Monthly Archives: January 2018

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Imperial Caviar & Seafood brand and VIP Caviar Club brand Whitefish Roe recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria – Clostridium

Posted on January 29, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Ottawa, January 27, 2018 – The food recall warning issued on January 23, 2018 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Imperial Caviar & Seafood is recalling Imperial Caviar & Seafood brand and VIP Caviar Club brand Whitefish Roe from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Imperial Caviar & Seafood Whitefish Roe 50 g All Best Before dates from May 29, 2018 up to and including December 15, 2018, with the exception of June 13, 2018 1 86866 90027 9
Outer package:
Imperial Caviar & Seafood /
Inner package:
VIP Caviar Club		 Outer package:
Golden Whitefish Roe /
Inner package:
Whitefish Roe		 50 g All Best Before dates from May 29, 2018 up to and including December 15, 2018, with the exception of June 13, 2018 Outer package:
1 86866 90027 9
Inner package:
None

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USA- It’s Over – Multistate Outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Leafy Greens (Final Update)

Posted on January 29, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CDC  

 

HIghlights

  • This outbreak appears to be over as of January 25, 2018. The most recent illness started on December 12, 2017.
  • CDC, several states, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) infections.
    • Twenty-five people infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O157:H7 were reported from 15 states.
    • Illnesses started on dates ranging from November 5, 2017 to December 12, 2017.
    • Nine people were hospitalized, including two people who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. One death was reported from California.
  • In December 2017, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) investigated an outbreak of STEC O157:H7 infections in several provinces linked to romaine lettuce. PHAC reported on January 10, 2018 that the outbreak in Canada appeared to be over.
    • Whole genome sequencing showed that the E. coli strains that made people sick in Canada and in the United States were closely related genetically.
    • The source of the romaine lettuce linked to the Canadian outbreak, or where it became contaminated, was not identified.
  • Information gathered from ill people indicated that the likely source of the outbreak in the United States was leafy greens. The investigation was not able to identify a specific type of leafy greens as the source of the outbreak.
    • Leafy greens typically have a short shelf life, and since the last illness started over a month ago, it is likely that contaminated leafy greens linked to this outbreak are no longer available for sale.
  • Information about STEC and what people can do to reduce their chances of infection is available on the CDC website(https://www.cdc.gov/Features/ecoliinfection/).

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Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – HelloFRESH brand sesame seeds recalled due to Salmonella

Posted on January 29, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Ottawa, January 26, 2018 – The food recall warning issued earlier today has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

HelloFresh is recalling HelloFRESH brand sesame seeds from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

The affected sesame seeds were included in the HelloFRESH brand Toasted Brown Rice Bowl meal kit delivered to customers January 9th and 10th, 2018.

The following product has been sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan through Internet sales.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
HelloFRESH Sesame Seeds (included in Toasted Brown Rice Bowl) 9 g None – Delivered January 9th and 10th, 2018 None

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Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – IHF brand sesame seeds recalled due to Salmonella

Posted on January 29, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CFIA  

Ottawa, January 26, 2018 – The food recall warning issued on January 25, 2018 has been updated to include additional distribution information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Iqbal Halal Foods is recalling IHF brand sesame seeds from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Consumers who are unsure if they have affected product are advised to check with their retailer.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC Additional Info
IHF Sesame seeds, white 200 g 2-1217 4 72253 10069 0 Iqbal Halal Foods,
2 Thorncliffe Pk, Dr.,
Toronto, ON
IHF Sesame seeds, white 400 g 4-1217 4 72253 10069 1 Iqbal Halal Foods,
2 Thorncliffe Pk, Dr.,
Toronto, ON

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Information – This New Smartphone App Could Save You From Food Poisoning

Posted on January 28, 2018 by | Leave a comment

The Daily Meal

You wouldn’t be able to test food from restaurants, but you could make sure all your groceries are safe
Food-borne bacteria are an invisible, potentially deadly source of disease not only in developing countries, but in the United States as well. Foods are recalled all the time for contamination — and every time you pick up a piece of fresh produce, you’re running a risk. Will this food make me sick?

We might not have to take that risk much longer. A team of dedicated researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a smartphone app that pairs with a small chip to detect pathogens lingering on the surface of foods.

The tool is small enough to fit in your pocket and can detect miniscule amounts of bacteria using innovative biosensors. It’s affordable, at just $30 a pop, and could potentially spare people across the globe from consuming risky and contaminated foods.

