Yearly Archives: 2015

He’s baaaaack: DeCoster to buy Maine egg producer

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A farm executive who pleaded the Fifth Amendment against self-incrimination in front of a congressional committee investigating an Iowa salmonella outbreak is the same person who signed a new lease on Maine’s largest egg farm last month.

decosterThe Maine Department of Environmental Protection is considering a request by a Land O’Lakes subsidiary to transfer active permits to Hillandale Farms, which was involved with Jack DeCoster (right, pretty much as shown) in the Iowa salmonella outbreak that sickened 1,900 people in 2010, the Sun Journal reported.

Hillendale, an egg producer headquartered in Pennsylvania, signed a lease to operate the farms on July 8. But the properties continue to be owned by DeCoster’s corporate entities, the newspaper said.

A University of Maine veterinarian who sits on a salmonella risk reduction team for the state says Moark, a subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, had been “terrific” to work with. She hopes for the same with Hillandale.

“We are vitally interested in the health of Maine people (and) we want our state to have a poultry industry as well,” said Anne Lichtenwalner, director of UMaine’s Animal Health Lab. “We want transparency and we want collaboration, and I think that they are walking into a positive situation. One hopes that they embrace that.”

Moark signed its lease over to Hillandale Farms Conn LLC on July 8. That agreement was signed by Hillandale President Orland Bethel, who in 2010 pleaded the Fifth in front of the Congressional Energy and Commerce Committee when he and DeCoster were asked to testify about the salmonella outbreak.

DeCoster’s company managed Hillandale’s Alden, Iowa, farm.

67 sick: Raw oysters can suck and yes, I’ve temped oysters on the grill

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Canadian health types are now investigating 67 Canadian cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections in British Columbia and Alberta linked to raw shellfish. The majority of the illnesses have been linked to the eating of raw oysters.

oysters.grillThe risk to Canadians is low, and illnesses can be avoided if shellfish are cooked before being eaten.

In Canada, a total of 67 cases have been reported in British Columbia (48) and Alberta (19). One case has been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported. Individuals became sick between June 1 and August 7, 2015 and all reported consumption of raw shellfish, primarily oysters. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source and distribution of these products.

The following safe food practices will reduce your risk of getting sick from Vibrio and other foodborne illnesses.

-Do not eat raw shellfish.

-Cook shellfish thoroughly before eating, especially oysters. Shellfish should be cooked to a safe internal temperature of 74°C (165°F).

-Discard any shellfish that do not open when cooked.

-Eat shellfish right away after cooking and refrigerate leftovers.

-Always keep raw and cooked shellfish separate.

-Avoid eating oysters, or other seafood, when taking antacids as reduced stomach acid may favour the survival and growth of Vibrio species.

-Always wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap after using the bathroom.

-Avoid exposing open wounds or broken skin to warm salt or brackish water, or to raw shellfish. Wear protective clothing (like gloves) when handling raw shellfish.

-Wash your hands well with soap before handling any food. Be sure to wash your hands, cutting boards, counters, knives and other utensils after preparing raw foods.

 

Ups and downs in report on drug-resistant foodborne bacteria

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CIDRAP reports that an annual federal report released this week on drug resistance in bacterial foodborne illness culprits mainly showed encouraging patterns but raised concerns about multidrug resistance in two Salmonella serotypes.

ab.red.aug.15The findings are from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS), a collaboration of three federal agencies that between them track resistant bacteria in humans, retail meat, and food animals. The respective agencies include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The report focuses on foodborne pathogens that resist antibiotics considered crucial to human medicine and on multidrug resistant bacteria—those that resist agents in three or more antibiotic classes. The system screens for nontyphoidal Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, and Enterococcus; Salmonella and Campylobacter are the leading bacterial causes of foodborne illness.

Methodology and testing changes

This year’s report for the first time covers multiple years, 2012 and 2013, and has a new format that includes 10 interactive graphs to help show resistance patterns in Salmonella and Campylobacter in humans, retail foods, and animals through 2013, the FDA said in a press release yesterday. It added that the report also reflects improvements in NARMS testing. For example, animal testing now includes cecal (intestinal) testing of food-producing animals before slaughter, which may provide a more accurate picture of animals’ microbial status in farm settings.

