Listeria Blog - Surveillance & analysis on Listeria news & outbreaks

By JOHN SHULTZ
The Kansas City Star

About 3,200 pounds of ready-to-eat chicken products have been recalled because of concerns about Listeria contamination, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced.

The food, made by Ilyssa Manufacturing Corp., was distributed to retail in 15 states, including Missouri.

Affected by the voluntary recall:

■ 16-oz. packages of Chef Pronto, Tortellini with Grilled Chicken and Sun-dried Tomatoes.

■ 12-oz. packages of Chef Pronto, Grilled Chicken with Balsamic Vinegar and Rosemary.

■ 12-oz. packages of Chef Pronto, Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken.

■ 12-oz. packages of Chef Pronto, Grilled Chicken Strips.

All of the products, which were produced on July 18, bear the sell-by date of ìAUG 0205" and the establishment number P-19629 inside the USDA seal of inspection.

According to the USDA, there have been no reports of illnesses connected to the products.

07/26/2005
By Lindsey Carroll
Morris News Service

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. -- Feta, brie and Camembert. Which one of these cheeses could damage a pregnant woman and her baby?

All three soft cheeses, as it turns out.

ìAnything that isn--t made with pasteurized milk, make sure to read the labels,-- said Lana McCoy, a registered nurse at a local hospital.

McCoy said not only pregnant women but also elderly people, especially people with weakened immune systems, could be at risk for Listeria monocytogens.
Listeria is a type of bacteria that can be found everywhere -- in soil, groundwater and also on plants. Animals and people can carry Listeria in their bodies, even without actually being sick. Most of the infections in humans are caused by eating contaminated food.

July 20, 2005
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.promedmail.org
Date: Wed 20 Jul 2005
From: ProMED-mail promed@promedmail.org
Source: NewsWatch 50 Syracuse, NY [edited]
http: //www.newswatch50.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=76FD5237-6844-4823-8E50-98A6DFF0BBBD
Health officials in the Syracuse area say one of 4 people infected in an outbreak of listeriosis has died. The Onondaga County Health Department says the adult patient died yesterday [19 Jul 2005] due to complications of the rare foodborne bacterial disease.
Authorities established that 3 of the cases that surfaced this month [July 2005] were caused by the same strain of Listeria and that they probably got sick from a single source of contaminated food. The 4th patient surfaced a week later. Investigators are trying to determine whether that case is from the same strain.
Listeriosis can be fatal, but severe symptoms are unusual in healthy adults and children. The disease most often affects pregnant women, newborn babies, or people with weakened immune systems. In 1998, 16 people died in a multistate outbreak of listeriosis linked to contaminated hot dogs and deli meats.
ProMED-mail
promed@promedmail.org
[Fatal listeriosis, predominantly meningitis, generally occurs in individuals with defects in cellular immune function. This includes patients with organ transplantation or malignancies on therapy. Disease may occur in apparently normal hosts, however, usually in the elderly. Most sporadic cases of listeriosis are thought to be part of a foodborne cluster which may not be recognized. - Mod.LL]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
P05-44
July 20, 2005
Media Inquiries:
Cathy McDermott, 301-827-6242
Consumer Inquiries:
888-INFO-FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a Safety Alert to consumers about the recall of SMOKED SALMON SKINLESS SLICED SIDES packaged in various 2 to 4 lb. weight packages because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The products are sold under the brand names: Imperial Salmon House, Superior brand Norwegian Cure and Golden Eagle Smoked Salmon.

Today's alert extends to packages produced on June 13th, 2005 and have a shelf life of 3-4 months if maintained in an un-opened frozen state, four days if kept refrigerated. They are sold in individual 2 to 4 lb. packages labeled as: "Processed by Hickory House, Hialeah, FL 33016", "21555, Product of the USA", "keep frozen until ready to use." The product was sold in Florida, Georgia, New York and Virginia.

July 20, 2005

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- County health officials say one of the four people infected with listeriosis has died due to complications of the food-borne bacterial disease.

