Monthly Archives: August 2016

Food Safety News 

Frozen strawberries imported from Egypt and used by Tropical Smoothie Café locations in Virginia are possibly linked to a cluster of Hepatitis A infections, spurring state health officials to issue a public health warning.

The restaurant chain has already pulled the implicated strawberries from all of its restaurants, not just the 100 locations in Virginia, according to a company statement issued today.

FDA 

Fast Facts

• The FDA and CDC are supporting the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) in an investigation of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections linked to scallops supplied by Sea Port Products Corp. On August 17, 2016, Hawaii Department of Health reported that 206 people have been confirmed to have become ill with hepatitis A in that state.
• On August 17, 2016, the FDA, Hawaii DOH, CDC and state partners informed Sea Port Products Corp that epidemiological, laboratory and traceback information indicates their scallops are the likely source of illnesses. On August 18, 2016, Sea Port Products Corp initiated a voluntary recall of frozen Bay Scallops produced on November 23, 2015 and 24, 2015. The products were distributed to California, Hawaii, and Nevada. According to Sea Port Products Corp, the recalled products are not intended for retail sale. The FDA is working with the recalling firm to ensure their recall is effective and that recalled product is removed from the market.
• Restaurants and other retailers should not sell or serve the recalled Bay Scallops. According to Sea Port Products Corp, the recalled products are not intended for retail sale. Consumers should ask the restaurant or retailer where their scallops came from to make sure they do not eat recalled Bay Scallops from Sea Port Products Corp.

Barf Blog

208 sick: Hawaii Hepatitis A outbreak linked to frozen raw scallops from Philippines

Food Poisoning Bulletin

In Canada, a Cyclospora outbreak has grown to include 61 cases. Health officials have not yet identified the food source of the outbreak, but imported produce is  suspected.

A parasite native to tropical climates, Cyclospora is not commonly found in Canada or the U.S. Often illnesses are travel-related or linked to imported produce such as berries, salads greens, and peas.

In this outbreak, the 61 cases were reported between May and July from: British Columbia (1), Alberta (2), Ontario (52), and Quebec (6). One person was hospitalized.

FDA

Cambridge Farms, LLC of Lancaster, PA is recalling the below products because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others 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 Specific products / production codes included in this recall are:

Laura Lynn Frozen Cut Corn in a 16 oz. Polybag – UPC 8685401734

Code SWFF/R10312, Best by 4/11/18

Code SWFFR/10452, Best by 5/09/18

Code SWFF/R10609, Best by 6/6/18

Laura Lynn Frozen Cut Corn in a 32 oz. Polybag – UPC 8685401717

Code SWFF/R 10482, Best by 5/10/18
Key Food Frozen Cut Corn in a 16 oz. Polybag – UPC 7329607091

Code SWFF/R10320, Best by 4/11/18

Code SWFF/R10405, Best by 5/2/18

Better Valu Frozen Cut Corn in a 14 oz. Polybag – UPC 7980124561

Code SWFF/R10308, Best by 4/11/18

The above codes will be on the back of the retail package.

The above products were distributed in the following states: NC, SC, TN, AL, GA, VA, NY, CT, NJ, PA, OH, WV, KY, MD and FL.  These products are sold thru retail supermarkets.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

The recall was the result of a routine sampling program by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture which revealed that the finished product they sampled from a retail store contained the bacteria. In an abundance of caution, the company has included all cut corn products which may have been produced using the same lot of cut corn. Cambridge Farms, LLC has ceased the production and distribution of the product and continues their investigation as to what caused the problem.

Consumers who have purchased any of the above items are urged to not consume it and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-717-945-5178 Monday through Friday during the hours of 8:00AM to 5:00PM Eastern Daylight Time.

RASFF – shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx2 /25g) in frozen round beef steak from Germany in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella (in 3 out of 5 samples /25g) in betel leaves from India in the UK

RASFF – too high count of Escherichia coli (330 CFU/100g) in live mussels (Mytillus edulis) from Germany in Germany

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes ( < 10 CFU/g) in sliced smoked duck breast from Belgium in France

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (<10 CFU/g) in frozen smoked salmon from Poland in France

RASFF – suspicion of Salmonella (presence /25g) in organic sesame seeds from Uganda in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella (in 1out of 5 samples /25g) in chilled minced pork from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – suspicion of Salmonella in various houmous products from Israel

RASFF – histamine (489 mg/kg – ppm) in chilled anchovy from Spain in Italy

RASFF – histamine (>2500 mg/kg – ppm) in chilled tuna loins from Spain in France