Monthly Archives: July 2017

Viruses and parasites that should keep you up at night

Food Safety News

TAMPA, FL — Foodborne Hepatitis A, once accounting for only about 4 percent of cases, reached 20 percent by 2016

Cyclosporiasis, the intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, recognized only in 1979 and after that only among travelers, has become commonplace in the United States.

And other emerging virus and parasites are leaving few places to escape in an ever smaller world, according to three distinguished experts on dangers that include that include Hepatitis A,  parasites like Cyclospora, and other nasties with names so long they defy spellcheck — like haycocknema perplexum.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus Outbreak in Seattle Oysters

Food Poisoning Journal

Public Health is investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis with watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and vomiting associated with consumption of raw oysters at Salted Sea located at 4915 Rainier Ave S #101, Seattle, WA 98118. One person has laboratory-confirmed Vibrio parahaemolyticus and two others have symptoms suggestive of vibriosis.

Two people from one dinner party became ill after eating raw oysters at the restaurant on June 9, 2017. Another person from a separate party became ill after eating raw oysters at the restaurant on June 17, 2017. Public Health learned of the outbreak on June 22nd.

An on-site investigation was conducted at Salted Sea by environmental health inspectors. No factors were identified that contribute to the spread of Vibrio, such as insufficient refrigeration temperatures or evidence of cross-contamination. Public Health also reported the illnesses to Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Shellfish Program, which is responsible for tracking the reports and harvest locations of the oysters implicated in these illnesses. The oysters served at each of the meals were harvested from multiple growing areas/bays in Washington State. Without further information from the ill persons on the variety of oysters consumed, we were unable to pinpoint the particular growing area the oysters came from and no closures or recalls were issued.

Updated Food Recall Warning – Various brands of butter recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

CFIA

Ottawa, July 11, 2017 – The food recall warning issued on July 8, 2017 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Industry is recalling various brands of butter from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

FSA

Tesco is recalling two chicken salad products because Campylobacter has been found in the products.

Action taken by the company

Tesco is recalling the above products. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Please see the attached notice.

Customer Notice: Tesco Chicken Salad Products(159.69 KB)

Food Safety News 

Michigan officials are investigating an egg producer in connection with a Salmonella outbreak linked to Hollandaise sauce made with unpasteurized raw eggs and served at an unidentified restaurant.Marquette County, MI, health officials announced their investigation into the June outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis on Friday, but did not include any specific details.

CFIA

Ottawa, July 8, 2017 – The food recall warning issued on July 5, 2017 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Industry is recalling Perron brand and Beurre du Lac brand Butter from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Quebec.

New Food Magazine

The Smokehouse, located in Mamaroneck, New York, cannot prepare, process, manufacture, pack and/or hold FDA-regulated food products until they demonstrate that their facility processing equipment and sanitation controls are suitable. This injunction was sought by the U.S. Department of Justice on behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

L. mono is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause listeriosis, a rare but potentially life-threatening illness. People with compromised immune systems, the elderly, pregnant women and developing fetuses are particularly susceptible to listeriosis.

RASFF – foodborne outbreak suspected (histamine poisoning) to be caused by thawed vacuum-packed prepared tuna loins (Thunnus albacares) from Spain in France

RASFF-histamine (180; 167; 129; 127; 113 mg/kg – ppm) in chilled defrosted yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) loins from Spain in Italy

RASFF-foodborne outbreak caused by histamine (up to 1860 mg/kg – ppm) in frozen vacuum-packed yellowfin tuna loins (Thunnus albacares) from Spain in Italy

RASFF-histamine (up to 2507 mg/kg – ppm) in thawed yellowfin tuna loins (Thunnus albacares) from Spain in Italy

RASFF – shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx1+; stx2+ /25g) in chilled lamb chops from the Netherlands in the Netherlands

RASFF-potentially pathogenic Escherichia coli in raw milk cheese from France in Germany

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (<10 CFU/g) in pate from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (<10 CFU/g) in chilled smoked duck breast from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (<10 CFU/g) in pate from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (44000 CFU/g) in raw goat’s cheese from France in France