Conagra Brands, Inc. recalled a limited amount of Hunt’s Tomato Paste No Salt Added 6-ounce cans because it may contain molds. After the canning process, the final product could have been damaged; creating the potential for mold. Conagra Brands became aware of the issue after receiving calls from consumers. The products covered by this recall were distributed for retail sale in the U.S. Given the product may contain mold, consumers are advised not to use it and to either throw it away or return it to the store where originally purchased. No other Hunt’s products or Conagra Brands’ products are impacted by this recall. @ https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm635309.htm
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Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of Hunt’s Tomato Paste No Salt Added six ounce cans. After the canning process, the final product could have been damaged, creating the potential for mold.
Conagra Brands became aware of the issue after receiving calls from consumers.
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CDC says that a rare E. coli outbreak sickens 72 people in 5 states
As of April 4th, a multistate outbreak of E. coli O103sickened 72 people in five states, yet the cause of their infection remains unknown, said the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Eight people have been hospitalized. No cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) or deaths have been reported. People started becoming ill from March 2 to March 29. States reporting sick patients are Georgia (8 patients), Kentucky (36), Ohio (5), Tennessee (21) and Virginia (2). Government scientists have not identified a food item, grocery store or restaurant chain as the source of these infections. The CDC, state health departments, the USDA-FSIS, and the FDA are investigating the outbreak. WGS performed on E. coli from ill people in this outbreak showed that they are closely related genetically. This means that the ill people are more likely to share a common source of infection. @ https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2019/o103-04-19/index.html
Investigation Notice: A multistate outbreak of E. coli Infections
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FDA is Sampling Fresh Herbs, Guacamole and Processed Avocado for Pathogens
From January 1 to April 4, 2019, the FDA has tested 441 domestic, 306 import fresh herb samples (total of 747), Of these samples, 4 domestic, 5 import tested positive for Salmonella, and 6 tested positive for Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC), with further characterization determining that the STEC were incapable of causing severe illness. The FDA did not detect E. coli O157:H7 in any of the fresh herb samples that it tested. FDA also tested 435 domestic, 91 import processed avocado or guacamole samples (total of 526). Of the processed avocado or guacamole samples, 11 tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes (9 domestic, 2 import), and 2 domestic samples tested positive for Salmonella. The FDA also began testing its fresh herb samples for Cyclospora cayetanensis in July 2018, given that Cyclospora-related illnesses typically occur during the summer. The agency detected Cyclospora cayetanensis in 2 of the 141 samples of domestically grown fresh herbs tested, and in 4 of the 74 samples of imported fresh herbs tested. Testing for all pathogens is still underway and no conclusions can be drawn at this time. @ https://www.fda.gov/Food/NewsEvents/ConstituentUpdates/ucm597356.htm
In its continued efforts to protect consumers and ensure food safety, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has begun testing fresh cilantro, parsley and basil, as well as processed avocado and guacamole, for certain microbial contaminants.
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Blue light could treat MRSA infections
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is often called a “superbug” due to its resistance to many common antibiotics. Health organizations are calling for effective approaches to combat MRSA infections because the resistance acquisition happens faster than the clinical introduction of new antibiotics. Researchers at Purdue University and Boston University have discovered that photolysis of staphyloxanthin (an antioxidant residing in the microdomain of S. aureus membrane), transiently elevate the membrane permeability and causes MRSA to become highly susceptible to hydrogen peroxide attack. The findings were published in the journal Advance Science. “This new tool can treat any superficial wound infected with MRSA, which are typically very difficult to treat,” said Mohamed Sleem, a professor of microbiology at Perdue University. “The device itself is very small and easy to use. We’re hoping that in the next few years, anyone could carry it around in their purse.” The pigments produced by S. aureus are associated with the organism’s ability to damage the host. Pigment reduction through photobleaching might be able to reduce the organism’s activity. After achieving promising results in vitro, a mice model was used. Mice with MRSA-infected wounds were exposed to different wavelengths of light. The infections responded especially well to light in the blue region combined with low-concentration hydrogen peroxide. The work demonstrates staphyloxanthin photolysis as a new therapeutic platform to treat MRSA infections. @ https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2019/Q2/blue-light-could-treat-superbug-infections.html
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacterium that causes infection in various parts of the body, is often called a “superbug” thanks to its ability to dodge many common antibiotics. Although most MRSA infections aren’t serious, some can be life-threatening, sometimes resulting in amputation of the infected appendage.