Hot Dogs Recalled for Possible Listeria Contamination
The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that R.L. Zaigler Co. Inc. is recalling about 28,600 lbs of hot dog products after microbiological testing discovered possible Listeria contamination.
The hot dogs were made on September 22, 2008 and were sent to food service institutions and retail establishments in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. The FSIS stated that it had not gotten any reports of illnesses associated with eating the products.
Reference:
www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_042_2008_Release/index.asp
www.tennessean.com/article/20081108/NEWS01/81108015/1006
Possible U.S. Link to Ontario E.coli Cases
DNA testing on the E.coli outbreaks in Hamilton, Niagra and Waterloo Ontario have established a link, with all cases sharing the same genetic makeup. That same genetic code has also been confirmed in five cases occurring in Southern California, South Dakota and New Jersey.
The health units are collaborating with the Ontario Ministry of Health, CFIA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to further investigate the links and possible sources of the contamination.
Reference: www.newsinferno.com/archives/4165
ONTARIO HARVEY'S SOURCE OF E.COLI SICKNESS
As many as 93 people in Ontario could be afflicted with E.coli 0157:H7 and the source has been identified as a North Bay Ontario Harvey's restaurant. There have been 15 confirmed cases with another 78 currently under investigation and in an interview regarding the outbreak Dr. Catherine Whiting, the area's medical officer of health, stated that the outbreak had spread beyond North Bay with one confirmed case in Sudbury.
While health officials have identified the location of the outbreak they have yet to identify the cause of the contamination. The restaurant was closed Sunday evening and was co-operating with the outbreak investigation with the focus on common foods consumed in the cases including meat and toppings, such as lettuce. Officials are still trying to pinpoint the cause of the infection and Doug Powell, associate professor of food safety at Kansas State University stated "Just because it's a Harvey's you can't assume it's the hamburger, It could be a fresh product, something that's not cooked and it could be distributed to other places".
Dr. Whiting has stated that the health unit is facing a major challenge getting fast results because of the large volume of illnesses being reported, however recognizes that the outbreak could be linked to a larger problem and that health officials are on high alert for similar patters on illness across the country.
Reference:
www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081016.COLI16/TPStory/National
www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/518730
CONFIRMED E.COLI IN TEN INDIVIDUALS PROMPS VERMONT RECALL
Vermont Livestock, Slaughter and Processing Co., LLC based in Ferrisburg Vermont announced the recall of approximately 2,758 pounds of ground beef products because they may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7.
The recall was issued after FSIS received 10 confirmed reports in Vermont (Chittenden and Washington counties) of E. coli 0157:H7. The problem was discovered through a joint epidemiological investigation by FSIS and the Vermont Department of Health.
Reference:
www.fsis.usda.gov/New_&_Events/Recall_039_2008_Release/index.asp
www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details/aspx?item=10092&pf=true
http://ecoilawsuit.com/2008/10/october-13-2008-eight-e-coli-cases-in-vermont/
MAPLE LEAF TESTS POSITIVE FOR LISTERIA IN RE-OPENED PLANT
The Bartor Road plant that was linked to the deadly listeriosis outbreak that killed 20 people since August that was shut down, intensely cleaned and sanitized, and re-opened, has just announced that while working at 30% capacity there have been 4 positive tests for Listeria Monocytogenes.
Michael McCain, The president of Maple Leaf Foods addressed the public in a news conference on October 9, 2008 to comment. "While this plant has undergone intensive sanitization, we will never eliminate (the Listeria bacteria),". "It exists in all food plants, all supermarkets and presumably all kitchens." McCain continued to state there is an ongoing dialogue between Maple Leaf and the CFIA and that at this time there has been no product released to the public with no estimate regarding when product from Bartor Road would be in the marketplace again. "We will never eliminate Listeria," he said. "hat is an impossible expectation. We will work to reduce the risk to the lowest reasonable level possible, but we cannot eliminate the risk."
Reference:
http://news.sympatico.msn.ctv.ca
www.meatingplace.com
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_27766.aspx
E.COLI TRIGGERS THREE RECALLS RESULTING IN 27,000 POUNDS OF BEEF
According to the USDA's food Safety and Inspection Service, recently imported beef from Nicaragua is currently involved in 3 separate recalls of frozen beef trim as it may be contaminated with E. coli 0157:H7. Approximately 20,460 pounds of frozen beef trim from A.C.S. Meyners Ltda. In Ponte Verde, Fla, 4,200 pounds from Astro Meats & Seafood Inc. in Miami, and 2,340 pounds from Colorado Food Products in Greenwood Village, Colo.
The problem was discovered through FSIS microbiological sampling of imported product and there has not been any reports of illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.
CFIA Informs Public of E.coli Investigation
The Canadian Food inspection Agency has informed the public of its current investigation into the possible link between the E.coli O157:H7 outbreak in the United States and two cases in Southern Ontario.
Both the Michigan and Illinois Departments of Health issued separated warnings concerning chopped shredded iceberg lettuce which may have been contaminated. Immediately after being notified of the possible link, the CFIA initiated its own investigation, contacting all known importers and currently nearing completion on the tracing of the products.
The lettuce was imported into Ontario for restaurant and institution use, and to-date two illnesses with the same pattern of E.coli as in the U.S. outbreak have been confirmed.