FSnet Aug. 8/08 -- II

New International Food Safety Network Infosheet -- Chips transmit illness at wedding reception in Rochester, MN

IRELAND: Kildare plant investigated in salmonella cases

IRELAND: FSAI updates on Salmonella outbreak

WISCONSIN: Illness strikes 135 Outagamie County jail inmates

Norovirus may have sickened campers at WISCONSIN event

NORTH CAROLINA: Buncombe County investigating 3 salmonella cases

MASSACHUSETTS: E. coli cases traced to Whole Foods beef

VIRGINIA: 11 of 25 E.coli cases linked to recalled beef

ANALSYIS: New oversight of US produce industry slow in coming

WASHINGTON, DC: Nominations sought for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods

ONTARIO: Outlook Conference 2008

FEDERAL REGISTER: Food labeling; Current trends in the use of allegen advisory labeling; Public hearing; Request for comments

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New International Food Safety Network Infosheet -- Chips transmit illness at wedding reception in Rochester, MN
08.aug.08
International Food Safety Network
http://www.foodsafety.ksu.edu/articles/1221/iFSN-infosheet-8-8-08.pdf
The newest food safety infosheet, a graphical one-page food safety-related story directed at food handlers, is now available at foodsafetyinfosheets.ksu.edu.
Infosheet highlights:
-Norovirus was the real wedding crasher at this gathering
- More than 20 people who attended a Rochester wedding reception on August 1 got sick after eating tortilla chips contaminated with norovirus, possibly from vomit or fecal matter.
- Noroviruses spread largely through food contaminated by vomit or fecal matter, or through close contact with infected people
- Almost 40% of Norovirus outbreaks are linked to food service settings
Infosheets are created weekly by iFSN and are posted in restaurants, retail stores, on farms and used in training throughout the world. If you have any infosheet topic requests, or photos, please contact Ben Chapman at bchapman@uoguelph.ca



 
IRELAND: Kildare plant investigated in salmonella cases
08.aug.08
Irish Times
Elaine Edwards
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0808/breaking66.htm
Beef supplied by a food plant in Naas, Co Kildare to the Subway fast food chain is being examined as a potential source of a salmonella outbreak in Ireland and Britain, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said today.
The body is continuing its investigation into a food poisoning outbreak of salmonella agona, which can cause serious illness, including diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever. There have been at least eight reported case in Ireland recently.
"Whilst, the investigation continues to seek to establish the exact source of the outbreak, laboratory testing of foods is providing evidence of a possible link with Dawn Farm Foods Ltd, The Maudlins, Naas, County Kildare (plant number 734) and some of its products," the FSAI said in a statement.
It said the company was cooperating fully with the investigation and the Department of Agriculture has instructed the company to detain all products produced on the manufacturing line in question.
"Information gathered by the FSAI suggests that potentially contaminated beef product was supplied to the Subway chain of food outlets and the FSAI has received assurance from Subway that this product has been removed from sale," the FSAI said.
Subway confirmed it had voluntarily withdrawn specific batches of its Philly Style Steak and Chicken Fajita product from sale as soon as it became aware of the potential food safety issue. "No other products are affected by this action and alternative supplies of the Philly Style Steak and Chicken Fajita have been sourced," Subway said in a statement.



 
IRELAND: FSAI updates on Salmonella outbreak
08.aug.08
Food Safety Authority of Ireland
http://www.fsai.ie/news/press/pr_08/pr20080808.asp
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) reports on its continuing investigation into a food poisoning outbreak of Salmonella Agona affecting Ireland and the UK. Whilst, the investigation continues to seek to establish the exact source of the outbreak, laboratory testing of foods is providing evidence of a possible link with Dawn Farm Foods Ltd, The Maudlins, Naas, County Kildare (plant number 734) and some of its products. Information gathered by the FSAI suggests that potentially contaminated beef product was supplied to the Subway chain of food outlets and the FSAI has received assurance from Subway that this product has been removed from sale.
In light of this, as a precautionary measure in the interests of public health all products processed on the same production line as this beef product at Dawn Farm Foods (plant number 734) are being withdrawn. A list of these products is available and will be updated on the FSAI's website www.fsai.ie.
Dawn Farm Foods has confirmed to the FSAI that it is withdrawing selected batches of cooked beef, cooked chicken and cooked bacon products from the made-to-order* sandwich trade. The FSAI is urging food outlets providing made-to-order sandwiches to comply swiftly and completely with the withdrawal.
Mr Alan Reilly, FSAI states: "This is a highly complicated outbreak investigation focusing on products from one thermal processing line with a complex food distribution chain. Dawn Farm Foods is fully cooperating with the investigation. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has served a compliance notice to detain all products at the plant produced on the production line under investigation. To ensure swift product withdrawal, food businesses are urged to check the list of the implicated products on the FSAI website and this list will be updated as new information becomes available.
"Salmonella Agona is very unpleasant, but it is not life threatening for most people who usually make a full recovery. However, serious complications can occur for older people, young children, pregnant women and people who are already sick with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever. Consumers who believe any food they have eaten has made them ill should seek medical advice," Mr Reilly says.
The FSAI reiterates its advice for all food outlets providing made-to-order sandwiches to be particularly strict in adhering to best hygiene practices. Food borne bacteria including Salmonella is effectively killed through thorough cooking. It reminds retailers of the importance of ensuring that hot sandwiches must be thoroughly cooked before serving to the consumer. It also stresses the need for strict procedures to be followed at all times to avoid cross contamination between raw and cooked foods.
The FSAI is working closely with the Department of Health & Children, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the Health Service Executive, as well as the relevant agencies in the UK in relation to this food incident.
As the investigation is ongoing, the FSAI will continue to provide more information as it becomes available.



