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Officials are searching for a mystery food item behind an outbreak of E.coli, which has struck down 113 people and left at least 37 hospitalized. The source of the current wave of cases hasn’t yet been discovered, but there are fears that Britain’s looming barbecue season, when many may under-cook items like burgers, could fuel an even bigger outbreak. ‘It’s a particularly nasty variant of E.coli, and we have a high hospitalization rate,’ Professor Nicola Holden said. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) believes cases are linked to a ‘nationally distributed food item’ or ‘multiple food items’ and that they are investigating the cause. Two-thirds of those known to have been infected by the bacteria in England have become so severely ill they needed hospital care. UKHSA said 113 cases were logged between May 25 and June 4, but more are expected. Of these, 81 were in England, 18 in Wales, and 13 in Scotland.  @ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13504857/Hunt-mystery-nationally-distributed-food-item-triggered-E-coli-100-people-UK-experts-warn-diarrhoea-vomiting-stomach-cramps-stay-away-school-work.html

A review published in J. Food Protection (Volume 87, Issue 7, July 2024) focuses on the potential direct physical, chemical, and microbiological contamination from disposable gloves when utilized in food environments, inclusive of the risks posed to food products as well as worker safety. Multiple evidence-based reports of contamination, toxicity, illness, deaths, and related regulatory action linked to contaminated gloves in food and healthcare have highlighted problems indicative of systemic glove industry shortcomings. Numerous unsafe ingredients can introduce chemical contaminants, potentially posing risks to food and glove users. Microbial hazards present significant challenges to overall glove safety as contaminants appear to be introduced via polluted water sources or flawed glove manufacturing processes. The study found that physical failures play a pivotal role in releasing sweat build-up, liquefaction of chemical residues, and incubating microbial contaminants from hands and gloves. Enhanced regulatory requirements for Acceptable Quality Limits of food−grade gloves and establishing appropriate bioburden standards would enhance safety in food applications. @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X2400067X

According to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), a batch of Hosyaushka Sonnenblumenkerne geschält shelled sunflower seeds were recalled due to the presence of Salmonella. Hosyaushka Sonnenblumenkerne, geschält; shelled sunflower seeds was packaged in 250 g plastic bags.@ https://www.fsai.ie/news-and-alerts/food-alerts/recall-of-a-batch-of-hosyaushka-shelled-sunflower

The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of, and consumers not to eat, oysters and bay clams harvested from growing areas in Netarts Bay and Tillamook Bay, OR harvested on or after 5/28/24, and all shellfish species from growing areas in Willapa Bay, WA: Stony Point, harvested between 5/26/24 and 5/30/24; Bay Center, harvested between 5/29/24 and 5/30/24; and Bruceport, harvested between 5/29/24 and 5/30/24, and distributed to AZ, CA, CO, HI, NV, NY, OR, and WA because they may be contaminated with the toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). On 5/30/2024, the Oregon Department of Agriculture advised the FDA of the recall of certain oysters and bay clams due to elevated PSP levels. The shellfish were harvested from Netarts Bay, OR, and Tillamook Bay, OR, on or after 5/28/24. The Oregon product was shipped to OR, and NY may have also been distributed to other states. On 5/30/2024 Washington State Department of Health advised the FDA that the state of Washington is conducting a recall for all shellfish species harvested from the following growing areas in Willapa Bay, WA, due to elevated PSP levels: Stony Point, harvested 5/26/24 to 5/30/24; Bay Center, harvested 5/29/24 to 5/30/24; and Bruceport, harvested 5/29/24 to 5/30/24. The Washington product was shipped to AZ, CA, CO, HI, NV, OR, and WA and may have been distributed to other states. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurants-and-retailers-not-serve-or-sell-and-consumers-not-eat-certain-shellfish