PRO/AH/EDR> E. coli EHEC - Europe: France, Belgium, O26, raw fermented milk, alert, recall

E COLI EHEC - EUROPE: FRANCE, BELGIUM, (O26), RAW FERMENTED BELGIAN MILK, ALERT, RECALL
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Date: Thu 18 May 2023
Source: Food Safety News [edited]
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/05/six-e-coli-infections-linked-to-fermented-raw-milk/

Five people are sick in France, 2 seriously, and 1 in Belgium after drinking a brand of raw fermented milk. In France, 4 children and 1 adult have been infected by Shiga toxin-producing _E. coli_ (or enterohemorrhagic _E coli_, EHEC) O26:H11. They fell ill between the end of March 2023 and the beginning of April 2023.

Santé Publique France has been investigating 2 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in the Hauts-de-France and Île-de France regions. The latter was in the context of a family outbreak. The suspected food was fermented raw milk. HUS is a severe complication associated with _E. coli_ infections that causes kidney failure.

"The sequencing of the strains isolated within these outbreaks confirmed the same genomic profile. Food investigations made it possible to identify, for the case in Hauts-de-France, the place of purchase and to sample milk on sale at the time of the inspections. It was fermented raw milk made in Belgium," agency officials told Food Safety News.

Samples of this milk taken from Hauts-de-France have been tested by the National Reference Laboratory (NRL). The NRL is carrying out sequencing to see if there is a link based on results and comparison with human strains, with the help of the National Reference Center (CNR).

This past week, fermented raw milk of the brand Ferme Dumortier was recalled in France. The farm is based in Rekkem, Belgium. The announcement covers all lots sold since mid-March. The drink comes in a 2-liter bottle with a red or green cap. It was distributed in some L'Oasis stores in Lille.

The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) told Food Safety News there is one adult sick in Belgium. "There is a match between the strain from the sick person identified in Belgium and that analyzed by France. The link between the product consumed and the disease can therefore be established," said an agency spokeswoman. In Belgium, a traceability investigation conducted by the agency is in progress. Production at the company has been temporarily stopped to allow officials to do this work. EHEC was not detected in 10 samples and swabs taken by FASFC and analyzed by Sciensano, the national public health institute of Belgium.

In a general warning, French health authorities said that, as a precaution, raw milk and cheeses made from raw milk should not be consumed by young children, particularly those under the age of 5. This recommendation should also be followed by pregnant women, immunocompromised people, and the elderly.

Anyone who has eaten any of the implicated products and developed symptoms of E. coli infection should seek medical attention and tell their doctor about their possible food poisoning. Specific tests are required to diagnose the infections, which can mimic other illnesses.

[Byline: Joe Whitworth]