15-State E. coli Outbreak Triggers Recall

Rich Products Corporation (Buffalo, NY) has recalled more than 196,000 pounds of frozen chicken quesadilla and various other heat-treated, not fully cooked frozen mini meals and snack items in the wake of an outbreak of 24 confirmed cases of E. coli O121 illnesses in 15 US states.

Eight of the outbreak victims - residents of Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia - reported consuming Farm Rich brand products. The New York Department of Health found the outbreak strain of E. coli O121 in a sample of Farm Rich frozen chicken mini quesadilla product obtained from a victim in that state. USDA is working with state and federal public health agencies - including FDA and CDC - on this outbreak investigation. CDC has not yet released a complete list of the 15 states.

E. coli O121 is one of six non-O157 Shiga toxin producing E. coli serogroups that is recognized by the USDA as an adulterant in certain raw beef products.

The manufacturer has recalled the following products in cooperation with USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (items 1-4) and FDA (items 5-7):

1. Farm Rich mini pizza slices with cheese pepperoni and sauce in pizza dough (7.2-oz cartons; UPC 041322376909; Best by date May 15 or May 16, 2014)
2. Farm Rich mini pizza slices with cheese pepperoni and sauce in pizza dough (22-oz cartons; UPC 041322356437 Best by date May 15 or May 16, 2014)
3. Farm Rich mini quesadillas with cheese, grilled white meat chicken in a crispy crust (18-oz bags; UPC 041322356352; Best by date of May 14, 2014)
4. Farm Rich philly cheese steaks with cheese, beef & onions in a crispy crust (21-oz bags; UPC 041322356345; Best by date May 13, 2014)
5. Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust (22-oz cartons; UPC 041322374431; Best by date of May 19, 2014)
6. Farm Rich mozzarella bites in a pizzeria style crust (7-oz cartons; UPC 041322376916; Best by date of May 19, 2014)
7. Market Day Mozzarella Bites (22-oz bags; UPC 041322804358; Best by date of May 12, 2014)

The recalled products were manufactured between November 12, 2012 and November 19, 2012 and supplied to Walmart for nationwide distribution. Consumers who may have purchased any of the recalled products should check their freezers and discard these items, or return them to Walmart.

According to USDA, infection with E. coli O121 can result in dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure to the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called HUS, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. Symptoms of HUS may include fever, abdominal pain, pale skin tone, fatigue, small, unexplained bruises or bleeding from the nose and mouth, decreased urination, and swelling. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

Recalls and Alerts: April 5, 2011

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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: Wayne Farms (Decatur, AL) recalls frozen, breaded, fully cooked Italian-style chicken breast fillet products, because they contain undeclared egg. The recalled products were produced between August 3, 2010 and November 13, 2010 and were shipped – unbranded and under the "The Deli Best" and "Dutch Quality House" brands – for foodservice use nationwide and to distribution centers in New Jersey and Massachusetts.


• Allergy Alert: Cottage Grove Farmhouse Bakery (Cottage Grove, OR) recalls Wheat Sourdough Bread (Pull dates 03-31, 04-02 and 04-05), Oatmeal Bread (Pull date 03-31), and Garlic Basil Parmesan Bread (Pull date 03-31) because they may contain undeclared pasteurized egg white.


• Allergy Alert: Sassy Cow Creamery, LLC (Columbus, WI) recalls Blueberry Cheesecake and Butter Pecan Ice Cream (qt. and half-gallon cartons; Best by 9/17/11 or earlier) because it may contain undeclared peanuts or egg and soy. The recalled ice cream was distributed in retail stores in Wisconsin and Illinois.


• Food Safety Recall: Frankly Fresh, Inc. (Carson, CA) recalls its seafood line of products, because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was distributed in California and Nevada through retail supermarkets. Some of the recalled items were sold under the Cedar Lane and Frankly Fresh labels in Food4Less stores, and under the Frankly Fresh label in Ralphs stores.


• Food Safety Recall: Arko Foods International (Los Angeles, CA) recalls Angelina Brand Smoked Roundscad, 8oz packs, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. The recalled product was distributed in California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, New York, Texas, Maryland, and Florida through retail stores, supermarkets, and wholesale distributors.


