Showing posts with label hepatitis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hepatitis. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Recalls and Alerts: May 3, 2011

This is a mirror of eFoodAlert on WordPress. To subscribe to automatic email alerts, please go to the eFoodAlert on WordPress blog page and complete the EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION form.

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.


United States
  • Food Safety Recall: Mann Packing (Salinas, CA) recalls certain vegetable platter and Snacks on the Go items, because the grape tomato ingredients were supplied by Six L's (Immokalee, FL) and may be contaminated with Salmonella. The following items labeled with Best If Used By dates ranging from May 9, 2011 to May 16, 2011 were recalled: Small Vegetable Platter (UPC 16519 01411-6), Snacks on the Go with Celery, Carrots, Tomatoes (sold in Kroger stores in North Carolina, Virginia, Eastern WV, Eastern Kentucky, SE Ohio, in Food 4 Less, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs stores, and exported to Canada), Mann's Large Party Platter (UPC 16519 01405-5) and Vegetable Platter Large (UPC 16519 01407-9).

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Bonaterra Products, Inc. (Maywood, CA) that a January 2011 inspection of the company's food storage facility revealed serious violations of FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations for manufacturing, packing, or holding human food.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Happy Crab Seafood, Inc. (Portland, OR) that a January 2011 inspection of the company's seafood processing facility revealed serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulation, and the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulation for foods.

  • FDA Warning Letter: FDA warns Del Bueno (Grandview, WA) that an October 2010 inspection of the company's cheese processing establishment revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the company's processing facility, causing its cheese products to be adulterated within the meaning of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. FDA also recovered Listeria monocytogenes from two finished product samples of Queso Fresco Cheese obtained at retail stores.

Canada
  • Allergy Alert: The following additional 50g Raw Organic Food Bars have been recalled due to the presence of undeclared peanuts: Chocolately Chocolate Chip (Lot codes 1062810, 3062810, 1072810, 1102010), Chocolate Coconut (Lot codes 5071210, 4072810, 3081710, 2092010, 4102010), Cinnamon Raisin (Lot codes 2062410, 2070910, 2083110) and Fibre Chocolate Delite (Lote codes 5062810, 6072110, 1092010). The recalled products are known to have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Quebec and Ontario, and may be distributed nationally.

  • Food Safety Recall: Mastronardi Produce Ltd. (Kingsville, ON) recalls Field & Farm brand Grape tomatoes (1 pint clamshell; Lot #40398) and Compliemnts brand Santalina Grape tomatoes (280g; Lot #40664 in Quebec and #40640 & 40664 in Atlantic Canada), because the tomatoes may be contaminated with Salmonella Anatum. The Farm & Field product was sold in Ontario by Metro Ontario Inc., and the Compliments product was distributed by Sobeys in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec and at the Bonichoix located at 1244 St-Augustin Road, Embrun, Ontario.

  • Food Safety Recall: Mann Packing (Salinas, CA) Snacks on the Go with Celery, Carrots, Tomatoes (UPC 16519 01505-2), because the grape tomato ingredients were supplied by Six L's (Immokalee, FL) and may be contaminated with Salmonella.


Europe
Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Dietary Supplement Enforcement Action (Hong Kong): A woman has been arrested following an investigation into the suspected illegal sale of a slimming product, Botanical Slimming, which was found to contain two banned Western drugs - phenolphthalein and sibutramine - both of which can cause serious side effects.

  • Outbreak Alert (PRC): More than 70 villagers in Baise (Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region) were hospitalized with suspected food poisoning after attending a private banquet in the village. The youngest victim was a 6-month old baby. None of the illnesses are life-threatening.

  • Outbreak Alert (PRC): More than 200 people were sickened after eating lunch at Ruizhou Grand Restaurant in Datong City. Four of the victims are in serious condition. The outbreak victims were celebrants at two weddings and a birthday party held in the restaurant.

  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (PRC): Fourteen people in northern China have been convicted and received prison sentences - two of them for life - for their involvement in producing or selling melamine-adulterated milk powder. Fifty-three officials have been discharged, demoted, or given lesser punishment for their involvement in the same cases.

