Related Searches: Tea Vitamin Nutrients Ingredients paper cup packing

Food & Health Ingredients
Health & Nutrition
Processing & Packaging
Starch & Starch Derivatives

Listeriosis death prompts investigation, closure of hospital catering company

foodsafetynews 2019-02-23
Share       

Health authorities in Australia have closed a catering firm while they investigate the death of a woman who contracted listeriosis.

Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services in the state of Victoria said the confirmed case of listeriosis may be linked to consumption of food supplied to a hospital.

An elderly woman in her 80s who died in an eastern suburbs private hospital on Feb. 4 was diagnosed with listeriosis. I Cook Foods of Dandenong South, a suburb in Melbourne, provides meals to the private hospital.

The commercial caterer was ordered to suspend production while the source of Listeria that caused the woman’s infection is being investigated. The company serves a range of private hospitals, elder care facilities and Meals on Wheels services in the north eastern and south east suburbs of Melbourne, Traralgon and Ballarat.

Testing on food samples collected at I Cook Foods returned six positives for Listeria monocytogenes.

Affected private hospitals, care facilities and Meals on Wheels services were urged to dispose of any foods produced by the caterer between Jan. 13 and Feb. 21 this year. No public hospitals are supplied by the company.

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Greater Dandenong Council closed the facility for a thorough cleaning. It will not reopen until further testing is done and improvements are made. Health authorities are assessing whether changes are required to food handling processes and layout of the premises.

Listeria monocytogenes can be found in many foods including but not limited to raw dairy products; raw and frozen fruits and vegetables; smoked fish and meats; processed meats; and frozen foods such as ice cream and microwave dinners. Cooking to temperatures higher than 65 degrees C kills the bacteria.

Symptoms range from mild flu-like symptoms of fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and sometimes diarrhea to more serious including meningitis and sepsis. The elderly, pregnant women, newborn infants and people with weak immune systems are more susceptible to infections. The incubation period is usually one to two weeks but can vary between a few days and up to three months.

There have been two cases of listeriosis this year in Victoria compared to nine for the same period in 2018. The state had 27 cases in 2018.

E-newsletter

Subscribe to our e-newsletter for the latest food ingredients news and trends.

Tags

Recommended Products

Zinc sulfate

Zinc sulfate

Citric acid anhydrous

Citric acid anhydrous

Hiqh Pressure Homoqenizer

Hiqh Pressure Homoqenizer

POTASSIUM PYROPHOSPHATE

POTASSIUM PYROPHOSPHATE

RC2M Roller Conveyor

RC2M Roller Conveyor

Multi Vitamin Softgel

Multi Vitamin Softgel

Top

SJGLE B2B Website : 中文版 | ChineseCustomer Service: 86-400 610 1188-3 ( Mon-Fri 9: 00-18: 00 BJT)

About Us|Contact Us|Privacy Policy|Intellectual Property Statement

Copyright 2006-2023 Shanghai Sinoexpo Informa Markets International Exhibition Co Ltd (All Rights Reserved). ICP 05034851-121