• Food Safety Recall: Fresh Express recalls Bag Spinach, 9 oz. (Product codes starting with H081 and H082; Use-by dates of April 6 and April 7), due to a positive Salmonella result from random sample testing. The recalled spinach was distributed in Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Ohio and Maine, with possible redistribution in New Jersey, Virginia, Delaware, Vermont, New Hampshire, West Virginia and DC.


• Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Jennie-O Turkey Store (Willmar, MN) recalls approximately 54,960 pounds of frozen, raw turkey burger products (Use by DEC 23 2011; Lot codes 32710 through 32780) that may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled products consist of 4-pound boxes of Jennie-O Turkey Store® "All Natural Turkey Burgers with seasonings Lean White Meat". Each box contains 12 1/3-pound individually wrapped burgers. CDC reports that 12 people in 10 states have been infected with a multiple antibiotic-resistant strain of Salmonella Hadar after consuming turkey burgers. At least three of the outbreak victims reported eating Jennie-O Turkey burgers the week before their illness began. Samples of the implicated burgers were recovered from the homes of two infected individuals; both samples were positive for the outbreak strain. Jennie-O Turkey Store burgers were available in Sam's Club nationwide.


• Health Supplement Safety Recall: AVNS Inc. recalls THE BEST Enhancement Supplement after being informed by the manufacturer (Drive Total Energy) that FDA lab analysis detected undeclared Sulfosildenafil, an analogue of Sildenafil, in a sample of the product. Sildenafil is an FDA-approved drug used in the treatment of male Erectile Dysfunction and may cause serious side effects.


• Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Rhode Island Department of Health recalls all baked goods from DeFusco's Bakery in Johnston, RI. Please see the recall notice for a complete list of food establishments that purchased baked goods from DeFusco's. As of April 5, 2011, zeppole pastries from DeFusco have been linked to 61 cases of Salmonella illness (60 in Rhode Island and 1 in Massachusetts); 27 victims were hospitalized (5 remain in hospital). Thirty-one of the illness cases were lab-confirmed Salmonella infections. An inspection of DeFusco's conducted on March 25, 2011 by Rhode Island's Office of Food Protection revealed numerous Violations of Code, including the storage of ready-to-eat baked pastry shells in boxes that had been used to store raw shell eggs, and improper storage temperature of perishable products.

Canada

• Allergy Alert: Van de Water Raymond Ltée recalls Milupa Oatmeal Cereal - Apples, 227g (all lots where the label bears a "Gluten Free" claim), due to the presence of undeclared gluten. The recalled product was distributed through retailers nationally.


• Allergy Alert: Brandfusion Ltd. recalls "Krazy!" for Kernels Extraordinary Popcorn Sassy Salt & Vinegar seasoning (110g packages; all lot codes), due to the presence of undeclared milk protein. The recalled product was distributed nationally.


• Allergy Alert: Cuisine V.M. Inc. recalls various ready-to-eat sandwiches, subs and tortillas (best before dates up to and including April 7, 2011), due to the presence of undeclared egg, milk, soy, sesame seeds, wheat, fish and/or sulphites.


• Allergy Alert: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to peanuts not to consume the Doctor's CarbRite Diet Chocolate Brownie bars (56.7g; Code EXP101211), due to the presence of undeclared peanuts. The product may have been distributed nationally.


• Allergy Alert: Health Canada warns that two probiotic natural health products – Friendly Flora and Healthy Skin With Greens+ – contain undeclared trace amounts of milk from ingredients used in the production process.


• Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: Amira Enterprises Inc. recalls certain bulk and prepackaged raw shelled walnut products (all Best Before dates; all lot codes), because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The recalled products include raw shelled walnuts sold from a bulk bin, prepackaged raw shelled walnuts (Amira, Tia and Merit Selection brands), Mistral Mix containing walnuts (Amira and Tia brands) and Salad booster containing walnuts (Amira and Tia brands). The recalled walnuts were imported from the USA and may have originated in California (see Amira web site). Thirteen people in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick have contracted E. coli o157:H7 infections after consuming raw shelled walnuts. Nine victims were hospitalized and two of them developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Europe

• Allergy Alert (Denmark): Semper AB recalls Småfolk Majspuffar (15g; All Best Before dates), because the product may contain undeclared traces of celery.


• Allergy Alert (UK): Sainsbury's withdraws Freefrom Chocolate Sponge Pudding (Best before 13 April 2011), because the product contains low levels of undeclared milk protein.


• Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Newdan Food Trading Ltd. recalls X-tra neutral marinated chicken breast fillets with added 13% brine (Product of Germany; Expiry date: 12/4-2011), due to possible contamination with Salmonella.


• Food Safety Recall (Ireland): Joyce's Irish Lean Country Bacon Ltd. recalls Joyce’s Fresh ‘N Tasty Traditional Home Cooked Ham, 300g packs (Batch codes 143 and 156; use-by date: 25.04.11) due to a possible inappropriate use- by date and risk of microbial cross-contamination during packing.


• Food Recall (France): Kerlys recalls Saint Eloi chez Intermarché cans of Céleri Râpé Assaisonné (grated, seasoned celery), due to a packaging defect that may result in perforation of the can and subsequent product contamination and spoilage.


• Food Recall (Denmark): Stryhns A/S recalls certain liver pâtés, due to lack of manufactur and expiry date stamps.


• Food Safety Alert (Belgium): The Federal Food Safety Agency (AFSCA) notifies consumers of the temporary closure of a food distribution facility at Jodoigne, due to improper storage of food products (including improper storage temperatures).


• Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Sweden): The National Food Administration warns that the dietary supplement Redux Retinalin, 500 mg, has been shown to contain high levels of B vitamin nicotinic acid. Several adverse reactions have been reported.


• Consumer Product Safety Recall (France): Simnex recalls bottles of Soap Bubble Liquid (Product of China; Reference #6528), due to contamination with bacteria.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Food Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating the complaint of a woman who developed throat pain and vomiting immediately after drinking a bottle of distilled water bought from a petrol station. Preliminary lab analysis showed the presence of sodium hydroxide.


• Food Safety Enforcement (PRC): Nearly one-half of Chinese dairies inspected in a government safety audit have been ordered to stop production. The closures affect producers that account for about 10% of the market.


• Food Safety Alert (Singapore): The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore has suspended the import of fruits and vegetables from Japan's Hyogo prefecture, after detecting radioactive contaminants in a sample of cabbage.


• Food Safety Alert (Korea): Korea has suspended the importation of Japanese agricultural products from Chiba, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochiki and Gunma prefectures due to possible contamination with radioactive materials.

Australia and New Zealand

• Food Safety Alert (Australia): South Australia Health warns the public about the dangers of picking and eating wild mushroom, after Death Cap mushrooms (Amanita phalloides) were found in the Adelaide Hills.


• Dietary Supplement Safety Recall (Australia): JT Publishing Pty Ltd recalls Chao Jimengnan 'SuperPowerful Man' tablets (all batches), because the product contains the prescription-only ingredients sulfosildenafil and tadalafil.

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.

• A&P


• Big Y® World Class Market®


• BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc.


• Bloom


• Brookshire's


• Costco Wholesale Corporation (US stores)


• Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd.


• EDEKA (Germany)


• Food City


• Food Lion


• Giant Food LLC


• Gros Cidac (Italy)


• Hannaford Brothers Co.


• Harris Teeter


• H-E-B


• The Kroger Company*


• Lucky Supermarkets


• Price Chopper


• Publix


• Raley's


• Roundy's Supermarkets, Inc.


• Sainsbury's


• ShopRite


• Stop & Shop


• Sweetbay Supermarkets


• Target


• Top Food & Drug


• Tops Friendly Markets


• Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.


• Wegmans


• Whole Foods Market


• WinCo Foods


• Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.

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

Outbreaks and Alerts: January 3, 2011

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

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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.

Outbreaks and Alerts: December 12, 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

• Johnson County, KS. December 10th: Public health officias report that the recent illness, which affected nearly 200 students and staff at Trailwood Elementary School, was caused by Norovirus.
• Wareham, MA. December 10th: At least 10 patients at Tobey Hospital have been isolated because of a Norovirus outbreak.
• Carthage, MO. December 10th: A Jasper County resident has died from E. coli food contamination, and the Jasper County Health Department is investigating other possible cases that might be related to a single family gathering over Thanksgiving weekend. Eleven of the 24 people who attended the event have reported symptoms. The Health Department is testing leftover food from the family meal.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Udhagamandalam, India. December 10th: Three hundred twenty-four (324) students at a public senior high school were admitted to Gudalur Hospital with symptoms of suspected food poisoning after their mid-day meal.

