Monthly Archives: March 2018

Botswana – Botswana recalls food products over deadly listeriosis outbreak in S/Africa

Posted on March 7, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Journal Du Cameroun

Botswana on Monday recalled food from its supermarkets that were imported from a bologna-making factory in the South African city of Polokwane after reports surfaced that it is the source of the deadly listeriosis outbreak in the neighbouring country.The disease has so far killed more 180 people and affected 915 others in South Africa.

Botswana’s Ministry of Health spokesperson Doreen Motshegwa said the main source of listeriosis outbreak in South Africa has been traced to Enterprise Food Production Factory and Rainbow Chicken Limited.

She said the affected items include sausages and other products from both factories.

“The Ministry of Health and Wellness also confirms that some of these products are imported from South Africa and are also part of the local distribution and retail supply chain,” said Motshegwa.

 

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Brazil – Labs covered-up Salmonella-positive results: New arrests in Brazil rotten meat scandal

Posted on March 7, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Barf Blog

Brazilian police made new arrests Monday in a probe into a tainted meat scandal that first erupted last year — this time targeting laboratories accused of covering up salmonella in products from food giant BRF.

“The investigation showed that five laboratories and the company’s analysis departments falsified results” shown to health inspectors, the federal police said in a statement.

Agriculture Ministry representative Alexandre Campos da Silva said the department received 410 notifications of salmonella presence from 12 countries that imported the meat in question last year — 80 per cent of which were in the EU.

Monday’s operation — the third since the scandal was uncovered — involved 270 police officers and 21 health agents across five Brazilian states.

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Hong Kong – A batch of Australian rockmelons suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 7, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CFS catalopue

Issue Date 6.3.2018
Source of Information Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
Food Product A batch of rockmelons produced in New South Wales, Australia
Product Name and Description A batch of rockmelons produced in New South Wales, Australia imported by local importers, Wing Kee Produce Limited, ETAK International Ltd., Wing Hong Woo and Ming Kee Chan Co., Ltd., between 1 January and 28 February, 2018
Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The Centre for Food Safety (CFS), through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notice issued by FSANZ that a batch of rockmelons produced in New South Wales, Australia might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and are being recalled.
  • According to the information provided by the Australian authorities, four local importers have imported the affected product into Hong Kong.
  • The four importers confirmed that the affected product was already sold out. They have initiated a recall according to the CFS’ advice.
  • Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms like fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicaemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • The CFS contacted FSANZ for follow up. According to the information provided by the Australian authorities, four local importers have imported the affected product into Hong Kong.
  • The CFS contacted the four importers and all of them confirmed that they had imported the affected product which was already sold out. The importers have initiated a recall according to the CFS’ advice.
  • The CFS has not received any reports about listeriosis caused by consumption of rockmelons in the past two months.
  • The CFS’ follow-up on the case continues.  The CFS will continue to closely monitor the case and take appropriate follow-up action. Investigation is ongoing.
Advice to the Trade
  • Stop using or selling the affected product immediately if possessing it.
Advice to Consumers
  • Wash and scrub the surface of the whole rockmelon with a clean produce brush under clean running water before cutting it for consumption.
  • For enquiries, call the hotlines of the importers concerned during office hours:
    • Wing Kee Produce Limited at 2796 3111;
    • ETAK International Ltd. at 2487 3800;
    • Wing Hong Woo at 2376 2484; and
    • Ming Kee Chan Co., Ltd. at 2517 2686.
Further Information The CFS press release

 

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Research – Cross-Contamination and Biofilm Formation by Salmonella enterica Serovar Enteritidis on Various Cutting Boards

Posted on March 6, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Mary Ann Liebert

Cross-contamination is one of the main factors related to foodborne outbreaks. This study aimed to analyze the cross-contamination process of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis from poultry to cucumbers, on various cutting board surfaces (plastic, wood, and glass) before and after washing and in the presence and absence of biofilm. Thus, 10 strains of Salmonella Enteritidis were used to test cross-contamination from poultry to the cutting boards and from thereon to cucumbers. Moreover, these strains were evaluated as to their capacity to form biofilm on hydrophobic (wood and plastic) and hydrophilic materials (glass). We recovered the 10 isolates from all unwashed boards and from all cucumbers that had contacted them. After washing, the recovery ranged from 10% to 100%, depending on the board material. In the presence of biofilm, the recovery of salmonellae was 100%, even after washing. Biofilm formation occurred more on wood (60%) and plastic (40%) than glass (10%) boards, demonstrating that bacteria adhered more to a hydrophobic material. It was concluded that the cutting boards represent a critical point in cross-contamination, particularly in the presence of biofilm. Salmonella Enteritidis was able to form a biofilm on these three types of cutting boards but glass showed the least formation.

