Tag: E. coli O157:H7

California Lettuce Fingered In US/Canada E. coli O157:H7 Outbreaks

Romaine lettuce grown on a California farm is the probable source of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses that were reported in April and May in California, New Brunswick and Quebec.

The binational outbreak sickened at least 18 people in New Brunswick (Canada) and nine residents of California. At least one resident of Quebec also was infected with the same outbreak strain.

The New Brunswick outbreak victims ate at Jungle Jim’s, a restaurant in Miramichi, between April 23rd and April 26th, and had consumed romaine lettuce, either in a salad, as part of a wrap, or as a garnish on hamburger. Most of the nine California victims had eaten at a single (unnamed) restaurant in April 2012, according to information provided by Ronald Owens (Office of Public Affairs, California Department of Public Health). A case control study implicated lettuce as the source of the California outbreak. No information has been released on the Quebec cases(s).

California was notified in May by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that CDC had learned of an outbreak in Canada, caused by the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 as the California illnesses. Traceback investigations carried out by Canada and California both led to a single California farm that supplied lettuce to the California restaurant and to Jungle Jim’s in New Brunswick. Lettuce from the implicated fields was also supplied to Quebec.

Unfortunately, tracing the source of the lettuce did not lead to the source of the contamination. According to Ronald Owens, FDA and California followed up at the farm, but could not identify what might have led to the contamination. “The field had long since been harvested at the time of the investigation,” Owens explained in his email to me, “and all lettuce from the implicated lots had long since been consumed or disposed.”

In addition to shining a spotlight on the behind-the-scenes cooperation that takes place between federal, state and provincial health agencies in the USA and Canada, this outbreak investigation also highlights a significant difference in attitude and responsiveness between the New Brunswick Department of Health and the California Department of Public Health.

In its May 15, 2012 update on the Miramichi outbreak – the last update that appears on the Province’s website – a promise was made to release the results of the outbreak investigation. I have twice requested a copy of the investigation report, and both requests have been ignored. Not refused. Ignored.

In comparison, I requested information on the California investigation by email on the evening of Friday, July 13th. I received a complete and substantive reply today – less than one business day after making the request. My thanks to Ronald Owens of the CDPH Office of Public Affairs for his prompt and thorough attention to my information request.

Outbreak of HUS and Bloody Diarrhea in France

It’s the 4th of July – Independence Day in the USA – and the national meal is burgers on the barbecue.

As they do every year, the USDA, FDA and various states have been urging the public to use meat thermometers in order to ensure that their burgers are cooked thoroughly. It’s ironic, therefore, that France has been experiencing an outbreak of E. coli O157 traced to contaminated ground beef.

On June 25th the Aquitaine Regional Health Agency (ARS Aquitaine) reported that three people were hospitalized in Bordeaux, suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The three victims were children – a 2 1/2 year old girl, an eight year old girl, and a 14-year old boy. All three of the victims had consumed ground beef produced by the Société des viandes élaborées d’Estillac. The meat was sold in stores belonging to the Intermarché and Netto supermarket chains in the southwest part of France.

A fourth child – a four-year old boy – also had been hospitalized, but had not consumed any ground beef.

The manufacturer initiated a recall of the implicated meat on June 23rd, without waiting for the results of lab analysis of the ground beef. Unfortunately, the recall was not in time to prevent additional illnesses from developing.

As of July 3rd, France’s Institut de Veille Sanitaire (Institute for Health Surveillance) has received reports of eight cases of HUS and four cases of bloody diarrhea, all located in Aquitaine) and Poitou-Charentes. All of the outbreak patients live in the region where the recalled ground beef was sold. All of the eight HUS victims are children, ranging from 2 1/2 years old to 14 years of age. All eight HUS victims consumed ground beef in the period before becoming ill.

Six of the eight HUS victims and one patient with bloody diarrhea have been confirmed to be infected with E. coli O157; lab tests are still in progress on the remaining outbreak victims.

This outbreak is a cruel reminder that the risk of contracting E. coli O157 is not restricted by nationality or geography. When grilling your burgers on the barbecue, please remember to use a meat thermometer to ensure that the meat has reached a safe internal temperature of 160°F (that’s 71°C).

For more information on safe food handling, check out USDA’s Barbecue and Food Safety Fact Sheet.

