According to the CDC’s final report, released on June 18, 2024, a total of 36 confirmed cases were identified. The outbreak strain was traced back to Infinite Herbs brand organic basil, which is believed to…
When we take antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection, we rarely consider the microscopic war raging within our bodies. Recent research from the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway sheds new light on how bacteria respond to antibiotic attacks, particularly focusing on the widely used antibiotic Ciprofloxacin, according to a recent article on phys.org. Ciprofloxacin works by targeting the DNA of bacterial cells, binding to a protein crucial for maintaining DNA structure. This interference creates chaos within the bacterial cell, leading to the formation of incomplete DNA strands. The…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a safety alert regarding a specific lot of live Pacific oysters from British Columbia, Canada distributed by Dailyfresh Shellfish, Inc. due to potential contamination with toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Food Poisoning News recently reported on similar concerns about PSP along the Oregon and Washington coasts. Background This alert stems from recent monitoring by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which detected elevated levels of paralytic shellfish toxins in shellfish from the harvest area in British Columbia. PSP toxins, also known as saxitoxins, are produced by naturally occurring marine…
Weston, OH-based Vitakraft Sun Seed Inc. has initiated a voluntary recall of a specific lot of their Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food due to potential Salmonella contamination. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause serious infections, especially in vulnerable populations such as young children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The contamination was discovered through routine random testing conducted by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture on June 18, 2024. Distribution of the affected lot spans 16 states: Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a critical alert to restaurants, food retailers, and consumers in Hawaii and California regarding potentially contaminated oysters imported from South Korea. The advisory concerns individually quick frozen (IQF) oysters produced by Central Fisheries Co., LTD, in the Republic of Korea, harvested on February 28, 2023, from Designated Area No. 2. This notice comes in response to potential norovirus contamination, a highly contagious pathogen that can cause severe gastroenteritis. Background On June 13, 2024, health officials in Hawaii alerted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about an outbreak of norovirus infections linked…