The adult patient died Tuesday but the person's name and age are being withheld to protect the victim's family, said Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Cynthia Morrow.

County health officials determined three of the cases that surfaced this month were caused by the same strain of listeria. Morrow said it appeared the three probably got sick from a single source of contaminated food. The fourth patient surfaced a week later, and investigators are trying to determine whether that case is from the same strain, she said.

By JANE LERNER
jlerner@thejournalnews.com
THE JOURNAL NEWS
July 19, 2005

A Spring Valley food company that warned consumers four times in about a month that its products could make them sick has ceased production, state officials said today. Golden Taste Inc., located at 45 S. Central Ave., has stopped manufacturing all food products, said Kate Lane, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.

"Golden Taste is currently closed until further notice," she said.

The company had recalled its salads -- including Nova lox, baked salmon and tuna -- four times since June 10 because tests done by the state showed they were contaminated with listeria. The bacteria can cause pregnant women to suffer miscarriage or premature labor and can make the elderly, children and people with compromised immune systems very sick.

The company will remain closed until inspector visit it again, Lane said.

Friday, July 15, 2005
By Tim Knauss
Staff writer

An unidentified elderly person Thursday became the fourth patient found to have listeriosis in Onondaga County, where health officials are still trying to pinpoint the source of the food-borne bacterial illness.

Lab tests have established that three previous cases, which surfaced last week, were caused by the same strain of listeria, indicating they probably came from a single source of contaminated food, said Dr. Cynthia Morrow, health commissioner.

It will take about a week to determine whether the fourth case was caused by the same strain, but for now investigators are looking for a common source, Morrow said.

By Jan Suszkiw
July 13, 2005

Identifying harmful yeasts and bacteria is faster, easier and more sensitive than current detection methods, thanks to a new test by Agricultural Research Service scientists in Peoria, Ill.

As a research tool, the new method's use could shed light on what makes some strains of the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes more pathogenic than others. In food-processing applications, the test's use could help redirect critical-control-point programs to better prevent contamination at manufacturing plants. Listeria's disease-causing strains are the leading cause of food recalls due to microbial contamination.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has issued an order to Lapperts Ice Cream to withdraw Lapperts Banana Caramel Chocolate Chip Ice Cream distributed in one-pint containers to Whole Foods stores in Sacramento, San Francisco, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, San Ramon, San Mateo, San Rafael, Redwood City and Palo Alto, and to hold remaining product at the company's plant in Richmond.

These actions came after inspectors in Washington detected Listeria monocytogenes bacteria during routine surveillance and laboratory sampling. Listeria monocytogenes may cause listeriosis among "at risk" people, including pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as a headache and stiff neck can occur. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu- like illness; however, infections during pregnancy could lead to more serious problems for the fetus. If a related illness is suspected, consumers are encouraged to consult a physician immediately.

No illnesses have been reported to date. Consumers who have purchased the product should discard it or return it to the store for a refund. The company's other products are not affected by the quarantine and recall.
Consumers with questions can contact CDFA's Public Affairs phone line at
(916) 654-0462.

Start out with produce that's not damaged; that's where bacteria can thrive.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
By Amber Smith
Staff writer

If you're trying to stay safe from listeria, you can avoid unpasteurized dairy products, and you can cook meat to 160 degrees.

But keeping raw fruits and vegetables in your diet and free of the dangerous bacteria responsible for hospitalizing three Central New York women in the last two weeks requires some know-how.

Most of us don't associate pathogens such as listeria monocytogenes with produce, but the threat is real, says Kathy Dischner, a registered dietitian and nutrition and food safety program leader from Cornell University Cooperative Extension.

By JANE LERNER
jlerner@thejournalnews.com
THE JOURNAL NEWS

Golden Taste of Spring Valley has issued several recalls of its products lately

Thursday: Baked salmon salad in 3.5-ounce, 7.5-ounce and 5-pound plastic containers. The salad had an expiration date of Aug. 11.

