Author: Kit Redwine
Suspected Food Poisoning Sickens Over 100 Tribal Students Over 100 children from tribal schools in India’s Palghar district fell ill due to suspected food poisoning on Monday night. The students, who had been served dinner from a central kitchen, began experiencing symptoms including stomach ache, nausea, and vomiting around midnight. District Collector Govind Bodke confirmed that the affected children were from various Ashram Shalas (residential schools for tribal children) under the Dahanu Project of the Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP). The incident impacted schools across four local administrative areas: Dahanu, Palghar, Talasari, and Vasai. The central kitchen in Dahanu, operated…
Authorities Investigate Mass Food Poisoning at Singapore ByteDance Office Singapore’s health and food safety authorities have launched an investigation into a severe case of gastroenteritis that affected 130 individuals at ByteDance’s office. The outbreak in Singapore, reported yesterday by Food Poisoning News, has been linked to food catered by two companies, Yun Hai Yao and Pu Tien Services. The incident has resulted in 17 hospitalizations, with the remaining affected individuals seeking outpatient treatment or recovering without medical intervention. In response, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has suspended the food business operations of both suppliers effective July 31, 2024 until further…
The Kwara State Government in Nigeria has placed its healthcare sector on high alert following a series of foodborne related incidents in Ilorian, in the western area of the state, according to Punch. Dr. Amina El-Imam, the State Commissioner for Health, has confirmed four deaths in the Eruda community due to food poisoning. The food poisoning outbreak is linked to the consumption of amala, a local dish made from cassava flour. Cassava is a starchy tuber that can be eaten raw or dried and grated to make flour. A 70-year-old woman, her son, and grandchildren fell ill and died after…
A recent norovirus outbreak in the UK on the P&O Cruises ship Ventura affected over 500 passengers and crew members, according to BBC News. The outbreak, which occurred during a two-week cruise to Spain’s Canary Islands departing from Southampton, England on May 11, 2024, has raised concerns about the cruise line’s transparency and outbreak management protocols. At first, P&O Cruises reported that only 0.64% of those on board were experiencing norovirus symptoms. Food Poisoning News previously reported on initial reports of over 250 passengers being sickened by norovirus on that cruise. However, newly revealed data obtained from a Freedom of…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a safety advisory regarding oysters harvested from Lewis Bay, Massachusetts, due to potential Campylobacter jejuni contamination. Campylobacter jejuni is a bacteria that causes infectious disease in the intestines, resulting in cramping, diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. Background The contamination came to light following an outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni illnesses in Massachusetts linked to oysters consumed on July 1 and 3, 2024. In response, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries closed the SC28 harvest area on July 19, and two certified dealers – Chatham Shellfish Co. and Island Creek Oysters – initiated…
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have encountered a new challenge as the Belgian Olympic team withdrew from Monday’s mixed relay triathlon. According to NPR, the decision came after one of their athletes, Claire Michel, fell ill following last Wednesday’s main triathlon event where athletes swam in the Seine river. Belgium’s Olympic committee announced that Michel had to withdraw due to illness, forcing the entire team’s forfeit from the mixed relay competition because a replacement wasn’t available. While the official statement did not specify the nature of Michel’s illness, Belgian newspaper De Standaard reported that she was hospitalized and treated for…
Metro Produce Distributors Inc., based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has initiated a voluntary recall of all Lunds & Byerlys fresh guacamole products. This recall is due to 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, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The potential for Listeria contamination was discovered through a routine sampling program conducted by Metro Produce Distributors. As a result, the company has halted production and distribution of these products while they investigate the source of the…
Seven family members in Taichung, Taiwan were hospitalized on July 29 with suspected food poisoning, according to Taiwan News. Their symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, are commonly associated with infectious gastroenteritis. The patients, aged 7 to 43, ate at a traditional breakfast shop at 2:20 a.m., consuming various items including noodles, dumplings, and beverages. Symptoms began around 3 a.m. The Taichung City Fire Bureau responded at 1:34 p.m., transporting all seven to Tungs’ Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital. They will remain under observation while the Taichung Food Safety and Sanitation Bureau investigates. If the breakfast shop is found responsible, it…
A recent outbreak of Yersinia enterocolitica has caught the attention of health authorities across Europe, with 136 cases reported in four countries. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has identified raw milk goat cheese produced in southeastern France as the likely source of the infections, according to The Sun. Yersinia enterocolitica is a bacterium that causes yersiniosis, a foodborne illness typically associated with consuming contaminated pork products. However, this outbreak has highlighted the potential risks of unpasteurized dairy products, specifically artisanal cheeses. The majority of cases – 133 – were reported in France between January and July…
Two chefs in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, have been sentenced to prison and fined for adding prescription antibiotics to restaurant dishes. The head chef and cook received sentences of two years and 18 months respectively, with probation, and were fined a total of 160,000 yuan ($22,000). In an effort to prevent food poisoning, the chefs illegally added gentamicin sulfate, an antibiotic used in China to treat diarrhea, to 1,612 servings of stewed dishes since 2023, generating 77,376 yuan in sales, according to Global Times. This practice violates China’s Food Safety Law, which prohibits adding medicines to food products. According to…