Also, the FDA said it is using epidemiologic cut-off values that move toward global harmonization of Campylobacter surveillance methods as well as updating measurements for cefepime in response to changes made to best practices for international testing. Cefepime is an antibiotic used to screen for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production, a mechanism linked to drug resistance.

In encouraging findings, the NARMS study found that overall, Salmonella isolates are holding the line against resistance. About 80% of human Salmonella isolates aren’t resistant to any tested antibiotics, a number that hasn’t changed over the past decade. Resistance to the three most important drugs used to treat human Salmonella isolates—ceftriaxone, azithromycin, and quinolones—remains below 3%.

Similarly, Salmonella multidrug resistance in human, cattle, and chicken isolates hasn’t changed in the last 10 years, remaining at about 10%. Also, the number of multidrug-drug resistant Salmonella isolates in retail chicken has decreased to around 3%, according to the report.

For Campylobacter jejuni, the subtype that causes most human campylobacteriosis cases, resistance to ciprofloxacin, the drug most commonly used for treatment, declined to its lowest level in retail chicken to date (11%).

Among the worrisome findings, multidrug resistance in human isolates of the common Salmonella serotype l 4,[5],12:i:- is still rising, and has doubled from 18% in 2011 to 46% in 2013, according to the FDA.

The report also pointed to another concern, an increase in multidrug resistance and ceftriaxone resistance in Salmonella Dublin subtypes isolated from cattle and humans.

Improving the safety of leafy greens: USDA

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Food safety is a top priority for consumers, especially when it comes to the leafy greens in salads. Researchers at the University of Arizona have discovered natural methods to sanitize these vegetables using ingredients commonly found in the kitchen, such as oregano, cinnamon, and vinegar.

lettucePlant extracts, essential oils, and organic sanitizers have all proved effective in killing bacteria on leafy greens and extending their shelf life. When emulsified in the water used to wash these leaves, the approach compares to (and sometimes even works better than) bleach or hydrogen peroxide.

“Plant antimicrobials can be used by consumers at home,” said Sadhana Ravishankar, associate professor at the University of Arizona’s School of Animal and Comparative Biomedical Sciences. “Plant extracts and essential oils can be added in the wash water by themselves or combined with vinegar in the wash water for treatment.”

Benefits of using plant antimicrobials and organic sanitizers are that they are natural, environmentally friendly, and less energy intensive since they are effective at both room and cold temperatures. They also continue to kill bacteria during storage; their effectiveness is not reduced in the presence of organic matter; and they have added health benefits linked to a reduction in the occurrence of cancer, diabetes, and high cholesterol. The wash water containing plant compounds and organic sanitizers can also be recycled and reused without a loss in effectiveness.

“We have also researched a new way of applying plant antimicrobials to improve salad safety,” said Ravishankar. “We have incorporated plant essential oils into edible films that are added into salad bags and the vapors from the oils kill the bacteria in the salad bags during storage. Edible films are also plant-based sources such as apples, carrots, hibiscus, or spinach pulp.”

The project team has been using social media as an educational tool for the benefit of growers and other stakeholders.  The social media campaign includes YouTube videos, Facebook, and Twitter.

The outcomes of this project will benefit consumers by reducing and preventing contamination of the leafy greens by foodborne pathogens at the production and harvesting levels, providing a safer product in stores and on their tables.

Moving forward, Ravishankar and her team are testing combinations of plant antimicrobials and the effectiveness of them when the wash water is recycled.  USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is funding this new research, a four-year, $2,907,354 Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) grant.

OREI seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems by integrating research, education, and extension activities. OREI-fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market their high quality organic agricultural products.

Surveillance for waterborne disease outbreaks associated with drinking water – United States, 2011-2012

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The U.S. Centers for Disease Control reports in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly that advances in water management and sanitation have substantially reduced waterborne disease in the United States, although outbreaks continue to occur (1). Public health agencies in the U.S. states and territories* report information on waterborne disease outbreaks to the CDC Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System (http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/surveillance/index.html).

water.wellFor 2011–2012, 32 drinking water–associated outbreaks were reported, accounting for at least 431 cases of illness, 102 hospitalizations, and 14 deaths. Legionella was responsible for 66% of outbreaks and 26% of illnesses, and viruses and non-Legionella bacteria together accounted for 16% of outbreaks and 53% of illnesses. The two most commonly identified deficiencies† leading to drinking water–associated outbreaks were Legionella in building plumbing§ systems (66%) and untreated groundwater (13%). Continued vigilance by public health, regulatory, and industry professionals to identify and correct deficiencies associated with building plumbing systems and groundwater systems could prevent most reported outbreaks and illnesses associated with drinking water systems.

This report provides information on drinking water–associated¶ waterborne disease outbreaks in which the first illness occurred in 2011 or 2012** (http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/surveillance/drinking-surveillance-reports.html), and summarizes outbreaks reported to the Waterborne Disease and Outbreak Surveillance System through the electronic National Outbreak Reporting System (http://www.cdc.gov/nors/about.html) as of October 30, 2014. For an event to be defined as a waterborne disease outbreak, two or more persons must be linked epidemiologically by time, location of water exposure, and case illness characteristics; and the epidemiologic evidence must implicate water as the probable source of illness. Data submitted for each outbreak include 1) the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths; 2) the etiologic agent (confirmed or suspected); 3) the implicated water system; 4) contributing factors in the outbreak; and 5) the setting of exposure.

Karlyn D. Beer, PhD1,2; Julia W. Gargano, PhD2; Virginia A. Roberts, MSPH2; Vincent R. Hill, PhD2; Laurel E. Garrison, MPH3; Preeta K. Kutty, MD3; Elizabeth D. Hilborn, DVM4; Timothy J. Wade, PhD4; Kathleen E. Fullerton, MPH2; Jonathan S. Yoder, MPH, MSW2

South Carolina man smuggled stolen steak in his colostomy bag

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A 55-year-old American man has been arrested after he allegedly stole packages of steak from a supermarket and concealed the meat in his colostomy bag.

colostomy.bagDavid Early Hoyt (not this dude) was tracked down by police officers from Spartanburg County in South Carolina after they were contacted by supermarket employees who claimed they had spotted a man stealing five packages of rib-eye steak, worth $75, by stuffing them in a bag.

The eagle-eyed employees managed to take note of the man’s licence plate number as he drove away in a green Nissan sedan.

134 sick with Salmonella: Whole hog recall

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Kapowsin Meats, a Graham, Wash. establishment, is recalling approximately 116,262 pounds of whole hogs that may be contaminated with Salmonella I 4, [5],12:i:-, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced.

670px-Cook-a-Whole-Pig-Step-3The whole hogs for barbeque item were produced on various dates between April 18, 2015 and July 27, 2015. The following products are subject to recall:

Varying weights of Whole Hogs for Barbeque

The product subject to recall bears the establishment number “Est. 1628” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The product was shipped to various individuals, retail locations, institutions, and distributors in Alaska and Washington.

On July 15, 2015, the Washington State Department of Health notified FSIS of an investigation of Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:- illnesses. Working in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), FSIS determined that there is a link between whole hogs for barbeque from Kapowsin Meats and these illnesses. Traceback investigation has identified 32 case-patients who consumed whole hogs for barbeque from this establishment prior to illness onset. These illnesses are part of a larger illness investigation. Based on epidemiological evidence, 134 case-patients have been identified in Washington with illness onset dates ranging from April 25, 2015 to July 29, 2015. FSIS continues to work with our public health partners on this ongoing investigation.

