Monthly Archives: April 2012

Just scrape it off: 4 indicted in Chicago for ‘washing,’ reselling moldy cheese

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Federal authorities in Chicago have charged four people with distributing more than 100,000 pounds of tainted Mexican cheese they say the suspects would “wash” and resell after it was returned by customers because of mold or fungus.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald’s office said Thursday the four suspects would scrape the mold or fungus they could see and then resell it.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports the suspects tried to hide what they were doing by lying to inspectors from the federal Food and Drug Administration and sending false documents to the agency.

In all, more than 110,000 pounds of tainted Mexican cheese was shipped out in 2007, according to a six-count indictment returned Wednesday.

The indictment doesn’t allege any instances of illness or other public health consequences attributed to the cheese, though inspectors later determined samples of the cheese were contaminated with salmonella, E. coli and other illness-causing bacteria.

One defendant owned an Illinois company that imported the dried Mexican cheese, and another owned a Wisconsin company, which also had a facility in Elmhurst, that distributed the cheese nationwide.

The Wisconsin company distributed the cheese to retail stores in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Georgia and Texas under the brand name Queso Cincho De Guerrero.

A recall was issued in September 2007 for the dry, hard Mexican cheese, sold in 35- and 40-pound wheels.

 

Salmonella tops list in second FDA food registry report

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Reportable Food Registry (RFR) logged 1,153 entries from Sept. 8, 2010 – Sept. 7, 2011, it’s second full year of reporting.

Among the highlights:

• 225 primary reports – initial reports about a safety concern with a food or animal feed (including food ingredients);
• 483 subsequent reports from suppliers or recipients of a food or feed for which a primary report had been submitted; and,
• 174 amended reports to correct or add information to previously submitted reports.

Reports were received from both domestic and foreign sources.

The 225 primary reports for Year 2 involved products in 22 commodity categories. Salmonella accounted for 38.2 percent of hazards, Undeclared Allergens accounted for 33.3 percent, and Listeria monocytogenes accounted for 17.8 percent.

The report notes that the RFR findings have spurred efforts to improve preventive measures in affected commodity areas, both by industry and FDA, and are helping the agency better target its inspection and sampling activities.

The RFR requires manufacturers, processors, packers and holders (warehousers, distributors, etc.) of FDA-regulated foods/feeds to quickly report to FDA via the online Safety Reporting Portal any foods, feeds or ingredients that could result in serious adverse health consequences to humans or animals. Reportable food submissions provide early warning to FDA about potential public health risks and increase the speed with which the agency and its partners at the state and local levels can investigate the reports and take appropriate follow-up action, including ensuring that the reportable foods are removed from commerce when necessary.

Barf barge: stuck on a barge with Salmonella

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Workers on a gas production platform in the Bass Strait want their barge returned to port after a major outbreak of salmonella and gastroenteritis.

One construction worker on the Origin Energy project has been flown to hospital in Melbourne.

In total, 36 of more than 200 workers have fallen ill in the two weeks since the outbreak, their union said.

Crew say their calls to evacuate are being ignored in order to keep the $345 million platform expansion project on-track.

An Origin Energy and Downer Engineering spokesman said they had been working with Tasmania’s Department of Health and best-practice guidelines had been followed.

Australian Workers Union Victorian state secretary Cesar Melham said the outbreak was believed to have stemmed from improperly prepared meat.

However, workers continued to fall ill following a clean-up and other control measures that took place four days ago.

Want to watch my snake eat a rat? 46 sick with Salmonella, many young kids, from feeder rodents

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Want to watch my snake eat a rat?

I vaguely knew a couple of people who said that in the 1970s, just like the acid scene in Almost Famous.

Probably sucked as a pickup line.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control is collaborating with 22 state health departments in an ongoing investigation of an outbreak of human Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- infections associated with exposure to rodents sold as food for pet reptiles and amphibians (i.e., feeder rodents). This outbreak strain also was implicated in a 2009 outbreak in the United Kingdom and a 2010 outbreak in the United States, both linked to frozen feeder rodents from a single U.S. supplier, resulting in recalls.

