Listeria

  • Norwegian hospital liable for listeria deaths

    Posted: December 6th, 2007 - 10:46am by Doug Powell

    The Rikshospitalet University Hospital must take responsibility for the death of a pair of unborn twins after their mother ate a soft cheese at Rikshospitalet University Hospital.

    Food Safety Authority section leader Christoffer Nilsen told the newspaper Nationen that the hospital has the responsibility for food safety for everything they serve, and that such cheeses should not be given to pregnant women because of the risk of listeria.

    "Therefore this is a serious breach of the rules which the managing director of the hospital must take responsibility for."

    Rikshospitalet University Hospital strategy director Stein Vaaler was cited as saying that the FSA has been sent a report about the listeria outbreak but would not comment on the statements by the Food Safety Authority.

    Hospitals should know better, but it is well documented that many pregnant women are not told about such food safety risks by their doctors.


    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommendations for persons at high risk, such as pregnant women and persons with weakened immune systems, includes:

    -Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats, unless they are reheated until steaming hot

    -Avoid getting fluid from hot dog packages on other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces, and wash hands after handling hot dogs, luncheon meats, and deli meats

    -Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, and Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, or Mexican-style cheeses such as queso blanco, queso fresco, and Panela, unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pastuerized milk

    -Do not eat refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés and meat spreads may be eaten

    -Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is contained in a cooked dish, such as a casserole. Refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna or mackerel, is most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked," or "jerky." The fish is found in the refrigerator section or sold at deli counters of grocery stores and delicatessens. Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be eaten.

    The USDA risk assessment for listeria is ready-to-eat foods is available here

    http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/97-013F/ListeriaReport.pdf

    and one from the World Health Organization is here

    http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/mra_listeria/en/index.html
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  • Raw milk goat cheese leads to listeria

    Posted: November 15th, 2007 - 6:07am by Doug Powell

    The Quebec ministry of agriculture is warning people not to eat raw milk goat cheese from La Ferme écologique coop d'Ulverton located on Route 143 in Ulverton after a case of Listeria monocytogenes food poisoning was reported in the Montreal area.

    Laboratory tests on the raw milk cheese from the Ulverton coop revealed the presence of listeria.

    The ministry said the dairy coop does not have the required permit to make cheese destined for consumers and that people should not eat cheese from producers who are not licensed. Only raw milk cheese produced in licensed factories can be consumed safely.

    As Amy noted in June, some of the major French producers have switched to using heated milk to reduce the risk of disease. Lactilis’ spokesperson, Luc Morelon said that although they recognize the importance of Camembert traditions, they’re making the change,

     “[b]ecause consumer safety is paramount, and we cannot guarantee it 100 per cent. We cannot accept the risk of seeing our historic brands disappearing because of an accident in production." In response to his critics Morelon added, “I don't want to risk sending any more children to hospital. It's as simple as that."
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  • Scientist says listeria caused by consumer mishandling; company recalls dip anyway

    Posted: November 4th, 2007 - 9:49pm by Doug Powell

    In response to a recent University of Wollongong study which found that 57 per cent of the pregnant Australian woman surveyed were not aware of foods they should avoid to prevent listeriosis, Food Standards Australia New Zealand's (FSANZ) Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Bob Boyd, said,

    "listeriosis is usually caused by people at risk eating food that has not been stored or handled properly once the food has been produced or cooked.

    "Listeria bacteria are found widely in nature and may be present in pre-prepared uncooked foods or pre-cooked foods which have been kept for some time after they have cooled down.

    "If you or anyone in your household is pregnant, immuno-compromised or elderly, it is important you reduce your risk by taking a few simple precautions. For example: by eating only freshly prepared and well-washed food, following good food hygiene practice such as washing and drying hands, by cooking foods thoroughly, and by refrigerating leftovers immediately and keeping them no more than a day. …

    "I would like to remind health professionals of the dangers of Listeria and to make sure they have supplies of the FSANZ brochure on Listeria."

    OzFoodNet data show that during 2006 in Australia there were eight Listeria infections in pregnant women with two deaths out of the eight babies and that there were 51 Listeria infections in the elderly or immuno-compromised with 7 deaths.

    This is a serious issue, one that Christina and JLo, above, should know about, but pointing to a brochure is not enough. Information on any food safety issue needs to be rapid, reliable, relevant and repeated.

    About the same time as Dr. Boyd's comments, Coles Group Supermarkets voluntarily recalled You’ll Love Coles basil pesto dip (150g) from all Coles, Bi-Lo and Pick and Pay stores across Australia after testing by the manufacturer revealed the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

    Customers are encouraged to check in their homes to ensure they do not have any of the affected product. Customers should return any affected product to their nearest Coles, Bi-Lo and Pick and Pay store for a full refund.

    A quick check of the CSPI outbreak database reveals that many listeria outbreaks happened at point of sale. It's a processing issue; yes, consumer storage can contribute to the problem, bt in the absence of data -- none was presented by Dr. Boyd -- why taint a good message with a dubious claim about how listeria is primarily the consumer's fault?
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  • Cheese should not be made in a bathtub

    Posted: October 25th, 2007 - 10:26am by Doug Powell

    The California Department of Food and Agriculture said that a Southern California couple is facing criminal charges after allegedly being caught with 375 pounds of “bathtub” cheese at an open-air market in San Bernardino County, says.

    The illegal soft cheese products are known to cause serious illness such as listeria, salmonella or E. coli.

    The 375 pounds of seized illegal cheese included panela, queso fresco and queso oxaca varieties, the CDFA says. It was a significant find, the department says.