 
WISCONSIN: Illness strikes 135 Outagamie County jail inmates
08.aug.08
Fox News
http://www.myfoxnewisconsin.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7167530&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
APPLETON -- Outagamie County Jail officials are closely monitoring 135 inmates and one staff member after an illness struck them early Friday morning.
Medical officials say a large number of inmates were experiencing diarrhea and stomach aches.
Medical staff encouraged inmates to drink water to prevent dehydration and administered anti-diarrhea medication.



 
Norovirus may have sickened campers at WISCONSIN event
08.aug.08
The Associated Press
Tmj4
PARDEEVILLE -- Wisconsin health officials say norovirus is the likely cause of an illness that struck more than 60 campers in Pardeeville last weekend.
About 700 people attended the annual Wet and Wild weekend at the Pride of America Campground.
Campground manager Mike Hagen says dozens began dry heaving and suffered stomach cramps Saturday night. He began getting reports of sick children on Sunday morning.



 
NORTH CAROLINA: Buncombe County investigating 3 salmonella cases
08.aug.08
Citizen-Times
Nanci Bompey
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880808030
Asheville –- Health officials are investigating the source of salmonella bacteria that has sickened three people in Buncombe County.
The people all got sick and visited Mission Hospitals in late July, prompting the health department to launch an investigation this week.
"We are conducting interviews will the ill persons to see if there's anything they have in common," said Eddie Shook, program coordinator for community protection and preparedness at the Buncombe County Health Center. "Anytime that we see confirmed cases of a communicable disease we want to see if there are any commonalities."
Shook said one restaurant is part of the investigation, along with other possible sources of the bacteria including foods from a common distributor.



 
MASSACHUSETTS: E. coli cases traced to Whole Foods beef
08.aug.08
Boston Globe
Elizabeth Cooney
http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2008/08/seventh_e_coli.html
Massachusetts health authorities are warning consumers not to eat ground beef bought from Whole Foods Markets over the last two months after seven infections have been linked to meat bought there, some after a national recall.
The state Department of Public Health today confirmed the seventh E. coli case linked to ground beef. The people who fell ill -- five of whom were hospitalized -- had all eaten ground beef from Whole Foods last month. Preliminary results indicate that the ground beef products were part of a nationwide recall of meat produced by Nebraska Beef Ltd. because of possible E. coli contamination.
"A review of records from Whole Foods indicates that some of the stores received product from the recall list," the state said in a release. "At this time, it is not known why the food listed under the USDA recall was sold to the public after the recall date."
In a statement, Whole Foods said it will "continue to work with state and federal authorities as this investigation progresses, and looks forward to providing its customers with the high quality products that they have come to expect."
The products involved include ground beef and ground beef patties from the stores' meat counters as well as packaged meat found in the stores' cooler. Any meat bought between June 2 and August 6 should be thrown out, state officials said. Consumers should also check their freezers for meat they may have bought last month and frozen for later use.



 
VIRGINIA: 11 of 25 E.coli cases linked to recalled beef
07.aug.08
Wdbj7
http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=8804778&nav=ST2T
The number people infected with E.coli while at a Rockbridge County Boy Scout camp keeps going up.
Many of the illness are linked to recalled hamburger from a California company.
There have been at least 25 confirmed cases of E.coli infection and at least 69 others have symptoms. At least 11 of them were sickened after eating contaminated ground beef. It came from the California based S & S Foods. The USDA recall involves more than 153,000 pounds of frozen ground beef.
However, health officials are still trying to figure out how the others scouts at the Goshen Reservation were infected. At this point, they are awaiting lab findings and interview results from those at the boy scout camp two weeks ago.
The strain of E.coli they contracted can be very serious. Eight of the scouts had to hospitalized.



