USDA's food safety service answers common questions about salmonella, the most frequently reported cause of foodborne illness, noting the family holds more than 2,300 serotypes and that contaminated food usually looks, smells and tastes normal.
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Biological
Biological hazards in food: bacteria, viruses and contamination.
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Biological
Soda fountains dispersing gastric distress
Researchers sampled 90 drinks from 30 soda fountain machines and found 48 percent carried coliform bacteria and 11 percent E. coli, many isolates resistant to at least one antibiotic. They say such drinks may contribute to gastric distress, more seriously in immunocompromised people.
Biological
Understand e coli
The CDC estimates 73,000 infections and 61 deaths a year in the U.S. from E. coli O157:H7. Cattle are the main source, and the Shiga toxin these strains produce can damage the lining of the intestines and kidneys, often causing bloody diarrhea and sometimes kidney failure in young children.
Biological
New Vaccines May Help Thwart E. coli O157:H7
ARS microbiologists Vijay Sharma and Thomas Casey developed two vaccine forms built on E. coli O157:H7 strains missing the hha gene, or hha plus sepB, which produce immunogenic proteins intended to stop the bacteria from colonizing cattle intestines.
Biological
Foodborne Staph Toxin Pinpointed by New Assay
ARS chemist Reuven Rasooly and technician Paula M. Do built a test for staphylococcal enterotoxin A that detects the toxin at levels a billion times lower than the current gold-standard assay. It measures splenocyte proliferation and separates active from inactive toxin in chicken, beef and milk.
Biological
Salmonella spp
An FDA Bad Bug Book entry on Salmonella: a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium widespread in poultry and swine, causing nausea, cramps, diarrhea and fever 6 to 48 hours after exposure, from a dose as low as 15 to 20 cells, with arthritic symptoms possible later.
Biological
Two-Thirds of Broiler Chickens Contaminated: Group
Consumers Union tested 382 chickens from more than 100 retailers in 22 states and found campylobacter in 62 percent, salmonella in 14 percent and both in 9 percent, though results have improved since 2005. Cooking and separate cutting boards for poultry reduce the risk.
Biological
Water from Tualatin Valley Water District is free of E coli
Tualatin Valley Water District says its roughly 200,000 customers are not covered by Portland's boil-water notice, issued after E. coli was detected in Reservoir 3 at Washington Park.
Biological
Portland Water Bureau warns of E coli contamination in tap water - update
Portland Water Bureau told customers west of the Willamette to boil tap water after E. coli turned up in Reservoir 3 samples taken November 25. An update says water at all taps has since tested safe; the bureau reported no infections and did not identify the strain.
Biological
Raw oysters tainted with some bacteria may pose risk
The FDA advises people with cancer, diabetes, liver disease or other immune-weakening conditions to eat oysters only thoroughly cooked, because Vibrio vulnificus thrives in warm coastal waters. The fatality rate reaches 50 percent among high-risk individuals.
Biological
Foodborne disease can cause kidney failure, paralysis
A Center for Foodborne Illness Research and Prevention report warns that a small share of food poisoning cases lead to kidney failure, paralysis, seizures or hearing and vision damage, with children, the elderly and immune-suppressed people most at risk. E. coli O157:H7 can cause HUS.
Biological
Should we worry about food poisonings?
The Center for Science in the Public Interest puts leafy greens, eggs and tuna at the top of its ten riskiest foods, tied to more than 1,500 outbreaks and 50,000 reported illnesses. CSPI says the list is not meant to scare people away from these foods.
Biological
Safe Handling of Raw Produce and Fresh-Squeezed Fruit and Vegetable Juices
FDA guidance on handling raw produce and fresh-squeezed juices: bacteria in soil or water can contaminate fruit and vegetables before harvest or during preparation and storage, and the document offers buying, washing and storage tips to cut the risk of foodborne illness.
Biological
E. coli found in Nestle cookie dough
The FDA said it found E. coli O157:H7 in a sample of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough from the Danville, Va. plant, but had not determined whether that strain caused the outbreak, which had sickened 69 people in 29 states and hospitalized 34.
Biological
Beef recall and E. coli poisoning
JBS Swift has expanded its June 24 recall to 380,000 pounds of beef primal products over possible E. coli O157:H7, up from 41,280 pounds. A spokesman said no illnesses were reported; a food safety attorney cites a CDC inquiry into 24 illnesses, at least 18 apparently linked.
Biological
Food poisoning cases in 2008
CDC's FoodNet surveillance in 10 states found that 2008 incidence of Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli O157 and other enteric infections did not change significantly from the preceding three years, and none of the Healthy People 2010 reduction targets were met.
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