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Posted in Biofilm, cross contamination, Food Safety, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – Kroger Employee in One Louisville, Kentucky Store Diagnosed with Hepatitis A

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Food Poisoning Bulletin Virusds

A Kroger employee who worked at a store at 4915 Dixie Highway in Louisville was diagnosed with hepatitis A. That person worked there from February 4 through  February 28, 2018, potentially exposing many people. Any produce purchased at that store during that time frame shold be thrown away

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USA – Warning: Organic, raw goat milk cheese positive for Listeria

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Food Safety News

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball warns consumers not to eat The Maiden’s Creamery “Wild Meadow” raw goat milk cheese made in South New Berlin because of possible Listeria contamination.

So far, no illnesses have been reported in connection with the goat cheese made by by Mark Harvey, 1277 Copes Corner Road.

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Posted in Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Goat, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, raw milk cheese, Uncategorized

South Africa – Listeria Outbreak – Several Updates

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All Africa

Zimbabwe – Government has banned importation of cold meats into the country mainly from South Africa following an outbreak of a bacteria, Listeria, which causes food borne disease.

Newswire 24

Although Tiger Brands says it detected low levels of listeriosis at its food manufacturing plant, it denied any current direct links between the deaths of 180 people from the food-borne outbreak.

Newswire 24

Processed meat is not included in the meals served as part of the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), the Department of Basic Education assured on Monday.

The department issued a statement, following Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s announcement about the source of the listeriosis outbreak.

All Africa

The Food Lover’s Market group says it has initiated an immediate nationwide recall of all Enterprise and Rainbow Chicken processed meats, following the announcement on the source of the deadly listeriosis outbreak.

All Africa

Customers of Shoprite and Checkers are invited to return any Enterprise processed cold meat products and Rainbow Chicken polony for a full refund, the group said in a statement on Monday afternoon.

The products must still be in the original packaging – even if it has been opened – and proof of purchase is not required.

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Posted in Food Poisoning, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, outbreak, Poisoning, south africa, Uncategorized

South Africa – Listeria outbreak largest on record WHO says as Government blames food firms

Posted on March 6, 2018 by | Leave a comment

ABC Net News

South Africa is currently in the middle of the biggest listeria outbreak ever seen, according to the UN World Health Organisation (WHO).

Key points:

  • It took South Africa more than a year to identify the cause of listeria
  • Government blames food firms for the world’s worst outbreak
  • Cold meat producers deny direct link with the outbreak

The South African listeria outbreak has killed 180 people since January 2017, with nearly 1,000 cases reported.

The country’s Government has blamed producers of cold meat products for delays in tracing the cause.

“This is the largest ever recorded outbreak of this severe form of listeriosis globally,” Peter K. Ben Embarek, who manages the WHO International Food Safety Authorities Network, said.

The Government, which has been criticised for taking too long to find the cause, on Sunday linked the outbreak to a meat product known as “polony” made by Tiger’s Enterprise Food.

It also said it was investigating a plant owned by RCL Foods that makes a similar product, whose shares also slid on Monday before recovering.

Both companies, which say they are cooperating with the authorities, suspended processed meat production at their plants after health authorities ordered a recall of cold meats associated with the outbreak from outlets at home and abroad.

Listeria causes flu-like symptoms, nausea, diarrhoea and infection of the blood stream and brain.

South Africa’s Health Ministry said the source was found after pre-school children fell ill from eating polony products traced to processed meat producers.

 

 

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Posted in Death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, south africa, Uncategorized

USA – Raw Milk from Fertile Valley Farm in Honesdale, PA Recalled for Listeria Monocytogenes

Posted on March 6, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin 

 

Raw whole milk from Fertile Valley Farm in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pennsylvania is being recalled because it tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes bacteria, according to a notice positive by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Tests completed after a routine inspection and sampling were positive for the pathogen.

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Posted in Food Safety, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Raw Milk, Uncategorized

Ghana – Food Poisoning Kills 4 In Volta Region

Posted on March 6, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Modern Ghana

Some four persons have died at Akakpokope, a village in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region after consuming popular delicacy, banku and okro soup.

The deceased persons are Peace Akapko, 35; Elias Akakpo, 14; Comfort Aryee, 40 and Patience Kwaovi, 10.

The victims are said to belong to two separate families who coincidentally seemed to have eaten the same meal.

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Posted in Death, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Uncategorized