China
XIAMEN – Six Hong Kong Students Fall Ill During Exchange Tour
Hong Kong health officials are investigating a new outbreak of acute gastroenteritis affecting six students during an educational exchange trip to Xiamen, Fujian, China. The affected students are three boys and three girls aged 15 to 16.
According to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), the students were part of a larger group of 36 teachers and students who traveled to Xiamen from March 13 to 15. The six students developed symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, and fever between 9pm on March 14 and 7am on March 15.
Five of the affected students received medical treatment in Xiamen, though none required hospitalization.
“Preliminary epidemiological investigations revealed that all six affected persons had not consumed any common food items other than the group meals and had no other common exposure history in Hong Kong prior to their departure. Hence, at this stage, the CHP could not rule out the possibility that the cases were infected by consuming contaminated food,” said the CHP in a statement.
The CHP has shared its findings with mainland health authorities as the investigation continues.
In a related development, health officials reported three additional cases connected to previous gastroenteritis clusters involving student trips to Shaoguan. This brings the total case count for those outbreaks from 52 to 55 affected teachers and students. Sixteen of these individuals sought hospital care, with three testing positive for norovirus.
Belgium
BRUSSELS – Salmonella Cases on the Rise in Belgium
Despite a recent increase in salmonella cases in Belgium, food safety standards in the country remain robust, according to the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC). The agency emphasized that the uptick in cases should not be interpreted as a broader deterioration in Belgium’s food safety protocols, according to The Brussels Times.
Between January and mid-February 2025, nearly 70 people in Belgium were confirmed to have contracted a growing strain of salmonella. The outbreak has been traced to free-range eggs produced by Depo-Ei CV, prompting an initial product recall that was subsequently expanded last week.
Salmonella, a bacterium that causes salmonellosis (a form of food poisoning), affects approximately 3,000 Belgians annually – though the National Reference Centre believes this figure likely underestimates the true prevalence. For most infected individuals, salmonellosis manifests as a mild illness that resolves without medical intervention, though severe cases may require antibiotic treatment.
FASFC spokesperson Hélène Bonte explained that the presence of salmonella doesn’t necessarily indicate health violations. Salmonella bacteria are “a natural part of [animal’s] systems, it lives in their flora, so it’s not unusual that we find traces in meat or eggs,” Bonte stated.
The bacterium primarily spreads to humans through oral transmission, typically by consuming raw or undercooked contaminated food or products tainted by an infected animal’s feces. Cross-contamination between food items can also spread the bacteria, and in rare instances, contact with pets may transmit salmonella.
Belgium has implemented robust prevention systems to mitigate risks to consumers. Bonte said that farmers must conduct their own product analyses to monitor for salmonella and that the FASFC also performs independent testing.
The agency’s food safety record remains strong, with 98.7% compliance found among 6,111 salmonella analyses conducted on food products in 2023. While the 2024 report is pending publication, these figures suggest a “high rate of food safety” in Belgian food products.
The European Union has established comprehensive hygiene legislation that food operators must follow to prevent outbreaks. Bonte highlighted that specific salmonella reduction programs targeting the poultry sector across EU member states have successfully reduced human salmonella infections.
However, Bonte emphasized that consumers play a crucial role in maintaining food safety. “Respect the conservation temperatures and preparation instructions on food packaging labels, avoid cross-contamination, refrain from consuming raw meat and eggs, washing hands before and during food preparation,” she advised.
India
MANDYA – Student Dies, 28 Hospitalized After School Hostel Meal
A 13-year-old student from Meghalaya died and 28 others were hospitalized following a suspected case of food poisoning at an unauthorized hostel in Karnataka’s Mandya district. The incident occurred at a private school that has operated since 1989.
According to Mandya Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baladandi, the incident began when students consumed leftover food from Holi celebrations. On March 14, a local group had organized a feast serving vegetable pulao and chutney for breakfast. The remaining food was later distributed to approximately 30 students residing at the school’s illegally operated hostel facility.
While none of the students reported any symptoms immediately after consumption, the situation deteriorated the following day when six students began complaining of stomach pain and required hospitalization. The crisis escalated dramatically on Sunday when a 13-year-old boy collapsed suddenly. He was rushed to a medical facility but was pronounced dead upon arrival.
Among the 28 hospitalized students, seven are reported to be in critical condition, with one requiring ventilator support. Of the 30 students who consumed the contaminated food, 24 are from Meghalaya, while the remainder are local residents.
Police have arrested three individuals in connection with the incident.. Those detained include the cook who prepared the meal, the hostel warden who distributed the leftover food without verifying its quality, and the school owner, who faces charges of negligence.
The preliminary investigation has revealed several troubling facts about the school’s operations. Though the school has been functioning for over three decades and currently has an enrollment of 202 students from kindergarten through eighth grade, it lacked proper authorization to operate residential facilities. Approximately 30 students, predominantly from Meghalaya, were being housed on the first floor of the school building in substandard conditions without adequate infrastructure, including proper toilet facilities.
Mandya Deputy Commissioner Dr. Kumar stated that the health department was notified about the situation on March 15, prompting officials to visit the school premises. He confirmed that all affected students are now receiving medical attention, with eight already transferred to the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) for specialized care. Orders have been issued to transfer the remaining students to MIMS as well, where expert doctors are available to treat them.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that the immediate priority is to ensure proper treatment and recovery for the affected students. He promised a thorough investigation into the school’s facilities, permissions, and food suppliers, with appropriate legal action to follow. Dr. Kumar also noted that the school’s negligence was evident, particularly in allowing an external party to supply food without proper authorization and in operating a hostel without legal permission.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed grief over the incident on social media platform X, describing the student’s death as heartbreaking. He confirmed that he had spoken directly with the Mandya Deputy Commissioner, instructing him to ensure proper treatment for the children and take strict action against those responsible.
