FSnet Jan

FSnet Jan. 16/07 -- II

Lettuce was culprit in latest cases: E. coli outbreaks in November are linked to the Central Valley

'Sorry, waiter - there's a bug in my food'

Today's editorial: Punishment for the Piecemakers

Area grocery stores reopen after forced closures

Re-examining long-held beliefs about food safety

Bacteria from person's may have caused it: DOH official

Botulism, canned artichokes - Spain (Guipuzcoa)

Milk is milk billboard recently vandalized; Alex Avery responds

Starbucks plans switch to growth-hormone-free milk

Food safety leadership awards program

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Lettuce was culprit in latest cases: E. coli outbreaks in November are linked to the Central Valley
13.jan.07
LA Times
Rong-Gong Lin II and Mary Engel
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-me-lettuce13jan13,0,406268,full.story
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration was cited as saying Friday that repackaged iceberg lettuce from California has been linked to two separate outbreaks of E. coli that sickened more than 150 Taco Bell and Taco John's customers late last year on the East Coast and in the Midwest.
The news comes just months after officials fingered prepackaged California spinach in an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 that sickened more than 200 people and killed three.
The story says it deals another blow to California's leafy greens industry, which dominates the nation's supply. The iceberg lettuce industry alone harvested $750 million worth of greens in 2005 — nearly 75% of the nation's crop. Most of it was grown in the Greater Salinas and Central valleys.
Dr. David Acheson, chief medical officer for the FDA's food safety center, was quoted as saying, "It just adds more fuel to the fire of the need to address this."
The recent outbreaks apparently have vindicated concerns he voiced last September, when he unenthusiastically announced his agency's decision to lift a warning against eating fresh bagged spinach from California's Central Coast. He pointedly noted at the time that of the 20 E. coli outbreaks from lettuce and spinach since 1995, nine were linked to the Greater Salinas Valley.
"Until some fundamental fixes are put in place in the areas where this contamination is happening," Acheson said during a conference call with reporters, "there is obviously a concern that two months from now we'll be having the same conversation, talking about outbreak No. 21."
And, indeed, outbreaks No. 21 and 22 occurred about two months later. People began falling sick after eating at the fast food chains Taco Bell and Taco John's in November. In the Taco Bell outbreak, which involved restaurants in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware, seventy-one fell ill and 53 were hospitalized. The Taco John's outbreak involved three eateries in Minnesota and Iowa. Eighty-one were sickened, including 26 who were hospitalized.
Wider area affected
The story says that outbreaks 21 and 22 also showed that problems in California extend beyond the Greater Salinas Valley, where the tainted spinach was grown.
Taco Bell's tainted lettuce was traced, via packaging, to farms in the Central Valley, although no specific sources have been named. The Taco John's produce was traced both to the Central Valley and to the coast south of Salinas.
Jack Guzewich, director of emergency coordination and response for the FDA's food safety center, was cited as saying that as with the spinach outbreak, investigators suspect that the initial point of lettuce contamination occurred at the farms, not in processing or distribution.
Officials said the same sub-strain of E. coli involved in the Taco John's outbreak was found in two unidentified "environmental samples" from dairy farms next to one of the chain's lettuce growers.
Trevor Suslow, a UC Davis food pathologist, was quoted as saying, "The fact that it seems to be happening even more frequently, in a more compressed time frame, one would have to speculate something is either being missed or something has changed to elevate the level of risk or potential of contamination."
Tim Chelling, spokesman for the Western Growers Assn., was cited as saying one possibility is increased vigilance by public health authorities, enabling outbreaks to be detected faster and with more precision, adding, "I think it's an indication of the heightened sensitivity of the food safety network. At the same time, everyone here is treating it as the serious matter that it is."
Brian Dixon, spokesman for Cheyenne, Wyo.-based Taco John's International Inc., was cited as saying it was a relief that investigators are making progress in their probe, adding, "Getting that more definitive data will help everyone to determine how we might address these threat situations in the future.
Rob Poetsch, a spokesman for Irvine-based Taco Bell Corp., emphasized that the outbreak was not related to "the sanitary conditions at any of our restaurants."
Both Taco Bell and Taco John's switched produce suppliers after their respective outbreaks. They did not share the same suppliers, Dixon said.

