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    Category e. coli O157

    California growers say their new water rules mean safer romaine for everyone

    Posted in: e. coli O157, Foodborne Illness Outbreaks on: April 21

    For the second time this year, romaine lettuce growers are imposing measures they hope will end the recent string of E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks that were associated with their products last year. This latest action to strengthen food safety practices that will be required by romaine lettuce farms came Friday in a vote by the... Continue Reading Read More

    Four STEC infections; one person dead after exposure to raw pet food

    Posted in: e. coli O157, Foodborne Illness Investigations, Foodborne Illness Outbreaks on: October 17

    Four people were infected with Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) O157 last year from exposure to raw pet food, according to a Public Health England report. In August 2017, the cluster infected with genetically related strains of STEC O157 was identified. The strains possessed the Shiga toxin (stx) 2a subtype, associated with more severe... Continue Reading Read More

    Canada declares outbreak over; CDC, FDA still investigating

    Posted in: Canada, CDC, E. coli, e. coli O157, E. coli outbreak, Fda, Foodborne Illness Investigations, Foodborne Illness Outbreaks, Government Agencies, Local Food on: January 10

    Canadian officials said today an E. coli outbreak linked to romaine lettuce is over, but U.S. officials are continuing to investigate the deadly foodborne illness outbreak that they believe is linked to leafy greens. Both countries’ public health officials posted updates on the outbreak today stressing that there is little remaining danger to the public... Continue Reading Read More

    E. coli cases linked to romaine lettuce; 21 sick, 10 hospitalized

    Posted in: Canada, E. coli, e. coli O157, E. coli outbreak, Foodborne Illness Investigations, Foodborne Illness Outbreaks on: December 12

    Outbreak investigators are warning the public that romaine lettuce linked to an outbreak of E. coli O157 in Canada is a potentially deadly strain having already hospitalized half of the victims. Three provincial health departments are reporting outbreak cases, with 21 sick people confirmed so far. Ten of the victims have had symptoms so severe... Continue Reading Read More

    French boy permanently disabled by E. coli in frozen beef

    Posted in: E. coli, e. coli O157, food safety, Food Safety Culture, Food Safety Policy, policy on: June 9

    In June, 2011, eight children in Northern France were initially diagnosed with E. coli O157 after eating beef burgers bought from German discount retailer, Lidl. In May 2012, the Institut de veille sanitaire summarized the outbreak, and revealed 17 children … Continue reading → Read More

    If a restaurant makes you sick, be sure you know its legal name

    Posted in: e. coli O157, Foodborne Illness Investigations, Foodborne Illness Outbreaks, Lawsuits & Litigation, Salmonella on: January 29

    Restaurants usually have names that are easy for people to remember, but victims of foodborne illness often find legal names of restaurants can be elusive. Restaurant franchises are often passed from limited partnerships to individuals or corporations and back again. Take the Pizza Ranch in Lincoln, NE. It was the center a year ago of nine-state... Continue Reading Read More

    ‘Timing couldn’t have been better’ 40 sickened with E. coli O157 at Richey reunion

    Posted in: E. coli, e. coli O157, food safety, Food Safety Policy, Risk Communication, Stec on: August 18

    It was supposed to be unforgettable, but for some who attended the Richey, Montana, Centennial last month, it was unforgettable for the wrong reasons. Around 40 people from 10 states reported they had been infected with E. coli O157. At … Continue reading → Read More

    Rockmelon safety hard to grasp

    Posted in: e. coli O157, food safety, Salmonella on: August 10

    Contrary to what Australians are being told, cantaloupe – er, rockmelon – is a known source of foodborne illness and many scientists have investigated the many ways nasty bacteria get on or in the melon; along with potential treatments. In … Continue reading → Read More

    FDA says raw dough’s a raw deal and could make you sick

    Posted in: E. coli, e. coli O157, food safety, Food Safety Policy, Stec on: June 28

    Do you find it hard to resist gobbling up a piece of raw dough when making cookies, or letting your children scrape the bowl? Do your kids use raw dough to make ornaments or homemade “play” clay? Do you eat … Continue reading → Read More

    Burgers may need higher cooking temperature to be safe from E. coli

    Posted in: E. coli, e. coli O157, food safety, Food Safety Policy, Stec on: June 3

    Food safety friend Lynn McMullen at the University of Alberta, and others have found that cooking ground beef at 71C — the level of heat long advised by Health Canada — does not always eliminate all the strains of Escherichia … Continue reading → Read More