Monthly Archives: May 2012

US Unpasteurised Soybean Tempeh – Salmonella Recall

Posted on May 2, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Smiling Hara of Asheville is voluntarily recalling 12-ounce packages of unpasteurized soybean tempeh because of possible contamination with salmonella.
The company is recalling tempeh manufactured this year between Jan. 11 and April 11. The containers are marked with a best-by date of 7/11/12 through 10/25/12. Tempeh is used as a meat substitute in vegetarian cuisine.

The company is directing consumers to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers wanting more information can contact Smiling Hara at 828-242-1300.

“Anyone with this product in their possession should not eat it,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Smiling Hara launched the recall after samples collected by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services during a routine inspection tested positive for salmonella.”

Additional tests will be conducted by the N.C. Division of Public Health to determine whether the salmonella detected in the tempeh matches the strain found in an outbreak that has sickened 37 people. Cases appear to have been associated with residence or travel to Buncombe County since Feb. 28.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

More Pet Food Contaminated with Salmonella

Posted on May 2, 2012 by | 1 comment

FDA 

Kaytee Pet Products is recalling a single manufacturing batch of Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Mouse, Rat and Hamster due to possible contamination with Salmonella.

No human or pet illnesses have been reported to-date. The recall notification is being issued based on a single manufacturing batch wherein a sample with the “Best Before” date of (lot) 03APR13K61 had a positive result for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Mouse, Rat & Hamster product was originally manufactured on January 5 and 6, 2012.  Kaytee is taking immediate action to remove the product from all retail stores and distribution centers, and to fully investigate the cause.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

1 Comment

Posted in Bacteria, FDA, Food Safety Alert, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Pet Food, Salmonella

Tagged

US – Kent County Jail – Clostridium perfringens Poisoning

Posted on May 2, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

According to Lisa LaPlante, Communications and Marketing Manager of the Kent County Department of Health, the source of the April 15, 2012 food poisoning outbreak at the Kent County Jail has been discovered.

Laboratory tests have revealed that there was Clostridium perfringens, a spore-producing bacteria, in a rice and cheese product. The food was prepared, chilled, and then reheated and served to the inmates.

All 250 inmates who were sickened have recovered. No one was hospitalised during this outbreak. Other food samples have been sent to the lab for testing because this was such a large outbreak. Officials expect it will be another month or two before the investigation is complete.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium perfringens, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

Tagged , ,

Wales Cryptosporidium Outbreak Update

Posted on May 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Public Health Wales 

A further four people have been clinically diagnosed with cryptosporidiosis and are linked to the outbreak associated with a farm in Cwmbran.
 
The four new cases bring the total number of confirmed cases investigated as part of the outbreak to eight. All cases were either members of staff or volunteers who bottle fed unwell animals. These animals have now been removed from the farm.
 
Public Health Wales and Torfaen County Borough Council with the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency are continuing to investigate the outbreak of cryptosporidiosis, and extra control measures are now in place to ensure that risks to farm visitors and staff are kept to a minimum.
 

Leave a comment

Posted in Cryptosporidium, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen

Tagged , , ,

Mexico Over 300 Sick Food Poisoning

Posted on May 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Miami Herald

 

ACAPULCO, Mexico — The toll of those sickened by apparent food poisoning at a Children’s Day festival in a Mexican village has risen to 302 children and 15 adults. The health department in southern Guerrero state says 47 children and one adult remain hospitalized. The others have been released.

 

The department said Monday that all of those who fell ill ate spaghetti, beef, salsa and cake at a grade school celebration in the hamlet of Los Organos, on the outskirts of the Pacific coast resort of Acapulco. The adults who fell ill were teachers, parents and school staff.

 

State health authorities are analysing food served at the party to determine exactly what caused the food poisoning.

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

Listeria Subverts Immune Response

Posted on May 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Science Daily

Listeria, one of the most deadly causes of bacterial food poisoning, subverts a normally protective immune response to spread its infection more effectively, according to new research at National Jewish Health. Immunologists Laurel Lenz, PhD, Peter Henson, PhD, and their colleagues report online April 26, 2012, in the journal Immunity that production of nitric oxide (NO) by activated macrophages, which is normally thought of as an infection-fighting response, actually helps Listeria monocytogenes to more efficiently disseminate between infected and neighboring uninfected cells.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Food Poisoning, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

Tagged , , , ,

FSA – eNews Letter

Posted on May 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA

The April edition of FSA e-News highlights how the Agency is making it easier than ever to eat safely and eat well in the immediate future, during the Olympics and in the longer term.

With 88 days to go until the start of London 2012, food businesses in the Olympic areas are already ahead of the game in terms of food safety.

The Agency’s Play it Safe campaign, which aims to ensure the safety of the food bought, cooked and eaten during London 2012, kicked off recently with a high profile launch. Stakeholders are being encouraged to spread the campaign messages, and a toolkit and newsletter have been made available to explain how they can get involved.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology

Tagged , ,