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'Sorry, waiter - there's a bug in my food'
16.jan.07
IOL.co
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=29&art_id=iol1168913692883B252
Singapore -- The Straits Times was cited as reporting Tuesday that a live cockroach was found in a customer's meal of roast chicken pita, sending the horrified woman to the washroom of the popular restaurant where she threw up her lunch.
The story says that the incident prompted a check by Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) which found more cockroaches on the premises of the Suntec City branch of Kenny Rogers Roasters last Friday.
Diners Srinivas Bobba, a 36-year-old management consultant, and his 32-year-old wife, Maitri, managed to take several pictures of the insect in the meal two days earlier.
Sharon Chen, the chain's spokesperson, was quoted as saying, "We have observed stringent pest control practices through regular inspections at our restaurants to ensure that such incidents would not occur."
The check by the NEA found cockroaches in the preparation area.
The restaurant was fined an unspecified amount and given demerit points.

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Today's editorial: Punishment for the Piecemakers
16.jan.07
O.C. Register (Ca)
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/opinion/homepage/article_1544923.php
On Friday, Orange County Superior Court Judge Kelly MacEachern sentenced 85-year-old Marie Kolasinski to 10 days in jail and three years' probation for an act of civil disobedience. She and two other members of a religious group called the Piecemakers received sentences for defying the county's restaurant inspectors. They must also pay fines and nearly $10,000 in compensation to county health officials.
The story explains that the group of about 26 people live communally in Costa Mesa and run a well-kept country store that sells quilts and gifts and also sandwiches and soups in an adjacent tea room. The county demanded the right to inspect the tea room, and inspectors were met by group members who barred their entrance to the kitchen. The county insists that the group has the right only to sell prepackaged food, and has successfully gone to court to stop the Piecemakers from running an unauthorized restaurant.
Piecemakers Country Store customers have not complained about the quality of food they have received there. Most restaurants provide decent and safe food to customers because it's in their best interest to do so: The story says that nitpicking inspections from government bureaucrats are not the reason for safe food preparation and storage at most places. No one was hurt, no one was complaining here. The obvious reason for the legal action is that the Piecemakers defied the government authorities, and those authorities were not about to let it go.
The story says that this matter shows that even well-intentioned health and safety laws ultimately rest on police-state force. A person can do as the authorities say or face armed agents of the government who will force them to do so. That's why free societies should have fewer laws and regulations, no matter the goals of those who propose them.
You've got to wonder about the sense of proportion when the county district attorney puts forth this much effort to jail elderly religious people for the crime of illegally baking muffins and selling sandwiches to happy customers.

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Area grocery stores reopen after forced closures
16.jan.07
Carstairs Courier (Alberta)
Faye Bayko
Both Henry's Food Store in Carstairs and the AG Foods in Cremona were, according to this story, given the go ahead Jan. 12 to reopen after being ordered to close due to violations of the Public Health Act.
On Jan. 5 Cremona AG Foods was ordered to close their doors after an inspector from the Calgary Health Region responded to a complaint and visited the store.
Chad Beegan, coordinator with Alberta Health in the Calgary Health Region, was quoted as saying, "We investigated the complaint and found the place to be deficient and potentially unsafe to the customers and that's why we closed it, to bring it back up to an appropriate standard."
The inspection found 13 concerns which resulted in 11 breaches of the Public Health Act, the Food Regulations, Alberta Regulations 31/2006, the Alberta Food Retail and Foodservices Code.
Listed concerns included dirty floors, shelves and cupboards as well as out-dated food items and refrozen food items. Some floors, ceilings and walls were in need of repair and an operational double sink installed.
On Jan. 9 Henry's Food Store in Carstairs was inspected as the result of such a complaint then ordered closed when they too were found to be deficient.
Eight concerns were listed in the order which resulted in eight breaches of the Public Health Act, the Food Regulations, Alberta Regulations 31/2006, the Alberta Food Retail and Foodservices Code.
Again listed concerns included dirty floors and shelves. There were some holes in the exterior floors walls in need of repair and an operational double sink installed.
When contacted Jan. 15, owner Jamal Ghabari, said the concerns had been taken care of and he was once again open and ready for business once.
The story goes on to say that when orders are issued they are published on the Calgary Health Region's website under environmental health.
To prevent closure due to breaches, Beegan said owners of food service establishments are able to access information of applicable legislation on their website. Those without access to a computer may get hard copies of the information through the Queen's printer office in Calgary.

