Monthly Archives: June 2019

USA – Recall of Glass Jars of in the Mix, Brand Castle and Sisters’ Gourmet Baking Mixes Because of Possible Health Risk.

Posted on June 24, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

In cooperation with ADM Milling Co., Brand Castle, LLC of Bedford Heights, Ohio is voluntarily recalling 25 oz and 32 oz glass jars of cookie and brownie mix out of an abundance of caution because it may be contaminated with pathogenic E. coli.

The product is being recalled because an ingredient supplier, ADM Milling Co., has issued a recall for the flour used in these products due to E. coli contamination found in a single lot code of H&R Flour at their Buffalo production plant.

To date, no illnesses have been reported with these products and no further product have been shipped from our facility.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O26, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

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

Posted on June 24, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, June 21, 2019 – The food recall warning issued on June 4, 2019 has been updated to include additional product and distribution information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

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 Alberta and Quebec from the following retailers:
Name	Address
European Foods Inc.	8705 53 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB
Fruit & Légumes Tardif Inc.	559, chemin St-Jean, Laprairie, QC
Hospitality Corner	1650, avenue Cedar, Montréal, QC
IGA Vanier	1035, boul. Wilfrid Hamel, Vanier, QC
IGA Boischatel	5114, avenue Royale, Boischatel, QC
IGA Alimentation Famille Gaouette Inc.	2020, route 112, St-Césair, QC
IGA	17010, boul. Henri-Bourassa, Québec, QC
IGA Baie-Comeau	1500, rue de Bretagne, Baie-Comeau, QC
IGA Crevier Terrebonne	1115, Montée des Pionniers, Terrebonne, QC
Métro Plus St-Zotique	350, rue Principale, St-Zotique , QC
Métro Plus Supermarché Boucher	341, chemin de Joliette, St-Félix de Valois, QC
Metro Gatineau	214, boul. de la Cité des Jeunes, Gatineau, QC
Métro Turgeon	1550, boul. Talbot, Chicoutimi, QC
Provigo Lorraine	95, boul. de Gaulle, Lorraine, QC
Trésors Sucrés	3640, Jean Talon Est, Montréal, QC

This product has been sold clerk-served from retail counters, with or without a label or coding, up to and including June 21, 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	08519	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.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, Uncategorized, Virus

Australia – Lactalis Australia Pty Ltd — Lactalis Australia Milk 1L & 2L

Posted on June 24, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

Product Safety Australia

PRA No.

2019/17637

Date published

23 Jun 2019

Product description

Fresh milk

7-Eleven Lite Milk 2L
Use By 2 July 2019

Gippy Full Cream Milk 2L
Use By 2 July 2019

Gippy Lite Milk 2L
Use By 2 July 2019

Maxi Foods Lite Milk 2L
Use By 2 July 2019

Pauls Professional Café Crema Milk 2L
Use By 2 July 2019

Pauls Smarter White 2% Fat Milk 2L
Use By 2 July 2019

Pauls Rev Low Fat 2L
Use By 2 July 2019

Pauls Rev Low Fat 1L
Use By 2 July 2019

Identifying features

Use by date

2 July 2019

Other

APN/AEN in order of appearance above excepting Pauls Professional Café Crema Milk (Food service no bar code), 9315303001458, 9344113001006, 9344113001013, 9322613103024, 9310036039488, 9310036000808, 9310036000853

What are the defects?

The recall is due to microbial (E. coli) contamination.

What are the hazards?

Food products contaminated with E. coli may cause illness if consumed.

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Posted in E.coli, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

Research – Occurrence and Levels of Salmonella, Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and Listeria in Raw Wheat

