FSnet March 23/07
Depp girl had
E. coli virus (bacteria -- dp)
Illegal
cheese suspected in outbreak
Caterers drop
supplier after listeria scare
Food
inspectors serve closure
Spinach
growers get aid provision as food-safety-standards bill
stalls
Conagra
prepares Peter Pan comeback
Health Hazard
Alert - Marcella's Garden brand Olives may contain dangerous
bacteria
County's
recycled water is safe for crops
Effect of
tannins on the in Vitro growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7
and in Vivo growth of generic Escherichia coli excreted from
steers
Prevalence,
numbers, and subtypes of Campylobacter jejuni and
Campylobacter coli in uncooked retail meat samples
Sodium
chloride enhances adherence and aggregation and strain
variation influences invasiveness of Listeria monocytogenes
strains
Evaluation of
the transfer of Listeria monocytogenes from stainless steel
and high-density polyethylene to bologna and American cheese
how to
subscribe
Depp girl had
E. coli virus (bacteria -- dp)
23.mar.07
The Sun (UK)
Thomas Whitaker
http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007130572,00.html
Film hunk Johnny Depp’s daughter was seriously ill with the
lethal E.coli virus, it was revealed last night.
The story says that production staff on the star’s new movie
were told that the illness caused Lily-Rose’s kidneys to
shut down — and she was lucky to survive.
A senior source on Depp’s new film Sweeney Todd was quoted
as saying last night, "Everyone gasped when we were given
the real reason for Lily-Rose’s illness. It was touch and go
for her for a while."
Pirates of the Caribbean star Depp, 43, refused to continue
filming until his daughter, seven, was out of danger. But
after returning to the family home in France, Lily-Rose is
said to be on the road to recovery.
Devoted dad Johnny — who also has son Jack, four, with
partner Vanessa Paradis, 34 — kept a bedside vigil for his
sick daughter in a London hospital earlier this month.
Illegal
cheese suspected in outbreak
23.mar.07
Chicago Sun Times (Illinios)
Steve Lord
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/310257,CST-NWS-cheese23.article
Kane County authorities were cited as saying Thursday that
illegally manufactured and distributed Mexican-style cheeses
may be linked to a recent salmonella outbreak.
Kane County Health Department officials declined to name the
cheeses as the sole source of the outbreak, but they issued
a public warning about queso fresco or queso cotija cheese,
adding that they found salmonella in dairy purchased at
Aurora's El Paso Carniceria Chico.
The story says that at least 32 salmonella related illnesses
were reported in Aurora, Elgin, Carpentersville and Dundee
since January 2006. Most of those affected are Latino.
Kane County Health Department deputy director Paul Kuehnert
recommended disposing any white Mexican cheese from area
Mexican grocery stores.
Kuehnert said the unlicensed cheese manufactured in Illinois
is made from unpasteurized milk and fails to meet many
state- and county-mandated safeguards.
Caterers drop
supplier after listeria scare
22.mar.07
Courier .co.uk (UK)
Stuart Woledge
http://www.thisiskentandeastsussex.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=143201&command=displayContent&sourceNode=143126&contentPK=16928193&folderPk=82941&pNodeId=143133
Two Catering companies with outlets in the Sevenoaks area
have dropped one of their suppliers following a listeria
scare.
The disease was found in sandwiches supplied by
Ashford-based Anchor Catering after it was detected during a
routine test by Ashford Borough Council.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned Anchor's
customers to be aware of a possible outbreak.
These include frozen food manufacturer Apetito in Dunton
Green, which also distributes meals on wheels to the
elderly, and U Select It, which runs a canteen in Moor Road,
Sevenoaks.
Food
inspectors serve closure
22.mar.07
Richmond Review (Virginia)
Martin van den Hemel
http://www.richmondreview.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=45&cat=23&id=858101&more=
A restaurant in Yaohan Centre’s food court became the first
in the city to be closed down this year for health reasons
following a routine inspection by Richmond Health Services.
The story says that Chun Hing Cuisine, at 1040-3700 No. 3
Rd., was shut down on March 8 when a city inspector noted a
number of deficiencies with how food was being handled and
stored as well as the restaurant’s handwashing facilities.
