Auto-Brewery Syndrome - Taking Home Brew to the Next Level

'A woman kept getting drunk despite not drinking. Fungi in her gut were brewing their own alcohol."

"Auto-brewery syndrome arises when such fungi — including Saccharomyces cerevisiae, or brewer's yeast, and Candida albicans — grow in high enough concentrations and access enough carbs through a person's diet to intoxicate them. "  Her normal flora had been wiped out because of antibiotic usage.

Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/health/viruses-infections-disease/a-woman-kept-getting-drunk-despite-not-drinking-fungi-in-her-gut-were-brewing-their-own-alcohol

A woman kept getting drunk despite not drinking. Fungi in her gut were brewing their own alcohol.

A woman kept ending up in the emergency room with excessive sleepiness, slurred speech and the scent of alcohol on her breath, but she had not ingested a drop of liquor. It turns out that microbes in her gut were brewing their own booze — and making her drunk.

Friday, June 7th is World Food Safety Day! How Will You Celebrate?

 World Food Safety Day is here, and right now, you are thinking about how you will celebrate this awesome day.

Of course here at Penn Safety Food Safety, every day is food safety day.  We don't need some stinkin' calendar guy to come up with a special holiday for food safety.  I know our food safety news patrons wake up each day thinking about food safety, probably because they had some nightmare involving some food safety catastrophe.  Food safety paranoia is what sets us apart and it will be what eventually drives us mad. 

And why June 7th?  Was there some famous food safety person born on June 7th?  Well if there was some famous person, I could not find them in the 5 minutes I took to browse through some internet site for famous people born on June 7th.  But you know who was born on June 7th.  Liam Neeson.  Damn straight.  And what would Liam Neeson say in his food safety movie?

Leaning into the wait person, and speaking in a low, assertive voice, “I don't know who you are. I don't know who your chef is.  But what I do have are a very particular set of food safety skills, skills I have acquired over way too long of a career.  Food Safety skills that make me a nightmare for people like you and your establishment. If you cook my burger correctly, that'll be the end of it. I will eat it, I will not bother you, but if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you and I will have you recook it."

How many of you have sent your food back to have it properly cooked?  With a serious attitude like that, I think it is time to kick up our food safety skills and get serious.

How about a new food thermometer?  Not one of those stinkin' bimetallic cheapies with slow response time where you have to stick the darn thing up to the dimple point (and why is that dimple point so far back on the stem anyway?).   No, you will get some high tech, state of the art, remote digital piece that costs more than your grill.  Check this on out.

CHEF iQ Sense Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer with 2 Ultra-Thin Probes, Unlimited Range Bluetooth Meat Thermometer, Digital Food Thermometer for Remote Monitoring of BBQ Grill, Oven....$126 on Amazon.  

These look like missiles that you can launch into your prey and then leave them there to measure the temperature as you cook it.  And of course, it is all controlled by your cellphone.

Eating out?  Another way to celebrate is to order food that is normally served raw or rare, but have the chef cook it...way past well done.  Ahi tuna...canned.   A filet mignon...braised to 180F.  Oysters on the half-shell..boiled.   No better way to send the chef a message that today, you stand for food safety.

You can spend the day cleaning AND sanitizing every pot, pan, and utensil in your entire kitchen.  Put on some Bach on Pandora radio and then clean until your hands are shriveled like prunes.  Then sanitize everything with the fresh sanitizer solution.  Really kill it by using 400ppm to 500 ppm and then of course following it with a rinse.  No better smell than that of an indoor pool.

How will you celebrate?

Happy World Food Safety Day!

https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/world-food-safety-day
World Food Safety Day

World Food Safety Day is June 7. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization which sponsor World Food Safety Day have designated “Food Safety: Prepare for the Unexpected” as the theme for 2024. The purpose of this year’s theme is to draw attention to sudden food safety incidents and underline the importance of being prepared for such incidents, no matter how severe they may be.

Michigan Firm Recall Ground Black Pepper After State Lab Finds Salmonella

UBC Food Distributors in Dearborn Michigan is recalling the Ground Black Pepper under the Baraka brand name in 7oz plastic containers 7oz * 10 With UPC code 8 22514 26626 6 because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  The potential for contamination was noted after the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) notified us of the contamination based on a routine state surveillance sample collected by the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets that tested positive for Salmonella the presence of Salmonella in some 7 ounce packages of Ground Black Pepper.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/ubc-food-distributors-recalls-baraka-brand-ground-black-pepper-spice-because-possible-health-risk
UBC Food Distributors Recalls Baraka Brand Ground Black Pepper Spice Because of Possible Health Risk Announcement
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 03, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 03, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages  Spices, Flavors & Salts
Reason for Announcement:  Potential Contamination with Salmonella
Company Name:  UBC Food Distributors
Brand Name:  Baraka
Product Description:  Ground black pepper

FL Produce Distributor Recalls Cucumbers After State Lab Finds Salmonella

Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. of Delray, Florida, is recalling whole cucumbers shipped to certain states from May 17th through May 21st, 2024, due to the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.  
The recall was initiated after the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture informed the company that a product sample tested positive for the bacteria.

