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CDC has provided an update on its collaboration with state health departments and the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) in an investigation into a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections. Epidemiologic and traceback investigations linked this outbreak to eating ground beef purchased from Hannaford Supermarkets, a grocery chain based in Maine. Reported purchase dates range from October 12, 2011 to November 20, 2011.
Green Valley Food Corp. of Dallas, TX has expanded their original recall of sprouts that may be contaminated with Salmonella to include additional types of sprouts that may contain Listeria monocytogenes. Thus far, no illnesses have been linked to these sprouts. The initial recall was based on a random sample of sprouts that tested positive for Salmonella on December 12. The recall was expanded when random samples of sprouts tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that after a lengthy investigation it has concluded that a recent outbreak of E. coli O1157:H7 across 10 states was caused by Romaine lettuce grown in California. As of December 4, 2011, 60 people have been confirmed with E. coli O157:H7 infection; 30 were hospitalized and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. Cases occurred in Arizona (1), Arkansas (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (9), Indiana (2), Kansas (3), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (37), and Nebraska (1).
Product from the Springdale, Arkansas plant was linked to a Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak earlier this year in which 136 persons were infected. Cases were reported from 34 states, and one person in California is known to have died as a result of the infection.
The number of confirmed cases currently stands at 139 persons, and 29 have died. The outbreak has sickened people across 26 states: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), California (2), Colorado (37), Idaho (2), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (1), Kansas (10), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (6), Montana (1), Nebraska (6), New Mexico (14), New York (2), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (11), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (18), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (4).
The Institute for Environmental Health laboratory has isolated E. coli O157:H7 bacteria from deer feces on fields that grew contaminated strawberries implicated in a recent outbreak. E. coli O157:H7 infection is often spread by contamination with cattle feces, but in this outbreak wild deer seen in the strawberry field were the source. Over 10% of 100 samples of soil and deer feces tested were positive for the pathogen, and further tests of the deer E. coli at IEH revealed that 6 of the 10 strains have a DNA "fingerprint" matching that of the human outbreak cases.
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., announced a voluntary recall of all LEASA brand sprouts because the Living Alfalfa Sprout product was found to be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled sprouts were distributed in Winn-Dixie stores, including Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Cal Fresco, LLC is issuing a recall of fresh Jalapeno and Serrano chili peppers for potential contamination with Salmonella. The FDA reports that random samples of Cal Fresco Jalapeno and Serrano peppers tested positive for the Salmonella bacteria on December 12. No illnesses associated with these chili peppers have been reported to date.
Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. of Nebraska is recalling approximately 40,948 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
Pacific International Marketing ("Pacific") of Salinas, California has announced a voluntary recall of fresh cilantro for potential contamination with Salmonella. The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found that a sample of Pacific brand cilantro has tested positive for contamination with Salmonella bacteria at the distributor level. No illnesses associated with this product have been reported to date. The product originates from Salt River Farming, located in the Phoenix, Arizona area. The source of the contamination is unknown.
The Procter & Gamble Company has voluntarily recalled a production lot of Iams brand dry dog food due to aflatoxin levels above the acceptable limit. Aflatoxin is a by-product from the growth of the fungus Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities. No illnesses have been reported in association with this production lot to date, and no other Iams pet food products are involved.
An additional 22 cases of Salmonella Heidelberg infections have been associated with "broiled" chicken liver products. So far the outbreak has resulted in a total of 179 culture-confirmed cases over six states: New York (99), New Jersey (61), Pennsylvania (10), Maryland (6), Ohio (2), and Minnesota (1). No deaths have been reported. The isolates of S. Heidelberg, identified since March 13 of this year, all had an identical DNA "fingerprint" but were not related to the S. Heidelberg strain from recalled ground turkey earlier this year. An epidemiologic investigation by the New York City Department of Health implicated chicken liver products as the cause of the outbreak. Illnesses are also linked to chopped liver sold at retail stores that was made from this product.
The EU ban on importation of Egyptian sprouting seeds was continued because the delegation found that the implicated farms were not utilizing Good Agricultural Practices in growing the fenugreek seeds, despite exporting them for human consumption.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will expand testing for E. coli in meat, declaring six additional strains of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) as "adulterants" in ground beef. The common O157:H7 strain of the bacteria was declared an adulterant in 1994, and the meat industry has been required to test all meat ground into hamburger for that pathogen. In the last few years, additional serotypes of STEC bacteria have been identified and outbreaks detected as laboratory diagnostic testing for STECs has improved.
SEATTLE, WA, June 29, 2011 IEH laboratories & Consulting Group (IEH) wishes to announce the availability of new screening test capabilities to detect Escherichia coli O104:H4 (E. coli O104) in leafy greens and sprouts.
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We offer analytical services tailored to the meat industry, fresh produce, agricultural products and consulting.