The Chief Minister assured that the family of the deceased student would receive appropriate compensation. He also issued a public warning about the importance of caution when consuming food from external sources, especially when serving young children, stating that “precious lives should not be lost due to carelessness.”
Canada
TORONTO – Sale of Plant-Based Milk Producer’s Facilities Following Deadly Listeria Outbreak Approved by Court
An Ontario court has granted approval for the sale of two facilities owned by Joriki, the Canadian company whose plant-based milk production was linked to a deadly listeria outbreak. According to court documents, the company’s Delta, British Columbia, plant will be sold to Happy Planet Foods, while its Toronto facility will be acquired by Top Shelf Food and Beverage Corp.
The company is simultaneously liquidating its Pickering, Ontario, plant—the facility identified as the source of the listeria contamination. This outbreak infected at least 20 people and resulted in three deaths between August 2023 and July 2024, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Joriki sought and received court protection from creditors after facing severe financial difficulties, largely stemming from the recalls of numerous plant-based milk products it manufactured under both the Silk and Great Value brands.
Following the outbreak announcement, several Joriki customers suspended production at the Pickering facility, which was subsequently idled. The facility’s two largest customers ultimately terminated their relationships with the company.
The contamination concerns also spread to Joriki’s other locations, with some customers pausing production at the Delta facility while the largest customer at the Toronto location canceled its contract.
These cascading losses led Joriki to cease all business operations and lay off approximately 565 employees—both full-time and temporary—at the end of 2024. Of those employees, about 337 worked for Joriki Canada.
According to an affidavit from Michael Devon, Joriki’s chief financial officer, the company was established in 1991 and expanded its operations to British Columbia in 2010. In 2022, Joriki embarked on an expansion into the United States with a production facility in Pittston, Pennsylvania. However, this expansion encountered numerous challenges, including delays and cost overruns, which left the company financially vulnerable when the listeria crisis struck.
Unable to weather these compounding financial pressures, Joriki’s U.S. subsidiary filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code earlier this year.
The sales of the Delta and Toronto facilities to new operators may potentially preserve some production capacity and employment opportunities in Canada’s plant-based beverage sector, though under different ownership and management. Meanwhile, the liquidation of the Pickering facility marks the final chapter for the site directly associated with the deadly outbreak.
United Kingdom
SOUTHALL – Sandwich Company Fined for Serious Food Hygiene Breaches After Listeria Discovery
A UK sandwich manufacturing company and its director have been hit with substantial fines following multiple serious food hygiene violations discovered after listeria was found in their products. Bread Spread Ltd, which supplies universities, colleges, and over 1,000 independent retail stores across the UK, was ordered to pay £29,835 (~USD 38,790) in fines, victim surcharges, and prosecution costs at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on March 4, 2025.
The case began in May 2024 when the Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a public warning about listeria contamination in various chilled and ready-to-eat products produced by the company. The affected items included sandwiches, wraps, baguettes, twists, and French sticks with various fillings. Consumers who had purchased these products with use-by dates up to May 18, 2024, were advised not to consume them due to the risk of listeria, which can cause high temperature, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The investigation was triggered on May 7, 2024, when the UK Health Security Agency contacted Ealing Council after discovering listeria in two sandwiches manufactured by Bread Spread Ltd. Further testing revealed the presence of the potentially life-threatening bacteria on a tomato slicer at the facility, even after the equipment had been cleaned.
Council officers visited the company’s Southall factory on May 8, 2024, and immediately issued a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice, ordering the company to cease production of all ready-to-eat foods due to public health concerns. However, during a follow-up inspection, officers found the company continuing to produce food under unhygienic conditions despite the prohibition notice.
On May 11, 2024, the FSA escalated its response by issuing a nationwide recall of all sandwiches and salads produced by Bread Spread Ltd under its various brand names, including Bread Spread, Orbital Foods, and Perfect Bite. The recall process was hampered by the company’s poor traceability records, which delayed the removal of unsafe products from the market.
At the court hearing, Bread Spread Ltd and its director, Premalkumar Patel, pleaded guilty to 21 counts of serious food hygiene failures. Each was fined £14,000 (~ USD 18,203) and ordered to pay a £2,000 (~ USD 2,600) victim surcharge. The company manager, Ronak Patel, also pleaded guilty to two charges and received a fine of £673 (~ USD 875) plus a victim surcharge of £269 (~ USD 349).
The court heard evidence that the company had mislabeled sandwiches with incorrect shelf-life information and consistently ignored warnings from council officers to improve its hygiene standards. The company also failed to comply with multiple improvement notices issued by Ealing Council.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, praised the swift action taken by council officers and national agencies to hold the business accountable for the unsanitary conditions in its factory.
This wasn’t the company’s first food safety incident. The FSA had previously issued a recall notice for Bread Spread products containing chicken in July 2020, also due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
Commenting on this article, the nation’s leading Listeria lawyer said, “Companies that are negligent with regards to food safety are often held to account. The consequence for their actions can be expensive fines, lawsuit judgements, loss of reputation, and sometimes the closure of their business.”