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Re-examining long-held beliefs about food safety
16.jan.07
American Society for Microbiology
Old habits die hard. In the case of food handling and food safety, this adage is true, as many long-held beliefs are no longer valid in the wake of new technologies and understanding of the microbiology of food safety, according to a new book from ASM Press.
Written by a microbiologist formerly with Canada's Health Protection Branch, Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives offers an intriguing, anecdotal assessment of food- and waterborne illnesses "from farm to fork." Using real-world examples of foodborne outbreaks, the book examines how modern technology and traditional views about food safety and food handling can affect consumer safety and concludes that the responsibility for a safe food supply lies with a variety of people, including regulators, food producers, food handlers, and consumers.
"The need for a safe food supply is not debatable, but experts differ on the best ways to achieve and maintain that goal," says author Phyllis Entis.
Readers will become familiar with the history and causes behind many well-known outbreaks from cholera to E. coli O157:H7 to mad cow disease. Designed with the non-scientist in mind, this informative book is accessible and engaging, with minimal jargon, an extensive glossary and an appendix detailing the organisms responsible for most foodborne diseases.
Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives is one of a number of books on food microbiology published by ASM Press in a year punctuated by numerous high-profile foodborne disease outbreaks. January 2006 marked the launch of a new scientific book series Emerging Issues in Food Safety. The first title, Microbiology of Fresh Produce, presents the latest research and industry practices promoting microbiological safety of fruits and vegetables while the second title, Microbial Source Tracking, offers a state-of-the-art review of current technology and applications being utilized to identify sources of fecal contamination in waterways.

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Bacteria from person's may have caused it: DOH official
16.jan.07
Sun.Star (Philippines)
Linette C. Ramos & Jujemay G. Awit
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/01/16/news/bacteria.from.person.s.may.have.caused.it.doh.official.html
Cebu City Hall has, according to this story, started to inspect the Majestic Catering Services’ kitchen and operations to find out what caused the alleged food poisoning of at least 55 Asean summit performers last weekend.
As the investigation continued yesterday, Majestic’s owner, Winglip Chang, assured authorities and the public they will cooperate in the probe.
Cebu City Health Department Head Fe Cabugao was cited as saying they’ve finished the inspections of Majestic’s facilities, but have yet to collate the reports of the sanitary inspectors, and that food attendants and the restaurant staff were also asked to undergo a stool exam.
Councilor Christopher Alix, chairman of the council committee on health, said they can’t decide what action to take against Majestic until the investigation is completed.
Chang was cited as saying yesterday the company also wants to know what caused the abdominal pains of the performers, adding, “Definitely, we will cooperate with the authorities. We’ve been in the catering business for the last 20 years and we’ve always maintained the highest standards when it comes to food handling and service. We’re in this business so we would really like to find out what went wrong."
In a separate interview with Sun.Star Network Excange, Dr. Eric Tayag was cited as saying that doctors are suspecting it was staphylococcus orius (sic -- dp) bacteria that contaminated the food served to the performers.