  • Outbreak Alert (Abu Dhabi): Some 117 workers at a labor camp were taken to Mount Zayed Hospital after falling ill with vomiting, nausea, fever and diarrhea. An additional 119 workers were treated for their food poisoning symptoms at the camp. The cause of the food poisoning outbreak is under investigation by the Abu Dhabi Health and Food Control Authorities.

  • Outbreak Alert (Philippines): An outbreak of typhoid fever has sickened 98 residents of the remote village of Sappaac, Bangued, Abra in the northern Philippines. Water from a shallow well - the main source of drinking water for the village - was found to be contaminated with Salmonella typhi.

  • Outbreak Alert (Egypt): More than 62 students living on-campus at the University of Tanta Bsbarbai developed food poisoning; 18 were hospitalized for treatment. A committee has been formed to look into the cause of the incident.

  • Outbreak Alert (Mozambique): One person has died and four others were hospitalized in Maputo, following an outbreak of cholera in the Costa do Sol neighborhood of the Mozambican capital. This is the first reported outbreak of cholera in Maputo since 2007.

  • Outbreak Alert (Japan): The number of illnesses in the Fukui Prefecture outbreak of E. coli O111 has risen to fifty-six; two boys have died. The victims all consumed a raw meat dish called Yukhoe, served at restaurants run by Foods Forus Co.


Australia and New Zealand
  • Therapeutic Goods Safety Advisory (Australia): The Therapeutic Goods Administration warns consumers that Natural Vigra VIAGRA Tablets, sold over the Internet contain therapeutic quantities of the prescription medication sildenafil. Natural Vigra is sold as a 100% herbal product. Sildenafil may be harmful - especially to people with a history of cardiovascular disease - if taken without the supervision of a medical professional.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Outbreak Alert (Venezuela): Ninety cases of Hepatitis A have been confirmed in Arenas. Most of the victims are students in primary and secondary schools in Arenas.


Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Recalls and Alerts: April 29, 2011

This is a mirror of eFoodAlert on WordPress. To subscribe to automatic email alerts, please go to the eFoodAlert on WordPress blog page and complete the EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION form.

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.


United States
  • Allergy Alert/Incident Report: A & J Bakery (Cranston, RI) recalls chocolate five-ounce Easter Bunnies (unlabelled cellophane bags) sold in the store because they may contain undeclared milk. The Rhode Island Department of Health has received one complaint of an allergic reaction.

  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Ethos Environmental, Inc. recalls Regenerect dietary supplements (Lot #100521, blue capsule sold individually in foil packets, expiry 5/2012; Lot #112850, clear capsule sold individually in foil packets, expiry 11/2013), after FDA confirms the presence of Sulfosildenafil (an analogue of Sildenafil), making these products unapproved new drugs. The recalled products were distributed over the internet to consumers in the USA and Puerto Rico.

  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Withdrawal: Procter & Gamble withdraws Vicks Cold Remedy Child Nyquil - Contains Dextromethorphan - 18+ Age Restriction (UPC 32390001097 and 32390000742), because the current label is missing a statement about potassium content per dose.

  • Dietary Supplement False Marketing Alert: The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is investigating several OTC Dietary Supplement products being falsely marketed as antibiotics under names such as Amoxilina, Pentrexcilina, Ampitrexyl, Citricillin, Amoximiel and Pentreximil. The products are distributed statewide in Texas and are targeted toward Hispanic consumers. For more information, or to file a complaint, contact DSHS at 512-834-6755.

  • Outbreak Alert (Update): As of April 21, 2011, a total of 218 individuals from 41 states have been infected with a single strain of Salmonella Typhimurium since April 21, 2009. The infections are associated with African Dwarf Frogs and water from their habitats. A single water frog breeder in California has been identified as the source of the implicated frogs.

  • Outbreak Alert: As of April 20, 2011, a total of 73 individuals from 35 states have been infected with a commercial lab strain of Salmonella Typhimurium since August 20, 2011. Ten people have been hospitalized, and one has died. Most of the outbreak victims either work or study in a microbiology lab, or live in the same household as someone who does.

  • Outbreak Alert (Worcester, MA): Worcester health inspectors are investigating an outbreak of illnesses in patrons who ate Easter brunch at Luciano's Cotton Club restaurant at Union Station. Eight people have reported their illnesses to the city's Health Department; as many as 35 people may have been affected, according to a report in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.


Canada
  • Allergy Alert: Gagan Foods International Limited recalls Rasm The Great Indian Tradition Minced Ginger Garlic and Rasm The Great Indian Tradition Minced Ginger, due to the presence of undeclared sulphites. The recalled products were distributed to retailers in Albert, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

  • Allergy Alert: Nikolaos Fine Foods Limited recalls various Breaded Seasoned Chicken Breast Fillets, because the product contains undeclared milk. The recalled items were distributed to hotels, restaurants and institutions in Alberta, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Prince Edward Island under the Nikolaos (Codes 04051104, 02241104, 03311104), Savory Secret Gold Coast (Code 02241104), Woodward Meat Purveyors (Code 02241104), Gabriel Pizza (Code 02241104) and Evanston Farms (Code 03311104) brands.

  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert (Update): The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) continues to investigate a series of 14 E. coli O157:H7 illnesses from three provinces. There have been no new cases reported since PHAC's initial Public Advisory, issued on April 7th. Ten of the outbreak victims have been hospitalized; three developed hemolytic uremic syndrome. One individual with an underlying medical condition died. The illnesses are thought to be linked to the consumption of certain raw, shelled walnuts that were imported from the USA. Ten of the outbreak victims are from Quebec; the other four are from Ontario and New Brunswick. The suspect walnuts were recalled by the importer earlier in April.


Europe
Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2011.0557): Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning toxins in razor clams from the United Kingdom; distributed to Hong Kong, Spain and the United Kingdom.

  • Outbreak Alert (Sri Lanka): At least 70 students from a Christian Boys Hostel were admitted to Mannar Base Hospital due to food poisoning. The students complained of vomiting and severe headaches after consuming their midday meal.

  • Outbreak Alert (Xinghua City, PRC): Arrangements have been made to carry out emergency vaccination against hepatitis A in the village of Longnan Shimen after an outbreak of hepatitis was identified.The village is in a remote mountainous area, and has poor sanitation facilities.

  • Outbreak Alert (Isabela, Philippines): Twenty-six children aged 3 to 12 suffered from suspected food poisoning in Barangay Rang-ayan, Ilagan, Isabela. The victims apparently fell ill after eating snacks provided in a Disaster and Calamity Preparedness seminar organized by a private sector organization. Eleven of the children are still hospitalized.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Recall: Ethos Environmental, Inc. recalls Regenerect dietary supplements (Lot #100521, blue capsule sold individually in foil packets, expiry 5/2012; Lot #112850, clear capsule sold individually in foil packets, expiry 11/2013), after FDA confirms the presence of Sulfosildenafil (an analogue of Sildenafil), making these products unapproved new drugs. The recalled products were distributed over the internet to consumers in the USA and Puerto Rico.


Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Outbreaks and Alerts: January 3, 2011

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.


United States
  • Multistate Outbreak. December 28th: Alfalfa sprouts from Tiny Green Organic Farm (Urbana, IL) have been blamed for an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium (Salmonella I 4,[5],12:i:-), which has sickened at least 94 people in 16 states and the District of Columbia.
  • West Virginia. December 30th: Food Safety News reports that the Cabell-Huntington County Health Department has vaccinated 236 people after 11 individuals were infected with hepatitis A in the Milton, WV area. The source of the hepatitis outbreak has not been identified.
  • New York, NY. January 3rd: The Queen Mary 2, en route to New York from Southampton, was boarded in St. Kitts by an inspector from the CDC Vessel Sanitation Program after the cruise ship reporting that 185 passengers (out of a total of 2,483) and 29 crew members were suffering from diarrhea and vomiting.


