I new journal article on the polony tragedy was just published: “Cost estimation of listeriosis (Listeria monocytogenes) occurrence in South Africa in 2017 and its food safety implications.”
Some main points:
Estimate the loss of 204 that died was at least $240,000,000 US
Hospitalization costs were at least $10,400,000 US
Loss to businesses was at
Listeria bacteria found in all milkshake flavors sold at Frugals restaurant at 10727 Pacific Ave. S., Tacoma, WA are associated with a foodborne listeriosis outbreak linked to six hospitalizations and three deaths. Investigators found Listeria in the ice cream machines, which were not cleaned correctly. No other Frugals restaurants are believed to be affected. The
And, why does the FDA consider Salmonella an adulterant in all foods and the USDA/FSIS does not?
According to the FDA, “[p]athogenic bacteria (e.g., Salmonella or Listeria monocytogenes) are considered adulterants in both human and animal food. Although many animals consuming this food may not become sick themselves, they can become carriers and expose their human family
Real Kosher Ice Cream, of Brooklyn, NY, is recalling soft serve on the go ice cream and sorbet cups, because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
The recall is the result of an individual becoming ill and reporting to have eaten this product. Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture tested samples of product and one sample tested positive
“Genetic fingerprinting results (whole genome sequencing) indicate that these patients likely have the same source of infection. Patients became ill between February 27 and June 30, 2023.” (Tacoma News Tribune)
Tacoma-Pierce County Department of Health reports that it is working with Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and Thurston County Public Health and
We in the U.S. tend to think about food safety from our perspective. Given that I am involve in cases around the world, I thought I would give my readers a bit broader perspecitive.
1,600, 000 – People get sick due to unsafe food in one day, on average
340 – Children under 5 years
An Introduction to Listeria
Listeria (pronounced liss-STEER-ē-uh) is a gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium that can grow under either anaerobic (without oxygen) or aerobic (with oxygen) conditions. [4, 18] Of the six species of Listeria, only L. monocytogenes (pronounced maw-NO-site-aw-JUH-neez) causes disease in humans. [18] These bacteria multiply best at 86-98.6 degrees F (30-37 degrees C)
On April 6, Revolution Farms expanded the recall announced on April 5, 2023 to include all products sold under the Revolution Farms brand.
The recalled product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with
The Food and Drug Administration has begun traceback efforts related to a multi-state outbreak of infections from Listeria monocytogenes.
The source of the outbreak continues to be listed as unknown by the FDA even though it has begun product traceback.
So, top contenders? Leafy Greens? Cheese? Deli Meat? Enoki Mushrooms – again?
According to the
Mystery Listeria: As of February 14, 2023, a total of 11 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria have been reported from 10 states – Arkansas, California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Washington. Sick people’s samples were collected from July 3, 2018, to January 31, 2023.
Sick people
