Author: Phyllis Entis

Fresh Basil Suspected In Norway Shigella Outbreak

Fresh basil imported from Israel is the prime suspect in an outbreak of shigellosis, according to Norway’s Food Safety Authority (NFSA).

On October 10th, NFSA announced that several residents of Tromsø were suffering from shigellosis after becoming infected with Shigella sonnei – a microbe that usually is transmitted through contaminated water or food. As of today (November 1st), 46 outbreak cases have been confirmed – 42 in Tromsø and 4 in Østfold.

Most of the illnesses were reported in early October, with the last onset date having been recorded in mid-October.

Shigella outbreak onset dates

When interviewed, 36 of the outbreak patients reported having eaten pesto, and an additional three victims said that they had been served fresh basil – an ingredient in pesto. Patient interviews pointed to pesto made by a Tromsø catering company as a possible source of the infections.

Basil imported from Israel by Bama and supplied to the Tromsø company was used to make the pesto. Bama also supplied basil from the same batch to an Østfold restaurant where three of the four Østfold outbreak victims had eaten a few days before becoming ill.

Based on the epidemiological and tracing results, Bama has halted all sales of Israeli basil until further notice. Basil has a short shelf life, and the shipment that was implicated in this shigellosis outbreak is no longer in the marketplace.

Profiling Clostridium botulinum

Clostridium botulinum produces a toxin so deadly that it could be used as a biological weapon.

Some history

Sausage poisoning, one of the earliest recognized forms of food poisoning, was first described in the 18th and early 19th centuries and was likely due to Clostridium botulinum. Infant botulism, a different form of illness, was described for the first time in California in 1976.

What is Clostridium botulinum, and where is its natural habitat?

Clostridium botulinum is a spore-forming bacterium that is only able to grow in the complete absence of molecular oxygen (anaerobic conditions), such as conditions found inside a hermetically sealed, processed can or jar of food. The spores are able to withstand normal cooking temperatures, but not the very high temperatures reached during the processing of most canned foods. Spores of Clostridium botulinum are found in soil and water around the world.

How is Clostridium botulinum transmitted? What is the incubation period of the infection?

Clostridium botulinum food poisoning results when an individual eats food in which the microbe has germinated, grown and produced its lethal toxin. In the case of infant botulism, the infant (one year old or less) ingests the spores that are in a food – honey is a typical vehicle – and the toxin is formed when the spores germinate and grow in the baby’s intestine. The incubation period for infant botulism is 3 to 10 days; for the more typical form of botulism, it is 12 to 72 hours.

What is botulism? How long does it take to develop?

Botulism is the syndrome produced by the action of Clostridium botulinum toxin on the body’s nervous system.

What are the symptoms of botulism?

Initial symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, blurred vision and muscle weakness. Early symptoms of infant botulism include lethargy, weakness, poor muscle tone, constipation, difficulty feeding and a poor gag reflex. As the action of the toxin progresses, breathing becomes more difficult.

What is the prognosis of botulism?

Botulism can be fatal in 10 to 60% of cases, usually due to respiratory failure. Infant botulism, if treated appropriately, has a survival rate nearing 100%.

What foods carry Clostridium botulinum and its toxin?

Clostridium botulinum is associated with foods where molecular oxygen is absent – typically, processed low-acid canned foods. Because the microbe cannot grow in a very acid environment or in the presence of high levels of salt or sugar, botulism is not a risk in most canned tomato products or in jams or jellies containing sugar. Cases of botulism have been traced to a variety of foods, including home-canned vegetables, improperly stored foil-wrapped baked potatoes, and garlic packed in oil. Approximately 20% of infant botulism cases are traced back to honey that contains Clostridium botulinum spores.

How can people protect themselves from botulism poisoning?

The toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum is inactivated by boiling. Home-canned vegetables should be heated to a boil and simmered for 10 minutes before being served. Leftovers – especially thick sauces and stews that probably contain little or no oxygen – also should be heated to a boil and simmered for 10 minutes before serving.

Never taste a food to see whether it is “off”; Clostridium botulinum can grow and produce its toxin without altering the appearance, taste, or odor of a food, and even a minuscule quantity of toxin is enough to make a person very ill.

Always cool leftovers promptly in the refrigerator or freezer. Do not let food stand at room temperature for extended periods of time. When thawing a frozen dish, do so in the refrigerator – not at room temperature.

Always pay attention to recall notices, and return any recalled item to the store, or discard it in a sealed bag.

For more information on Clostridium botulinum and other food-borne pathogens, visit the CDC website or read Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives.