Recalls and Alerts: April 14, 2012

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: Bottom Dollar Food recalls Hannaford private label brand Hard Taco Dinner Kit, 12-count (Lot #ga-aug10125; UPC 41268-17572) and Hard/Soft Dinner Kit (Lot #ga-aug07125; UPC 41268-17573), because the products may contain undeclared milk, due to a manufacturer error. The recalled products were sold in Bottom Dollar Food stores. Hannaford Supermarkets are not affected.
  • Allergy Alert: Food Lion recalls additional taco dinner kits, including Food Lion store brand Hard Taco Dinner Kit, 12-count (UPC 35826-00661; Lot #ga-aug10125; Sold at Food Lion, Harveys and Reid’s stores), Hannaford store brand Hard Taco Dinner Kit, 12-count (UPC 41268-17572; Lot #ga-aug10125; Sold at Bloom stores), and Hannaford store brand Hard/Soft Dinner Kit (UPC 41268-17573; Lot #ga-aug07125), because the products may contain undeclared milk, due to a manufacturer error.
  • Allergy Alert: Mission Foods recalls Taco Dinner Kits distributed by Kroger, Winn-Dixie, Hannaford and Food Lion under their respective store brand names, because the products may contain undeclared milk. The recalled products include Kroger Taco Dinner Kit, 12-count, containing 12 crisp shells, sauce and seasoning (UPC 0-11110-85474-2; Code date GA AUG 10 12; distributed in Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, West Virginia, Kansas, Nebraska and Tennessee in Kroger, Scott’s Payless, owen’s Food-4-Less (Chicago stores only), JayC, Dillons, Gerbes and Bakers stores), Winn-Dixie Taco Dinner Kit, 12-count, containing 12 white corn taco shells, taco sauce and seasoning mix (UPC 0-21140-20569-8; Code date GA AUG 10 12; distributed in Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama), Hannaford Taco Dinner Kit, 12-count, containing 12 taco shells, taco sauce and seasoning mix (UPC code 0-41268-17572-7; Code date GA AUG 10 12), Hannaford Hard & Soft Taco Dinner Kit, 12-count, containing 6 hard tacos and 6 soft tortillas, taco sauce and seasoning mix (UPC code 0-41268-17573-4; Code date GA AUG 07 12), and Food Lion Taco Dinner Kit, 12-count, containing 12 taco shells, taco sauce and seasoning mix (UPC code 0-35826-00661-5; Code date GA AUG 10 12; distributed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Ohio).
  • Allergy Alert: Harry and David recalls Harry & David® Premium Kansas City Style Barbeque Almonds (2-oz bags; UPC 780994781986; Best by 09/28/12; Lot codes beginning with 0682M, 0722M, and 0752M), because the bags may contain peanuts. The recalled product was sold in Harry and David stores only in California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, and Virginia.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Moon Marine USA Corporation, aka MMI (Cupertino, CA) recalls 58,828 lbs of Nakaochi Scrape AA or AAA Frozen Raw Yellowfin Tuna product, which has been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Bareilly that has caused 116 illnesses in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The recalled product is tuna backmeat, and looks like a ground product. It was sold through distributors to restaurants and grocery stores that make sushi, sashimi, ceviche and similar dishes.
  • Food Safety Recall: Quick Dry Foods, USA Inc. (Waukegan, IL) recalls Dehydrated Kibbled Mushrooms, 4-6mm pieces (25-lb polylined boxes; Lot W4111; Manufactured by Winfield (Linyl) Food Co., Ltd., Shandong Province, China), because the product was contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed in Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Canada. Customers were notified of the recall by telephone on March 13, 2012 and by email on March 14th and 15th.
  • Food Safety Recall: Slade Gorton & Company, Inc. (Boston, MA) recalls Sonoma Seafoods Atlantic Salmon Burger (8-oz net wt; Vacuum-packed, frozen; Use by 07/28/2012, 07/30/2012, 10/22/2012 and 10/30/2012) after a sample tests positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was manufactured by Clear Springs Foods, Inc. (Buhl, ID), M.S. Intertrade East, Inc. (Elgin, IL) and M.S. Intertrade Nevada, LLC (Sparks, NV) and was distributed to Colorado, Oregon, Texas and Washington. Customers were notified by email on November 3, 2011.
  • Pet Medication Safety Recall: Virbac AH, Inc. recalls Iverhart Max® Chewable Tablets (For large dogs, weighing 50.1-100 lbs; Lot #110482), after product testing revealed that the Ivermectin failed to meet the required stability specifications.
  • Outbreak Alert (Oregon): Oregon Public Health, Oregon Department of Agriculture and local health departments are investigating an outbreak of E. coli o157:H7 infections associated with consumption of raw milk from Foundation Farm in Clackamas County. Four children have lab-confirmed infections, and three of them have been hospitalized. Two of the hospitalized children are suffering from hemolytic uremic syndrome. Other customers of the dairy are reporting recent diarrhea and other symptoms consistent with E. coli O157:H7 infections. The Foundation Farm dairy distributes raw milk to 48 households that participate in a herd-share program.
  • Outbreak Alert Update (Missouri): Thirteen residents of Central Missouri have been infected with E. coli O157:H7, and three additional cases are under investigation. Seven of the thirteen confirmed case-patients are infected with a single genetic (PFGE) strain; genetic profiling on three cases are pending. Of the seven confirmed outbreak cases, five have reported consuming raw dairy products from a single farm. One child (aged 2 years) has developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). A second 17-month old child also has developed HUS, but that child was infected with a different genetic strain of E. coli O157:H7.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: TWI Foods Inc. (Mississauga, ON) recalls Crispy by TWI Foods Pistachio Cookies (200g; UPC 6 27265 00161 2; All codes), due to the presence of undeclared almonds and milk, Crispy by TWI Foods Almond Cookies (200g; UPC 6 27265 00522 1; All codes), due to the presence of undeclared milk, and Crispy by TWI Foods Coconut Cookies (200g; UPC 6 27265 00521 4; All codes), due to the presence of undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed nationally. This recall first was announced on March 29, 2012 and has been expanded to include additional product information.
  • Food Safety Recall: Les Aliments Deli Chef (Laval, QC) recalls Deli Chef brand Super Loaded Sub Sandwiches (330g pkg; UPC 0 56040 37452 6; Expiry/Best before May 18; Est. 318), because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled sandwiches were distributed in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Food Safety alerts the public not to consume Kimlan Satay Paste (128g; Product of Taiwan; Best before June 2, 2014), because a sample was found to contain the plasticizer Di-isodecyl phthalate.

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.