The closure was lifted on Monday, March 12.
The report, available at www.foodinspectionweb.vcha.ca, was
quoted as saying, "An uncovered bucket of vegetables was
found storing on top of another uncovered bucket with
partially cooked pork."
The inspection revealed that pork chops were thawing in
standing water, rather than under running water, as
required.
The restaurant was also using cardboards for floor mats,
shelf liners and grease absorbers.
Restaurants are inspected once per year by public health
inspectors, with more frequent inspections for
establishments with a history of poor food handling or other
deficiencies. Inspections are conducted without prior
warning.
Inspectors look for unsafe cooking practices, obtaining food
from unapproved sources, poor employee hygiene,
infestations, inadequate dish washing/sanitizing, inadequate
refrigeration.
Reports on restaurants in Richmond and the Vancouver Coastal
Health Authority region are available on-line at
www.foodinspectionweb.vcha.ca. A list of restaurant closures
is available at www.vch.ca/environmental/food.
Spinach
growers get aid provision as food-safety-standards bill
stalls
21.mar.07
USA Today
Ken Dilanian
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-03-21-spinach-aid_N.htm?csp=34
WASHINGTON -- Darryl Howard's mom, Betty, was among those
who died after eating contaminated spinach last fall at her
home in Washington state, he says.
He was stunned to learn last week that the emergency bill to
fund the Iraq war and Hurricane Katrina relief included $25
million to compensate spinach growers hurt when consumers
stopped buying their products.
Backers of the spinach provision say it is designed to help
innocent growers whose businesses took a hit even though
their greens weren't contaminated. The insertion into an
emergency war funding bill of $3.7 billion to benefit
spinach growers, peanut farmers and others in agribusiness
underscores a Washington truism: Some interests are more
special than others.
The story says that agribusiness spent $84 million lobbying
Congress and contributed $44.1 million to federal campaigns
in 2005 and 2006, according to public records tallied by the
Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan organization
that tracks spending by those seeking to influence federal
policy.
While the spinach aid provision was placed in a must-pass
spending bill that has been scheduled for a vote Friday in
the House, legislation to toughen food safety standards is
stalled. A bill to create an independent food safety agency,
introduced in February by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., is
pending in the Energy and Commerce, and Agriculture
Committees, where similar DeLauro proposals have died for
years.
The story says tha proponents say some level of subsidies
are crucial to preserving domestic food production. Michael
Doyle who directs the University of Georgia's Center for
Food Safety, was quoted as saying, "If we want farmers to
grow crops in the U.S., we're going to have to subsidize
them."
Conagra
prepares Peter Pan comeback
23.mar.07
TMC Net (Nebraska)
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2007/03/23/2438690.htm
(Omaha World-Herald (NE) -- Chief Executive Gary Rodkin was
cited as saying Thursday that ConAgra Foods' Peter Pan
peanut butter will remain off store shelves at least through
late May as the company prepares for the brand's return
after a salmonella-linked recall.
Rodkin was further cited as saying while announcing
ConAgra's third-quarter earnings that company officials are
preparing a marketing plan to reintroduce the product,
adding, "I am convinced that this event will make us a
stronger and better company."
Peanut butter generates about $150 million in annual sales
for ConAgra, but the company will have to forgo revenue from
that segment at least through its fourth quarter this year.
Health Hazard
Alert - Marcella's Garden brand Olives may contain dangerous
bacteria
22.mar.07
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
OTTAWA -- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and
Excelsior Foods Inc. are warning the public not to consume
Marcella's Garden brand Olives described below because these
products may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.
Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a
life-threatening illness.
Only the following Marcella's Garden brand Olives sold in
600 ml plastic tubs bearing a best before date of 31/07/2007
are affected by this alert.
1. Baresana Olives, lot 009/6, UPC 0 62136 90067 8.
2. Calabrese Olives, lot 012/6, UPC 0 62136 90070 8.
3. Cerignola Olives, lot 011/6, UPC 0 62136 90069 2.
4. Jumbo Stuffed Olives, lot 011/9, UPC 0 62136 90071 5.
5. Kalamata Olives, lot 005/6, UPC 0 62136 90066 1.
6. Nocellara Olives, lot 010/6, UPC 0 62136 90068 5.
These olives, imported from Italy, were distributed in
British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.
