Monthly Archives: February 2017

FSIS 

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is out with guidance for retail delicatessens on how they better control Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in their shops.  It has come up with eight recommendations for delicatessens to consider using to protect the public health from Lm.

FDA

Dutch Valley Food Distributors, Schlabach branch is issuing a recall on various Cheeses and cheese containing items due to the potential for it to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

On 2/15/2017 the firm was notified by their supplier, Deutsch Kase Haus, that various cheese product they received may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. There have been no illnesses or issues reported regarding consumption of this product to date.

Dutch Valley Food Distributors, Schlabach Branch has issued a voluntary recall for the following products:

FDA

Biery Cheese Co. is voluntarily recalling specialty Longhorn Colby cheese due to potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes.

On 02-15-17 the firm was notified by Deutsch Kase Haus, LLC of Middlebury, IN that they supplied Biery Cheese with various type cheeses that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  No illnesses have been reported to date.

Products affected are:

FSANZ

Journal of Food Protection

Nuts have been identified as a vector for salmonellosis. The objective of this project was to estimate the prevalence and contamination level of Salmonella in raw tree nuts (cashews, pecans, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, and walnuts) at retail markets in the United States. A total of 3,656 samples of six types of tree nuts were collected from different types of retail stores and markets nationwide between October 2014 and October 2015. These samples were analyzed using a modified version of the Salmonella culture method from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Bacteriological Analytical Manual. Of the 3,656 samples collected and tested, 32 were culturally confirmed as containing Salmonella. These isolates represented 25 serotypes. Salmonella was not detected in pecans and in-shell hazelnuts. Salmonella prevalence estimates (and 95% confidence intervals) in cashews, shelled hazelnuts, pine nuts, walnuts, and macadamia nuts were 0.55% [0.15, 1.40], 0.35% [0.04, 1.20], 0.48% [0.10, 1.40], 1.20% [0.53, 2.40], and 4.20% [2.40, 6.90], respectively. The rates of Salmonella isolation from major or big chain supermarkets, small chain supermarkets, discount, variety, or drug stores, and online were 0.64% [0.38, 1.00], 1.60% [0.80, 2.90], 0.00% [0.00, 2.40], and 13.64% [2.90, 35.00], respectively (Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test: P = 0.02). The rates of Salmonella isolation for conventional and organic nuts were not significantly different. Of the samples containing Salmonella, 60.7% had levels less than 0.003 most probable number (MPN)/g. The highest contamination level observed was 0.092 MPN/g. The prevalence and levels of Salmonella in these tree nut samples were comparable to those previously reported for similar foods.

Journal of Food Protection

To evaluate the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii and to genetically characterize its isolates in carcasses of industrial fattening pigs, blood, diaphragm, and heart samples were collected from 375 carcasses of pigs slaughtered to be processed for Parma ham production. Pigs had been bred on approved farms (n = 75) located in the so-called Food Valley in Italy. Sera were examined for immunoglobulin G antibodies to T. gondii by modified agglutination test (MAT). Both heart and diaphragm samples from seropositive carcasses were processed for the presence of T. gondii DNA (B1 locus) by real-time PCR and high resolution melting (HRM) assay. Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were detected in 2.1% of pig carcasses, with titers from 1:10 to 1:320. T. gondii DNA was detected in all (eight) seropositive carcasses and in 11 (5 heart and 6 diaphragm samples) of 16 samples; that is, it was detected in heart tissue in two subjects, in diaphragm tissue in three subjects, and in both muscle tissues in three subjects. Toxoplasma genotypes were determined in seven of eight carcasses: type III was identified in four carcasses, type II in two, and both III and II in one carcass. The serological findings and the molecular detection of T. gondii strains suggest that cured meat products obtained from industrially bred pigs may be potential sources of toxoplasmosis for humans. Our results provide novel, important information regarding the seroprevalence and molecular prevalence of T. gondii in intensively reared pigs within this specific region of Italy, particularly because Parma ham from this region is known and consumed worldwide. On-farm preventive measures combined with slaughterhouse monitoring of carcasses of pigs bred for cured meat production should never be overlooked to prevent the introduction of T. gondii into the food chain and to ensure safety for consumers of these products.

Journal of Food Protection

The growth characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes inoculated onto frozen foods (corn, green peas, crabmeat, and shrimp) and thawed by being stored at 4, 8, 12, and 20°C were investigated. The growth parameters, lag-phase duration (LPD) and exponential growth rate (EGR), were determined by using a two-phase linear growth model as a primary model and a square root model for EGR and a quadratic model for LPD as secondary models, based on the growth data. The EGR model predictions were compared with growth rates obtained from the USDA Pathogen Modeling Program, calculated with similar pH, salt percentage, and NaNO₂ parameters, at all storage temperatures. The results showed that L. monocytogenes grew well in all food types, with the growth rate increasing with storage temperature. Predicted EGRs for all food types demonstrated the significance of storage temperature and similar growth rates among four food types. The predicted EGRs showed slightly slower rate compared with the values from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Pathogen Modeling Program. LPD could not be accurately predicted, possibly because there were not enough sampling points. These data established by using real food samples demonstrated that L. monocytogenes can initiate growth without a prolonged lag phase even at refrigeration temperature (4°C), and the predictive models derived from this study can be useful for developing proper handling guidelines for thawed frozen foods during production and storage.

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 3.7; Tot. = 4.4 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled peanuts from China in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 8.5; Tot. =12.1 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled peanuts from China in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 7.6 / B1 = 22.2 µg/kg – ppb) in blanched peanuts from China in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 9.1; Tot. = 10.0 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled groundnuts from China in Greece

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 14.7; Tot. = 17.8 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 14.2; Tot. = 16.6 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts in shell from Egypt in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 34.5; Tot. = 38.3 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States in Belgium

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 13.5; Tot. = 14.5 µg/kg – ppb) in chilli powder from India in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 30.7; Tot. = 34.2 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from Iran in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 13.4 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from China in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 4.57; Tot. = 5.20 µg/kg – ppb) in helva with pistachios from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 23.5; Tot. = 25.5 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 300; Tot. = 360 µg/kg – ppb) in suya pepper from Nigeria in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 43.5; Tot. = 64.6 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey  in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 2.9; Tot. = 2.9 / B1 = 8.13; Tot. = 9.07 µg/kg – ppb) in peanuts in shell from China

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 16.1; Tot. = 17.9 µg/kg – ppb) in bitter almond kernels from Syria in Italy

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in frozen halal chicken wings from Poland in France

RASFF-Salmonella enterica (presence /25g) in frozen raw chicken breasts with added water from Brazil in the UK

RASFF-Salmonella enterica (presence /25g) in frozen raw chicken breasts from Brazil in the UK

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in frozen duck inner fillets from Hungary, via Belgium in Italy

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (present /25g) in chilled razor clams (Ensis directus) from the Netherlands in Italy

RASFF – groundnuts in shell from China infested with moulds in Spain