Monthly Archives: July 2015

FSAI 

Sous vide, which is French for ‘under vacuum’, is a method of cooking where food is vacuum-packed in a plastic pouch and heated in a temperature controlled bath for a defined length of time. This cooking method can present some food safety risks which should be identified and controlled. These include the potential for survival and growth of bacteria that can grow under the anaerobic (absence of oxygen) conditions created by the vacuum packaging, e.g. Clostridium botulinum.

Due to the rise in the use of the sous vide cooking in restaurants and catering establishments, the FSAI has prepared a factsheet which highlights the risks associated with this method of cooking. It provides guidance on managing these risks, in particular guidance on cooking temperatures and times. It also makes recommendations for cooling, storing and reheating food that has been cooked by sous vide.

The factsheet is available on our website at: www.fsai.ie/publications_sous_vide

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 82.8; Tot. = 89 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 12.2; Tot. = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from China in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 13.4; Tot. = 16.6 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States  in France

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 20 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from China in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 30; Tot. = 33 µg/kg – ppb) in nutmeg from Indonesia in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 26; Tot. = 30 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from the United States, processed in Germany in Belgium

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 26.9 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from Iran in Italy

RASFF-too high count of Escherichia coli (330 MPN/100g) in sea clams (Venus gallina or Chamelea gallina) from Italy in Italy

RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (presence /25g) in sausage intended to be eaten raw from Austria in Austria

RASFF-high counts of coliforms (160000 CFU/g) and of Enterobacteriaceae (170000 CFU/g) in pinenut kernels from Turkey in Italy

RASFF -Peanuts in shell from China infested with moulds and with mites in Slovakia

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in hulled sesame seeds from India in Poland

RASFF-Salmonella enteritidis phagetype 1 (presence /25g) in frozen chicken legs quarter from Poland in Poland

RASFF-Salmonella enteritidis (presence) in spice mix with dried vegetables from Serbia in Sweden

RASFF-Salmonella (present /25g) in betel leaves from India in the UK

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in frozen salted chicken from Thailand in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in frozen salted chicken preparation from Thailand in the Netherlands

RASFF -Salmonella (present /25g) in frozen salted chicken preparation from Thailand in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (present /25g) in frozen salted chicken preparation from Thailand in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella Rissen (present/25g) in corn gluten meal from Austria in Austria

RASFF-Salmonella London (1 out of 5 samples /25g) and Salmonella Newport (1 out of 5 samples /25g) in dog chew (cow ears with meat) from Brazil in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 39.4 µg/kg – ppb) in maize for feed from Poland in Germany

Food Poisoning Bulletin 

Vital Essentials frozen raw dog food is being recalled for Listeria. Consumers who have purchased this product should not feed it to their dogs.

The Green bay, Wis.-based company is recalling Frozen Beef Tripe Patties and Frozen Beef Tripe Nibblets sold in Washington, California, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Colorado, New Mexico, Florida, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Ohio and Vermont.

The Local 

A seasoning mix has been withdrawn from Swedish supermarkets after it was linked to one of the biggest salmonella outbreaks in the country in recent years.

In the latest incident, at least 80 people picked up salmonella at a restaurant on the Swedish island of Öland last week, with Sweden’s Public Health Authority connecting the outbreak to the savoury spice mix, known as Allkrydda, which is sold in supermarkets across the nation.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the Salmonella outbreak at the Tarheel Q restaurant in Lexington, North Carolina has now sickened at least 262 people. Most of those sickened live in Davidson County.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The outbreak of cyclosporiasis in Texas has increased to 121, according to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. One hundred nine cases have been reported in the last two weeks.

This illness is caused by the Cyclospora parasite. Most cases are in Travis county with 55. Eight are sick in Williamson county, six are sick in Dallas county, five in Harris county, and four in Hays county.