100s sickened: Durian candies positive for E coli in Philippines

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Laboratory results released by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Central Office revealed that various samples taken from two durian manufacturers Wendy’s and Blesse’s, linked as source of durian candies that poisoned hundreds of school children in Caraga Region last month, were tested positive of several bacterial contaminations.

durian.candiesSenior Superintendent Aaron Aquino, deputy regional director for operations (DRDO) of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Davao, also Special Inter-Agency Investigation Task Group (SIITG) chief, said that agencies comprising the SIITG will meet this morning, to discuss the appropriate charges that will be filed against the owners of the two durian manufacturers.

“We will meet to discuss the possible charges that can be filed against them (owners),” Aquino told reporters in Wednesday’s AFP-PNP press forum held at The Royal Mandaya Hotel (TRMH).

The water sample taken from a deep well near Wendy’s factory was tested positive for Escherichia coli (E-Coli) bacteria while samples taken from equipment used for the production of durian candies inside Blesse’s factory were also found positive of micro-organisms harmful to human, including diptheriods, bacillus, Coagulase Negative Staphylococus and among others.

“Even the papers used in wrapping the durian products, chopping boards and other used equipment were contaminated by the same bacteria,” Aquino said.

“Food flavorings and some ingredients were also tested positive for these bacteria.

If you’re sick, stay at home: 14 sick, 1 dead at SC daycare, lawsuit filed

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The parents of a 2-year-old boy who died in May after an E. coli outbreak at a Greenwood daycare facility have filed a lawsuit.

Myles MayfieldThe lawsuit, filed by Myles Mayfield’s parents, names The Learning Vine, LLC as the defendant in the wrongful death lawsuit.

Myles died in Greenville Memorial Hospital from medical complications associated with E. coli, coroner Sonny Cox said.

The lawsuit alleges that the first case of E. coli illness in the outbreak was a teacher at the daycare facility.  It says that after the teacher returned to work at the center, several of the children being cared for showed symptoms of the infection during the week of May 10, including Myles.

The lawsuit says the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control was not notified that a teacher The Learning Vine had been sick with an E. coli infection until May 18.  The lawsuit said the daycare did not tell parents about the employee’s infection.

After he had been sick with diarrhea off and on for a couple weeks, Myles parents took him to his doctor on May 26 because his condition was worsening, the lawsuit says. Myles was sent home without treatment, and his parents later took him to the emergency room at Self Regional Healthcare in Greenwood.

Myles was admitted to the hospital, and on May 27, he was transferred to Greenville Memorial, where he was put on dialysis and a ventilator and died May 31.

The lawsuit says that DHEC confirmed 14 cases of the infection connected to The Learning Vine.  DHEC said that the “staggered onsets of illness indicated person-to-person transmission rather than exposure to a single source, such as food.”

Canadian girl survives life-threatening E. coli

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A Medicine Hat family was vacationing in British Columbia last month when their 10-year-old daughter became ill.

ella.kettlesHer mom Angela took her to hospital where a stool sample was taken and for the next few days they waited. Angela Kettles says, “the day before we were supposed to go back to Medicine Hat, we got a phone call from the doctor at Invermere Hospital confirming what Ella had was E. coli poisoning.

When the Kettles to returned to Medicine Hat, Angela took her daughter to see the doctor as a precaution. The physician told Angela the strain Ella was suffering from was the life-threatening and could lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome that occurs in about 10% of those infected with E. coli.

With Ella’s potassium levels skyrocketing, doctors became concerned about her heart. When she heard the news Angela said, “I was scared, we were all scared.”

Ella was immediately airlifted to the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary for emergency surgery. Ella says, “I was scared when the told me I was going to go to Calgary.”

Ella was anemic and her kidneys began to shut down from the deadly toxins. Her blood platelets, which are required for normal blood clotting, fell and became trapped in the tiny blood clots. Ella was forced to endure painful dialysis every hour for 2 days. Her family wasn’t sure she would survive.

Angela and her husband spent 2 agonizing weeks at Ella’s bedside. “She was in so much pain, as a parent it was just awful to sit there and see her go through this.”

To the Kettles’ relief, Ella began to recover. Two weeks ago she was discharged from hospital and came back home to Medicine Hat to resume her life.

No one is sure how she came in contact with E. coli.