Hartmann Testifies Regarding Dairy Linked to E. coli Outbreak
Dairy farmer Mike Hartmann testified in a Sibley County, Minnesota courtroom yesterday in an attempt to recover food confiscated by state officials during an investigation into a May, 2010 E. coli O157 outbreak that was linked to raw (unpasteurized) milk produced at his dairy. The outbreak sickened at least 8 people, including a toddler who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe illness that causes kidney failure and can be fatal.
In June, 28 environmental and animal samples obtained by the Minnesota Department of Health from the Hartmann farm tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. Twenty-six samples had the same DNA fingerprint as the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7.
Also in June, state officials confiscated milk, ice cream, cheese and other dairy products from Hartmann’s farm. Hartmann wants the confiscated food back. The state alleges that his dairy operation was unsanitary and the dairy products were adulterated under Minnesota law. The state wants the confiscated products from the Hartmann farm destroyed.
Researchers Outsmart E. coli with Cockroach Brains
Certain strains of E. coli have become multi-drug resistant “super bugs” and a threat to human health. But these super-strength E. coli have met their match in the indestructible cockroach.
Scientists at the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science have discovered that certain tissues in cockroach brains are able to kill more than 90 per cent of pathogenic Escherichia coli without harming human cells. Other bacteria, such as multi-drug resistant MRSA are also annihilated by cockroach brains.
The research has identified up to nine different molecules in the insect tissues that were toxic to bacteria.
Federal Agencies Join Forces to Promote Produce Safety
Fresh produce, particularly lettuce, has become an increasingly common source of E. coli infection in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration, which has some regulatory authority over the produce industry, is promulgating a new rule for the safe production, harvesting and packing of fresh produce. FDA announced it is working more closely than ever with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency, state departments of agriculture, advocacy groups, and growers to ensure the effectiveness of the new rule.
Over the past several months, FDA and USDA technical experts, scientists, and other staff have participated in listening sessions and meetings in 13 states and toured farms to hear from people who have the “on-the-ground” knowledge that FDA states must be reflected in the proposed rule. In addition, more than 700 comments were received from all parts of the country and around the world from growers; environmental groups; state and local government agencies; retail food chains; academia; consumers, and others.
The comments have been sorted and routed to specific areas that these groups have been focusing on, and will be carefully considered and evaluated for inclusion. In addition, FDA will consider testimony and comments received by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to the proposed National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, as well as comments FDA received in response to its draft guidance on leafy greens, tomatoes and melons, issued in 2009.
FDA anticipates publishing a proposed fresh produce rule in 2011. The proposed rule will have a comment period, whereby stakeholders can provide comments and feedback to agency before the final rule is issued.
Three Children Who Attended Grand Traverse County Fair Contract E. coli Infections
Grand Traverse County health officials are investigating a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 infections in three children who attended the Grand Traverse County Fair. The connection between the three children stops there, however. They did not eat food from the same vendors or tend the same animals.
The first two cases of E. coli O157 was reported to the health department last Friday. The third case was reported on Monday. Health officials have sent E. coli isolates taken from the three children to a lab for genetic testing to determine if they have the same genetic fingerprint. This would be evidence that all of the children were sickened by the same E. coli source.
Health officials have taken environmental samples throughout the fairgrounds, including water samples, to try to find the source of the outbreak. Extremely small amounts of E. coli bacteria can result in infection and serious illness, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure, brain damage, pancreatitis, blindness and death. The water was tested before the fair began, and E. coli bacterium were not found, but this does not mean it was free of the bacteria when the children visited.
The Grand Traverse County Health Department learned about two cases on Friday and a third on Monday, but officials haven’t been able to connect them except through the annual fair in Blair Township.
The children, who are not related, range from 5 to 15 years old. They did not work with the same livestock and did not eat from the same vendors, said Fred Keeslar, department health officer.
“We were hoping to find some common links, but didn’t,” he said.
Health officials have no positive proof the outbreak originated at the fair, but it remains the likeliest connection.
“There are lots of animals coming together and people touching animals that are kicking up dust,” Keeslar said.
Humans may be exposed to E. coli through contact with animal fecal matter. Symptoms include vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea, sometimes bloody diarrhea.
“It can lead to, in the worst case, renal failure and death,” Keeslar said.
Further testing is under way to pinpoint the specific type of E. coli. The best preventative measure is frequent hand-washing when in contact with barnyard animals.
Fair President Dana Cederquist could not be reached for comment.
Nancy Schroeder, secretary for the Northwest Michigan 4-H Livestock Council, said sanitation and hand-washing is part of annual plans at the fair.
“We have five hand-washing stations with running water and antibacterial soap. We also have hand sanitizer at the petting zoo,” she said.
Schroeder said fair-goers are encouraged to wash their hands before and after contacting animals, with warnings on banners hung at the fairgrounds, as well as signs posted at all barn entrances and in the restrooms.
“We try to make the public aware and we try to provide them with what they need on the grounds,” she said.
Darrel Robinson, president of the livestock council, said the bacteria associated with the ill children is a known risk with livestock and the reason warnings are prominently displayed across the fairgrounds. Additionally, fair planners participate in annual biohazard training in preparation for the fair, he said.
At least two of the stricken children are not involved with 4-H, though the third could have handled livestock, Keeslar said.
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, also called STEC infections, can affect people of any age, though the very young and elderly are the most susceptible, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
STEC live in the guts of cud-chewing hoofed animals, including cattle, goats and sheep, though the primary source for human illnesses is cattle. Other kinds of animals, including pigs and birds, sometimes pick up STEC from the environment and may spread it, according to the CDC.
Keeslar said all three infected Grand Traverse area children are expected to fully recover, though the 5-year-old remained hospitalized on Tuesday. The other two children were treated and released.
Officials tested water sources at the fairgrounds before the week-long event and on Tuesday took new samples to verify whether water became contaminated. Results are expected in several days, Keeslar said.
Health officials notified area doctors to watch for STEC symptoms in their patients because those who came into contact with the bacteria but didn’t become ill could still spread the infection to others, particularly those with weakened immune systems.
USDA-FSIS Proposed Rule Redefines the Eight-Hour Workday for Inspection Program Personnel
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) has announced a proposed rule that would redefine the eight-hour workday for inspection program personnel at federally inspected meat and poultry slaughter establishments. Under the proposed regulation, it would include time needed at the workplace to put on, or “don,” and take off, or “doff,” required gear, time spent walking to work stations after donning required gear, and time spent walking from work stations before doffing required gear.
Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, FSIS provides mandatory federal inspection of meat and meat food products, poultry products, and processed egg products. FSIS bears the cost of mandatory inspection provided during non-overtime and non-holiday hours of operation, while the establishments pay for inspection services performed on holidays or on an overtime basis. The regulations define the basic workweek as five consecutive eight-hour days, excluding the lunch period. FSIS proposes that the eight hours of inspection service provided by the Agency include sufficient time for inspection program personnel to put on required gear and walk to a work station as well as to return from a workstation and remove required gear. Any time over those eight hours is overtime charged to an establishment.
