Category: Uncategorized

Germany’s Devastating E. coli Outbreak

The official numbers reported this morning by Germany’s Robert Koch Institut are worthy of a Hollywood thriller. Nine people dead, and 470 notified cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) – a life-threatening complication of enterohemorrhagic E. coli infections.

The German outbreak data reported by BBC and others are even worse. Sixteen deaths, including one in Sweden; 1,534 infected with the outbreak strain known as E. coli O104:H4 – 470 of them suffering from HUS.

The outbreak began in Northern Germany; the heaviest concentration of confirmed cases – and of HUS – can be found in the states of Hamburg and Bremen. As of May 26th, thirteen German states had reported 214 cases of HUS – Hamburg (59), Bremen (11), Schleswig-Holstein (21), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (10), Hesse (31), Saarland (5), Lower Saxony (28), North Rhine-Westphalia (31), Berlin (3), Baden-Württemberg (8), Bavaria (5), Thuringia (1) and Rhineland-Palatinate (1). These numbers already are far out of date, as the total number of cases has more than doubled since that report was issued.

Thanks to the ease of international travel – especially within the European Union, where most borders are invisible and undefended – the outbreak has not been confined to Germany. Eight other countries have reported confirmed or suspect cases of enterohemorrhagic E. coli in German nationals visiting their country or in individuals who reported having traveled to Germany:

  • Austria: 2 cases
  • Denmark: 14 cases, 6 with HUS
  • France: 6 cases
  • Netherlands: 7 cases, 3 with HUS
  • Spain: 1 case
  • Sweden: 41 cases, 15 with HUS and one death
  • Switzerland: 2 cases 
  • United Kingdom: 3 cases, 2 with HUS

Despite the best efforts of Germany’s epidemiologists, the source of this outbreak is unknown – except that it appears to be associated with consumption of raw tomatoes, cucumber and leaf salad.

For a time, suspicion fell on raw cucumbers imported from Spain – especially after lab analysis of two cucumber samples yielded enterohemorrhagic E. coli. But the cucumber contaminant did not match the outbreak strain.

The most frightening aspect of this outbreak, other than the lack of success in finding its cause, is the unusually high percentage of victims who have developed HUS – more than 30% of victims, as compared to the 5-10% HUS rate experienced in most other outbreaks.

HUS is a life-threatening complication, usually beginning with kidney failure and often progressing to failure of other organs and systems. Some 5-10% of HUS patients die, and most others suffer life-long consequences of their fight for survival – even with treatment. Conventional treatment consists of dialysis and, where necessary, plasma exchange.

The massive and deadly Canadian E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that was centered in Walkerton, Ontario in 2000 spurred Canadian researchers to study ways of preventing HUS – by preventing the bacterial toxins from binding to its target cells in the body. Researchers at the University of Maryland and in Argentina independently explored similar approaches – using monoclonal antibodies against the toxin in order to block its activity.

Just a few days ago, researchers in Canada, France and Germany reported that they used yet another antibody to treat successfully three 3-year-old children who were suffering from severe cases of HUS. But this new development might be too late to help many of the German outbreak victims.

The German outbreak has many unknowns:

  • What is the source?
  • What is the true number of illnesses?
  • Why is the incidence of HUS so high?
  • Why have adult women been disproportionately stricken?

And, most importantly, when will it end?