There have been no reported illnesses associated with the
consumption of these olives.
Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not
look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with
the toxin may cause nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness,
headache, double vision, dry throat, respiratory failure and
paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.
The importer, Excelsior Foods Inc., Toronto, Ontario, is
voluntarily recalling the affected products from the
marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the
recall.
For more information, consumers and industry may call one of
the following numbers:
Excelsior Foods Inc., Daniel Violante, at 1-800-845-5636.
CFIA at 1 800 442-2342. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time,
Monday to Friday.
For information on Clostridium botulinum, visit the Food
Facts web page at
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/concen/cause/botulisme.shtml
For information on receiving recalls by e-mail, or for other
food safety facts, visit our web site at
www.inspection.gc.ca.
County's
recycled water is safe for crops
22.mar.047
The Californian
Keith Israel
http://www.californianonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070322/OPINION/703220327/1014
Keith Israel, general manager of the Monterey Regional Water
Pollution Control Agency, writes that James Smallwood's Feb.
28 Soapbox, "Recycled water is suspect," merits a response.
He questions the use of recycled water for irrigation of
crops in parts of northern Monterey County. As a matter of
fact, the recycled water used does meet the highest
standards of the California Water Recycling Criteria also
known as Title 22.
These criteria require that the tertiary water be
disinfected such that the produced water contains less than
2.2 most probable number (MPN) of total coliform bacteria
per 100 mL. Recycled water produced by MRWPCA does meet
these criteria as shown in daily monitoring conducted over
the Past nine years.
Also during this time, we have supplied over 30 billion
gallons of safe recycled water to area growers.
Scientific studies over the past several decades have shown
that the California standard is indicative of pathogen-free
water as safe as, or safer than, other water sources used
for irrigation of food crops. Numerous virus assays in
Monterey and other tertiary treatment plants in California
have shown that viruses are consistently deactivated through
the tertiary treatment and disinfection processes. Smallwood
also wonders about the possibility if the "cyst-forming
bacteria" would "wake up" in real world environmental
conditions. He is probably referring to the re-growth
phenomenon commonly observed with distribution of potable
water as well as recycled water. While bacterial re-growth
can occur in pipelines that have lower levels of water
disinfection or where the water is allowed to stagnant,
MRWPCA maintains a disinfection residual in the distribution
system to prevent regrowth from happening. Since the
pathogenic form of E. coli has not been present in any of
the samples of influent in the treatment plant there is no
reason for it to re-grow or "wake up" if it was not there in
the first place. Plus, the extensive plant disinfection
process would deactivate any pathogens prior to release of
the final product.
In summary, the regional water recycled project provides
water that has been proven safe for irrigation for crops and
other uses.
Additionally, the Monterey County Environmental Health
Department confirms the safety of our recycled water with
its own testing and can provide more information. Call
755-4507.
Effect of
tannins on the in Vitro growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7
and in Vivo growth of generic Escherichia coli excreted from
steers
01.mar.07
Journal of Food Protection, Volume 70, Number 3
Min, Byeng R.1; Pinchak, William E.1; Anderson, Robin C.2;
Callaway, Todd R.2
Abstract:
The effect of commercially available chestnut and mimosa
tannins in vitro (experiment 1) or in vivo (experiment 2) on
the growth or recovery of Escherichia coli O157:H7 or
generic fecal E. coli was evaluated. In experiment 1, the
mean growth rate of E. coli O157:H7, determined via the
measurement of optical density at 600 nm during anaerobic
culture in tryptic soy broth at 37°C, was reduced (P < 0.05)
with as little as 400 É g of either tannin extract per ml of
culture fluid. The addition of 200, 400, 600, 800, and 1,200
É g of tannins per ml significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the
specific bacterial growth rate when compared with the
nontannin control. The specific growth rate decreased with
increasing dose levels up to 800 É g of tannins per ml.