Recalls and Alerts: October 31, 2011

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

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United States

  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is testing 34 specimens from the Saint Louis County outbreak of E. coli illnesses. Twenty-four of the specimens have been confirmed to contain shiga toxin; toxin testing of the remaining 10 specimens is in progress. All 34 of the specimens are being tested to determine the identity of the E. coli strain. Investigators from the local, state and federal CDC are working to determine the source of the outbreak. In addition, the Illinois Department of Public Health is investigating a case of shiga toxin-producing E. coli illness in St. Clair County that may be linked to the Missouri outbreak.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The E. coli outbreak linked to the North Carolina State Fair now comprises 24 cases – 8 confirmed and 16 under investigation – in seven counties: Wake (11), Sampson (7), Cleveland (1), Durham (1), Johnston (1), Orange (1) and Wilson (2). Investigations are still underway to determine how the victims became infected.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Deep Canada Inc. recalls Deep Methia Mango Pickle in Oil (740g; Mfg 06/11; Batch #11168; Best before 05/2013) due to the presence of glass particles. The recalled product was distributed in Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

Europe

  • Food Safety Withdrawal (Ireland): All batches and container sizes of Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed With Almonds have been withdrawn from sale after a jar of these olives was found to contain botulinum toxin by Finnish health authorities. Russell Gallery (Co. Clare) imported 90 jars of Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed With Almonds in 2010. All remaining jars have been removed from sale. No cases of botulism linked to the withdrawn product have been reported in Ireland.
  • Food Safety Withdrawal (UK): All batches of Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed with Almonds have been withdrawn from sale across Europe.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): No. Søby Meat Wholesale A/S recalls Boiled salted meat (Package date 7/10-2011; Best before dates 21/11-2011 and 12/12-2011), after Listeria is found in a sample of the meat. The recalled meat was sold to Hotel kitchens, caterers, restaurants and catering businesses west of the Great Belt.
  • Food Safety Recall (Italy): Società Cooperativa Agricola G.M.G. a r.l. dei F.lli Gaudiano recalls all batch codes and jar sizes of Olive Bio Con Mandorle Bio Gaudiano/Bio Gaudiano Organic Olives Stuffed With Almonds after Finnish authorities found botulinum toxin in a jar of these olives following the hospitalization of two people and the death of one of them. Italian health authorities have mandated the suspension of operations at the company, and have seized all existing inventory of processed vegetables. Further investigations are underway.
  • Food Safety Withdrawal (Denmark): Uhrenholt A/S withdraws Emborg Havarti aged cheese (200g; Best before 21-12-2011), after microscopic cracks were observed in the overwrap on the package. The fractured packaging could result in mold growth.
  • Food Withdrawal (Finland): Mars Ireland recalls Twix® Xtra Chocolate Biscuit Bars, 75g (several batch codes – please refer to recall notice for details), because the products were not labeled in Finnish and Swedish. The withdrawn products will be relabelled with Finnish and Swedish language labels and returned to retailers for sale.
  • Outbreak Alert (Norway): Norway Public Health and Norway Food Safety Authority are investigating an outbreak of 45 confirmed cases of shigellosis – 42 in Tromsø and 3 in Østfold. Thirty-six of the patients reported having consumed pesto, and an additional three patients consumed fresh basil, which is one of the ingredients in pesto. Several new cases have been reported since last Friday and are under investigation. Among the pesto ingredients being tested by the Food Safety Authority is basil from Israel.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1526): Listeria monocytogenes in salted smoked trout from Spain; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1527): Mercury in chilled scorpion fish from Algeria; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1528): Mercury in vacuum packed swordfish from France; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1529): Salmonella spp. in paan leaves from Bangladesh; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.1532): Sulfathiazole in honey from Bulgaria; distributed to Italy.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Recall: Charlie’s Trading Co. Ltd recalls 330 ml bottles of Phoenix Organics Ginger Beer (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Creaming Soda (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Cola Cluster 4-pack (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Cola (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Lemonade (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Orange Fizz (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811), Sparkling Apple (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811) and Sparkling Blood Orange (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811), due to inadequate pasteurization of some bottles, causing fermentation and an increased risk of product shattering. The recalled non-alcoholic beverages were sold in cafés, supermarkets, petrol stations and corner stores throughout New Zealand, and were exported to Australia, Korea, Japan and the Pacific Islands.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): ChiTree (VIC) recalls ChiTree Apricot Kernels (1kg vacuum-sealed clear plastic bag; all packages), because of potentially toxic levels of naturally occurring hydrocyanic acid. The recalled product was sold in Health Food stores across Australia, and through the company website.
  • Food Safety Recall (New Zealand and Australia): Charlie’s Trading Co. Ltd recalls 330 ml bottles of Phoenix Organics Ginger Beer (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Creaming Soda (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Cola Cluster 4-pack (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Cola (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Lemonade (best before 22/08/12; batch PR08220811), Orange Fizz (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811), Sparkling Apple (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811) and Sparkling Blood Orange (best before 23/08/12; batch PR08230811), due to inadequate pasteurization of some bottles, causing fermentation and an increased risk of product shattering. The recalled non-alcoholic beverages were sold in cafés, supermarkets, petrol stations and corner stores throughout New Zealand, and were exported to Australia, Korea, Japan and the Pacific Islands.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.