June 28: 3.5-ounce, 7.5-ounce and 5-pound plastic containers of tuna deluxe, with expiration dates of July 24 and Aug. 1; scallion tuna deluxe with expiration dates of July 5 and July 12; and whitefish salad with an expiration date of July 14.

June 10: Tuna deluxe in 3.5-ounce and 7.5-ounce clear plastic containers with expiration dates of July 3.

ONONDAGA COUNTY
7/8/2005

SYRACUSE (AP) - Three Syracuse-area residents have been diagnosed with listeriosis - a rare and potentially fatal bacterial disease caused by eating contaminated food.
Onondaga County health officials said the three women, ages 48, 70 and 77, have been hospitalized and one is "quite ill." Officials have yet to determine the source of the infection.

Listeria is found in soil and water. Unpasteurized milk and cheeses have been associated with outbreaks in the past.

The disease is not contagious and can be treated with antibiotics.

Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. If the infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms also might include headache, stiff neck and confusion.

The Onondaga County Health Department is warning the public about a rare outbreak of a food-borne illness.

Three cases of Listeriosis were reported in Onondaga County in the past week. Listeriosis is described as a serious infection, usually caused by eating contaminated food. Pregnant women, newborns, the elderly and adults with weakened immune systems are considered high risk for contracting the illness.

Possible symptoms include fever, muscle aches, severe headaches, convulsions and loss of balance, but healthy people may not experience any symptoms.

William D. Marler (www.williammarler.com), an attorney at Marler Clark LLP PS (http://www.marlerclark.com) has extensive experience representing victims of bacterial and viral food poisonings. Since 1993, Marler Clark has represented victims of most of the largest foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States, including the 1993 Jack in the Box E. coli, 1998 Odwalla E. coli, 1999 Sun Orchard Salmonella, 2002 ConAgra E. coli and Chili's Salmonella outbreaks, the 2003 Chi Chi's Hepatitis A outbreak, and the 2004 Sheetz Salmonella outbreak.
Bill feels that a lawyer should do more than just sue corporations. That is why he speaks frequently on issues of safe food and formed Outbreak, Inc. (http://www.outbreakinc.com), a not-for-profit business dedicated to explaining to companies why it is in their interest to avoid food illness litigation. Bill also has created (http://marlerblog.com) as a way of updating the Web on issues of interest to him.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Spring Valley, NY -- June 28, 2005 -- Golden Taste, Inc., 45 S. Central Avenue, Spring Valley, New York 10977 is recalling Golden Taste Tuna Deluxe, Scallion Tuna Deluxe and White Fish Salad because it may contain Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy persons may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarria ges and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled products include 5lb., 7.5 oz. and 3.5 oz. plastic containers of Golden Taste brand Tuna Deluxe coded 7/24/05; Tuna Deluxe coded 8/1/05; Scallion Tuna Deluxe coded 7/5/05; Scallion Tuna Deluxe coded 7/12/05; and White Fish Salad coded 7/14/05. The affected products were distributed to stores in New York and New Jersey.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The contamination was discovered after sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the Golden Taste Tuna Deluxe, Scallion Tuna and White Fish Salads.

From the CDC

Listeriosis, a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, has recently been recognized as an important public health problem in the United States. The disease affects primarily pregnant women, newborns, and adults with weakened immune systems. It can be avoided by following a few simple recommendations.

By Carole Sugarman

My daughter never met a chicken tender she didn't like. But during a recent family vacation in Florida, 9-year-old Anna was struck with a bad case of salmonellosis -- disease caused by salmonella. And while we'll never know for sure, we strongly suspect it was caused by contaminated, undercooked poultry at one of her daily restaurant chicken meals.

There is more than a little irony in this tale of excruciating stomach pains, bathroom vigils and hospital emergency rooms.

As a food writer for 25 years, I've interviewed numerous victims of food-borne diseases and parents of children who've died from them. I've attended scores of conferences and hearings where food safety issues are debated among government officials, industry and activist groups.

But this was the first time I got to see firsthand how devastating full-blown food-borne illness can be. Believe me, we're not talking about a bad tummy ache.