In the news

The FDA advises consumers not to eat Karawan or El-Karawan labeled Tahini due to its potential contamination with Salmonella concord. The FDA and CDC are investigating a three-state (New York (2), Massachusetts, and Texas one each) outbreak of Salmonella concord that caused four illnesses and one hospitalization. Karawan or El-Karawan Tahini and Halva were imported from Israel. Epidemiological data and traceback data indicates that the Tahini product is the culprit. The FDA has requested that the product be recalled. The products label indicates that Brost Zenatti Holdings, LLC, of Jupiter Florida as the importer of the product. However, other importers might also have imported the products. Tahini is made from sesame seeds and is served on its own or as an ingredient of other dishes such as Hummus, Falafel and Baba Ganush. The outbreak Tahini was sold in bulk to retailers and restaurants and was also available online. The FDA notice said the current outbreak does not appear to be related to a previous 2018-2019 outbreak. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-concord-linked-tahini

The CDC updated the outbreak due to E. coli O103 and reported that As of May 13, 2019, 196 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O103 have been reported from 10 states (Florida 5, Georgia 49, Illinois 1, Indiana 1, Kentucky 69, Minnesota 1, Mississippi 1, Ohio 12, Tennessee 55, and Virginia 2). Twenty-eight people have been hospitalized. Two cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome have been reported. No deaths have been reported. Ill people reported eating ground beef in restaurants or at home. Laboratory testing identified the outbreak strain of E. coli O103 in a sample of ground beef collected from a location where ill people reported eating in Tennessee. Two companies have recalled ground beef products that were sold to restaurants and institutions because they may be contaminated with E. coli O103. However, no common source of the outbreak has been found. @ https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2019/o103-04-19/

Publix Super Markets Inc. recalled Biltmore smoked salmon due to the risk of Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Seven Seas International LLC USA of St. Petersburg, FL, supplied Publix with the sockeye salmon. The Listeria problem “was discovered through routine regulatory testing conducted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,” according to the recall notice. As of May 12, the recall notice had not been posted by the Food and Drug Administration. @ http://stopfoodborneillness.org/05-13-2019/

Scientists (Rebekah M. Dedrick et al. “Engineered bacteriophage for treatment of a patient with a disseminated drug-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus.” Nature Medicine. May 8, 2019), used an experimental phage therapy (https://www.hhmi.org/news/phage-therapy-treats-patient-with-drug-resistant-bacterial-infection) to save a 15-year-old girl infected with drug-resistant Mycobacterium
The patient had cystic fibrosis, and for eight years, she had been taking antibiotics to control two stubborn Mycobacterium abscessus strains. After the transplant, the girl’s infection had spread, and traditional antibiotics were no longer working. A specialized treatment based on genetically engineered bacteriophages was developed. After an extensive search, the team found a combination of 3 phages. After removing a gene that lets the phages reproduce harmlessly within a bacterial cell, the phages reproduce and burst from the cell, destroying it. Then they combined the trio into a phage cocktail, purified it, and tested it for safety. The doctors administered the cocktail to the patient via an IV twice daily with a billion phage particles in every dose. As a result of the treatment, the patient got better.