Canada
  • Laval, QC. December 29th: The Cité-de-la-Santé Hospital in Laval has closed its doors to visitors in an attempt to control an outbreak of gastroenteritis that has affected both patients and staff at the hospital. Ambulances have been instructed to avoid the hospital until further notice.
  • Hamilton, ON. January 2nd: Clostridium difficile contributed to the death of a 91-year old woman at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, bringing the total number of C. difficile related deaths at the facility to eleven since October 2010.


Europe
  • Swansea, Wales, UK. January 3rd: Managers at Morriston Hospital have closed seven wards and asked the public to avoid visiting the hospital as part of a program to contain an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis.
  • Bonn/Koblenz, Germany, January 3rd: A passenger who was infected with norovirus before boarding the Prinses Juliana has been identified as the source of an outbreak of gastroenteritis among passengers of the Rhine cruise ship. The ship was quarantined for one day after 50 of the ship's 150 passengers developed diarrhea and vomiting.
  • Kalmykia, Russia. January 3rd: An emergency has been declared after veterinarians detected anthrax in meat from a slaughtered cow. Eight cases of human anthrax also are suspected, but have not yet been confirmed.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Hong Kong. December 30th: The Centre for Food Safety reports that fresh pig liver may be one of the sources of food-borne hepatitis E virus infections in Hong Kong, after determining that 16 out of 51 liver samples from roaster pigs were positive for the virus.
  • Beijing, China. December 31st: A random inspection of 35 rice noodle factories in Dongguan in early December revealed that only 5 of the 35 factories were manufacturing rice noodles that met government standards. Among the problems found during the inspections were noodles made with rotten grain and potentially carcinogenic additives.
  • Cebu, Philippines. January 1st: Twelve cases of diarrhea have been reported in Catmon (Cebu province). One person has died.
  • Harare, Zimbabwe. January 3rd: Cholera has been reported in at least 20 households in the Mbare suburb of Majubheki. According to news reports, the sewage system in Mbare has broken down, resulting in the contamination of drinking water with raw sewage.
  • Jakarta, Indonesia. January 3rd: Six members of one Central Java family died from apparent food poisoning after eating tiwul, a traditional dish made from dried cassava powder.
  • Papua New Guinea. January 3rd: PNG's cholera outbreak has spread to another district in East Sepik, with at least 10 confirmed deaths. In a separate incident, a nurse at Port Moresy General Hospital became infected with cholera after coming into contact with a patient's feces and vomit.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Jamaica. December 23rd: The Ministry of Health is investigating a possible case of food poisoning after eleven persons who shared a meal were taken to St. Ann's Bay hospital. One of the eleven victims was dead on arrival, and the others received treatment. Samples of the meal were taken for testing, but no results have been released as of January 3rd.
  • Dominican Republic. December 30th: Vibrio cholerae, has been found in the drinking water of two villages adjacent to the border with Haiti. At least 20 people in the area are suffering from cholera-like symptoms; 139 cholera cases have been confirmed nationwide.
  • Tambor, Costa Rica. December 31st: Salmonella was found in a sample of chicken served at the Hotel Barceló Playa Tambor after 80 hotel guests complained of gastrointestinal symptoms. Nevertheless, none of the ill guests were found to be infected with Salmonella; instead, they were determined to be suffering from norovirus infections. The hotel was closed on December 26th as a result of the outbreak, and remained closed through the New Year's weekend.
  • Bolivar, Colombia. December 31st: A possible cholera outbreak in temporary shelters in three municipalities has health authorities on the alert. The shelters were opened to house people who were forced to flee areas affected by flooding.
  • Haiti. December 31st: The death toll from Haiti's cholera epidemic has reached 3,333; more than 150,000 infections have been reported.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Outbreaks and Alerts: December 5, 2010

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.


United States
  • Los Angeles, CA. December 1st: An employee of Jerry's Deli in Westwood (10925 Weyburn Ave) has been diagnosed with acute hepatitis A. The LA Department of Public Health recommends that patrons who ate hot or cold sandwiches at the restaurant or who ate catered sandwiches from this location on November 18, 21, 23 or 24 should receive an immune globulin shot or hepatitis A vaccination no later than 14 days after their exposure.
  • Ashland, KY. December 1st: The Ashland-Boyd County Health Department has confirmed a sixth case of hepatitis A.