Bacterial growth inhibition effects in chestnut tannins were
less pronounced than in mimosa tannins. Chestnut tannin
extract addition ranged from 0 to 1,200 É g/ml, and a linear
effect (P < 0.05) was observed in cultures incubated for 6 h
against the recovery of viable cells, determined via the
plating of each strain onto MacConkey agar, of E. coli
O157:H7 strains 933 and 86-24, but not against strain 6058.
Similar tests with mimosa tannin extract showed a linear
effect (P < 0.05) against the recovery of E. coli O157:H7
strain 933 only. The bactericidal effect observed in
cultures incubated for 24 h with the tannin preparations was
similar, although it was less than that observed from
cultures incubated for 6 h. When chestnut tannins (15 g of
tannins per day) were infused intraruminally to steers fed a
Bermuda grass hay diet in experiment 2, fecal E. coli
shedding was lower on days 3 (P < 0.03), 12 (P = 0.08), and
15 (P < 0.001) when compared with animals that were fed a
similar diet without tannin supplementation. It was
concluded that dietary levels and sources of tannins
potentially reduce the shedding of E. coli from the
gastrointestinal tract.
Affiliations: 1: Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, P.O.
Box 1658, Vernon, Texas 76385, USA 2: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Southern Plains
Agricultural Research Center, Food and Feed Safety Research
Unit, 2881 F & B Road, College Station, Texas 77845, USA
Prevalence,
numbers, and subtypes of Campylobacter jejuni and
Campylobacter coli in uncooked retail meat samples
01.mar.07
Journal of Food Protection, Volume 70, Number 3
Wong, Teck Lok1; Hollis, Lauren1; Cornelius, Angela1; Nicol,
Carolyn2; Cook, Roger3; Hudson, John Andrew1
A national quantitative survey of Campylobacter jejuni and
Campylobacter coli in 1,011 uncooked retail meat samples
(beef, unweaned veal, chicken, lamb and mutton, and pork)
was undertaken from August 2003 to June 2004 to establish
baseline proportionality data. The presence, number, and
type of Campylobacter present in each sample was assessed.
Prevalences of C. jejuni and C. coli were 89.1% in chicken,
9.1% in pork, 6.9% in lamb and mutton, 3.5% in beef, and 10%
in unweaned veal. C. jejuni was identified in the majority
of positive samples (246 of 259). In chicken samples
positive for C. jejuni, 40.2% had counts of <0.3 most
probable number (MPN)/g, 50.5% had 0.3 to 10.0 MPN/g, 8.8%
had 10.1 to 50.0 MPN/g, and 0.5% had 110 MPN/g. In other
meats (49 samples), Campylobacter counts were ?0.3 MPN/g,
except for one unweaned veal sample at >10.9 MPN/g. Penner
serotyping and SmaI macrorestriction genotyping using
pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with 247 isolates revealed
17 Penner serotypes and 56 electrophoresis profiles. Seven
Penner serotypes (HS1 complex, 2, 4 complex, 6, 11, 27, and
42) were represented by 10 or more isolates from chicken.
When data from both typing methods were combined, 62 sero-genotypes
were generated. In a comparison of these sero-genotypes with
historical data for isolates from human cases, 71% of the
beef isolates, 50% of the lamb and mutton isolates, 50% of
the pork isolates, 41% of the chicken isolates, and 25% of
the unweaned veal isolates were common to both sources.
These results provide baseline proportionality profiles of
Campylobacter in these five meats and will facilitate
exposure assessment in combination with other information
such as consumption data and subsequent quantitative risk
assessment
Affiliations: 1: Food Safety Programme, Christchurch Science
Centre, Institute of Environmental Science and Research,
P.O. Box 29-181, Christchurch, New Zealand 2: Enteric
Reference Laboratory, Kenepuru Science Centre, Institute of
Environmental Science and Research, P.O. Box 50-348,
Porirua, New Zealand 3: New Zealand Food Safety Authority,
P.O. Box 2835, Wellington, New Zealand
Sodium
chloride enhances adherence and aggregation and strain
variation influences invasiveness of Listeria monocytogenes
strains
01.mar.07
Journal of Food Protection, Volume 70, Number 3
Jensen, Anne1; Larsen, Marianne H.2; Ingmer, Hanne2; Vogel,
Birte Fonnesbech1; Gram, Lone1
Abstract:
Some subtypes of Listeria monocytogenes can persist in the
food-processing industry, but the reasons for such
persistence are not known. In the present study, 10 strains
of L. monocytogenes representing known persistent randomly
amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) types from fish processing
plants were compared to eight strains of different RAPD type
and origin (clinical, food, and animal). All 18 strains of
L. monocytogenes had similar growth patterns at different
temperatures (5 or 37°C) or different salinities (0.5 or 5%
NaCl), and all strains formed a thin layer of adhered cells
on a plastic surface when cultured in tryptone soya broth
(TSB) with a total of 1% glucose. Many ready-to-eat foods,
such as cold-smoked fish, contain NaCl at concentrations of
2 to 5%, and NaCl is present in the processing environment.
