Author: Phyllis Entis

E. coli O157 Outbreak In France Appears Contained

E. coli O157:H7 reclaimed the spotlight from E. coli O104:H4 in France last week when eight children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in Lille after consuming contaminated hamburgers.

The children are between 18 months and 8 years old. One child has been released from hospital; the others are described as being in stable condition and expected to improve, according to a report in this morning’s Nord éclair.

One of the eight children – a two-year old boy from l’Oise – is in a coma as a result of renal complications from his infection. He is reported to be improving slightly and, though remaining unconscious, is slightly more reactive than before. Three of the children are still undergoing kidney dialysis; one of them has begun to recover some kidney function – an encouraging sign, according to Dr. Michel Foulard of CHU de Lille. The other three children are recovering, and should be released from hospital at the beginning of next week.

A ninth child – a 7-year-old girl – was admitted to hospital in Jeanne de Flandre on Friday. She is described as suffering from moderate kidney insufficiency, but has not needed dialysis. According to the child’s mother, the girl did not eat any of the implicated hamburger. Lab tests are in progress to determine whether she is infected with the outbreak strain or with a different pathogen.

Epidemiological evidence, based on interviews of the children’s parents, implicated a specific brand of hamburger patties as the source of the infections. The frozen Steak Country chez Lidl hamburger patties were purchased from stores of the Lidl supermarket chain in the north of France. On June 15th, SEB – the manufacturer of the implicated product – recalled three date codes (Lot #10/05/11, 11/05/11, and 12/05/11)  – more than 14.7 tonnes of frozen meats. The recalled meat was shipped to centers in Steenvoord (11.6 tonnes), Rungis (1.7 tonnes) Ludres (576 kg) and Yffiniac (240 kg) for distribution to Lidl stores in the following départements of France: 22, 25, 29, 35, 45, 51, 52, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62, 70, 72, 75, 76, 77 and 78.

According to SEB, the beef for the burgers originated in France, Germany and the Netherlands. Belgian authorities have confirmed that none of the beef came from Belgium, and none of the frozen hamburger patties were distributed to Belgium. Some of the implicated hamburgers may have been shipped to Italy. The Italian Ministry of Health ordered the seizure of five tons of Steak Country frozen hamburger patties and meatballs from the Lidl distribution center in Verona province last week.

This outbreak is small, when compared to the German E. coli O104:H4 outbreak, and of relatively short duration. The prompt initial reporting by local health authorities of a cluster of children suffering from HUS – compared to the slow reporting that apparently took place in Germany – and the swift recall announced by SEB and Lidl France, were instrumental in forestalling a larger outbreak.

With all of the attention that has been focussed on contaminated fresh produce in recent months, it’s easy to forget the ongoing risk represented by eating undercooked meat and poultry – and of cross-contamination in the kitchen or at the outdoor barbecue.

When eating out, order your hamburgers “well-done”. When cooking in or on the grill, don’t rely on subjective tests such as the color of the meat. Use a meat thermometer to verify that your beef, pork, fish, lamb or poultry has reached an internal temperature of 160ºF for ground meats or 145ºF for intact cuts.

Recalls and Alerts: June 18, 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

