Monthly Archives: June 2019

Research – Is Climate Change Increasing Cases of Legionnaires’ Disease?

Legionella Control Legionella_Plate_01

Is climate change increasing cases of Legionnaires’ disease?

It’s a matter of record that our planet’s climate has changed almost continually throughout its history.

It would therefore be foolhardy to assume it would remain identical to the position it was in millions of years ago.

However, most of the climate changes seen in the past have been caused by natural events; that is, changes that have occurred due to factors outside of our control.

A good example would be the earth’s orbit making marginal changes, changes that have influenced the climate on our planet.

However, we have seen these gradual trends change in the last century or so.

Canada -Food Recall Warning – France Délices brand Choco-Raspberry Crunchy recalled due to norovirus

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, June 4, 2019 – France Délices Inc. is recalling France Délices brand Choco-Raspberry Crunchy from the marketplace due to possible norovirus contamination of the raspberries used in this product. Consumers should not consume and retailers, should not sell, or serve the recalled product described below.

The following product has been sold in Ontario and Quebec from the following retailers:

Name Address
La maison du Kouign-Amman 101 Schneider Rd., Kanata, ON
Métro plus 875, Montée Masson, Mascouche, QC
Métro plus Élite St-Antoine 633, boul. des Laurentides, St-Antoine des Laurentides, QC
IGA Coteau du lac 100, Théophile Brassard, Coteau du Lac, QC
IGA Chaumont Bilodeau 1005, boul. Du Grand Héron, St-Jérôme, QC
IGA Extra Sept-Iles 1010, boul. Laure Uashat, Sept-Îles, QC
IGA St-Romuald 1060, boul. Guillaume-Couture, Lévis, QC

This product has been sold clerk-served from retail counters, with or without a label or coding, up to and including June 3, 2019. Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the affected product are advised to contact their retailer.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
France Délices Choco-Raspberry Crunchy 95 g 12919 7 74461 16122 7

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

People with norovirus illness usually develop symptoms of gastroenteritis within 24 to 48 hours, but symptoms can start as early as 12 hours after exposure. The illness often begins suddenly. Even after having the illness, you can still become re-infected by norovirus. The main symptoms of norovirus illness are diarrhea, vomiting (children usually experience more vomiting than adults), nausea and stomach cramps. Other symptoms may include low-grade fever, headache, chills, muscle aches and fatigue (a general sense of tiredness).  Most people feel better within one or two days, with symptoms resolving on their own, and experience no long-term health effects. As with any illness causing diarrhea or vomiting, people who are ill should drink plenty of liquids to replace lost body fluids and prevent dehydration. In severe cases, patients may need to be hospitalized and given fluids intravenously.

Background

This recall was triggered by findings by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) during its investigation into a foodborne illness outbreak. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled product from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

More information

France Délices Inc.: Christine Fortin, cfortin@francedelices.com

For more information, consumers and industry can contact the CFIA by filling out the online feedback form.

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • France Délices - Choco-Raspberry Crunchy - case
  • France Délices - Choco-Raspberry Crunchy

Canada -MyChopChop Grounded Peper Recalled in Canada For Salmonella

Food Poisoning Bulletin

MyChopChop is recalling MyChopChop brand Grounded Peper from the marketplace because it may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. This product may have been distributed nationally at the consumer level. There have not been any reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product. The Peper is a product of Nigeria.

The recalled product is MyChopChop Grounded Peper in 100 gram packages. There are no codes on the product, and no UPC number. All units sold up to and including June 3, 2019 are part of this recall.

The recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of more products.

Research – Hot Tubs Caused Legionnaires Outbreak of 1999 Killing At Least 32

Legionella Control

One of the largest recorded outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease

An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease can affect many people, depending on the circumstances and how long it takes for the outbreak to be discovered. One of the largest ever known outbreaks of the disease to date took place in the Netherlands in 1999. It was named after the town in which it occurred, Bovenkarspel in Northern Holland.

The outbreak began on 25th February that year, in the middle of the Westfriese Flora, which was later renamed as the Holland Flowers Festival. The exhibition took place indoors and attracted many hundreds of visitors. The festival ended on 28th of that month, although it would not be known for some days that anything was amiss.

USA – McDonalds hit twice with Hepatitis A scares

Food Poison Journal

A few days ago, in Florida, ABC Action News I-Team uncovered an employee who worked inside McDonald’s at 8006 Osceola-Polk Line Road in Davenport had a confirmed case of Hepatitis A last week.

McDonald’s released the following statement:

“We were informed by the Polk County Health Department that one of our employees has become ill. We are fully cooperating with the health department in their review of this matter, an isolated instance at this restaurant, to ensure the health and safety of all our employees and customers. Today and always, we are committed to a safe and clean restaurant environment, and we have taken proactive steps to again completely sanitize our restaurant.”

In Indiana News 10 reported this morning that Sullivan County health officials are investigating a case of Hepatitis A at a local food handler and say the risk of infection is low for patrons who recently visited.

France – Air France warning after Listeria detected in sandwich

Food Safety News

Air France has issued a warning after Listeria was detected in tuna sandwiches served on certain flights in May. Servair, the supplier of the airline’s on-board catering service, reported the pathogen was found in the sandwiches from self-service on-board buffets.

It was revealed during quality check procedures on foodstuffs distributed aboard Air France flights.

The sandwich was available in the economy and premium economy cabins of nine long-haul flights departing Paris Orly and Paris Charles de Gaulle between May 21 and 24.

Servair withdrew all products, provided by Air Food, from the services on board Air France flights.

Air France and Servair have as yet not been informed of any cases of illness. Servair, a Gategroup subsidiary, is active at 31 airports in 19 countries and has 10,500 employees.

Canada – Food Recall Warning – MyChopChop brand “Grounded Peper” recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, June 3, 2019 – MyChopChop is recalling MyChopChop brand “Grounded Peper” from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

The following product has been sold nationally through Internet sales.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
MyChopChop “Grounded Peper” 100 g None All units sold up to and including June 3, 2019

MyChopChop brand Grounded Peper

India – More than 30 students – Thiruvananthapuram College

The News Minute

The reception area of the Jubilee hospital in Thiruvananthapuram witnessed a flurry of activities on Friday evening with a group of college students gathered there, wearing their uniforms and talking to each other. A little away from them, seated in the reception were some of the teachers from their college. This after around 30 students from the girls hostel of the Bethany Navajeevan College of Physiotherapy were taken ill on Friday morning due to food poisoning.

USA – Possible Hepatitis A Exposure at Teriyaki Japan in North Augusta, SC

Food Poisoning Bulletin Virusds

Customers who ate at Teriyaki Japan on Edgefield Road in North Augusta, South Carolina may have been exposed to the hepatitis A virus, according to a news release by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Anyone who ate food or drank beverages between May 14 and May 28, 2019 could have been exposed to the virus.

Research – Germany – BVL informs about illness risk from raw milk

Food Safety News

A German agency informed the public about the risks of drinking raw milk ahead of World Milk Day on June 1.

The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) announcement covered the different forms of supply and associated bacterial contamination.

It advised vulnerable groups of people to refrain from having raw and certified raw milk (Vorzugsmilch) due to the potential microbial load. Since raw milk is not subjected to heat treatment like pasteurized drinking milk, disease-causing germs are not killed and can cause illness.

Consumers can buy milk in the supermarket but milk “filling stations” or dispensers, also referred to as vending machines, are increasingly popular in the country.