Posted on June 22, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

Journal of Food Protection

ABSTRACT

Wheat flour has been implicated in several outbreaks of foodborne illness in recent years, yet little information is available regarding microbial pathogens in wheat and wheat flour. Information about microbial pathogens in wheat is needed to develop effective methods to prevent foodborne illnesses caused by wheat products. From 2012 to 2014, we conducted a baseline study to determine the prevalence and levels of pathogens in wheat samples taken before milling. A total of 5,176 wheat samples were tested for enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., and L. monocytogenes. Positive samples were assayed for most probable numbers (MPNs), and isolates were fingerprinted by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The rate of detection of each pathogen tested was as follows: Salmonella was in 1.23% of the samples (average level of 0.110 MPN/g), EHECs occurred in 0.44% of the samples (0.039 MPN/g), and Listeria spp. occurred in 0.08% of samples (0.020 MPN/g), but L. monocytogenes was not detected. The PFGE assessment found a high diversity for all organisms. All EHEC PFGE patterns (22 of 22) were unique, and 39 of 47 Salmonella patterns (83%) were unique. These results indicate a diverse background of naturally occurring organisms. These findings suggest that the microbial contamination is coming from diverse sources and provide no evidence in support of a specific pathogen load. Altogether, our surveillance study shows that contamination of wheat with pathogens is clearly evident and poses a foodborne illness risk.

HIGHLIGHTS

Prevalence of Salmonella and E. coli in raw wheat emphasizes the need to cook wheat products.
3,891 grain samples were tested for E. coli and Salmonella; 1,285 were tested for Listeria.
Of wheat berries sampled, 0.44% were positive for E. coli and 1.23% were positive for Salmonella.
Salmonella diversity was high, indicating various animal sources that are difficult to prevent.
Cooking wheat products is the best preventative measure against foodborne illness from wheat.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O26, EHEC, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Salmonella, STEC, Uncategorized

USA – UNFI Recalls its Woodstock Frozen Organic Grilled Red Peppers Because of Possible Health Risk

Posted on June 21, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

FDA

Company Announcement

Out of an abundance of caution, UNFI is voluntarily recalling its 10 ounce packages of Woodstock frozen Organic Grilled Red Peppers because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes . Listeria monocytogenes is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infections can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The product comes in a 10 ounce plastic package marked with UPC code 4256301714, lot #60B, and an expiration date of April 2020 stamped on the back of the package and was distributed nationally to retail stores.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the lot number identified above. The production of the product has been suspended while RIDOH and UNFI continue to investigate.

Consumers who have purchased 10 ounce packages of Woodstock frozen Organic Grilled Red Peppers with the indicated lot code above, are urged to dispose of the product properly and may contact ResponseTeam@bluemarblebrands.com with any questions.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:: UNFI; ResponseTeam@bluemarblebrands.com

Media:: Jeff Swanson; 952-903-1645; Jeffrey.S.Swanson@unfi.com

Product Photos

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Posted in FDA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Technology, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Missouri Jack in the Box link in Hepatitis A scare

Posted on June 21, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

The Franklin County Health Department is planning mass vaccinations after learning an employee who works at the Jack in the Box located at the Bourbeuse River Access in Union, Missouri had Hepatitis A while serving customers.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said the employee handled food on June 9 and June 10.

Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver that can cause loss of appetite, nausea, tiredness, fever, and stomach pain. It’s usually spread when a person unknowingly ingests the virus from objects, food, or drinks that have been contaminated. Franklin County health officials have conducted several inspections of the Jack in the Box since the problem was discovered.

Health officials said it is uncommon for restaurant customers to become infected with Hepatitis A due to an infected food handler. However, anyone who consumed food or drinks at the restaurant on June 9 or June 10 is recommended to receive vaccination by June 23 as further protection from becoming ill.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Uncategorized

USA – Blackberries recalled over Norovirus

Posted on June 21, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal Norovirus Food Safety kswfoodworld

Alma Pak of Alma, Georgia is recalling specific lots of product containing frozen blackberries (noted below) due to the potential of being contaminated with Norovirus. FDA testing of frozen blackberries was reported to have tested positive for Norovirus.

Norovirus is a highly contagious virus. Consumption of product contaminated with Norovirus may cause acute onset of symptoms of gastroenteritis including severe nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Less common symptoms are low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. Although most symptoms end within 48 hours, the elderly, young children and immunocompromised persons may develop prolonged, or more severe symptoms.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Norovirus, Uncategorized

USA – New York Creamery recalls Cheeses over Listeria

Posted on June 21, 2019 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Journal

Cheese sold by Snow Farm Creamery at local markets has tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, according to a release from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Snow Farm Creamery Baby Swiss and Snow Farm Creamery Baby Swiss with Mustard Seed with a code “02 04 19” are all affected, but officials warn that if you do not know the code and purchased the cheese after April 24, you should not consume it.