The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that the E. coli O103 outbreak affecting 109 people in six states (Kentucky(54), Tennessee (28), Georgia (17), Ohio (7), and Indiana (1)) has been traced back to ground beef as the likely source. A total of 109 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O103 have been reported from six states. Of the 109 sick people, 17 were hospitalized. No death or hemolytic uremic syndrome is reported. Reported illnesses began from March 2, 2019, to March 26, 2019. Epidemiological data points to ground beef as the source. Sick people reported eating ground beef at home and in restaurants. No common supplier, distributor, or brand of ground beef has been identified. This outbreak is the third-largest multistate E. coli outbreak reported in 20 years. @ https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2019/o103-04-19/index.html
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Investigation Notice: A multistate outbreak of E. coli Infections
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The FDA announced that Caito Foods is voluntarily recalling fresh cut watermelon, fresh cut honeydew melon, fresh cut cantaloupe and fresh cut mixed fruit containing one of these melons, produced at the Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis because these products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised the company that it has linked 93 illnesses to the strain of Salmonella under investigation. Caito Foods has temporarily suspended producing and distributing these products. The products were packaged in clear, plastic clamshell containers and distributed in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The potential that these products are contaminated with Salmonella was discovered through information gathered by state departments of public health. A recall due to Salmonella also happened last year. On July 24, 2018, 77 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Adelaide were reported from nine states. Illnesses started on dates ranging from April 30, 2018, to July 2, 2018. Out of 70 people with information available, 36 (51%) were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. @ https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm635948.htm
Caito Foods is voluntarily recalling fresh cut watermelon, fresh cut honeydew melon, fresh cut cantaloupe and fresh cut mixed fruit containing one of these melons, produced at the Caito Foods facility in Indianapolis because these products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella Carrau, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
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An article by Zhai et. al. published in Food Chemistry, Volume 290, Pages 135-143 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814619306235?dgcid=rss_sd_all), describes a sensor for real-time monitoring of meat spoilage. The sensor is a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) colorimetric sensor based on gellan gum capped silver nanoparticles. The sensor is based on the ultra strong binding ability of Ag with H2S to form Ag2S. The sensor is capable of detecting H2S with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.81 μM, with excellent selectivity the target, while ignoring other volatiles generated during meat spoilage. In the package, the nondestructive sensor showed color changes from yellow to colorless by in situ. This is a simple useful, non-destructive, robust, cost-effective, and user-friendly sensor to real-time monitor meat spoilage for intelligent food packaging.
A colorimetric hydrogen sulfide (H2S) sensor based on gellan gum capped silver nanoparticles was developed to real-time monitor meat spoilage. The col…
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The CDC advises that washing hands with soap and water is the best way to eliminate the spread of bacteria. When soap and water are unavailable, they recommend the use of alcohol-based hand rubs containing more than 60% alcohol. The FDA issued its final rule on over-the-counter (OTC) such hand sanitizers since millions of consumers use such rubs daily. It ruled that 28 active ingredients, including triclosan and benzethonium chloride, are not eligible for evaluation under the FDA’s OTC Drug Review for use in consumer antiseptic rubs. More data is needed on three other active ingredients (benzalkonium chloride, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol). Ethyl alcohol is the most common ingredient in such rubs. These ingredient statuses will be addressed either after completion and analysis of the studies. At this time, the FDA does not intend to take action to remove hand sanitizers containing these three active ingredients from the market. FDA anticipates the impact of this ruling to be minimal since <3% of the marketplace will be affected by the rule. Most OTC consumer antiseptic rubs use ethyl alcohol as the active ingredient. Products containing any ineligible active ingredients will require approval under a new drug application or abbreviated new drug application prior to marketing. @ https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm635793.htm
FDA issues a final rule designed to help ensure that hand sanitizers available over-the-counter are safe and effective for those who rely on them. The rule establishes that certain active ingredients are not allowed to be used in OTC hand sanitizers, formally known as topical consumer antiseptic rub products, which are intended for use without water, that are marketed under the FDA’s OTC Drug Review.