A new strand of E. coli bacteria is causing a deadly outbreak in Europe, reported the World Health Organization (WHO). On Thursday, the agency said tests suggest the strain is a mutant form of two E. coli bacterium which carries lethal genes making it resistant to several classes of antibiotics.

According to MSNBC.com, the new E. coli strain has killed 17 people in Germany and one in Sweden, while more than 1,500 people have been reported ill. Scientists are calling this the worst recorded E. coli breakout in history. In 1996, two people died in a Japanese outbreak that also left more than 12,000 ill; while in 2000, seven people died during a Canadian outbreak. (more…)

Hundreds of people who attended Mass at a Long Island, NY church on Christmas Day, as well as the day after, may have been exposed to Hepatitis A if they received Holy Communion. One of the individuals involved in the distribution of communion at Our Lady Our Lourdes Church in Massapequa Park was diagnosed with Hepatitis A after the Christmas holiday.

Some leftover communion wafers that the infected individual handled on Christmas Day were mixed with others and used at Masses on December 26. According to the Nassau County Department of Health, those who received Holy Communion at the 10:30 a.m. and noon Christmas Day Masses, as well as the 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Masses on December 26, could have been exposed to the virus. (more…)

Health officials in Texas in Texas are trying to figure out if a sewage spill is behind a recent E. coli outbreak linked to at Fralo’s Art of Pizza in Leon Springs. In August, at least 24 people who ate at the restaurant became ill. The illnesses started right around the time a sewage spill occurred across the street from the restaurant.

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that every year at least 2000 Americans are hospitalized and about 60 die as a direct result of E. coli infection and its complications. Symptoms of infection may include severe and often bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting. Often, little or no fever is present. Most healthy adults recover within a week. Young children and the elderly are at higher risk for developing Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) as a result of the infection. HUS can lead to serious kidney damage and death.
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A Kentucky woman has filed suit over Samonella poisoning she claims she got from a Taco Bell restaurant. Taco Bell restaurants have been implicated in two different Salmonella outbreaks involving the Hartford and Baildon strains. At least 155 people in 21 states have been sickened in the outbreaks.

According to her lawsuit, Jo Anne Smith became ill with symptoms typical of Salmonella poisoning two days after she had eaten tacos garnished with lettuce, cheese, and sour cream from a Frankfort Taco Bell. On May 29, the 45-year-old Smith was so weak and dehydrated that she called her husband and asked him to take her to the emergency room. A stool sample Smith submitted while at the ER later returned positive for Salmonella Hartford. (more…)

The maker of Italian sausage products recently recalled because of a connection with a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella poisoning has been named in a lawsuit. Jason and Molly Keppler of Illinois allege that salami made by Daniele International of Rhode Island made their 3-month-old son seriously ill.

The Keppler’s lawsuit, which was filed in Cook County Circuit Court, is seeking unspecified damages. (more…)

Italian sausage products coated in black pepper are being recalled because they have the potential to be tainted with Salmonella. The recall involves about 1.24 million pounds of Italian sausage products, including salami/salame manufactured by Daniele International Inc. of Rhode Island. Daniele believes black pepper may be the source of the Salmonella contamination.

The products involved in this recall include: (more…)

Giant Eagle, a grocery store chain based in Pennsylvania is recalling frozen hash browns because there is a chance they may be contaminated with Listeria.

This recall involves Giant Eagle and Food Club brand frozen loose hash browns. According to the recall notice, the independent and unrelated manufacturer of the hash browns has been informed of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in products made in the same facility as the recalled items. (more…)

It looks like Nestle’s Toll House cookie dough E. coli problem isn’t over. The company has announced that E. coli has been found in two samples of cookie dough made at its plant in Danville Virginia.

According to Nestle, the factory will be shut down for two weeks while Nestle modifies its recipe and production process. When the Nestle factory reopens, the company will begin using flour that has been heated to kill E. coli and other pathogens. (more…)

Consumers in New York who purchased Boiled Horse Mackerel sold by Bao Ding Seafood of New York City have been warned not to consume the product. The Boiled Horse Mackerel is being recalled because of a potential botulism risk. Anyone who has this product should return it to the place of purchase.

The potential botulism problem was discovered by the New York State Dept. of Agriculture and Market food inspector during a routine inspection. Subsequent analysis of the product by food lab personnel confirmed the fish was not eviscerated prior to processing. (more…)

Federal regulators are reviewing the operations of Beef Products Inc., following a New York Times investigation that found the company’s method of using ammonia to eliminate E. coli and Salmonella from beef trim may not work as well as has been claimed.

Exposing meat to ammonia gas raises its alkalinity, which should make it less hospitable to E. coli and Salmonella. Using this method, Beef Products was able to use fattier beef trim – which is more susceptible to contamination – for ground beef. The company’s research showed this method reduced pathogen’s to “undetectable” levels. (more…)