Europe
  • UK. December 3rd: Over the last two years the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has noticed an increase in the number of outbreaks of Campylobacter infections associated with the consumption of poultry liver pâté/parfait at a number of catering establishments. HPA urges caterers, chefs and consumers to thoroughly cook chicken livers in order to avoid the risk of Campylobacter infections from these products.
  • Cardiff, Wales, UK. December 3rd: Health officials are investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis, thought to be due to norovirus, which has affected 127 guests at the Park Plaza hotel in Cardiff between November 24th and 27th.
  • Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, UK. December 3rd: Health inspectors found live rodents in a gnawed box of dried noodles, and dead mice rotting under freezers, during a routine inspection of the Dragon Palace. The shop has been ordered to close until it meets hygiene standards, and the Chinese takeaway restaurant may face criminal charges.
  • Vladimir region, Russia. December 5th: An outbreak of gastroenteritis among 9th-grade students has been traced to norovirus, possibly spread through the school canteen.



Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Shanghai, China. December 1st: More than 90 employees of a Dutch company in Shanghai were sickened after having lunch at the dining hall of Hunter Douglas Architectural Products (China) Co. Ltd. Nitrite poisoning is suspected.
  • Beijing, China. December 1st: The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine advise consumers not to believe blinding in foreign dairy items after 670 tons of imported milk products were found to be substandard from March to August of 2010. About 70% of the substandard products were baby formulas, which contained excessive fungi or heavy metals.
  • Hong Kong. December 2nd: The Chinese Medicine Ordinance concerning the mandatory registration of proprietary Chinese medicines becomes effective December 3rd.
  • Damietta, Egypt. December 5th: Six people were taken ill after drinking juice that had passed its expiration date.
  • Fiq, Ethiopia. December 5th: An outbreak of cholera has been in progress for the past month. A blockade of the movement of people and goods in the region, together with a lack of clean drinking water, have delayed news of the outbreak and exacerbated the problem.
  • Makkah, Saudi Arabia. December 5th: Unlicensed and unhygienic roadside food vendors have become a health hazard for pilgrims during the annual Haj season.


Australia and New Zealand


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Haiti. December 4th: As of November 30th, the cumulative number of cholera related deaths in Haiti was reported to be 1,882. According the Ministry of Health, 84,391 hospital visits have been recorded; 39,010 people have been hospitalized due to cholera and 1,034 remain in hospital.
  • Dominican Republic. December 4th: The number of confirmed cases of cholera in Haiti's next door neighbor has risen to 16. There have been no cholera-related deaths in the Dominican Republic.


Monday, November 29, 2010

Recall Roundup: November 29, 2010

Here is today's list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.



United States
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Recall (Reprise): McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recalled Rolaids® Extra Strength Softchews, Cherry Flavor, 36-count pkg (Lot #0053AG2), distributed in the USA, after consumer complaints of an uncharacteristic consistency or texture were traced to crystallized sugar in the product. The recalled item was manufactured by a third part for McNeil.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Recall (Reprise): McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recalled all product lots of Junior Strength MOTRIN® Caplets, 24-count (distributed in the USA only), and all product lots of Children's BENADRYL® Allergy FASTMELT® Tablets, cherry and grape flavors (distributed in the USA and exported to other countries and territories as shown below), after a review revealed insufficiencies in the development of the manufacturing process.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Recall (Reprise): McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recalled three TYLENOL® Cold Multi-Symptom liquid products in order to update labeling for these products. The recalled products were distributed in the USA.