During August 29, 2011–February 2, 2012, a total of 46 cases of human Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- infection were reported in 22 states. The median patient age was 11 years (range: <1–69 years); 37% were aged ≤5 years, and 52% were male. Of the 27 patients interviewed, six (22%) reported hospitalization, 20 (74%) reported reptile or amphibian exposures, and 15 (56%) reported feeder rodent exposure. For 12 patients who recalled the types of rodent contacted, five (42%) reported exposure to live rodents, four (33%) to frozen rodents, and three (25%) to both live and frozen rodents. Seven (58%) patients reported exposure to mice, two (17%) to rats, two (17%) to both mice and rats, and one (8%) was unsure. No patients reported exposure to rodents purchased from the same pet store.

Frozen mice specimens from two North Carolina pet stores where two patients purchased feeder rodents yielded the outbreak strain. Tracing the source of these mice has been difficult for investigators because of complex breeder and supplier networks and inadequate records. However, two breeders supplying pet stores from which patients had purchased rodents had received mice from the company implicated in the 2009 and 2010 outbreaks. Given the wide distribution of illnesses, rodent suppliers, and pet stores, the outbreak strain might now be endemic in feeder rodents.

The fact that 37% of patients were aged ≤5 years supports recommendations that young children avoid exposure to reptiles or amphibians, including in the home. Owners of reptiles, amphibians, or other animals that are fed rodents should be aware of the risk for salmonellosis from the animals and live and frozen feeder rodents. Safe handling instructions for all of these animals should be provided at the point of sale.

References
Harker K, Lane C, De Pinna E, Adak G. An outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium DT191a associated with reptile feeder mice. Epidemiol Infect 2011;139:1254–61.

CDC. Investigation announcement: multistate outbreak of human Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- infections associated with frozen rodents. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2010. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/frozenrodents/index.html. Accessed April 13, 2012.

CDC. Reptiles, amphibians, and Salmonella. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2012. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/features/salmonellafrogturtle. Accessed April 16, 2012.

Eat fresh: Subway restaurants have been closed for health violations more than any other chain in NYC

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Daughter Courtlynn loves her some Subway.

She’ll be pleased to know there’s one at the end of our street, open for brekkie at 7 a.m., and usually occupied by several high school students when I take Sorenne to school at 7:50 a.m.

And it’s the same kids, every day.

It’s convenient and while I do most of the cooking, sometimes life gets in the way and Sorenne and I will pop in for a whole wheat sandwich on our way home. In New York City, Subway has the dubious title of franchise most often closed by health types.

The New York Daily News analyzed Health Department data and found Subway stores were shut down a whopping 55 times in the last five years.

Subway officials insist the majority of its 372 city restaurants live up to its “eat fresh” slogan.

“Nearly 90% of the locations have an ‘A’ rating, and some 30 locations have not received their ratings yet,” said company spokesman Les Winograd. “Violations are not tolerated.”

Despite the 55 Subway shutdowns, City Health Department spokeswoman Chanel Caraway was quick to note that “an individual restaurant’s inspection history does not reflect a chain’s performance.”

Kennedy Fried Chicken franchises came in second with 31 closures, Dunkin’ Donuts had 23, Crown Fried Chicken was third with 22 and Golden Krust rounded out the infamous top five with 20.

141 personnes malades a cause de thon jaune ou albacore surgele cru ; salmonella dans des sushis est a l’origine des cas de maladies

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Translated by Albert Amgar.

Un foyer épidémique de 141 personnes infectées par Salmonella Bareilly a été lié à du thon jaune ou albacore utilisé dans des sushis. Les CDC et la FDA ont investigué ces cas groupés de maladies pendant les semaines précédentes mais n’ont pas identifié de source avant le 13 avril (les cas de maladies sont liées à la consommation de sushis et de produits similaires). Il y a eu 21 hospitalisations et pas de décès associé à ce foyer épidémique. De nombreuses personnes qui sont devenues malades ont signalé avoir consommé du thon cru dans des sushis, du « thon épicé ».