Australia and New Zealand

• Canterbury, New Zealand. December 10th: Health authorities are warning of a bloom of potentially toxic blue-green algae in Ashley and Waipara rivers. The algal mats can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Coelemu, Chile. December 9th: An outbreak of diarrhea affected 51 people. A spoiled mayonnaise-based food is thought to be the source of the illnesses.
• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. December 10th: Five new cases of cholera have been confirmed, bringing the total nationwide to 28 confirmed cases.
• Puno, Peru. December 11th: At least 30 people were admitted to Hospital Manuel Núñez Butrón Puno with symptoms of poisoning after eating pork stew

  during a party at Acora district.

Outbreaks and Alerts: December 9, 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

• Midland, TX. December 2nd: The Midland Health Department reported Thursday it has observed more than 10 times the typical number of Shigella diarrhea cases since October – 53 versus the expected incidence of 3-4 per month.
• Gibbon, MN. December 7th: State Agriculture Department investigators have seized several hundred gallons of raw milk and other food produced by Mark Hartmann's dairy farm in defiance of a state order to halt production at the farm. Raw milk produced at Hartmann's farm was the source of eight cases of E. coli O157:H7 in May and several other instances of gastroenteritis in July and August.
• Boise, ID. December 8th: Health officials have found evidence of E. coli at a privately run prison south of Boise after five inmates at the Idaho Correctional Center became ill around December 1st.
• Bellaire, MI. December 8th: The Northwest Michigan Health Department has issued a norovirus advisory for the region. Health workers suspect that norovirus was behind two outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Grand Traverse County in October - one linked to a company luncheon and the other at a day care center.
• Maine. December 9th: The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC has issued a norovirus health advisory after receiving reports of five outbreaks from four counties in the last 10 days. Four of the outbreaks occurred in long term care facilities, and the fifth was in a school setting.
• Washington, DC. December 9th: EPA has published a petition filed by 82 public health and environmental groups to ban the antibacterial agent triclosan for nonmedical use. A 60-day comment period has been announced.
• Brown County, Kansas. December 9th: The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued a boil water advisory for the City of Willis and portions of the City of Horton after a loss of water pressure was reported in the public water system.

Canada

• Peterborough, ON. December 8th: The Peterborough Regional Health Centre continues to restrict visitors to its B3 medical unit, due to an outbreak of Clostridium difficile, MRSA and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus. No new cases have been identified.

Europe

• Llandudno, Wales. December 8th: Badgers Café is facing five hygiene and cleanliness charges after an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis PT14b last year.
• Wiltshire, UK. December 8th: Churchfields School remains closed as investigations continue into an illness outbreak, thought to be due to norovirus. Twenty-four staff members are absent with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.
• Liverpool, UK. December 8th: Banks Road Primary School in Garston is experiencing an outbreak of viral gastroenteritis. About 55 of the 209 pupils are affected.
• UK. December 9th: The Health Protection Agency has recorded 43 outbreaks of norovirus in hospitals since the beginning of November. Thirty-nine of the outbreaks have led to ward closures.
• Saint-Michel, France. December 9th: A 14-year old student at Puygrelier College has been hospitalized and 143 are ill with food poisoning. A meal served to the students on Tuesday is suspected to be the source of the outbreak. Lab analyses are in progress.
• Östersund, Sweden. December 9th: The municipality believes that it has found the source of the Campylobacter contamination in its municipal water system. The parasite is thought to have entered the system in a multi-family dwelling in the Odensala neighborhood of Östersund.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Putrajaya, Malaysia. December 8th: The Health Ministry has ordered a probe of the waters of the Kenyir Lake to determine the extent to which it is contaminated with E. coli, following media reports of high levels of the bacteria having been found in the waters of the lake by a study undertaken by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu.
• Morogoro, Tanzania. December 8th: Four people have died and 58 were hospitalized in a new outbreak of cholera. The first cases in the area were reported two weeks ago.
• Singapore. December 9th: Cordial drinks and chicken frank rolls were suspected to have caused the mass food poisoning incident at the Singapore Sports School canteen last month which affected 106 students. A sample of chicken frank rolls was found to contain low levels of Bacillus cereus, and one of the food handlers also tested positive for Salmonella.
• Cebu, Philippines. December 9th: The number of reported cases of typhoid fever continue to rise in two villages of Alegria. At least 30 residents have been hospitalized; 160 are experiencing symptoms of typhoid. Contaminated water is suspected to be the source of the outbreak.