Canada
  • Food Safety Recall: Sobeys Inc. (Stellarton, NS) recalls all in-store packaged assorted cold cut subs containing cooked ham, salami and processed cheese sold in Foodland stores in the Atlantic Provinces (best before dates up to and including November 29, 2010), because they products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled sandwiches are associated with a recall announced late last week by APFL (PEI) of sandwiches made using processed cheese slices that were supplied by Saputo Inc., and were suspected of being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Recall (Reprise): McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recalled all product lots of Children's BENADRYL® Allergy FASTMELT® Tablets, cherry and grape flavors, manufactured in the USA and exported to Canada, after a review revealed insufficiencies in the development of the manufacturing process.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Loblaw Companies Limited recalls Everyday Essentials™ 500mL and Joe Fresh Style™ 350mL Double Wall Stainless Steel Food Jars, because the jars may present a safety hazard. There is a potential for the lid to pop off from the jar when it contains a hot liquid. The recalled thermos-type jars are sold nationally at Loblaw corporate, franchise and affiliated independent stores.


Europe


Australia and New Zealand
  • Allergy Alert (Australia): Haigh's Manufacturing Pty Ltd. recalls Haigh's Chocolates Gourmet Christmas Cake (450g cake in clear plastic box; Best before dates 19-Sept-11 and 02-Oct-11), due to the presence of undeclared food additives. The recalled item is sold only through Haigh's stores, and was distributed only in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Recall (Reprise): McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recalled all product lots of Children's BENADRYL® Allergy FASTMELT® Tablets, cherry and grape flavors, manufactured in the USA and exported to Belize, Barbados, Puerto Rico, St. Martin and St. Thomas, after a review revealed insufficiencies in the development of the manufacturing process.



Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket's recall web site.


*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.



Friday, November 26, 2010

Outbreaks and Alerts: November 26, 2010

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.


United States
  • Franklin, WI. November 24th: At least 20 attendees at a wedding came down with symptoms of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps according to the Franklin Health Department. The wedding reception, which took place at the Polish Center of Wisconsin, was catered by Jack Norman Catering of South Milwaukee. The State Lab of Hygiene is testing samples to try to determine the source of the outbreak.
  • Miami, FL. November 25th: Health officials late Thursday (Nov 25th) were investigating the possibility that a passenger suffering from cholera arrived at Miami International Airport on a flight from Haiti. The passenger was ill during the flight and told airline officials that he was a doctor who had been treating cholera patients in Haiti.


Europe
  • Deleitosa, Spain. November 25th: Deleitosa has been without a municipal water supply for five months – ever since the Extremadura Health Service detected high levels of E. coli in the water system.
  • Cardiff, Wales. November 26th: More than 300 children and staff at Meadowlane Primary School in St. Mellons have been screened for hepatitis A after two students at the school were diagnosed with the viral disease. Those in close contact with the two ill pupils and their families have been offered a vaccination.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Agago, Uganda. November 24th: Two more people have died in an outbreak of dysentery that now has claimed 15 lives. Three more people have been quarantined after exhibiting symptoms of the disease.
  • Beijing, China. November 25th: Only 40 percent of melamine-tainted dairy drinks recently found in Central China's Hunan province have been recovered, and authorities are still hunting for the remainder, according to the local food safety commission.
  • Hong Kong. November 26th: According to the findings of a risk assessment study conducted by the Centre for Food Safety to assess the safety of melamine-ware available on local food premises, all the samples tested were found safe for normal food use.
  • Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. November 26th: The cholera outbreak continues to spread, with fears that more than 100 villagers may have died. Cholera on Daru Island has caused 870 illnesses and 32 deaths since the onset of the recent outbreak.


Australia and New Zealand
  • Lake Wiritoa, New Zealand. November 26th: A health warning has been issued over high levels of potentially toxic blue-green algae in the lake. People are advised not to use the water for recreational purposes, and should not allow their pets to come into contact with the water.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Veracruz, Mexico. November 24th: An outbreak of Hepatitis A infections has been reported in the municipality of Filomeno Mata. The illnesses are blamed on sewage-contaminated drinking water.
  • Port-au-Prince, Haiti. November 26th: The cholera death toll in Haiti has risen to 1,603 according to government officials; more than 30,000 patients have been hospitalized for treatment, of which 26,890 recovered and were discharged.