Although this severe Escherichia coli strain is already prevalent in countries with less robust food safety and sanitation systems, as climate change becomes more extreme and cuts are made to food safety monitoring and infrastructures, it is becoming a growing threat to developed countries as well, researchers warn.
In August, an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O:157 (STEC) infections at Belgian long-term care facilities sickened more than 70 people, resulting in nine deaths. Raw ground beef is the probable vehicle of illness.
A CDC analysis of multistate foodborne illness outbreak investigation data for 2023 reveals the foods and pathogens that caused the greatest number of outbreaks and illnesses. A single salmonellosis outbreak linked to cantaloupe accounted for 407 illnesses.
A Center for Produce Safety (CPS) -funded study is investigating how different aspects of bulb onion production influence Salmonella and Escherichia coli risk, filling knowledge gaps about short- and intermediate-day varieties.
Commissioned by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), a survey of prepacked salmon filets sold at supermarkets in the UK showed a low presence of Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli, as well as low levels of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
This episode of Food Safety Five discusses a new study that leverages a novel quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model that suggests that half of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses linked to romaine lettuce are caused by contamination via untreated overhead irrigation water.
England saw a 26 percent rise in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections from 2023 to 2024, and non-O157 STEC cases tripled since 2019. These trends may be driven by one foodborne illness outbreak involving contaminated salad leaves.
A laboratory study and large-scale commercial wheat mill trial demonstrated that a bacteriophage cocktail can significantly reduce Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 contamination throughout milling operations without affecting the baking qualities of flour.
Using a newly developed quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model, researchers have identified interventions along the U.S. romaine lettuce supply chain that would most effectively reduce E. coli contamination. The QMRA is publicly available for use.
Per Trace One’s analysis of FDA National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) data, the U.S. states with the highest levels of Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination in retail meat are Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