Recalls and Alerts: May 6, 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.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Allergy Alert: Tri-State Bakery, LLC (Amarillo, TX) recalls 24-ounce white and wheat breads purchased prior to May 2, 2011 (see recall notice for detailed list of products), because the bread may contain undeclared soy flour, soy lecithin, and milk. The recalled breads were distributed through retail stores in Texas (except for El Paso Area), New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arizona.
  • Allergy Alert: Nut Bar Company Inc. (Wyoming, MI) recalls GFS Pecan Pieces (40-oz. packages; Lot #095 1094), because they may contain undeclared walnuts instead of pecans. The recalled product was distributed through Gordon Food Service’s Shepherdsvilly, KY distribution center to restaurants and GFS Marketplace Stores in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
  • Allergy Alert: Stir the Pot, LLC (Louisville, KY) recalls J. Gumbo’s Drunken Chicken-Dark Chicken With Stewed Tomatoes (9-lb bags; Batch #2401), J. Gumbo’s Chicken Zydeco-Dark Chicken Meat in a Sweet Chili Sauce (9-lb. bags; Batch #Z020), J. Gumbo’s Voodoo Chicken-Dark Meat Chicken With Tomato Sauce and Spices (9-lb bags; Batch #VD 3242) and J. Gumbo’s Red Hot Chicken-Dark Chicken in Hot Sauce (9-lb. bags; Batch #RH-Y042), because the products contain undeclared fish protein in the form of anchovy puree. The recalled products were manufactured between March 28, 2011 and April 28, 2011 and were shipped to distributors for foodservice use in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.
  • Allergy Alert: Butterfield Foods (Noblesville, IN) recalls barbecue beef, pork and chicken products, because they contain undeclared soy. The recalled products were manufactured between April 2, 2010 and May 5, 2011 and were distributed to retail establishments and restaurants in Indiana under the Butterfield Foods and Amish Classic brands.
  • Food Safety Recall Update: Taylor Farms Pacific, Inc. (Tracy, CA) has corrected its earlier recall notice for products containing grape tomatoes to include updated product and distribution information. Please see the recall notice for a detailed list of recalled items and distribution details. USDA  has released an updated retail distribution list for the recalled products that fall under its jurisdiction. Separately, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation has confirmed that the recalled salad products were distributed to companies in the Pacific Northwest that supply products to Alaska. Please see the Alaska Press Release for details. Colorado has posted a list of recalled grape tomato products that were sold in Safeway, King Soopers and City Market stores in that state.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: American Regent recalls Caffeine & Sodium Benzoate Injection, USP, 250mg/mL, 2 mL Single Dose Vial (NDC # 0517-2502-10, Lot #0084, Exp Date February, 2012; Lot #0084 only), because some of the vials may contain visible particulates. The recalled product was distributed to wholesalers and distributors nationwide.
  • Shellfishing Areas Closed (New York): The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has temporarily closed particular areas in the Town of Huntington to shellfish harvesting, after shellfish samples collected from western Shinnecock Bay tested positive for saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert Update: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued an expanded Alert to include additional product codes of Doctor’s CarbRite Diet Chocolate Brownie Bars (56.7g/2-oz. pkgs; Lot #EXP101211, EXP040211, EXP080811, EXP080911, and EXP041012), which have been recalled because they may contain undeclared peanuts. The product may have been distributed nationally.
  • Allergy Alert: Quality Natural Foods Ltd. (Scarborough, ON) recalls Quality brand Super Tasty Rasmalai (1Kg & 4Kg), because the product contains undeclared sulphites. The recalled products were distributed nationally.
  • Outbreak Alert: An acute gastrointestinal illness – suspected to be Norovirus – has struck 20 travelers and 16 staff members at the Chateau Lake Louise resort hotel in Alberta. The afflicted hotel guests were quarantined in their rooms for 48 hours after their symptoms subsided, while sick staff members were told to remain at home. Kitchen staff were instructed to stay home for 48 hours after their symptoms subsided.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Finland): Inex Partners Oy withdraws Rainbow Grilled Vegetables, 450g pkg (Product of Belgium; Batch code L1048-2; Best Before 17.08.2012), because the product contains undeclared milk protein and wheat gluten.
  • Food Safety Alert (Netherlands): Inproba asks consumers to discard Inproba Creamy Coconut Milk (250 ml; Expiration date 3/9/2012), because the product might spoil before the indicated expiration date. No other production lots are affected by this warning.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Moughal Imports Ltd. recalls TRS Whole Brown Lentil (Lot No. P100218; Best before 28/12-2012) and Natco Green Lentil (Lot #090211 14547; Best before 28/2-2013), after glyphosate was detected at levels above the permitted amount.
  • Food Withdrawal (Denmark): Ello-Food ApS withdraws Life brand Chestnut Flour (Product of Italy; Best Before 30/6-2011; Lot #266.10 and 245.10) after mold was found in the product by the Italian supplier.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Poisoning Illness/Death (India): An eighteen-year old girl died in hospital due to food poisoning after sharing a meal with her family. The girl’s two teenaged sisters and their father also suffered from diarrhea, but are out of danger.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (El Salvador): Bonamesa Packing has been ordered to halt production of sausages after Clostridium perfringens was found in samples of the company’s sausages. The action comes after the company failed to implement recommended improvements to its hygienic practices and operations. Clostridium perfringens is the third leading cause of food poisoning in El Salvador, according to the Deputy Minister of Health.
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.

