314 sickened in 2010 outbreaks of Cyclospora infection on an Australian cruise ship

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Douglas Powell

Gibbs et al. report in the March issue of Epidemiology and Infection that in 2010, an outbreak of cyclosporiasis affected passengers and crew on two successive voyages of a cruise ship that departed from and returned to Fremantle, Australia. There were 73 laboratory-confirmed and 241 suspected cases of Cyclospora infection reported in passengers and crew from the combined cruises.

A case-control study performed in crew members found that illness was associated with eating items of fresh produce served onboard the ship, but the study was unable conclusively to identify the responsible food(s). It is likely that one or more of the fresh produce items taken onboard at a south-east Asian port during the first cruise was contaminated. If fresh produce supplied to cruise ships is sourced from countries or regions where Cyclospora is endemic, robust standards of food production and hygiene should be applied to the supply chain.

‘I slaughtered this horse last Tues. I’m afraid she’s starting to turn;’ horse meat triggers more recalls

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Douglas Powell

Tesco and discount chain Aldi revealed they have withdrawn a range of ready meals produced by French food supplier Comigel following concerns over contamination of products with horsemeat.

The moves are part of a growing horsemeat scandal in Europe.

Down the road in the Gold Coast, Australia, a Perth butcher has confirmed horse meat is being supplied to some restaurants but has refused to reveal exactly who was selling the controversial dish.
Owner of Mondo Di Carne butchers, Vince Garreffa, told the Bulletin he had customers on the Coast and did not understand what the fuss was about.

“I don’t understand all the attention this is getting and we will not be making any more statements,” he said.

Mr Garreffa, who is the only butcher in Australia licensed to sell horse meat for human consumption, also refused to name the restaurants he was supplying due to the controversy it often caused.

The dish is rarely advertised by restaurants or published on menus due to fears of a backlash.

Horse has long been eaten in some European and Asian cultures but is met with controversy in Australia and other western countries.

2 deaths, 1 miscarriage among 21 now sick from Listeria linked to Jindi cheese in Australia

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Douglas Powell

Three more Australians have been stricken with listeriosis after eating soft cheese, bringing the total number of people affected nationwide to 21.

Two Australians have died and a pregnant woman has miscarried following the outbreak.

The people ate cheese produced by the Jindi Cheese Company that has since been recalled.

Jindi has voluntarily recalled all batches of cheese manufactured up to and including January 6.

NSW Health acting director of health protection Professor Wayne Smith said all of the recent cases involved people aged over 65 with one person in a serious condition.

Consumers can call the Jindi helpline on 1800 680 175 for more information on the recalled cheeses.

2 deaths, I miscarriage among 18 sick from Listeria linked to Jindi cheese in Australia

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Douglas Powell

Two Australians have died and a pregnant woman has miscarried following a listeria outbreak linked to soft cheeses produced in Victoria.

There are now 18 cases of listeria infection nationally, and a link to batches of Jindi manufactured cheeses sold at delicatessens and supermarkets has been identified.

Eight cases of listeria have been identified in Victoria, six in NSW, two in Queensland and single cases in Tasmania and Western Australia. Two people – a Victorian man, 84, and a Tasmanian man, 44, have died of listeria infection, and a NSW woman miscarried.

The Jindi Cheese company is now voluntarily recalling its cheeses from all batches it manufactured up until January 7.

Dr Lisa Szabo, Chief Scientist, NSW Food Authority, advised that affected Jindi cheeses should either be discarded or returned to the retailer for a refund. There are a number of brand names included in the recall. Consumers should check the list of products or call the Jindi helpline on 1800 680 175.

For the full list of products visit:

http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/news/alerts-recalls/product-recall-jindi-cheeses/

8 sick; Australian Listeria outbreak prompts cheese recall

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Douglas Powell

Eight cases of listeria infection across Australia have found to be linked and a further three cases are under investigation.

Victoria’s chief health officer Rosemary Lester said consumers should discard 1kg brie and camembert cheese branded Jindi, the 1kg Wattle Valley double brie and the 1kg Wattle Valley camembert with a best before date of December 21.

Dr Lester warned consumers to check the best before date of any Jindi or Wattle Valley soft cheeses.

Two Victorians, three NSW residents and one person in Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia have been diagnosed with the infection.

“Symptoms of illness can take up to 70 days to appear.”

Warning on raw egg dishes; Australian food safety types pontificate

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Douglas Powell

Australia still has an egg problem.

A raw egg problem.

With the holidays and warm weather, Australian Food Safety Information Council chairman Michael Eyles, warns that trying out new recipes this time of year can be great fun but food poisoning bugs can survive and even grow quickly in foods containing raw egg, like eggnog, home made mayonnaise and desserts such as tiramisu and chocolate mousse, if they aren’t handled properly.

