Monthly Archives: April 2012

US – Alfalfa Sprouts – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on April 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA 

Alfa Sprouts Inc. of Honeoye Falls, NY is recalling approx. 100 lbs of Springwater Sprouts brand Organic Alfalfa Sprouts and bulk 3# Clover Sprouts because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections to individuals with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The following 2 products are being recalled by the firm.

  1. Clear clam shell packages containing 4 oz. Organic Alfalfa Sprouts with a sell by date of 4/28/2012. This product was distributed in New York State. Product label and UPC code noted below.
    UPC Code 688267047411
    UPC Code 042891000523
  2. 3# Bulk containers of Clover Sprouts, with a production code of P93. This product was distributed to institutional accounts in Upstate New York.

The contamination was discovered after sampling under the USDA Microbiological Data Program by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets inspectors and subsequent analysis by the New York State Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the product. No illness has been reported to date.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Wales – More Cryptosporidum Cases on Farm

Posted on April 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

ITV News

Four more people have been diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis linked to the outbreak at Greenmeadow Community farm in Cwmbran.

It brings the total number of cases to eight. All were either members of staff or volunteers who bottle fed unwell animals. The animals have now been removed from the farm.

Public Health Wales say extra control measures are in place to ensure that risks to farm visitors and staff are kept to a minimum.

Anyone who is unwell with gastrointestinal symptoms is advised to contact their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

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Posted in Cryptosporidium, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Testing, Microbiology, Parasite, Protozoan, Water

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US – More Dried Fish – Clostrium botulinum Issues

Posted on April 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Bites

LA Star Seafood Co. Inc., Los Angeles, CA is recalling Vobla Dry and Vobla Smoked because they have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.
The sale of improperly eviscerated fish, 5 inches in length or greater, is prohibited because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning which may pose a potentially life-threatening health hazard. Symptoms of botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty swallowing and respiratory paralysis which may lead to death. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
The following products are recalled:
Vobla Dry, 20lb bulk boxes, not vacuum packed, no lot numbers or expiration dates.
Vobla Smoked, 20lb bulk boxes, not vacuum packed, no lot numbers or expiration dates.

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Uncategorized

FDA Reportable Food Registry – Microbiology/Allergens

Posted on April 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Reportable Food Registry is an electronic portal where food companies report issues with a food where that food is likely to cause illness. This report has a lot of interesting data about the break down of which commodities caused food safety issues.

Link to FDA PDF Report

Web Page Link

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Research, Toxin

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New Salmonella Infection Research

Posted on April 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

PhysOrg

BBSRC-funded researchers at Cambridge University have shed new light on a common food poisoning bug. Using real-time video microscopy, coupled with mathematical modelling, they have changed our assumptions about Salmonella and how it infects human cells. The research was published in Interface.

Their research found that many incorrect assumptions had been made about Salmonella infection, particularly that macrophages are highly susceptible to infection. Their data showed that infection occurrences after initial contact between a bacterium and macrophage were low. The probability of that bacterium infecting the cell is less than 5 per cent. However, they also showed that an infected macrophage can be reinfected by a second bacterium. The concept of reinfection by Salmonella had not been considered before and this previously overlooked mechanism may make an important contribution to total bacterial numbers in infection studies.

The study also highlighted the fact that some cells are far more susceptible to infection than others. Rather than grouping all macrophages together in terms of their susceptibility to infection, the research shows that there is a spectrum of susceptibility.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Research, Salmonella

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Canada – Recall Extended on Salted Cured Fish – Botulinum

Posted on April 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Posioning Bulletin

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expanded the health hazard warning for fesikh, a salted and cured fish product that may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Whole fesikh shad has been added to the warning.

Product details:

  • Whole fesikh mullet
  • Cut up fesikh mullet in oil
  • Whole fesikh shad
  • Sold in packages of different weights and count
  • No code or date information
  • Sold from Lotus Catering at 1960 Lawrence Avenue East in Toronto, Ontario
  • Sold on or before April 17, 2012

There have been three reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. For questions, call the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342.

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Posted in Bacteria, CIFA, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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RASFF Alerts – Pork Sausage – Listeria/Suckling Pig – Salmonella/ Soy Bean – Salmonella

Posted on April 25, 2012 by | Leave a comment

RASFF

Listeria monocytogenes (1200 CFU/g) in pork sausage from Spain

RASFF 

Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in frozen suckling pig racks from France

RASFF

Salmonella Agona (presence /25g) in soya bean meal from Argentina

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

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Norway Two Products from Vietnam With High E.coli Counts

Posted on April 25, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Alert

High count of Escherichia coli (>1500; 1400; 1200 CFU/g) in chilled basil leaves from Vietnam.

Alert

High count of Escherichia coli (30; >1500; 30 CFU/g) in chilled celery from Vietnam

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology

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US – Daycare Center 3 Children Sick with E.coli

Posted on April 25, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Ecoli Blog

KBIR reports, three children are in the hospital following an E. coli outbreakat a Cocke County daycare facility. According to the Tennessee Department of Health, three juveniles, all of whom attend the same daycare facility in Newport, were diagnosed with E. coli symptoms. The source of the bacteria is currently unknown, but managers of the facility are working with investigators, and the families of all children who attend the daycare have been contacted. State health department officials have not closed the facility, but are continuing to investigate the situation.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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UK – Salmonella Control for Pigs

Posted on April 24, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Farming UK 

Animal nutrition specialists Optivite have launched a new salmonella control programme for pigs. The programme looks at meeting an overall need rather than looking at problems in isolation.

The programme includes:

1. Good bacterial control in feed and the intestine which helps the sow maintain a more positive intestinal microflora.

Preparing the sow is an important part of the programme. A piglets first contact with the outside environment is through the sow as birth involves the passing of the piglet from a sterile environment within the sow, through the birth canal and into the farrowing house where the Salmonella cell count will be much higher.

2. Enabling a successful continuity through the life cycle. It is important to ensure the protection of the baby pigs once they have lost the passive protection of their mothers’ milk.

Powerful water disinfectants can also be included in the drinking water as part of the programme to remove other potential sources of salmonella infection, especially in older systems where exposed header tanks may become contaminated.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Technology, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella

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