According to a recent report, Campylobacter and Listeria infections have increased, but Salmonella and E. coli cases dropped in Ireland in the first three months of 2024.
Campylobacter infections increased from 700 in Q1 2023 to 733 in Q1 2024. Listeria infections rose from one to five. Salmonella cases decreased from 84 to 67, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections declined from 131 to 116.
Are you a qualified civil servant searching for a professional challenge in a stimulating and dynamic EU Agency? Do you want to apply your skills and knowledge to contribute to achieving EFSA's objectives and strategy? Is your organisation seeking opportunities to cooperate and build synergies with EFSA?
As an SNE you will serve a dual role: you will bring your expertise to EFSA and take back to your home administration the knowledge acquired during your period of secondment, fostering mutual exchange and strengthening cooperation between EFSA and its partners.
One person has died in an E. coli outbreak in the United Kingdom linked to salad leaves.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) identified two people in England who died within 28 days of being infected with the outbreak strain. Based on information from health service clinicians, only one death is likely linked to STEC infection. Both individuals had underlying medical conditions and the deaths were in May.
UKHSA also revealed the incident is a re-emergence of an STEC cluster investigated in 2023, where no source could be confirmed.
Approximately half of raw chicken sold at Lidl stores across Europe is contaminated with antibiotic-resistant foodborne pathogens, according to the findings of a recent, independently commissioned sampling and testing project. Lidl is the largest grocery chain in Europe, and is therefore one of the largest meat distributors on the continent.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is liaising with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) following the RTÉ Investigates programme in relation to the horse trade which aired on 12 June 2024. The alleged scenes of tampering with horse microchips and horse passports are being thoroughly investigated by DAFM following the airing of the programme. In light of the potential impact of traceability of animals entering the food chain and as part of our role in ensuring the effectiveness of official controls in such operations, the FSAI is engaging closely with DAFM on its ongoing investigation and actions taken by it to address any issues identified for the safety and integrity of the food chain.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has updated its Independence Policy, further strengthening the measures it has in place to manage the interests of the scientific experts and professionals with whom it works and to guard against undue influence. The new policy includes targeted revisions based on a thorough review of the 2017 policy.
he number of people sick in an E. coli outbreak linked to salad leaves has exceeded 250.
There have been 256 confirmed patients in the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O145 outbreak since late May.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Public Health Scotland, and Public Health Wales are investigating the rise in infections.
Reported at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global Congress, which took place in Barcelona, Spain from April 27–30, 2024, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol has found high levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among Escherichia coli on raw chicken meat sold at retail in the UK, as well as in chicken-based raw dog food samples.
The study analyzed 58 total samples of uncooked meat at retail intended for human consumption—15 each of beef, chicken, and lamb, and 13 of pork—as well as 15 samples of chicken-based raw dog meat. To test for drug-resistant E. coli, the meat samples were enriched and plated onto agar containing common antibiotics, some of which are considered critically important for human health: amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, spectinomycin, and streptomycin.
The number of people sick in an E. coli outbreak in the United Kingdom has passed 200.
There have been 211 confirmed patients in the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O145 outbreak since late May.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Public Health Scotland, and Public Health Wales are investigating the rise in infections.
The number one priority of food safety programs is the safety and well-being of consumers. Proper food storage and handling processes must be adhered to so human lives are protected from the dangers of foodborne illness. Failure to maintain acceptable standards is justifiably met with massive potential for reputational damage and legal accountability.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is to reconsider a decision that an extract of monk fruit manufactured by a Chinese firm must go through an evaluation process before it can be marketed, the High Court heard.
Guilin GFS Monk Fruit Corporation brought judicial review proceedings in 2022 claiming the FSAI acted “irrationally” and “unreasonably” when it classified its monk fruit decoction product as a “novel food” under an EU regulation.
In just the past few days, it seems as if the world has become serious about H5N1 influenza, otherwise known as bird flu. There’s even informed speculation by some qualified scientists that human-to-human transmission is likely already occurring.
Food safety and public health are not yet big concerns. Raw milk is more risky than ever, but pasteurized dairy products, eggs, and poultry are all safe to eat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rates the current public health risk as low but oversees the situation and works with states to monitor people with animal exposures.
Adulteration, illegal slaughter of horses, and products not receiving the necessary checks feature in the latest report on possible frauds and other non-compliances raised by EU member states.
The number of food and other fraud suspicions discussed by European countries remained stable in April. The 341 alerts are similar to the 345 in March but up from 318 in February and 277 in January.
The food safety risks of disposable gloves are addressed in the July 2024 issue of the International Association of Food Protection’s Journal of Food Protection.
The Journal highlights scientific reports of hazardous chemical and pathogenic glove contamination with the potential to contaminate food. It illustrates how new and unused disposable gloves, even when they meet FDA compliance standards, can be sources of contamination.
Meat products made from ground (minced) beef were suspected to be behind a serious E. coli outbreak in the United Kingdom in 2023, according to a recent report.
In June 2023, an outbreak of severe gastrointestinal symptoms caused by a rare type of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) was detected by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Cold plasma is an emerging food processing technology which has been shown to effectively inactivate pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. The process uses high-voltage electricity to ionize air and/or defined gas blends to create a mixture of ions, free electrons, ozone, radical species, and other reactive products. This energetic plasma, which operates near room temperature, has been tested with fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats, cheeses, poultry, seeds, powders, and other foods.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has released a new publication addressing the challenges of illicit trade in food and food fraud, and the role the WTO can play in mitigating these issues. The publication, launched on May 28, features contributions from experts across international organizations, non-governmental bodies, the private sector, and the WTO Secretariat. It underscores the significant impact of illicit food trade on food security and public health and proposes comprehensive strategies for tackling the problem.
E. coli infections hit a record high in Norway in 2023, while other pathogens are returning to levels seen before the Coronavirus pandemic.
Data published by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) shows that the number of Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria infections rose compared to the previous year, while Yersinia cases fell.
The Marine Institute is the national agency responsible for marine research, technology, development and innovation (RTDI). The Marine Institute seeks to assess and realise the economic potential of Ireland’s 220-million-acre marine resource; promote the sustainable development of marine industry through strategic funding programmes and scientific services; and safeguard the marine environment through research and environmental monitoring. The Institute works in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) and a network of other Government Departments, semi-state agencies, national and international marine partners.
Researchers have revealed that almost 100 people fell sick in a Salmonella outbreak linked to cantaloupe melon toward the end of 2023.
In September 2023, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) identified cases of Salmonella Saintpaul in England, Scotland, and Wales. Other ill people were noted in Portugal following an alert by the United Kingdom.
