Senate hearing on food safety legislation (SB 510) (Food Safety Modernization Act) will occur soon, maybe even next week. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and a group of colleagues have proposed the legislation in response to a number of recent outbreaks of food poisoning linked to Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, and other pathogens.
Modesto WinCo Foods Recalls E. coli O157:H7-tainted Ground Beef
WinCo Foods announced a few moments ago that it is issuing a voluntary Class I recall on all ground beef products sold at its Modesto, California store between the dates of Saturday, April 3, 2010 and Friday, April 9, 2010. The store is located at 2200 Plaza Parkway in Modesto. At this point the recall
2000 Daycare E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak – Improper Sanitation
It is a fact of life that little kids get sick. As any parent knows, there will be days when clean-up is job one. A good parent also knows how important thorough and proper clean-up and sanitation is for preventing the spread of illness from one child to another.
Sanitiation is particularly important in daycare
Past daycare E. coli outbreaks
Yesterday, health officials announced an E. coli O157:H7 outbreak amongst children who attended a daycare in Clark County. Daycares are a recognized setting for the transmission of disease, and frequently the transmission has nothing to do with food. Often, the spread of disease is linked to the daycare’s sanitation practices.
A short list of other
E. coli O157:H7 outbreak at Oregon daycare leaves 4 children hospitalized
The Oregonian reported today that four Clark County children have been hospitalized (3 released) in an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 possibly linked to a daycare. The Oregonian reports:
"We don’t see a whole lot of this but it can occur," said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County’s public health officer. He said the health
Norovirus Closes the Harvard Faculty Club
The Boston Globe reported today on a large norovirus outbreak at the Harvard Faculty Club. The Club is currently closed for deep-cleaning after 100-200 people fell ill shortly after Easter brunches held this past Sunday and Tuesday. Notably, this was the Club’s second closure in a week due to norovirus concerns.
It appears, however, that more than just the unlucky souls at
More Raw Milk Problems: Pennsylvania Dairy’s Permit Suspended
In the wake of a campylobacter outbreak linked to raw milk from Family Farms Cooperative in Indiana, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has suspended the permit of Pasture Maid Creamery to sell raw milk for human consumption. The suspension occurred after testing found Campylobacter in raw milk samples from the dairy. Notably, the tests were
UK Scientists Meet to Discuss Problem of Campylobacter Foodpoisoning
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Worldpoultry.com reported today that UK scientists and other experts are meeting in London to identify new methods to tackle campylobacter, which has been shown to affect 75% of Britain’s poultry flock.
A recent study by the Food Standards Agency found 65% of 3,000 samples of chicken bought in the UK was infected with the bacterium, which causes
Subway Shigella Outbreak Update, and the Risk of Chronic Illness
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The DuPage County Health Department now counts 125 confirmed victims of the shigella outbreak linked to a Subway restaurant in Lombard, Illinois, according to department spokesperson Dave Hass. The restaurant voluntarily closed on March 4, and has remained shuttered ever since. Meanwhile, multiple lawsuits have been filed against the restaurant, including Ron and Sarah
Unpasteurized foods and pregnancy risks
Yesterday, a company called Del Bueno, of Grandview, Washington, recalled queso fresco cheese products due to potential listeria contamination. The recall was initiated after routine samping by the Washington State Department of Agriculture detected the presence of listeria monocytogenes in the cheese products, but the Dept. of Ag. also stated today that an illness has