Monthly Archives: March 2014

Canada – CFIA Recall – Cheese – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 14, 2014 by | Leave a comment

CFIA Eurofins Food Testing UK

Castle Cheese Inc. is recalling Okanagan’s Choice Cheese brand shredded cheese products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba.

 Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Okanagan’s Choice Cheese Nacho Blend – Cheddar, Mozzarella Shredded Cheese 200 g Best Before 15JA13 0 59756 08208 2
Okanagan’s Choice Cheese Shredded Cheddar Cheese 200 g Best Before 15JA13 0 59756 08008 8
Okanagan’s Choice Cheese Shredded Mozzarella Cheese 200 g Best Before 15JA20 0 59756 08108 5
Okanagan’s Choice Cheese Shredded Parmesan Cheese 175 g Best Before 15JA20 0 59756 07210 6

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Tagged , , , , ,

USA – FDA Recall – Frozen Sliced Fruit – Salmonella

Posted on March 14, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FDA Salmonella

Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. of Albany, OR has voluntarily recalled 59,780 cases of Kirkland Signature Real Sliced Fruit, produced exclusively for Costco Wholesale Stores. In cooperation with Costco, the company issued the recall after determining the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Precautionary recall measures began on Saturday, March 8, 2014. Consumers who may have purchased the product were contacted by phone and US. Mail, and a letter regarding the voluntary recall was posted on the Costco website. Furthermore, the affected product was removed from Costco floors. No confirmed cases of Salmonella poisoning from consumption of this product have been reported at this time, Any Kirkland Signature Real Sliced Fruit that is currently available for purchase has been rigorously tested and is safe for consumption. No other products made by Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. are affected.

Kirkland Signature Real Sliced Fruit is sold in a red and white case containing 20 pouches of freeze-dried snacks. Consumers who have purchased Kirkland Signature Real Sliced Fruit with the following “Best Before Dates,” listed on the upper left corner of the front panel of the case, are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Best Before Date: FEB 14 2015 – MAR 11 2015 (which reads FEB142015 – MAR112015)

Customers with questions may contact the company at recall@ofd.com. or 1-888-641-2933 (this line is staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time).

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Laboratory, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

Tagged , , , , ,

Ireland – Shellfish Recall – Possible Illness – DSP

Posted on March 13, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSAIMussels

Following reports of illnesses associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in Ireland, Shellfish De La Mer, Castletownbere, Co. Cork is recalling the above two batches of frozen cooked mussel meats, which were sold by Dunnes Stores and Tesco Ireland.  The implicated batches have been removed from sale.  A point of sale recall notice should be displayed in stores informing customers not to eat the implicated mussel meats.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, DSP, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, FSAI, Recall

Tagged , , , ,

Canada – CFIA Recall Salad – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 13, 2014 by | Leave a comment

CFIACIFA

Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. is recalling Dole brand Italian Blend salad from the marketplace due to possible Listeria contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

The following product is known to have been distributed in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick and may have been also been distributed in other provinces.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Dole Italian Blend Salad 10 oz. (283 g) Best Before: 14-MR-12 0 71430 00819 5

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Tagged , ,

Research – 5 Second Rule

Posted on March 11, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Aston Uni Salm2

Food picked up just a few seconds after being dropped is less likely to contain bacteria than if it is left for longer periods of time, according to the findings of research carried out at Aston University’s School of Life and Health Sciences.

The findings suggest there may be some scientific basis to the ‘5 second rule’  – the urban myth about it being fine to eat food that has only had contact with the floor for five seconds or less. Although people have long followed the 5 second rule, until now it was unclear whether it actually helped.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged ,

New Online Learning Tool – ClickLearner

Posted on March 10, 2014 by | Leave a comment

 

What is clickLearner?
ClickLearner is a new, web based, video training assessment tool. It has many applications, however, following a recent trial, our current focus is training assessment within the Food and service sector. It is perfect for very procedural applications such as laboratories or factories!
Training assessment can be time consuming. There is pressure from auditors to regularly train and assess workers and it can involve much form filling to provide the records required. clickLearner can do this easily and effectively.

How does it work?
Clicklearner uses a video taken in your own business to create an online, interactive challenge, for employees. The video content is planned, shot, edited and uploaded online to create a challenge. The video includes the events which you want your employees to respond to, e.g. incorrect procedures relating to a critical control point or hazards within the laboratory or factory. These events are embedded in the video and respondents are asked to watch the video and interact by clicking on these events. The clicks are recorded and respondents receive immediate feedback. Results are stored for download at anytime.

Please do visit clickLearner at www.clicklearner.co.uk and have a go at the example challenge. In the meantime, if you would like any further information, do get in touch.

Caroline
www.clicklearner.co.uk
Tel: 07970 115961
Email: caroline@clicklearner.co.uk

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged ,

USA – Research – Hospital Food and ESBL E.coli

Posted on March 10, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Science Daily Ecoli Istock

A new study found more than 80 percent of raw chicken used in hospitals in food for patients and staff was contaminated with a form of antibiotic resistant bacteria called extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing E. coli. While sufficient preparation eliminated the presence of bacteria, poultry meat delivered to hospital kitchens remains a potential point of entry for these dangerous bacteria into the hospital.

ESBL E.coli

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , , , ,

RASFF Alerts – Listeria monocytogenes – Raw Milk Cheese – Tuna Salad- E.coli – Razor Clams – Beef – Staphylococcus – Raw Ham

Posted on March 10, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Food Testing - Eurofins

RASFF -Listeria monocytogenes (510 CFU/g) in raw milk cheese from Italy in Austria

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes in chilled spicy tuna salad from Belgium

RASFF -shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli in boneless beef meat (Bos taurus) from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF -too high count of Escherichia coli (490 MPN/100g) in live razor clams from Ireland

RASFF -coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (400 000 /g) in raw ham from Spain in France

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hygiene, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Miscarriage, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Staphylococcus aureus, STEC

Tagged , , , ,

RASFF Alert – Norovirus – Frozen Strawberries

Posted on March 10, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Food Testing - Eurofins

RASFF – norovirus in frozen strawberries from Poland, via the Netherlands in Belgium

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged ,

RASFF Alert – DSP – Risotto with Mussels – Histamine – Tuna – Sardines

Posted on March 10, 2014 by | Leave a comment

RASFF-Logo

RASFF -Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins – okadaic acid (190.8 µg/kg – ppb) in risotto with mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Spain in Italy

RASFF -histamine (721 mg/kg – ppm) in frozen yellowfin tuna bits (Thunnus albacares) from India in Italy

RASFF -histamine (470 mg/kg – ppm) in canned sardines in soja oil (Sardinella spp.) from Indonesia in Germany

Leave a comment

Posted in Algal Toxin, DSP, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Histamine, Laboratory, Microbiology, RASFF, Recall

Tagged , , , ,