Recalls and Alerts: May 3, 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.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Mann Packing (Salinas, CA) recalls certain vegetable platter and Snacks on the Go items, because the grape tomato ingredients were supplied by Six L’s (Immokalee, FL) and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The following items labeled with Best If Used By dates ranging from May 9, 2011 to May 16, 2011 were recalled: Small Vegetable Platter (UPC  16519 01411-6), Snacks on the Go with Celery, Carrots, Tomatoes (sold in Kroger stores in North Carolina, Virginia, Eastern WV, Eastern Kentucky, SE Ohio, in Food 4 Less, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs stores, in Stop & Shop stores, in Giant Food stores, and exported to Canada), Mann’s Large Party Platter (UPC 16519 01405-5) and Vegetable Platter Large (UPC 16519 01407-9).
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Bonaterra Products, Inc. (Maywood, CA) that a January 2011 inspection of the company’s food storage facility revealed serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations for manufacturing, packing, or holding human food.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Happy Crab Seafood, Inc. (Portland, OR) that a January 2011 inspection of the company’s seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.
  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Del Bueno (Grandview, WA) that an October 2010 inspection of the company’s cheese processing establishment revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the company’s processing facility, causing its cheese products to be adulterated within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. FDA also recovered Listeria monocytogenes from two finished product samples of Queso Fresco Cheese obtained at retail stores.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: The following additional 50g Raw Organic Food Bars have been recalled due to the presence of undeclared peanuts: Chocolately Chocolate Chip (Lot codes 1062810, 3062810, 1072810, 1102010), Chocolate Coconut (Lot codes 5071210, 4072810, 3081710, 2092010, 4102010), Cinnamon Raisin (Lot codes 2062410, 2070910, 2083110) and Fibre Chocolate Delite (Lote codes 5062810, 6072110, 1092010). The recalled products are known to have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Ontario, and may be distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall: Mastronardi Produce Ltd. (Kingsville, ON) recalls Field & Farm brand Grape tomatoes (1 pint clamshell; Lot #40398) and Compliemnts brand Santalina Grape tomatoes (280g; Lot #40664 in Quebec and #40640 & 40664 in Atlantic Canada), because the tomatoes may be contaminated with Salmonella Anatum. The Farm & Field product was sold in Ontario by Metro Ontario Inc., and the Compliments product was distributed by Sobeys in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and at the Bonichoix located at 1244 St-Augustin Road, Embrun, Ontario.
  • Food Safety Recall: Mann Packing (Salinas, CA) Snacks on the Go with Celery, Carrots, Tomatoes (UPC 16519 01505-2), because the grape tomato ingredients were supplied by Six L’s (Immokalee, FL) and may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Dietary Supplement Enforcement Action (Hong Kong): A woman has been arrested following an investigation into the suspected illegal sale of a slimming product, Botanical Slimming, which was found to contain two banned Western drugs – phenolphthalein and sibutramine – both of which can cause serious side effects.
  • Outbreak Alert (PRC): More than 70 villagers in Baise (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) were hospitalized with suspected food poisoning after attending a private banquet in the village. The youngest victim was a 6-month old baby. None of the illnesses are life-threatening.
  • Outbreak Alert (PRC): More than 200 people were sickened after eating lunch at Ruizhou Grand Restaurant in Datong City. Four of the victims are in serious condition. The outbreak victims were celebrants at two weddings and a birthday party held in the restaurant.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (PRC): Fourteen people in northern China have been convicted and received prison sentences – two of them for life – for their involvement in producing or selling melamine-adulterated milk powder. Fifty-three officials have been discharged, demoted, or given lesser punishment for their involvement in the same cases.
  • Outbreak Alert (Abu Dhabi): Some 117 workers at a labor camp were taken to Mount Zayed Hospital after falling ill with vomiting, nausea, fever and diarrhea. An additional 119 workers were treated for their food poisoning symptoms at the camp. The cause of the food poisoning outbreak is under investigation by the Abu Dhabi Health and Food Control Authorities.
  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): An outbreak of typhoid fever has sickened 98 residents of the remote village of Sappaac, Bangued, Abra in the northern Philippines. Water from a shallow well – the main source of drinking water for the village – was found to be contaminated with Salmonella typhi.
  • Outbreak Alert (Egypt): More than 62 students living on-campus at the University of Tanta Bsbarbai developed food poisoning; 18 were hospitalized for treatment. A committee has been formed to look into the cause of the incident.
  • Outbreak Alert (Mozambique): One person has died and four others were hospitalized in Maputo, following an outbreak of cholera in the Costa do Sol neighborhood of the Mozambican capital. This is the first reported outbreak of cholera in Maputo since 2007.
  • Outbreak Alert (Japan): The number of illnesses in the Fukui Prefecture outbreak of E. coli O111 has risen to fifty-six; two boys have died. The victims all consumed a raw meat dish called Yukhoe, served at restaurants run by Foods Forus Co.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Therapeutic Goods Safety Advisory (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration warns consumers that Natural Vigra VIAGRA Tablets, sold over the Internet contain therapeutic quantities of the prescription medication sildenafil. Natural Vigra is sold as a 100% herbal product. Sildenafil may be harmful – especially to people with a history of cardiovascular disease – if taken without the supervision of a medical professional.

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Outbreak Alert (Venezuela): Ninety cases of Hepatitis A have been confirmed in Arenas. Most of the victims are students in primary and secondary schools in Arenas.

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.