“OzFoodNet has shown that consumption of foods containing raw or minimally cooked eggs is currently the single largest cause of foodborne Salmonella outbreaks. In their most recent nine year survey period they have linked 68 food poisoning outbreaks to eggs with 1404 Australians becoming ill, 322 hospitalised and 2 deaths.”

But it’s not just handling. Yes, refrigerating raw egg dishes will contain risk, but does not eliminate risk. To adapt to the Australian egg climate, every time I’m at an Australian restaurant and offered aioli or mayo, I have to ask if the sauce is raw. Servers and chefs look at me like I’m some new world barbarian who wants eggs somewhat cooked.

A table of raw-egg related outbreaks in Australia is available at http://bites.ksu.edu/raw-egg-related-outbreaks-australia.

Salmonella in pepper triggers Australian Truly Gifted Spice Rack recall

Posted on December 10, 2012 by Douglas Powell

The NSW Food Authority advises:

Big W has recalled a batch of Truly Gifted Spice Rack sold in Big W stores in NSW, ACT, VIC and TAS.

The product is being recalled due to contamination with Salmonella bacteria in the peppercorns. Salmonella can cause food poisoning and symptoms can include headache, fever, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and nausea.

The recalled product is:

Truly Gifted Spice Rack 12 bottle spice set 375 grams with a ‘best before’ date of 30/11/2013

The recall only applies to the above product.

Consumers should not consume this product. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

To obtain a refund, consumers should return the product to their nearest Big W store.

For more information telephone: Big W on 1300 244 999

Toxic takeaway: cholera, listeria, salmonella found in Australian imports

Posted on December 1, 2012 by Douglas Powell

Cholera-dusted prawns, peanuts with a side of pesticide, salmonella-infused chilli powder and E. coli and listeria-flavored cheeses have been stopped en route to supermarket shelves this year.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service rejected almost 350 shipments of food up to October 30 for failing to meet chemical and bacterial standards, including four shipments of cooked prawns from China and Thailand blocked because of the presence of cholera bacteria.

Chlorpyrifos, a pesticide linked to neurological defects and developmental and autoimmune disorders, was found in peanuts imported from China on six occasions.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority began a review of chlorpyrifos because of concerns over its toxicity and potential risks, but a final report is still awaited.

The pesticide has been banned from use in US homes since 2001.

Ethylene chlorohydrin, detected in chilli powder, cinnamon sticks and ”garam masala” powder from India in August, can cause nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, headaches, low blood pressure, collapse, shock and coma.

The Australian National University public health and infection expert Martyn Kirk said the impact on people would depend on the amount of the bacteria or chemical consumed. ”You need quite a high dose of cholera to get infected,” Dr Kirk said.

Produce from India was rejected 49 times in the first 10 months of this year while China and Italy both had 32 products banned.

French cheeses were not up to standard on 43 occasions.

Gabrielle Cooper, a professor of pharmacy at the University of Canberra, said the presence of listeria bacteria in more than 30 products, including oysters from China, Roquefort cheese from France, smoked salmon from Ireland and ham from Italy, should serve as a reminder for pregnant women to stay away from seafood, soft cheeses and deli meat.

Food safety in the Australian stars

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Douglas Powell

The issue of food safety and hygiene in Australia’s foodservice industry has continued to have a high profile with any story of food poisoning or foodservice businesses breaching laws, as well as programs like the NSW Food Authority’s “name and shame” register, guaranteeing it remains in the spotlight.

But around Australia, according to Hospitality Magazine, there are growing moves by councils and food authorities to shift the focus into more positive territory with the growth of so called “Scores on Doors” programs that, rather than holding up the bad operators, recognize the outstanding ones publicly.

In New South Wales a year long trial of the government’s voluntary Scores on Doors program, based on a star rating system, was completed in August and is now under review, but early reports from stakeholders are giving it the thumbs up for its achievements in lifting awareness and foodservice business food safety compliance. And in South Australia the government is gearing up to launch a state-wide pilot of a similar program following a major review of the effects of such initiatives in Australia and overseas.

At the same time the joint Australian and New Zealand body, the Food Regulations Standing Committee is currently working on developing a national approach for a food safety disclosure system.

Public health is a global affair

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Douglas Powell

I wore pants all day.

I hated it.

But I loved hanging out with environmental health types in Sydney.

The Environmental Health something of Sydney had their annual gabfest at town hall and I got to be part of the entertainment; we’re all about helping front-line folks where we can, and I heard some good tales today.

Being Australia, where they work hard and play hard, it was off to the pub for a couple of Fosters (that’s a joke; no one I know drinks Fosters in Australia; it wasn’t even among the 10 available beers on tap) and more restaurant inspection stories.

So thanks for the hospitality, Sydney, and be thankful I wore pants all day.

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