A cluster of illnesses connected to a Gatlinburg tourist attraction has triggered the Tennessee Health Department probe after clients had diarrhea. At least 550 people at a Gatlinburg area zip line attraction due to an E. coli infection. East Tennessee Region Health Department Assistant Director Gail Harmon said well water samples are en route to Nashville for advanced tests because initial tests showed E. coli bacteria and total coliforms were present in CLIMB Works’ water. The Tennessee Department of Health used CLIMB Works online sales records to email 2,901 surveys asking patrons of the business if they became ill after visiting the attraction. Nearly 808 people have responded to the survey, 548 of whom reported illness. Harmon said of the 548 people who reported illness, 505 said they were traveling as part of a group that ranged from two to 30 people. The business says they plan to have swabs taken from its harnesses and countertops to check for anything they might find. @ https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2018/07/10/health-dept-gatlinburg-climb-works-zipline-canopy-tour-patrons-get-tested-after-illnesses/770600002/
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The Tennessee Health Department has found E. coli is the cause of nearly 550 illnesses among patrons of a Gatlinburg zipline attraction, CLIMB Works.
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In a study appearing in the American Chemical Society’s journal Nano Letters scientists from the University of Texas at Austin and Nanjing University in China have developed a wireless device that can send signals to smartphones warning consumers and food distributors when meat and other perishables have spoiled. The sensor is composed of a nanostructured, polymer-based gas sensor that can detect substances called biogenic amines (BAs), which give decomposing meat its odor. The sensors were embedded into near field communication (NFC) devices placed next to meats. After the meats had been stored for 24 hours at 86 degrees Fahrenheit, the researchers found that the gas sensors successfully detected significant amounts of BAs. When the concentration of biogenic amines is over a preset threshold, the information can be transmitted to a nearby smartphone. @ https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/80532
Meatingplace.com is the online community for North American beef, pork and poultry processors.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) awarded 3M™ Molecular Detection System the primary method to be used by USDA FSIS for the detection of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157 (including H7). These are the 3 most common pathogens requiring testing for food safety in meat, poultry, and egg-related products. The 3M system was chosen after a rigorous performance evaluation against other commercially available methods. The 3M Molecular Detection System combines novel technologies – isothermal DNA amplification and bioluminescence detection – resulting in a fast, accurate, easy-to-use application that overcomes some limitations of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) pathogen testing methods. It simultaneously accommodates individual, pathogen-specific assays, enabling users in meat, poultry and other food and beverage categories to run up to 96 different tests concurrently for a range of organisms and across various food and environmental samples. The 3M™ Molecular Detection Assays have been validated by leading scientific validation organizations throughout the world (AOAC® INTERNATIONAL, AFNOR, MicroVal) for a comprehensive variety of sample types. @ https://www-yahoo-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.yahoo.com/amphtml/finance/news/usda-food-safety-inspection-chooses-214500919.html
3M Food Safety has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) for pathogen detection instruments and kits. The award makes the 3M™ Molecular Detection System the primary method to be used by USDA FSIS for the detection of Salmonella
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Radagast Pet Food, Inc. of Portland, OR recalled three lots of Rad Cat Raw Diet Free-Range Chicken Recipe because testing results indicate they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Company is also recalled one lot of Rad Cat Raw Diet Pasture-Raised Venison Recipe because testing results indicate it has the potential to be contaminated with Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli O121. No pet or human illnesses have been reported. The three lots of Rad Cat Raw Diet Free-Range Chicken Recipe were shipped to distributors in the US in May and June 2018. The Company discovered these lots were potentially contaminated during enhanced quality testing it conducted as a follow-up to its March 2018 recall. @ https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm612737.htm
Radagast Pet Food, Inc. of Portland, OR is recalling three lots of Rad Cat Raw Diet Free-Range Chicken Recipe because testing results indicate they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The Company is also recalling one lot of Rad Cat Raw Diet Pasture-Raised Venison Recipe because testing results indicate it has the potential to be contaminated with Shiga Toxin producing E. coli O121. This recall is being conducted out of an abundance of caution. Due to Radagast Pet Food’s commitment to food safety and quality, The Company is conducting this voluntary recall.