 
ANALSYIS: New oversight of US produce industry slow in coming
08.aug.08
Reuters
Jasmin Melvin
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN08457738
WASHINGTON -- The fresh produce industry in the United States is ready to finally embrace greater oversight after weathering the worst foodborne outbreak in a decade, but sweeping change is unlikely to come any time soon.
"There's no question that everyone is now on board in the produce industry with the notion that there's going to be, whether they like it or not, more government interest in their field," said Jim Prevor, industry expert and editor of PerishablePundit.com.
Produce Marketing Association spokeswoman Julia Stewart said industry's past objections to regulation stemmed from concerns "that people that don't know their business are going to be trying to tell them what to do."
Now the group has called for regulations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration "that reflect the nature and reality of the produce industry." These regulations would focus on produce with the most risk for contamination and be specific for different commodities.
"I can tell you that the costs to our industry from these outbreaks where we have an entire industry shut down are just unacceptable," said Kathy Means, the association's vice president of government relations.
The Grocery Manufacturers Association favors a bill introduced by Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois that would give the FDA power to force companies to recall unsafe foods and would establish rules for ensuring food safety.
But, the story says, past calls for regulations have gone unanswered, and the complexity of the produce industry, coupled with a slow economy, dampens the likelihood of quick action on new oversight.
The 2006 E. coli outbreak from Dole spinach, which killed three people, saw similar calls for regulation, but nothing much has happened since.
Part of the reason is the complexity of the supply line.
"There's so little in common between someone who's growing bananas in Honduras and someone who's growing greenhouse herbs in an urban area," Prevor said. "It's hard to imagine what it really means for the government to issue a regulation."



 
WASHINGTON, DC: Nominations sought for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods
08.aug.08
USDA FSIS News Release
Roger Sockman
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/NR_080801_01.pdf
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) today announced that nominations are being sought for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF).
Nominations are being sought for individuals with scientific expertise in the fields of epidemiology, food technology, microbiology, risk assessment, infectious disease, biostatistics and other related sciences.
Individuals who may be currently employed by state and federal governments, industry, academia or consumer groups are also invited to submit nominations. Members who are not federal government employees will be appointed to serve as non-compensated special government employees (SGEs). SGEs will be subject to appropriate conflict of interest statutes and standards of ethical conduct.
The nominee's typed resume or curriculum vitae must be limited to five one-sided pages and should include educational background, expertise and a select list of publications authored. The current charter for the NACMCF and other information about the committee are available for viewing at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/NACMCF/index.asp.
Nominations and submissions must be received by September 7, 2008 and should be sent to Ms. Karen Thomas-Sharp, advisory committee specialist, Room 333, Aerospace Center, 1400 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, D.C. 20250. Ms. Thomas-Sharp can be reached at (202) 690-6620, by fax at (202) 690-6634, or at Karen.Thomas-Sharp@fsis.usda.gov.
The NACMCF was established in 1988 to provide scientific advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on public health issues relative to the safety and wholesomeness of the U.S. food supply. The Committee formulates positions on the development of microbiological criteria, the review and evaluation of epidemiological and risk assessment data and methodologies for assessing microbiological hazards in foods. The Committee also provides advice to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Departments of Commerce and Defense.



 
ONTARIO: Outlook Conference 2008
08.aug.08
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Sarah Wilson
www.ontario.ca/outlook2008
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs invites you to join the 2008 Outlook Conference, taking place at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, Canada on November 13. Featuring world-renowned speakers and thought-provoking panel discussions, this year's conference will focus on future directions and opportunities in the agri-food sector. Topics will range from economic and environmental challenges to future technologies and consumer trends.
Speakers include:
- Robert Vos – United Nations: Director of the Development Policy and Analysis Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs
- Marion Nestle – New York University: Paulette Goddard Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health
- Kristian Borch – Technical University of Denmark: Senior Scientist, Department of Management Engineering
- Tima Bansal – Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario: Director of the Centre for Building Sustainable Value
- Molly Anderson – Wallace Center: Project Manager, and Consultant. Coordinating Lead Author on the North America/Europe section of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development
- Ronald Wright – author of A Short History of Progress
Please visit www.ontario.ca/outlook2008 for more information and to register now.



 
FEDERAL REGISTER: Food labeling; Current trends in the use of allegen advisory labeling; Public hearing; Request for comments
08.aug.08
Federal Register (Volume 73, Number 154)
Page 46302-46307
DOCID:fr08au08-69
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of public hearing; request for comments.
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing a public hearing on the use of advisory labeling of allergens in foods. FDA is developing a long-term strategy to assist manufacturers in using allergen advisory labeling that is truthful and not misleading, conveys a clear and uniform message, and adequately informs food-allergic consumers and their caregivers. To that end, FDA is soliciting comments and information to assist the agency in determining how manufacturers currently use advisory labeling, how consumers interpret different advisory labeling statements, and what wording is likely to be most effective in communicating to consumers the likelihood that an allergen may be present in a food. The agency is also interested in receiving comments about whether consumers find advisory labeling helpful for making food purchasing decisions. This public hearing is the first step in closing existing knowledge gaps in developing our long-term strategy.
 


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