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Botulism, canned artichokes - Spain (Guipuzcoa)
16.jan.07
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2007
From: ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
Source: Diario de Avisos [translation by Mod. JG; edited]
http: //www.diariodeavisos.com/content/154432/
Sources from the Spanish Food Safety Agency said that the batch of preserved artichokes from a Navarra company which caused last Thu, 4 Jan 2007, the hospital admission of a Guipuzcoan couple has "been virtually removed" from stores. No additional cases have been reported.
The same sources explained that the fast removal of the batch was facilitated because it comprised only 800 jars, which were exclusively sold in the Basque Country. The jars were about to be distributed also in Valladolid, but this was stopped after the botulism cases were detected.
Health Services were alerted on 6 Jan 2007 about the consumption of a batch of "Viuda de Mateo" brand of preserved artichokes, after the Basque Government reported the occurrence of 2 botulism cases caused by this product, as it was confirmed according to the tests performed by the National Food Center. They are a middle-aged couple that developed early symptoms on 4 Jan 2007. Both of them are being treated at a local hospital.
The potentially contaminated batch is ND2430512, and its expiration date is 31 Dec 2011. According to the Spanish Food Safety Agency, only preserved artichokes from the aforementioned brand, batch, and expiration date are considered suspicious. "It is also likely that there is no other affected jar, or there may be only few contaminated jars", they said.
Health Services pointed out that those consumers who may have used these preserved foods in heat-cooked meals, as it is the case for vegetable stews, "should be reassured, since heat inactivates toxins." In the unlikely case that any consumer, after eating these preserved foods without cooking them, experiences symptoms compatible with botulism (impaired vision, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty for speaking and swallowing), he/she must seek medical care at local health facilities", they added.
ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org
[The specific symptoms manifested by the affected couple are not stated nor is the botulinum type -- which is probably A or B.
When unqualified, the term "artichoke" nearly always refers to the
globe artichoke, of which the above-ground part is eaten, in contrast
to the other two (Jerusalem and Chinese), where a root part is eaten.
A picture of the mostly edible buds can be found at:
http://www.seedfest.co.uk/seeds/artichoke/artichoke1.jpg .
The Globe artichoke (_Cynara cardunculus_ var. scolymus L.) is a species of thistle. The edible part of the plant is the base (receptacle) of the artichoke head in bud, properly called a vegetable, as it is harvested well before any fruit develops. With regards to America, it was first brought to California by Italians in the 1880s, and is farmed mostly in that state.
In this map of the 7 historical provinces of the Basque people in Spain and France, Guipuzcoa can be seen as part of the Basque Autonomous Community in yellow:
http://www.shunpiking.com/shun0844/44MapBasquecol.jpg - Mod.LL]

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Milk is milk billboard recently vandalized; Alex Avery responds
16.jan.07
from a press release
Churchville, VA -- Alex Avery, the research director for the Hudson Institute’s Center for Global Food Issues, expressed frustration today with raw milk activists’ vandalism of a California billboard.
The benefits of milk pasteurization have been proved time and time again. Consuming unpasteurized dairy products poses a serious health risk, especially for children and those with weak immune systems. More information on the dangers of raw milk can be found on our Milk is Milk Web site.
"In August of 2006, we unveiled our billboards along California’s Highway 99, in an effort to educate consumers about a simple fact: Milk is Milk. Our efforts have received a lot of response, most of which has been positive. However, it looks like we touched a raw nerve with at least one reader of our blog.
"A friend of the Milk is Milk blog sent in this photo, showing our billboard in Pixley, CA defaced with a message from an uninformed and reckless scofflaw. We have reported the defacement to the billboard company, as well as to the local police.
"Clearly the culprit behind this vandalism does not value his or her life, engaging in two very dangerous activities: defacing private property, and advocating for raw milk.
"The benefits of milk pasteurization have been proved time and time again. Consuming unpasteurized dairy products poses a serious health risk, especially for children and those with weak immune systems. More information on the dangers of raw milk can be found on our Milk is Milk Web site."
Avery is the research director for the Hudson Institute’s Center for Global Food Issues; his blog (http://www.milkismilk.com/blog.htm) addresses marketing issues in the dairy industry which affect consumers, dairy farmers and processors. To learn more, visit http://www.milkismilk.com or http://www.cgfi.org.
Alex Avery, the research director for the Hudson Institute’s Center for Global Food Issues, expressed frustration today with raw milk activists’ vandalism of a California billboard.

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Starbucks plans switch to growth-hormone-free milk
16.jan.07
Reuters
Carey Gillam
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Starbucks Corp. on Tuesday was cited as saying it is aiming to make the milk and other dairy products it serves in its U.S. coffee houses free of a controversial artificial growth hormone used in dairies to increase milk production.
A company spokesman was cited as saying the conversion would initially be aimed at all 5,500 U.S. company-owned stores, but Seattle-based Starbucks is also exploring such a move with more than 3,000 licensed locations.
The move comes after Starbucks was targeted in a campaign by consumer groups critical of the use of an artificial hormone known as rBGH, which is given as a supplement to dairy cows to increase milk production.

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