    Infants, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are the most susceptible. Expectant mothers should be especially guarded, as the listeria organism can cause miscarriages.
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  • Listeria kills 2, sickens 12 in Norway

    Posted: October 20th, 2007 - 2:00pm by Doug Powell

    Aftenposten reported Friday that two patients at the National Hospital in Oslo, Norway, died as a result of an infection linked to listeria and another 12 have been sickened since Oct. 1.

    Hospital officials were cited as saying the source of the bacteria has not yet been pinpointed, but they said it may have come from contaminated cold food, possibly cheese. All refrigerated food at the hospital has been discarded, but officials said new cases may still arise as the bacteria's incubation period can last for up to a month.

    Pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible to listeria. A recent Australian study found that over half of expectant mothers received no information about the risks associated with listeria and certain foods.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommendations for persons at high risk, such as pregnant women and persons with weakened immune systems, includes:

    -Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats, unless they are reheated until steaming hot.

    -Avoid getting fluid from hot dog packages on other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces, and wash hands after handling hot dogs, luncheon meats, and deli meats.

    -Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, and Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, or Mexican-style cheeses such as queso blanco, queso fresco, and Panela, unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pastuerized milk.

    -Do not eat refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés and meat spreads may be eaten.

    -Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is contained in a cooked dish, such as a casserole. Refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna or mackerel, is most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked," or "jerky." The fish is found in the refrigerator section or sold at deli counters of grocery stores and delicatessens. Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be eaten.
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  • Listeria kills 2, sickens 12 in Norway

    Posted: October 20th, 2007 - 12:42pm by Doug Powell

    Aftenposten reported Friday that two patients at the National Hospital in Oslo, Norway, died as a result of an infection linked to listeria and another 12 have been sickened since Oct. 1.

    Hospital officials said the source of the bacteria has not yet been pinpointed, but it may have come from contaminated cold food, possibly cheese. All refrigerated food at the hospital has been discarded, but officials said new cases may still arise as the bacteria's incubation period can last for up to a month.

    Pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible to listeria. A recent Australian study found that over half of expectant mothers received no information about the risks associated with listeria and certain foods.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommendations for persons at high risk, such as pregnant women and persons with weakened immune systems, includes:

    -Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats, unless they are reheated until steaming hot.

    -Avoid getting fluid from hot dog packages on other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces, and wash hands after handling hot dogs, luncheon meats, and deli meats.

    -Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, and Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, or Mexican-style cheeses such as queso blanco, queso fresco, and Panela, unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pastuerized milk.

    -Do not eat refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés and meat spreads may be eaten.

    -Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is contained in a cooked dish, such as a casserole. Refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna or mackerel, is most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked," or "jerky." The fish is found in the refrigerator section or sold at deli counters of grocery stores and delicatessens. Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be eaten.
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  • Pregnant women not receiving food safety info

    Posted: October 8th, 2007 - 10:38am by Doug Powell

    Researchers report in the latest Australian and New Zealand Journal of Health that in a survey of 586 women attending antenatal clinics in one private and two major public hospitals in New South Wales between April and November 2006, more than half received no information on preventing Listeria.

    It's long been government advice that pregnant women should avoid soft cheeses, smallgoods, raw seafood and pre-prepared vegetable salads such as coleslaw because of their potential to contain the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes.

    Listeria can produce a toxin that crosses the placenta and can cause miscarriages.

    Lead researcher Dolly Bondarianzadeh, from the University of Wollongong's School of Health Sciences, said,

    "In my experience, food was not high on the list of health risk topics for doctors, nurses and midwives to discuss with clients. Our results show that when it comes to food, women who have enough information and knowledge from a trusted source change their eating behaviour."

    "Health professionals who deal with pregnant women should all be raising the importance of educating women about food safety in pregnancy."

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommendations for persons at high risk, such as pregnant women and persons with weakened immune systems, includes:

    -Do not eat hot dogs, luncheon meats, or deli meats, unless they are reheated until steaming hot.
    -Avoid getting fluid from hot dog packages on other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces, and wash hands after handling hot dogs, luncheon meats, and deli meats.
    -Do not eat soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, and Camembert, blue-veined cheeses, or Mexican-style cheeses such as queso blanco, queso fresco, and Panela, unless they have labels that clearly state they are made from pastuerized milk.
    -Do not eat refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads. Canned or shelf-stable pâtés and meat spreads may be eaten.
    -Do not eat refrigerated smoked seafood, unless it is contained in a cooked dish, such as a casserole. Refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna or mackerel, is most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked," or "jerky." The fish is found in the refrigerator section or sold at deli counters of grocery stores and delicatessens. Canned or shelf-stable smoked seafood may be eaten.

    The USDA risk assessment for listeria is ready-to-eat foods is available here

    http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/97-013F/ListeriaReport.pdf

    and one from the World Health Organization is here.

    http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/micro/mra_listeria/en/index.html
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  • International Food Safety Network Podcast -- Week of 10/5/07

    Posted: October 7th, 2007 - 11:36pm by Andrew Reece

    This week we focus on Listeria monocytogenes and the week that was in food safety news.

    iFSN podcast 10.5.07
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  • Listeria found in lettuce at central Florida market

    Posted: September 29th, 2007 - 3:25am by Doug Powell

    News from Orlando, where Amy and I arrived last night for some work and play, and where the Florida Department of Agriculture found traces of listeria on California lettuce at the Dr. Phillips Boulevard Fresh Market store in town.

    A Fresh Market release said,  "We will continue to monitor the situation to ensure our stores are taking all necessary precautions."

    Fresh Market shopper Lori Pinner said, "I really find it hard to believe. I have shopped here so much, and everything we have ever gotten has been really fresh. We've never gotten sick."

    Shopper Robin Smith said, "You never know with anything. You just have to trust the store."
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