Outbreaks and Alerts: December 8, 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

• Brainerd, MN. December 7th: Crosslake Community School was closed last friday after three staff members and more than 20% of the student body were absent due to an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis.
• Oregon. December 7th: An advisory is in effect for Harris State Park Beach, due to a sewage spill into Harris Creek. While the advisory is in effect, visitors should avoid direct contact with the water. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to potential infection from waterborne bacteria.

Canada

• Ottawa, ON. December 7th: Health Canada is reminding Canadians of some basic rules for safe handling of leftovers during the holiday season.

Europe

• Dublin, Ireland. December 6th: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland reports that it issued one Improvement Order and four Closure Orders to food businesses during November.
• Sunderland, UK. December 6th: A Campylobacter infection thought to have been contracted from contaminated food left a couple dangerously ill in hospital as a result of their stay at Kenya's Baobab Beach Resort. Mick and Liz Rodwell were on a 15-day safari in celebration of Liz's 56th birthday.
• Kharkiv, Ukraine. December 7th: Authorities have launched a criminal investigation into an outbreak of food poisoning at the Kharkiv Air Force University that sickened 96 cadets in November. An inspection revealed numerous problems at the university cafeteria, including improper sanitation, outdated equipment and failure by university authorities to monitor food quality.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

• Hong Kong. December 6th: The Centre for Health Protection is investigating two clusters of suspected food poisoning involving 10 people. Both clusters are associated with consumption of food in the same restaurant in Tung Chung on November 28th and December 4th.
• Hanoi, Vietnam. December 6th: The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade has rejected a proposal from the owners of the city's unhygienic Thinh Liet Abattoir to keep the facility open until next August.
• Hong Kong. December 7th: The Centre for Health Protection has confirmed a local case of cholera involving a 61-year old woman in Shau Kei Wan. This is the 9th case of cholera reported in Hong Kong this year.
• Uganda. December 7th: The illness that has killed at least 38 people in northern Uganda remains a mystery. Preliminary tests have ruled out Ebola, typhoid and several other diseases.
• Dhaka, Bangladesh. December 7th: Officials at Rajshahi University in western Bangladesh have ordered a major rat extermination drive after rodent meat found its way into chicken curry served to students. The chef has been suspended.
• Lusaka, Zambia. December 7th: The Ministry of Health has confirmed three cholera cases from Chawama and Kanyama Townships. No deaths have been reported.
• Papua New Guinea. December 7th: Between 200 and 300 people have died from cholera in the Western Province. Thirty-two of the deaths were recorded at Daru General Hospital. More than 2,000 cases of cholera have been reported, with many of the victims from isolated villages.

• Cebu, Philippines. December 7th: A state of disaster has been declared in Alegriaafter nearly 200 people were diagnosed with typhoid fever. The town's water system is under investigation.

Australia and New Zealand

• Lake Hume, Australia. December 8th: An algae bloom has been confirmed in Lake Hume. The public is being urged to avoid any water that appears bright green, or where green scums or a distinctive odor are present.

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Panama. December 7th: Six hundred cases of diarrhea have been linked to poor food handling practices and the consumption of spoiled food.
• Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. December 7th: The number of confirmed cholera cases has reached 22, according to the Public Health Ministry. The government believes that the situation is under control.
• Haiti. December 8th: As of December 3rd, the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population had confirmed 91,770 cases of cholera; 43,243 (47.1%) victims were hospitalized, and there have been 2,071 deaths (death rate of 2.3%). A nationwide cholera surveillance system has been established. A French medical report commissioned by the Haitian authorities to determine the origin of the epidemic has pointed a finger at the Nepalese peacekeepers who were deployed as part of the international earthquake relief efforts. The United Nations does not consider the French report to be definitive proof of the Nepalese connection.

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

• Whangarei Harbour, New Zealand. December 1st: Toxic sea slugs have been found in the harbour by scuba divers. Toxic sea slugs were blamed for the death of several dogs on Auckland beaches in August last year.
• Flinders Bay, Augusta, West Australia. December 2nd: The Department of Health is warning the public to avoid contact with an algal bloom, also known as a red tide, in Flinders Bay.

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.