A type of E. coli similar to what caused a large outbreak in 2011 has recently been detected in Europe, according to researchers.
Two cases of Shiga toxin-producing Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) O104:H4 were reported in the Netherlands in 2019 and 2020 and in one food isolate from 2017. There was
Continue Reading E. coli is similar to the 2011 outbreak strain found in Europe
A review has described how the lessons from major foodborne outbreaks have helped improve Europe’s food safety system.
The research covers significant outbreaks that occurred in the past decade and how things have changed to try and prevent repeat incidents.
In Europe, 5,175 foodborne outbreaks were recorded in 2019 with
Continue Reading Study reflects on measures taken after major EU outbreaks
The system in Egypt to control microbiological risks in food of non-animal origin for export to the European Union is in a phase of transition and reform, according to a report.
An audit led by DG SANTE assessed official control systems in production and processing of food of non-animal origin
Continue Reading EU audit finds Egypt’s control system in transition stage
Canadian officials report that Puresource Inc. is recalling a three-seed sprouting mix, packaged under the Now Real Food brand, because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.
No illnesses have been confirmed in Canada in relation to the “Zesty Sprouting Mix,” according to the recall notice posted by the Canadian Food
Continue Reading Recall in another country triggers seed mix recall in Canada
The World Health Organization (WHO) has totaled up some economic costs of the 2011 outbreak of the rare and deadly E. coli O104:H4 centered on Northern Europe. Farmers and industries lost $1.3 billion, and emergency aid provided to 22 European states cost another $236 million, according to WHO. 
The novel
Continue Reading 2011 Outbreak of Rare E. Coli Strain was Costly for Europe
Bureaucrats in Brussels have tallied up the damage last year’s E. coli O104:H4 outbreak did to the European fruit and vegetable business and threatened to use European Union law to make sure it does not happen again. Yet, the newly released “Commission Staff Working Document” into “lessons learned” about the
Continue Reading EU Tallies Human & Economic Damages From O104 Outbreak
The Murcia region in southeastern Spain, where the Segura River is found, is known as Europe’s orchid because of its abundant production of fruits, vegetables and flowers. But Murcia is coming off a down year because of a variety of factors, not the least of which was the virulent E.
Continue Reading Spanish Farmers Paid a Price for Europe’s E. coli O104 Outbreak
Scientists in Oslo say sequencing of a particular virulent strain of E. coli O103:H25, which caused an outbreak in Norway in 2006, revealed a resemblance to the 2011 German outbreak strain of E. coli O104:H4, and suggests the two strains are related.
Writing in the online journal PLoS ONE
I am interested in how major foodborne outbreaks and their investigations are interpreted and analyzed: to prevent future outbreaks, minimize the harm from outbreaks that occur, and frame the debates on regulating food safety on farms.
When I was asked by a small organic farmer in California what the implications
Continue Reading An Outbreak Like Germany’s Could Happen Here
In one of the first uses of genome sequencing to trace the path of a foodborne illness outbreak, a team led by scientists from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and the Broad Institute looked at the E. coli O104:H4 epidemic that hit Europe last year.
Their study was published
Continue Reading Clues to Deadly EU ‘Sproutbreak’ in New Genome Study