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Research – Listeria monocytogenes contamination of ready-to-eat foods and the risk for human health in the EU

Posted on January 28, 2018 by | Leave a comment

EFSA 

 

Food safety criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods have been applied from 2006 onwards (Commission Regulation (EC) 2073/2005). Still, human invasive listeriosis was reported to increase over the period 2009–2013 in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA). Time series analysis for the 2008–2015 period in the EU/EEA indicated an increasing trend of the monthly notified incidence rate of confirmed human invasive listeriosis of the over 75 age groups and female age group between 25 and 44 years old (probably related to pregnancies). A conceptual model was used to identify factors in the food chain as potential drivers for L. monocytogenes contamination of RTE foods and listeriosis. Factors were related to the host (i. population size of the elderly and/or susceptible people; ii. underlying condition rate), the food (iii. L. monocytogenes prevalence in RTE food at retail; iv. L. monocytogenes concentration in RTE food at retail; v. storage conditions after retail; vi. consumption), the national surveillance systems (vii. improved surveillance), and/or the bacterium (viii. virulence). Factors considered likely to be responsible for the increasing trend in cases are the increased population size of the elderly and susceptible population except for the 25–44 female age group. For the increased incidence rates and cases, the likely factor is the increased proportion of susceptible persons in the age groups over 45 years old for both genders. Quantitative modelling suggests that more than 90% of invasive listeriosis is caused by ingestion of RTE food containing > 2,000 colony forming units (CFU)/g, and that one-third of cases are due to growth in the consumer phase. Awareness should be increased among stakeholders, especially in relation to susceptible risk groups. Innovative methodologies including whole genome sequencing (WGS) for strain identification and monitoring of trends are recommended.

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Research – Microbiological safety and quality of Italian donkey milk

Posted on January 27, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online Laboratory

Abstract

Considering that few data are currently available about donkey milk microbiological quality and given the spread of food-borne outbreaks strongly linked with the consumption of raw milk, the aim of the present study was to investigate the microbiological quality and the food safety of Italian donkey milk. Total viable count (TVC) and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus were evaluated to verify the process hygiene criteria for donkey’s milk. The presence of Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Cronobacter sakazakii, E. coli O157, and Campylobacter spp. were evaluated to estimate its food safety criteria. The study revealed that the TVC values were compliant with European legislation. Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and Cronobacter sakazakii were not detected. However, the presence of E. coli O157 and Campylobacter coli was observed, highlighting an important health-related issue, underlining the need to implement an adequate control plan by performing intensive and continuous monitoring in order to guarantee human health.

Practical applications

Donkey’s milk is considered a “pharmafood” due to its nutritional, nutraceutical, and functional properties. Indeed, it has been configured as a valid alternative foodstuff for children affected by cow’s milk protein allergy, atopic, and inflammatory diseases due to its distinct chemical composition and consequently particular nutritional properties. However, undesirable pathogens responsible for food-borne diseases harmful to humans have been detected. High hygiene standards should be followed along raw milk chain to avoid potential hazardous pathogenic bacteria spreading to consumers and microbiological parameters and criteria need to be established in raw donkey milk for human consumption. Specific sanitary control plans are required for authorized dairy donkey farms.

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UK – Link to SCA Water Methods Web Site

Posted on January 26, 2018 by | Leave a comment

SCA

The Standing Committee of Analysts

Microbiology of Recreational and Environmental Waters

The Microbiology of Recreational and Environmental Waters (2000)
Part 1 – Water quality, epidemiology and public health
Part 2 – Practices and procedures for sampling
Being drafted
Part 3 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of Escherichia coli (including E. coli O157:H7) (2016)
Part 4 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of enterococci
Part 5 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of sulphite-reducing clostridia and Clostridium perfringens
Part 6 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus
Part 7 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of Aeromonas and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Part 8 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of Salmonella and Shigella
Part 9 – Methods for the isolation of Yersinia, Vibrio and Campylobacter by selective enrichment
Part 10 – A method for the isolation and enumeration of sorbitol-fermenting bifidobacteria by membrane filtration
Part 11 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration of somatic and F-specific bacteriophages and bacteriophages infecting Bacteroides fragilis (2016)
Part 12 – Methods for the concentration of enteric viruses and the detection and enumeration of enteroviruses by suspended cell assay(2016)
Part 13 – Methods for the isolation and enumeration  of microbial tracers (2016)

 

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RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Pistachios – Roasted and Salted Watermelon Seeds – Curry Powder – Groundnuts- Hazlenuts – Dried Figs

Posted on January 26, 2018 by | Leave a comment

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 45.3; Tot. = 51.3 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States in Lithuania.

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 4.1 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted and salted watermelon seeds from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 34.3; Tot. = 36.5 µg/kg – ppb) in curry powder from Sri Lanka in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 5.6; Tot. = 6.2 µg/kg – ppb) in watermelon seeds from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 163; Tot. = 177 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Togo in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 21.4; Tot. = 23.6 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 3.1 / B1 = 5.7; Tot. = 6.7 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled groundnuts from China in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 16.3 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled hazelnuts from Azerbaijan, via Georgia in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 14; Tot. = 19 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted diced hazelnuts from Turkey in Denmark

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 9; Tot. = 11.4 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 28.4 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in France

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RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Chicken Burgers – Sesame Seeds – Poultry Meat Preparation – Chicken Breast – Sheftalia – Chicken Fillets

Posted on January 26, 2018 by | Leave a comment

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in chilled chicken burgers from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Agona (presence /25g) in hulled sesame seeds from India in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen salted chicken breast from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen sheftalia from Cyprus in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Reading (presence in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat from Poland in Poland

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen chicken fillets with added water from Thailand in the UK.

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