Monthly Archives: May 2015

NORRAN – English translation

Some 40 people have fallen ill after being infected by the parasite Cryptosporidium, reports Skovde News.

 It is associated with kosläpp, a Hjo and one in Skövde, two outbreaks occurred in May.  It is likely that more people become ill.

Doctors in the area now warning parents not to let young children petting calves at kosläpp and immediately afterwards eat food or refreshments, writes Skovde News. Then they risk getting upset stomach with abdominal pain and diarrhea.

FSAI 

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reiterated its advice to consumers to boil all imported frozen berries for at least one minute prior to consumption.  The advice follows recent outbreaks of norovirus in Sweden and hepatitis A virus in Australia linked to the consumption of imported frozen berries, although there is no indication that batches of berries implicated have been imported into Ireland.

The outbreak in Sweden occurred in a nursing home in the beginning of May, causing 70 people to become ill with norovirus. Three deaths are reported to have been potentially linked to this outbreak.  Microbiological analysis confirmed that imported frozen raspberries from Serbia were the source of this outbreak.  Contrary to national food safety advice in Sweden, the frozen imported raspberries were served uncooked in a dessert.  In Australia, imported frozen berries were linked to an outbreak of Hepatitis A virus which caused over 30 people to become ill during February and March of this year.

The advice to boil all imported frozen berries was first issued by the FSAI in 2013 during the investigation of an outbreak of hepatitis A virus in Ireland which was linked to imported frozen berries.  The advice was renewed in 2014 following related outbreaks in Europe.

CNW 

The Public Health Agency of Canada is collaborating with provincial and local public health and agricultural partners to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella infections in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan with cases of human illness related to contact with live baby poultry originating from a hatchery in Alberta.

The risk to Canadians is low. The Agency would like to take this opportunity to remind those who have contact with live poultry to take precautions to protect their health.

Contact with live poultry can be a source of Salmonella, even if a bird appears healthy and clean. You can get Salmonella from a bird, its droppings or from environments where birds have been. Proper hand washing is the key to protecting yourself from illness. Always wash your hands immediately after handling birds, cleaning up after them or being in an area where birds have been.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A University of Florida researcher is conducting a two-year study of how norovirus travels through irrigation water and onto produce. Dr. Melissa K. Jones, a research assistant professor with the University of Florida, Gainesville, will lead the team.

Highly contagious norovirus is responsible for about 40 percent of all food poisoning outbreaks and the leading cause of diarrheal disease in the U.S.

FSAI 

Following detection of elevated levels of ochratoxin A in a batch (11729B) of liquorice root, Independent Irish Health Foods Ltd. is recalling batches with best before dates within the range given above.  Point of sale recall notices will be displayed in the shops where the implicated batches were sold.

FSAI 

Monolith Mitte Gmbh is recalling a number of batches of Kurkumawurzel, gemahlen (ground turmeric root) 50g packs, due to the presence of Salmonella infantis. The affected batches are unsafe to eat. This product has been distributed to a number of Eastern European food businesses in Ireland. Point of sale notices must be displayed in retail outlets where the affected batches were sold.

CFIA 

Loblaw Companies Limited is recalling President’s Choice brand Moroccan-Style Hummus from the marketplace because it may contain the toxin produced by Staphylococcus bacteria. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

Food Safety News

Omaha-based ConAgra Foods Inc. has reached a plea agreement with U.S. attorneys that will see its ConAgra Grocery Products Company plead guilty to a single misdemeanor violation of the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

If accepted by the U.S. District Court in Albany, GA, the plea agreement will end the government’s investigation into the 2006-07 Salmonella Tennessee outbreak that was blamed on ConAgra’s Peter Pan peanut butter produced in Sylvester, GA.

Peter Pan peanut butter was recalled as the outbreak strain eventually spread to 44 states, infecting at least 700 people and sending about 20 percent of them to hospitals. The outbreak did not result in any deaths.

R.IT

An 18 month old baby in Vigevano, Italy has contracted Listeriosis after being fed home made cheese made from unpasteurised milk.

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in raw milk camembert from France in France

RASFF-Salmonella enteritidis (present /25g) in frozen maize poussins from France in Denmark

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (present /25g) in frozen salted chicken breasts from Thailand in Ireland

RASFF-Salmonella Munchen (presence /25g) in smoked paprika powder from Spain in the UK