MMWR News Synopsis for March 31, 2016

 

Campylobacter jejuni Infections Associated with Raw Milk Consumption – Utah, 2014

Charla Haley
Risk Communications Specialist
801.273.4178
Chaley@utah.gov

Consumers should be aware of dangers associated with consuming unpasteurized milk. An estimated 3% of the U.S. population drinks raw milk, and prefers it to pasteurized milk, in part because of perceived health benefits of raw milk consumption. Raw milk can be contaminated with Campylobacter in different ways. Documented outbreaks in which human cases of Campylobacter infection have been linked by PFGE to raw milk are rare. This article reports findings of an investigation linking consumers of raw milk to C. jejuni infection through PFGE. Routine testing of and standards for raw milk (somatic cell and coliform counts) do not ensure that the raw milk is free of pathogens. Current raw milk testing standards do not readily detect contamination; thus, the safest alternative is to consume pasteurized milk.

Retail Deli Slicer Cleaning Frequency – Six Selected Sites, United States, 2012

CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

CDC recommend that states, localities, and the retail food industry use information from this study to inform prevention efforts. These efforts should focus on independent and small delis and should encourage or require deli manager training and certification and written slicer-cleaning policies consistent with FDA guidelines. Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) causes the third highest number of foodborne illness deaths in the United States each year. It has been found in a variety of foods, including cooked or processed foods such as deli meats. Listeria contamination of sliced deli meats at retail locations is a major cause of Lm illness and outbreaks. To prevent this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code recommends that food contact surfaces, like deli slicers, be fully cleaned (taken apart, cleaned, and sanitized) at least every 4 hours. About half of the sampled retail delis did not fully clean their slicers as often as FDA recommends. FDA sets these recommendations to prevent Listeria and other germs from spreading.

Notes from the Field:

• Imported Cases of Malaria – Puerto Rico, July-October 2015
• Baseline Assessment of the Use of Ebola Rapid Diagnostic Tests – Forécariah, Guinea, October 2015-November 2015

QuickStats:

• Death Rates for Children and Adolescents Aged 1–14 Years, by Sex — United States, 1999–2014

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES