In the news

Saturday, March 12 -In France, the health authorities (Public Health France, the National Reference Center for Escherichia coli) reported a resurgence of severe contamination cases with Escherichia coli. Two children have died due to this outbreak since the beginning of the year. The source of the contamination is not yet identified as of March 11, 2022, 26 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in children. The agency had announced the first case at the end of February of 2022. The health authorities had a general recommendation for the prevention of food risks, in particular for children under 16 and the elderly. The recommendations also include not consuming raw products such as pizza/cookie dough/cake/pie. French authorities also revealed that another 22 cases are under investigation. @ https://globeecho.com/news/europe/france/e-coli-bacteria-health-authorities-insist-on-prevention-after-the-death-of-two-children-in-2022/

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) reports that Uncle’s Smallgoods (Dandenong North, Melbourne, Victoria) recalled Uncle’s Ham branded Free Range Smoked Sliced Ham products from the Australian marketplace due to suspected Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The Uncle’s Ham branded Free Range Smoked Sliced Ham products were sold in independent and specialty grocery stores, butchers, and IGA stores located in the Australian state of Victoria. @ https://www.productsafety.gov.au/recalls/uncle%E2%80%99s-smallgoods-%E2%80%94-uncle%E2%80%99s-ham-free-range-150g

The FDA and the CDC continue their investigation into the Cronobacter sakazakii outbreak in infant formula. produced by Abbott Nutrition in Sturgis, Michigan. The investigation revealed that all ill patients consumed powdered infant formula produced in Abbott’s facility in Sturgis, Michigan. Currently, there are four hospitalizations with two death connected to this outbreak (MN (1), OH (2), TX (1)). Salmonella Newport, which was initially part of the investigation, was removed. It appears not to be related to infant formula products currently under recall. At this time, local and state health authorities don’t need to report infections from Cronobacter. Stop Foodborne Illness (STOP) demands that the FDA and CDC add the Cronobacter sakazakii to the Nationally Notifiable Disease List. https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-infections-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and the FDA investigated a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7. Epidemiologic and traceback data showed that Simple Truth Organic brand and Nature’s Basket brand Organic Power Greens where the cause of the infection. As of March 3, 2022, this outbreak is over. A total of 10 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 were reported from four states (Alaska (2), Ohio (1), Oregon (1), and Washington (6)). WGS showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples were closely related genetically. WGS showed that this outbreak strain is similar to strains that have previously caused outbreaks linked to consumption of romaine lettuce. @ https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2021/o157h7-12-21/details.html