Adding NaCl to TSB changed the adhesion patterns of all
strains, and all adhered better when NaCl was added. Also,
the addition of NaCl caused a marked aggregation of 13 of
the strains; however, 5 of the 18 strains did not aggregate
in the presence of up to 5% NaCl. The aggregates stuck to
the plastic surface, and this occurred in all but one of the
persistent RAPD types. Four strains represented one
particular RAPD type that has been isolated as a persistent
RAPD type in several fish processing plants for up to 10
years. Because this RAPD type often can contaminate fish
products, it is important to address its potential
virulence. The 18 strains differed markedly in their ability
to invade Caco-2 cells, and the four strains representing
the universal persistent RAPD type were the least invasive
(102 to 103 CFU/ml), whereas other strains invaded Caco-2
cells at levels of 104 to 105 CFU/ml. Five of the 18 strains
belonged to the genetic lineage 1 and were the most
invasive. Although the most commonly isolated persistent
RAPD type was low invasive, it is important to understand
why moderate salinity facilitates aggregation and biofilm
formation, for this understanding can be beneficial in
developing procedures to reduce processing plant
contamination.
Affiliations: 1: Danish Institute for Fisheries Research,
Department of Seafood Research, Søltofts Plads, DTU bldg.
221, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark 2: Department of
Veterinary Pathobiology, The Royal Veterinary and
Agricultural University, Stigbøjlen 8, DK-1870 Frederiksberg
C, Denmark
Evaluation of
the transfer of Listeria monocytogenes from stainless steel
and high-density polyethylene to bologna and American cheese
01.mar.07
Journal of Food Protection, Volume 70, Number 3
Rodríguez, Andrés1; McLandsborough, Lynne A.1
Abstract:
The objective of this study was to determine the factors
involved in the transfer of Listeria monocytogenes from
surfaces to foods. We evaluated the influence of surface
type (stainless steel and high-density polyethylene),
inoculation method (biofilm growth and attached cells),
hydration level (visibly dry and wet), and food type
(bologna and American cheese). Each experiment included all
16 combinations and was repeated 11 times. A four-strain
cocktail of L. monocytogenes was used to inoculate stainless
steel and high-density polyethylene either as growing
biofilms or attached cells. Slides were placed on a
universal testing machine and brought into contact with food
at a constant pressure (45 kPa) and time (30 s). Food slices
were blended, the number of transferred cells was determined
by plating, and the efficiency of transfer (EOT) was
calculated. The results strongly suggest that stainless
steel surfaces transferred more L. monocytogenes to foods
than did polyethylene (P = 0.05). Independent of the
surface, biofilms tended to transfer more L. monocytogenes
to foods (EOT = 0.57) than did attached cells (EOT = 0.16).
Among foods, L. monocytogenes was transferred to bologna
more easily than to cheese (P < 0.05). The impact of
hydration on transfer was significantly higher for dried
biofilms growing on stainless steel (P < 0.05). No
significant differences for hydration were seen under other
conditions (P > 0.05). We hypothesize that drying weakens
cell-to-cell interactions in biofilms and cell-to-surface
interactions of biofilms and thus allows increased transfer
of cells to food products.
Document Type: Research article
Affiliations: 1: Department of Food Science, University of
Massachusetts, Chenoweth Laboratory, Amherst, Massaschusetts
01003, USA
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