The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in its journal “Emerging Infectious Diseases” published a study on “secondary” E. coli O157:H7 infections this month. A “secondary” case is roughly defined as a member of an outbreak that did not consume the implicated food, but rather fell ill through exposure to an ill person who
E. coli contaminated hazelnuts likely from Oregon
The E. coli outbreak that has caused at least 7 illnesses in Michigan (1), Minnesota (3), and Wisconsin (3) invovles hazelnuts likely grown and harvested in Oregon. Jeremy Olseon at the Star Tribune spoke with Minnesota Department of Agriculture official Ben Miller about the outbreak:
The three Minnesota infections involved men over age 50 from
CDC on Hazelnuts and E. coli
DeFranco & Sons of Los Angeles, CA is voluntarily recalling bulk and consumer-packaged in-shell hazelnuts and mixed-nut products containing hazelnuts due to their involvement of a 7 person E. coli O157:H7 outbreak in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan. The recalled products may have been distributed to retailers nationally. Ill persons range in age from 15 to
A mad cow in Alberta
Food Safety News reports today that, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease, was detected last month in a dairy cow from Alberta.
The agency said no part of the slaughtered cow was used for human or animal food and the case should not affect exports of
FDA Announces Skippy Peanut butter Recall – Salmonella
The FDA announced yesterday that Unilever United States, Inc. today was conducting “a limited recall of Skippy® Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy® Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread.”
The product was recalled over concerns that it might be contaminated with Salmonella. The FDA states that Salmonella:
can cause serious and
Shelled nuts and E. coli O157:H7
Between October 2008 and March 2009, a UK group of scientists studied E. coli and Salmonella contamination on ready to eat shelled nuts. The samples were from retail stores. The whole study can be read here: shellednuts.pdf.
Summary:
A total of 2,886 nut kernel samples of different varieties were examined for Salmonella spp. and Escherichia
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan E. coli Illnesses Linked to DeFranco and Sons Hazelnuts
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan Depatments of Health and federal agencies are investigating cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection associated with eating in-shell hazelnuts (also known as filberts) purchased from bulk bins at retail food stores (stores not yet identified). Three cases have been identified in Minnesota, three in Wisconsin, and one in Michigan.
Routine monitoring by
William Marler to receive Seattle University Professional Achievement Award
Professional Achievement: To recognize exceptional achievement in the professional arena
William Marler, ‘87
William Marler is an accomplished and highly respected attorney who is recognized as national expert in food borne illness litigation. Marler has been a major force in food safety policy in the United States and abroad. His advocacy for better food regulation
Botulism recall for uneviscerated fish
Daiei Trading Co., Inc. of College Point NY 11356 is recalling Gourmet Family Brand Large Mouth Smelt Komochi Shishamo because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product.
Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food
Morningland Dairy embargo ratified in Missouri Circuit Court
Recently the Missouri State Milk Board and Department of Ag’s embargo against Morningland products was challenged in Howell County Circuit Court. The Court granted a permanent injunction following the Jan. 11-12, 2011 hearing. As a result of that permanent injunction, products previously embargoed–i.e. all cheese products that the dairy produced between January 1 and August 26, 2010–are