  • Allergy Alert: Ken’s Foods, Inc. recalls Publix Caesar Salad Dressing, 16-oz bottles (Expiration date 31MAR12), because the product may contain undeclared fish, gluten and soy. The recalled product was distributed to Publix stores in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and South Carolina.
  • Food Safety Recall: Earth Fare (Fletcher, NC) recalls frozen Earth Fare Spice Bean Burger (Lot Codes #05311 and 06711), because of a potential Salmonella contamination. The recalled product was distributed and sold only in the Earth Fare located in Akron, OH.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Titusville, NJ) recalls Risperdal® (risperidone) Tablets (60 x 3mg tablets; Lot #0GG094; Expiry May 2012) and Risperidone Tablets (60 x 2mg tablets; Lot OIG175; Expiry August 2012), because of reports of an uncharacteristic odor thought to be caused by trace amounts of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA). The products were distributed in the USA and Puerto Rico.
  • Boil Water Order (California): San Diego County has issued a Boil Water Order for Mountain Empire High School in Pine Valley, CA because the drinking water system has tested positive for total coliform bacteria (no E. coli found).
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Cruise): CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program has determined that the outbreak of gastroenteritis that sickened 144 passengers and 8 crew members of the Sea Princess (Princess Cruises) during its May 30th-June 9th Alaska Cruise was due to Norovirus.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Shah Brothers Imports recalls Chandan Mouth Fresheners 5-in-1 Mix (230g) and Chandan Mouth Freshener Silver Tin 4-in-1 (150), due to the presence of non-permitted food ingredients. The recalled products were sold in Manitoba and Ontario.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Allergy Alert (Saudi Arabia): Universal Protein Supplements Corporation recalls several chocolate, biscuits and cake products (Expiry date 30/6/2012; 10 products sold under the CarbRite Diet Doctor’s brand and 2 products sold under the Universal Hi Protein brand), because the products may contain undeclared peanuts. The Saudi Food & Drug Authority has been informed that these products were exported from the USA to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Please navigate to the Saudi FDA notice for a detailed list of recalled products.
  • Food Safety Alert/Recall (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) has instructed the trade to stop selling four food products that may be contaminated with DEHP, and also has requested the recall of Extra Yoghurt, manufactured by Possmei Corporation, because DEHP was detected in a sample of the yoghurt. Please navigate to the CFS notice for details on the affected products.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Titusville, NJ) recalls Risperdal® (risperidone) Tablets (60 x 3mg tablets; Lot #0GG094; Expiry May 2012) and Risperidone Tablets (60 x 2mg tablets; Lot OIG175; Expiry August 2012), because of reports of an uncharacteristic odor thought to be caused by trace amounts of 2,4,6-tribromoanisole (TBA). The products were distributed in the USA and Puerto Rico.

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.

Raw Milk Does It Again

This just in, courtesy of Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services.

“Bacteria That Caused Illnesses Among School Event Attendees Matches Strain Found In Unpasteurized Milk From Local Farm”

“MADISON – Laboratory test results show that the Campylobactor jejuni bacteria that caused diarrheal illness among 16 individuals who drank unpasteurized (raw) milk at a school event early this month in Raymond was the same bacteria strain found in unpasteurized milk produced at a local farm, according to officials from the Department of Health Services (DHS) and Western Racine County Health Department (WRCHD). A parent had supplied unpasteurized milk from the farm for the school event.

Stool samples submitted to the WRCHD by ill students and adults were sent to the State Laboratory of Hygiene where they tested positive for the bacteria. Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) food inspectors collected milk samples from the bulk tank at the farm, which tested positive for Campylobacter jejuni. Further testing by the State Hygiene lab showed the bacteria strain from the stool samples and the milk samples matched. Additionally, interviews with event attendees revealed that consuming the unpasteurized milk was statistically associated with illness. Health officials said that this combination of laboratory and epidemiologic evidence indicates that the illnesses were caused by the unpasteurized milk consumed at the school event.

Campylobacter jejuni bacteria can cause diarrhea, which can be bloody, abdominal cramping, fever, nausea and vomiting. Rarely, an infection may lead to paralysis after initial symptoms have disappeared. Campylobacter can be transmitted by consuming food contaminated directly or indirectly by animal feces or handled by someone with the infection who has not adequately washed hands after using the bathroom.

The farm did not sell the unpasteurized milk and there was no legal violation associated with the milk being brought to the school event. The farm is licensed and in good standing with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.”

Note the last paragraph. Since the farm did not SELL the unpasteurized milk, there was no legal violation. But that doesn’t make the farm’s actions either sensible or safe – as 16 people have just learned the hard way.

Also, raw milk advocates who deny that unpasteurized milk can be the source of food-borne disease, please note. The identical strain – the outbreak strain – of Campylobacter jejuni was recovered from stool samples of the outbreak victims AND was found in milk samples taken from the bulk milk tank at the farm. This is not “just” epidemiological evidence. The trigger was pulled and the gun was still smoking.

Raw milk is a high risk food and should never be offered – not even for free – to a susceptible population. That includes school children.