The recalled cucumbers were shipped in bulk cartons from May 17th through May 21st, 2024, directly to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/fresh-start-produce-sales-initiates-recall-whole-cucumbers-because-possible-health-risk
Fresh Start Produce Sales Initiates Recall of Whole Cucumbers Because of Possible Health Risk
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 31, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 01, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Salmonella
Company Name:  Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc.
Brand Name:  No Brand Name
Product Description:  Whole Cucumbers

TX Firm Recalls Infant Formulas After Failing to Comply with Infant Formula Regulations for Registration

Dairy Manufacturers Inc., of Prosper, TX – 5/24/24, is voluntarily recalling all lot codes for infant formulas available in the US: Crecelac Infant 0-12, Farmalac 0-12 and Farmalac 0-12 Low lactose to the retail and wholesale level. The products are being recalled because the products listed were sold in the U.S. without comp)lying with the FDA’s infant formula regulations (21 CFR 106.110 New Infant formula registration. This was identified after an FDA notification, because the firm has not submitted the required premarket notification.  

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/dairy-manufacturers-inc-issues-voluntary-recall-products-due-non-compliance-requirements-under-21
Dairy Manufacturers Inc. Issues Voluntary Recall of Products Due to Non-Compliance with Requirements Under the 21 CFR 106.110 New Infant Formula Registration
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 24, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  May 25, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Food Compliance Programs – Baby Formula
Company Name:  Dairy Manufacturers Inc.
Brand Name:  Crecelac and Farmalac
Product Description:  Infant Formula

Popcorn Mix Recalled for Undeclared Wheat Allergens as Part of the Pretzels

AMB Food Inc. in Brooklyn NY is recalling 8 oz bags of Pop a Nosh Mix Munch Regular and Honey BBQ snacks because it contains pretzels, but does not list Wheat as an allergen.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the pretzels included in both snack mixes contain wheat and both flavors were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of wheat. The firm continues to investigate and make appropriate corrections.

The product is in a prelabeled bag, so the allergen listing was missed when designing the label.


AMB Food Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Wheat in Product
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 23, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  May 24, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared allergen - wheat
Company Name:  AMB Food Inc
Brand Name:  Pop a Nosh
Product Description:  Mixed Munch Regular and Honey BBQ

NC Seafood Company Recalls Crab Cakes for Undeclared Egg Contained in the Mayo

County Road Seafood, LLC., of Belhaven, NC – May 21, 2024, is voluntarily recalling County Road Seafood Crab Cake 2 Pack 4 Ounce package because this product contains undeclared egg.  
On 5/15/24 the firm was notified by the North Carolina Depart of Agriculture and Consumer Services that the product does not list egg on the label. The product contains mayonnaise which is made from eggs and utilizes whole eggs as a binder.

County Road Seafood Issues Allergy Alert of Undeclared Egg in 4 Oz Packages of County Road Seafood Crab Cake
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 21, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  May 22, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Potential or Undeclared Allergen - Egg
Company Name:  County Road Seafood Inc.
Brand Name:  County Road Seafood
Product Description:  Crab Cake 2 Pack

CDC - Outbreak of Trichinellosis from Eating Bear Meat 2022

Trichinellosis is a parasitic disease transmitted through the consumption of meat from animals infected with Trichinella spp. nematodes.  It is rare to see such cases, and when there are such cases in recent years, it is often associated with eating undercooked bear meat.  This is the case reported in CDC MMWR where a group of family member gathering and ate bear kabobs.

"The and eight extended family members from three states (Arizona, Minnesota, and South Dakota) had gathered for several days in South Dakota and shared a meal that included kabobs made from the meat of a black bear (Ursus americanus), which had been harvested by one of the family members in northern Saskatchewan, Canada in May 2022. The hunting outfitter had recommended freezing the meat to kill parasites. The meat was frozen in a household freezer* for 45 days until being thawed and grilled with vegetables. The meat was initially inadvertently served rare, reportedly because the meat was dark in color, and it was difficult for the family members to visually ascertain the level of doneness. After some of the family members began eating the meat and noticed that it was undercooked, the meat was recooked before being served again. The family reunion concluded before onset of illness in the index patient."

So can we rely on freezing to eliminate the Trichinella parasite?  More difficult with those strains found in cold regions.  Plus, freezing conditions can also impact reduction (article below).

"Although freezing kills Trichinella species commonly implicated in pork-associated outbreaks, freeze-resistant Trichinella species, including T. nativa and the T6 genotype (9), predominate in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions (6). Larval motility was observed in bear meat that had been frozen for nearly 4 months (110 days). Persons who consume game meat, especially that harvested in northern latitudes, should be informed that adequate cooking is the only reliable way to kill Trichinella parasites. Cooking wild game meat to an internal temperature of ≥165°F (≥74°C) is recommended by public health authorities**; temperatures should be verified with a meat thermometer. As demonstrated in this outbreak, the color of meat is not a good indicator of cooking adequacy. Safe handling of raw meat (i.e., separating raw or undercooked meat and its juices from other foods) is recommended to prevent trichinellosis; this investigation and previous investigations suggest that Trichinella-infected meat can cross-contaminate other foods"

What symptoms were exhibited?

