Earlier this week KRQE News 13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico reported its fourth death that was confirmed to be part of the multistate outbreak of listeriosis that has now claimed 4 other lives and sickened at least 55 persons from 14 states (these numbers are expected to increase), according to the CDC. New Mexico now
Seafood Mousses and Dips Potentially Contaminated With Listeria
Yesterday, April 15, 2010, Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel, Inc., a company based in Blainville, Canada, warned the public not to consume certain Summersweet Fine Foods Ltd. products. Summersweet, a leading Canadian Manufacturer and Distributor of packaged foods that has developed business across Canada and the U.S., announced that it was recalling a variety of seafood
Department of Justice Closes Cheese Plant
In a press release issued July 7, 2009, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had filed a complaint seeking an injunction against Peregrina Cheese, Inc, of Brooklyn, NY, and two of its officers. If granted by the Court, the injunction would temporarily stop the company from manufacturing and distributing food.
According to the complaint, which was filed on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the company has a history of producing cheese contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen. A search of the FDA website revealed that FDA has cited insanitary conditions at the Peregrina Cheese factory several times over the last five years, and that Peregrina Cheese has recalled cheese products for Listeria contamination in the past.
Listeria is the common name for the pathogenic or disease-causing bacterium known as Listeria monocytogenes. It is a foodborne illness that when ingested causes an infection known as listeriosis. Approximately 2,500 illnesses and 500 deaths are attributed to listeriosis in the United States annually.
In the DOJ press release, FDA acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs, Michael Chappell, stated:
This company has consistently failed to make corrections to improve the insanitary conditions under which it processes cheese products, despite frequent warnings to do so. The FDA will not tolerate food companies that fail to provide adequate safeguards.
According to the complaint, FDA and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM) inspections have revealed violations of current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements for foods. Inspectors have noted such food safety violations as standing water in food processing equipment and a dead rodent inside the plant. NYSDAM has also assessed fines against the company.
Continue Reading Department of Justice Closes Cheese Plant
North Carolina: Listeriosis results in stillbirths, premature birth
North Carolina health officials announced that at least three pregnant women recently suffered the effects of listeriosis, the illness caused by the ingestion of Listeria monocytogenes – a foodborne pathogen.
It is believed that ingestion of as few as 1,000 cells of Listeria bacteria can result in illness. After ingestion of food contaminated with
Listeria monocytogenes – a serious foodborne pathogen
The Times-Argus of Barre and Montpelier, Vermont, featured an article about Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborne pathogen. The article focuses on the need for specific populations (i.e. pregnant women, elderly people) to be aware of the risks Listeria poses to them, and on the importance of public knowledge about Listeria since it is present in many
New treatment for food poisoning
A team of researchers working at the University of Bristol has found a potential new treatment for listeriosis, a deadly form of food poisoning. Their work is reported in Nature Medicine.
The group, led by Professor Jose Vazquez-Boland, has shown that one particular antibiotic — fosfomycin — can treat Listeria in the body, despite it being ineffective in laboratory conditions.
Because it was not effective in the laboratory, this drug has never been considered for the treatment of listeriosis, in spite of it reaching the infection sites more effectively than other antibiotics.Continue Reading New treatment for food poisoning