IEH's focus is to provide routine analytical support to the food industry through consultation, research, and product development.
IEH provides a full range of food safety training courses.
Scientists at the IEH are experts in dealing with shelf-life/stability issues relating to individual ingredients and processed products.
IEH has provided support for all major foodborne outbreaks in the U.S. since 1993.
IEH pioneered the use of Microbial Source Tracking to investigate sources of pathogenic microorganisms and to map their distribution and movement in water.
CDC has provided an update on its collaboration with state health departments and the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) in an investigation into a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections. Epidemiologic and traceback investigations linked this outbreak to eating ground beef purchased from Hannaford Supermarkets, a grocery chain based in Maine. Reported purchase dates range from October 12, 2011 to November 20, 2011.
Green Valley Food Corp. of Dallas, TX has expanded their original recall of sprouts that may be contaminated with Salmonella to include additional types of sprouts that may contain Listeria monocytogenes. Thus far, no illnesses have been linked to these sprouts. The initial recall was based on a random sample of sprouts that tested positive for Salmonella on December 12. The recall was expanded when random samples of sprouts tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that after a lengthy investigation it has concluded that a recent outbreak of E. coli O1157:H7 across 10 states was caused by Romaine lettuce grown in California. As of December 4, 2011, 60 people have been confirmed with E. coli O157:H7 infection; 30 were hospitalized and two developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. Cases occurred in Arizona (1), Arkansas (2), Georgia (1), Illinois (9), Indiana (2), Kansas (3), Kentucky (1), Minnesota (3), Missouri (37), and Nebraska (1).
The number of confirmed cases currently stands at 139 persons, and 29 have died. The outbreak has sickened people across 26 states: Alabama (1), Arkansas (1), California (2), Colorado (37), Idaho (2), Illinois (3), Indiana (3), Iowa (1), Kansas (10), Louisiana (2), Maryland (1), Missouri (6), Montana (1), Nebraska (6), New Mexico (14), New York (2), North Dakota (1), Oklahoma (11), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), South Dakota (1), Texas (18), Virginia (1), West Virginia (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (4).
IEH isolates outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 from deer feces at implicated Oregon strawberry farmThe Institute for Environmental Health laboratory has isolated E. coli O157:H7 bacteria from deer feces on fields that grew contaminated strawberries implicated in a recent outbreak. E. coli O157:H7 infection is often spread by contamination with cattle feces, but in this outbreak wild deer seen in the strawberry field were the source. Over 10% of 100 samples of soil and deer feces tested were positive for the pathogen, and further tests of the deer E. coli at IEH revealed that 6 of the 10 strains have a DNA "fingerprint" matching that of the human outbreak cases.
Cal Fresco, LLC is issuing a recall of fresh Jalapeno and Serrano chili peppers for potential contamination with Salmonella. The FDA reports that random samples of Cal Fresco Jalapeno and Serrano peppers tested positive for the Salmonella bacteria on December 12. No illnesses associated with these chili peppers have been reported to date.
Pacific International Marketing ("Pacific") of Salinas, California has announced a voluntary recall of fresh cilantro for potential contamination with Salmonella. The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has found that a sample of Pacific brand cilantro has tested positive for contamination with Salmonella bacteria at the distributor level. No illnesses associated with this product have been reported to date. The product originates from Salt River Farming, located in the Phoenix, Arizona area. The source of the contamination is unknown.
The Procter & Gamble Company has voluntarily recalled a production lot of Iams brand dry dog food due to aflatoxin levels above the acceptable limit. Aflatoxin is a by-product from the growth of the fungus Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities. No illnesses have been reported in association with this production lot to date, and no other Iams pet food products are involved.
An additional 22 cases of Salmonella Heidelberg infections have been associated with "broiled" chicken liver products. So far the outbreak has resulted in a total of 179 culture-confirmed cases over six states: New York (99), New Jersey (61), Pennsylvania (10), Maryland (6), Ohio (2), and Minnesota (1). No deaths have been reported. The isolates of S. Heidelberg, identified since March 13 of this year, all had an identical DNA "fingerprint" but were not related to the S. Heidelberg strain from recalled ground turkey earlier this year. An epidemiologic investigation by the New York City Department of Health implicated chicken liver products as the cause of the outbreak. Illnesses are also linked to chopped liver sold at retail stores that was made from this product.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will expand testing for E. coli in meat, declaring six additional strains of Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) as "adulterants" in ground beef. The common O157:H7 strain of the bacteria was declared an adulterant in 1994, and the meat industry has been required to test all meat ground into hamburger for that pathogen. In the last few years, additional serotypes of STEC bacteria have been identified and outbreaks detected as laboratory diagnostic testing for STECs has improved.
IEH Environmental and Foodborne Illness Map
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