Le produit impliqué, transformé et distribué par Moon Marine USA Corporation (connue aussi sous le nom de MMI) de Cupertino, Californie, est fait à partir de longes de thon, selon le communiqué de presse de la FDA. Les arêtes ont été enlevées et le produit ressemble à un produit haché. La société a rappelé 26 684 kg de produits.

Le produit n’est pas disponible à la vente aux particuliers mais il a pu être consommé dans des restaurants ou les commerces pour faire des sushis, des sashimis, des céviches et d’autres plats similaires. Les noms de Moon Marine USA Corporation ou MMI et Nakaochi Scrape AA ou AAA étaient imprimés sur les boîtes de produits lorsqu’elles étaient vendues par des distributeurs.

Les boîtes peuvent avoir été distribuées à la vente en des lots plus petits. La notice de rappel de la FDA peut être vue ci-après : http://1.usa.gov/Io3OnG

L’information sur l’investigation du foyer épidémique par les CDC peut être vue ci-après : http://1.usa.gov/INbobT

Pour plus d’informations, contactez Ben Chapman, benjamin_chapman@ncsu.edu
ou Doug Powell, dpowell@ksu.edu
 

Click to download.

17 sick, 4 kids hospitalized from raw milk at 4-cow Oregon operation

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Lab tests confirmed Tuesday what Oregon health officials suspected: Raw milk from Foundation Farm near Wilsonville was contaminated with a deadly strain of E. coli.

The tests found E. coli O157:H7 in the milk, manure and the cows themselves, said Christine Stone, spokeswoman for Oregon Public Health.

Lynne Terry of The Oregonian reports at least 17 people are ill, including four children who’ve been hospitalized. Three of them are on kidney support.

Stone said multiple samples from Foundation Farm, including manure and rectal swabs from two of the cows tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. It also turned up in leftover milk.

Epidemiologists don’t always find pathogens in contaminated food because it’s never widespread in a product.

"The fact that it was found in the milk itself shows that it was probably contamination at a high level," said Dr. Katrina Hedberg, state epidemiologist.

The farm, located on 17 acres, has four Jersey dairy cows, three that are lactating. It sold to 48 households through a herd-share program in which customers bought part of the herd. Oregon health officials have interviewed most of the families.

The Salyers, who own the farm, have sold raw milk for at least a year. The Salyers have made no public comment. They’ve taken down contact information from a website and they’ve not returned calls seeking comment.

Nosestretcher alert: foodborne illness never happens to us: even if employees show up sick

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Two separate cases of food poisoning at Indiana eateries in the past two weeks have sickened more than 100 people, and created one additional entry to the we’ve-always-done-things-this-way-and-no-one-has-ever-gotten-sick file.

The Journal Gazette cited Mindy Waldron, the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health administrator, said customers fell ill with norovirus after eating at El Azteca Mexican restaurant at 535 E. State Blvd. on April 2.

That outbreak followed, but was not directly related to, another norovirus outbreak among those who dined at Cebolla’s Mexican Grill at 5930 W. Jefferson Blvd. in Time Corners on March 25.

The Journal Gazette reported the outbreak at Cebolla’s on March 31 after being alerted by a reader. The health department responded to requests for information, saying there were at least 20 patrons involved in the outbreak at that time.

The outbreak at El Azteca was not reported publicly until Waldron’s report Monday to the Allen County Board of Health, with the report noting the investigations had been concluded. Both outbreaks were traced to sick employees who reported for work in spite of their illness, according to Waldron.

Co-owner of El Azteca, Cristina Ray Durnell, said they took the issue seriously and did everything asked by the Department of Health.

