'Embalmed Milk' and Other Challenges Prompting the Early 20th Century Food Laws

An interesting read by Deborah Blum on tainted milk before the days of pasteurization and the Pure Food Laws.  At the turn of the 20th century, milk could be found loaded with bacteria, watered down using contaminated water, plaster dust, or pureed calf brains, or have formaldehyde added as a preservative.

Undark.org
https://undark.org/article/battling-scourge-embalmed-milk/
Battling the Scourge of ‘Embalmed Milk’
How an obscure Indiana public health official pioneered the campaign against tainted dairy products at the turn of the 20th century.
10.05.2018 / By Deborah Blum

Britain - Sandwich Shop with Two Allergen Deaths

A fancy British sandwich chain seems to have two deaths due to undeclared allergens. A 2016 case where a 15 year old girl died from an allergic reaction to sesame seeds, which were not listed on the label. And in "the latest announcement, Pret said it believed the second customer’s death had been caused by dairy protein found in a nondairy yogurt supplied by CoYo, a maker of vegan products in Britain." Testing did reveal the presence of milk allergen in this non-dairy yogurt.

Dairy-free yogurt is made from soy or in this case, coconut.

Here are some rare cases where you have allergen related deaths from sesame and diary.

NY Times
https://www.nytimes.com/

2018/10/07/business/uk-pret-a-manger-allergy.html
Pret A Manger Says a 2nd Customer Died of Allergic Reaction

Ice Cream Product Recalled After Listeria Illness Where Strain Matches A 2017 Environmental Sample

A Florida Ice cream company is recalling product after a case of Listeria occurred in May, where that Listeria strain had been found in the facility during a environmental sampling in 2017.  Working Cow Homemade Ice Cream, Inc. of St. Petersburg, FL is recalling No Sugar Added Vanilla and Chocolate ice cream manufactured in three-gallon tubs during the month of May 2018.

"This recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) following notification of a recent consumer case in Florida which has been linked to a strain of Listeria monocytogenes found to be present at the Working Cow manufacturing facility during environmental sampling in 2017. Although subsequent environmental sampling has yet to yield positive test results, investigations are ongoing to ensure root cause has been properly addressed. No other illnesses have been reported."

This is interesting in that the recall is being issued on the premise that the Listeria found in 2017 in the plant was still there in 2018 even though internal testing did not find it.  One would guess that the epidemiological investigation found that the patient had eaten the ice cream in question.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm622688.htm
Working Cow Homemade, Inc. Recalls Product Because of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
October 4, 2018

NY Regulators Issue Alert on NY Cheese Due to Inadequate Pasteurization

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets issued a consumer alert regarding cheese from Sprout Creek Farm of Poughkeepsie, NY that was not properly pasteurized. "The reason for the recall is the air temperature at the start and end of the pasteurization process is required to be above 150deg F per the Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance; the batch in question did not meet that standard."

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm622705.htm
Consumer Alert: Sprout Creek Farm “Margie” Cheese Batch Recalled
For Immediate Release
September 28, 2018

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Week Ending October 6. 2018

Milk Missing on Label - Canteen/Convenco, a Middletown, Pa. establishment, is recalling approximately 1,778 pounds of ready-to-eat breaded chicken tender products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens - the products may contain milk (whey), a known allergen, that was not declared on the finished product label. The problem was discovered on Oct. 4, 2018 by FSIS inspection program personnel during a routine label review.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-086-2018-release
Canteen/Covenco Recalls Ready-To-Eat Breaded Chicken Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens 
Class I Recall 
086-2018 
Health Risk: High 
Oct 5, 2018 

Establishments Recall Sliced Meat Products and Sandwiches Associated with Recalled Hams for Listeria

A Richmond, Va. establishment, is recalling approximately 18,296 pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry deli-sliced products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The recall was initiated after the firm received recall notification from the NY establishment, Johnston County Hams that issued a recall of hams due to Listeria, and recognized it had processed meat products associated with that Listeria recall.
Other companies issuing recalls after using Johnston County Hams:
- Callie's Charleston Biscuits, LLC is issuing a voluntary product recall for two products, its Callie's Charleston Country Ham Biscuits and its Cocktail Ham Biscuits, that may contain the potentially affected Johnston County Hams.
- Ladyfingers Caterers is voluntarily recalling its Signature Shaved Country Ham Rolls as a result of the Johnston County Hams recall.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-087-2018-release
Ukrop's Homestyle Foods Recalls Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination 
Class I Recall
087-2018
Health Risk: High
Oct 5, 2018

Digestive Issues - Sudden Abdominal Pain and Constipation - May Be Related to Virus Infection

In a study reported in WUSL The Source, researchers found that certain viruses that target the nervous system in the brain and spinal cord also can kill neurons in the guts of mice, disrupting bowel movement and causing intestinal blockages, leading people to unpredictable bouts of abdominal pain and constipation.  While the research focused on West Nile and Zika virus, there may be other viruses that cause similar issues.

“There are a number of people who are otherwise healthy who suddenly develop bowel motility problems, and we don’t understand why,” said Thaddeus S. Stappenbeck, MD, PhD, the Conan Professor of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine and the study’s co-senior author. “But now we believe that one explanation could be that you can get a viral infection that results in your immune cells killing infected neurons in your gut. That might be why all of a sudden you can’t move things along any more.”

From the article, "Further investigation showed that West Nile virus, when injected into a mouse’s foot, travels through the bloodstream and infects neurons in the intestinal wall. These neurons coordinate muscle contractions to move waste smoothly through the gut. Once infected, the neurons attract the attention of immune cells, which attack the viruses – and kill the neurons in the process."

The Source - Washington University in St. Louis
Medicine & Health
https://source.wustl.edu/2018/10/viruses-in-blood-lead-to-digestive-problems/
Viruses in blood lead to digestive problems

Mouse study provides clues to sudden onset of digestive woes
By Tamara Bhandari  • October 4, 2018

CDC - Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Pre-cut Coconut 2017

CDC issued a report on a 2017 Salmonella outbreak associated with coconut.  Tere were 19 cases from pre-cut coconut pieces.  From the investigation, it was determined that the Salmonella originated with the source product from Indonesia.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6739a5.htm?s_cid=mm6739a5_e
Outbreak of Salmonella Chailey Infections Linked To Precut Coconut Pieces — United States and Canada, 2017
Weekly / October 5, 2018 / 67(39);1098–1100

CDC - Multiple Cyclospora Outbreaks in 2018

CDC issued a report detailing smaller Cyclospora outbreaks  that were in addition to two large outbreaks that occurred this past summer.    Those additional cases were associated with other types of fresh produce, including basil and cilantro

The two major outbreaks were 1) the prepackaged vegetable trays (containing broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots) sold at a convenience store chain in the Midwest where there were 250 laboratory-confirmed cases reported and 2) salads (containing carrots, romaine, and other leafy greens) sold at a fast food chain in the Midwest [McDonalds] where there were 511 laboratory-confirmed cases.

Smaller outbreaks included

• Two basil-associated clusters with 8 cases each were identified among persons in two different states who became ill during June.  
• Three clusters associated with Mexican-style restaurants in the Midwest have resulted in reports of 53 confirmed cases in persons who became ill - consumption of cilantro was found to be significantly associated with illness.. 
• Additional clusters associated with Mexican-style restaurants were identified but a single vehicle of infection has not been identified.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6739a6.htm?s_cid=mm6739a6_e
Notes from the Field: Multiple Cyclosporiasis Outbreaks — United States, 2018
Weekly / October 5, 2018 / 67(39);1101–1102