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, myalgias (muscle pain), fever, eosinophilia (high white blood cell count) and periorbital edema (swelling around the eyes)

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7320a2.htm

Outbreak of Human Trichinellosis — Arizona, Minnesota, and South Dakota, 2022
Weekly / May 23, 2024 / 73(20);456–459
Shama Cash-Goldwasser, MD1; Dustin Ortbahn, MPH2; Muthu Narayan, DO3; Conor Fitzgerald, MPH4; Keila Maldonado5; James Currie, MD6; Anne Straily, DVM7; Sarah Sapp, PhD7; Henry S. Bishop7; Billy Watson, PhD7; Margaret Neja7; Yvonne Qvarnstrom, PhD7; David M. Berman, DO8; Sarah Y. Park, MD8; Kirk Smith, DVM, PhD9; Stacy Holzbauer, DVM9,10 (VIEW AUTHOR AFFILIATIONS)

Summary
What is already known about this topic?
Human trichinellosis cases in the United States are rare and are usually acquired through consumption of wild game.

What is added by this report?
Among eight persons who shared a meal that included the meat of a black bear harvested in Canada and frozen for 45 days, six trichinellosis cases were identified. The meat was grilled with vegetables and served rare; two cases occurred in persons who ate only the vegetables. Motile freeze-resistant Trichinella nativa larvae were identified in remaining meat frozen for >15 weeks.

What are the implications for public health practice?
Cooking meat to an internal temperature of ≥165°F (≥74°C) is necessary to kill Trichinella spp. parasites. Trichinella-infected meat can cross-contaminate other foods, and raw meat should be kept and prepared separate from other foods to prevent cross-contamination.

HPAI, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - What Do We Know About Risk from Milk and Eggs

HPAI or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza is a hot topic after it was found to have infected dairy cows in multiple states (as of today, 58 dairy herds in nine states).  Remnants of the virus were found in milk which raised questions of risk.

Research released today in New England Journal of Medicine (link below) stated that milk, if not pasteurized, can be potentially infectious.  The study also looked at reduction of virus at pasteurization temperatures ( 181 degrees Fahrenheit, for 15 or 20 seconds) and determined that there was log reduction, but not complete elimination.

Researchers summarized, "HPAI H5–positive milk poses a risk when consumed untreated, but heat inactivation under the laboratory conditions used here reduces HPAI H5 virus titers by more than 4.5 log units. However, bench-top experiments do not recapitulate commercial pasteurization processes."

“But, we emphasize that the conditions used in our laboratory study are not identical to the large-scale industrial treatment of raw milk,” senior study author Dr. Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a virologist who specializes in the study of flu and Ebola, said in an email."

Added to this is that milk from cows found to be infected is diverted.  The question is whether all infected cows are detected.

FDA released results of their market survey of milk samples tested for the virus.  FDA "collected 297 samples at retail locations in 17 states between April 18-22, but the retail samples represented products made at 132 processing locations in 38 states."   "The FDA had said on May 10 that no live virus was found in retail milk samples. It has also said that pasteurized milk is safe to drink but has cautioned against consuming raw milk."

What about eggs?  Are eggs in the retail market safe to eat?

From the FDA

Yes. The likelihood that eggs from infected poultry are found in the retail market is low and proper storage and preparation further reduce the risk. In 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) participated in a joint risk assessment with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to examine the human health impact of HPAI in poultry, shell eggs, and egg products. The risk assessment determined that the risk of humans becoming infected with HPAI through the consumption of contaminated shell eggs is low. For instance, when a case of HPAI is detected in the US, the chance of infected poultry or eggs entering the food chain is low because of the rapid onset of symptoms in poultry as well as the safeguards in place, which include testing of flocks and federal inspection programs.

Additionally, when food is properly prepared and stored, the risk of consumers becoming infected with HPAI is reduced even further. For more information of HPAI and human health visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

What about infecting humans?

From the CDC

• Although avian (bird) influenza (flu) A viruses usually do not infect people, there have been some rare cases of human infection with these viruses. 
• In late March 2024, a human case of influenza A(H5N1) virus infection was identified after exposure to dairy cows presumably infected with bird flu. On May 22, CDC reported a second human case in a person who had exposure to infected dairy cows in Michigan. Some bird flu infections of people have been identified in which the source of infection was unknown.
• The spread of bird flu viruses from one infected person to a close contact is very rare, and when it has happened, it has only spread to a few people. However, because of the possibility that bird flu viruses could change and gain the ability to spread easily between people, monitoring for human infection and person-to-person spread is extremely important for public health.

CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/24/health/new-experiments-milk-h5n1-infected-cows-raise-questions-flash-pasteurization/index.html
New tests confirm milk from flu-infected cows can make other animals sick — and raise questions about flash pasteurization
By Brenda Goodman, CNN