“We’ve been here 38 years and never had anything like this happen,” Ray Durnell said. “Our customers and their safety are our No. 1 priority. That was two weeks ago and we have dealt with it.”

At Cebolla’s, health officials were able to identify 249 patrons who were potentially exposed. The health department received 66 complaints and 109 people had symptoms of the virus, Waldron said. The El Azteca outbreak involved 35 patrons – all of whom had symptoms – and 10 complaints were received.

Canadian PR program seeks to educate consumers on US greens

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When all else fails, resort to posture: the rock-star pose with Townsend-inspired exaggerated guitar, sexual imagery in TV sitcoms, public relations rather than public information.

I can’t wait to be plied by the PR types at Argyle Communications about the safety of California leafy greens.

The California Leafy Greens Marketing Association, rather than address a rapidly accumulating number of outbreaks associated with their lettuce and spinach and leafy product that have never been made public – has chosen to boost consumption by educating Canadians on the safety of U.S. greens; with that focus, they’ve already lost.

Data, transparency and creativity are what count. Mad Men is an entertaining television show set in the 1960s and they figured out these basics. So did Aristotle about 2,350 years ago, when he wrote any successful rhetoric includes an appeal to logic, an appeal to authority and an appeal to emotion.

“With funding from a California Specialty Crop Block Grant, the LGMA is launching a comprehensive public relations program designed to directly reach Canadian consumers through magazines, newspapers, television and the Internet to make sure they know all California leafy greens sold in Canadian must be certified by the LGMA.

"Consumer media outlets are the primary target of the campaign which seeks to raise awareness among Canadian consumers about the safety of leafy greens from California. Shortly after the LGMA was established, the Canadian government issued a mandate that all California leafy greens imported into the country must be certified by the LGMA.

"To make Canadian consumers aware of the measures being taken to ensure the safety of California leafy greens, Argyle Communications, a Canadian-based public relations firm has been retained to conduct a year-long communications campaign. The planned program includes two separate outreach efforts targeted at food and health reporters from Canadian media outlets and blog sites. The first of these will be mailed in the next few weeks and includes a presentation packet with basic facts and information about the LGMA along with featured recipes developed specifically for this effort. For a select target list, the packets will be hand delivered and will include product in the form of one of the featured recipes. For the first delivery, the featured recipe is Kale Chips. Later in the summer this same type of activity will be repeated with a different theme. A food safety spokesperson will also be pitched to Canadian television and radio outlets in an additional effort to communicate with consumers about the safety of California leafy greens.

"In early June, a tour of California leafy greens operations is scheduled to give Canadian media representatives a first-hand look at the comprehensive food safety program for leafy greens from California. In addition, the LGMA micro-site at www.safeleafygreens.com is being revised to serve a consumer audience with recipes and important handling information being added."

Sushi eaters rejoice; slime from India; 141 sick

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The sushi slime, or tuna backmeat that has now been linked to 141 confirmed Salmonella illnesses, up from 116, originated at a tuna processing facility in India.

Sushi eaters, you thought you were eating what? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conducted a traceback of tuna from four of the outbreak clusters, in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin, and found that all four received the same imported frozen raw Nakaochi Scrape tuna product from a single tuna processing facility in India.

Chapman and I chatted today – with his kids, extended family, burgeoning home canning career – he had to escape the Food Safety Summit in D.C. to catch up. He told me one of the industry types said everyone uses this stuff, which has helped propel the popularity of sushi eating.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reported today the number of confirmed Salmonella Bareilly linked to this outbreak has increased to 141 from 20 states and the District of Columbia.

The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (2), Arkansas (1), Connecticut (6), District of Columbia (2), Florida (1), Georgia (6), Illinois (13), Louisiana (3), Maryland (14), Massachusetts (9), Mississippi (2), Missouri (4), New Jersey (8), New York (28), North Carolina (2), Pennsylvania (6), Rhode Island (5), South Carolina (3), Texas (4), Virginia (8), and Wisconsin (14). 21 ill persons have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.