Monthly Archives: November 2019

Research – Bacterial contamination and prevalence of antimicrobial resistance phenotypes in raw fruits and vegetables sold in Delhi, India

Wiley Online

Fresh fruits and vegetables contaminated with microbial pathogens can cause outbreaks of food poisoning and other enteric diseases if consumed raw. The objective of the present study was to determine the bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistance in fresh produce sold in Delhi, India. One hundred fifty samples of fruits and vegetables generally consumed raw were collected from retail and wholesale vendors of Delhi‐NCR, India. Microbial contamination was studied by culturing 25 g of each sample. Antimicrobial resistance testing was performed for isolated pathogens and resistance phenotypes determined. Overall, 97.3% of fruit and vegetables sampled were contaminated with pathogens. In over 75% of samples, coliforms were detected with Escherichia coli in 17.4%. Majority of vegetables were contaminated with coliforms particularly ginger (100%), cabbage (80%), cucumber (75%), and tomato (75%). Extended spectrum beta‐lactamases (ESBL) was detected in eight (5.7%) isolates, carbapenem resistance in four with three metallo‐β‐lactamases producers. E. coli was isolated at a significantly higher rate from retail shops viz‐a‐viz wholesale markets (p value = .04). As high level of contamination with potential human pathogens is present in fruits and vegetables sold in wholesale markets and retail shops in Delhi‐NCR, the study underlines the need for stricter regulations and implementation of standards.

Research -Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli survives storage in wheat flour for two years

Science Direct

Abstract

Wheat flour has recently been recognised as an exposure vehicle for the foodborne pathogen Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Wheat flour milled on two sequential production days in October 2016, and implicated in a Canada wide outbreak of STEC O121:H19, was analysed for the presence of STEC in November 2018. Stored in sealed containers at ambient temperature, the water activity of individual flour samples was below 0.5 at 6 months post-milling and remained static or decreased slightly in individual samples during 18 months of additional storage. STEC O121 was isolated, with the same genotype (stx2aeaehlyA) and core genome multilocus sequence type as previous flour and clinical isolates associated with the outbreak. The result of this analysis demonstrates the potential for STEC to persist in wheat flour at levels associated with outbreak infections for periods of up to two years. This has implications for the potential for STEC to survive in other foods with low water activity.

USA – UNFI Voluntarily Recalls Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached – E.coli

FDA

UNFI announced today a voluntary national recall of five-pound bags of its Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached, with a Code of AA BEST IF USED BY 010820 CC 15:58 and UPC Code 711535509158. The recall is being issued for the potential presence of E. coli. During routine FDA sampling of the five-pound bag product, results were found to be positive for E.coli.

E. coli can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections in infants, older people, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. The most common symptoms of E. coli are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, which develop within three or four days of eating contaminated food. The illness usually lasts about a week and most people recover without treatment. Guidance from FDA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to warn that consumers should refrain from consuming any raw products made with flour and that all surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough.

To date, UNFI has not received any direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product. This recall is being issued out of an abundance of care.

This recall only affects the following code date of Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached five-pound bags currently in stores or consumers’ pantries. No other types of Wild Harvest® Flour are affected by this recall.

Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached (sample label below) Package UPC: 711535509158 Best if Used by Date: 010820 CC 15:58 (can be found on top of the product, see sample below)

Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the product affected by this recall. Consumers with questions may contact UNFI at 855-423-2630 (customer support is available seven days-a-week between 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM CST). Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

USA -Hodgson Mill Issues Voluntary Recall of Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour Due to Potential Presence of Pathogenic E.coli

FDA

Hodgson Mill of Effingham, IL, announced today a voluntary national recall of specific lots of its Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour (5 lb.)

We are taking this voluntary precautionary step because of the potential presence of pathogenic E. coli which was discovered through sampling raw uncooked flour. Hodgson Mill has not received any confirmed reports of illnesses related to this product.

The only product affected by this voluntary recall is:

Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour (5 lb.) UPC 0-71518-05009-2
Best By Date 10-01-2020 and 10-02-2020 with lot codes listed Lot# 001042 & 005517

Use By and Lot Code information can be found on the bottom back panel of the 5 lb. Bag. Used By date and Lot Code, along with their location on the bag, must all match in order to represent flour affected by this recall.

Consumer safety is our top priority. Hodgson Mill package states “do not eat raw flour, dough or batter”. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warns consumers to not consume raw flour or uncooked raw dough.

E. coli is killed by heat through baking, frying, sautéing, or boiling products made with flour. For more information, refer to the following: https://www.cdc.gov/features/no-raw-dough/index.html. Symptoms of pathogenic E. coli illness include acute, often bloody diarrheal illness and abdominal cramps. Most people recover within a week. However, children, the elderly, and immunosuppressed individuals may develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe illness which may cause the kidneys to fail.

Consumers are reminded to wash their hands, work surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after contact with raw dough products or flour, and to never eat raw dough or batter.

This lot of flour was milled at an ADM Milling Facility in St Louis, MO and repacked at Hodgson Mill, Inc. facility in Effingham, IL and was distributed by Hodgson Mill through retailers and distribution nationwide and sold through our website www.hodgsonmill.comExternal Link Disclaimer.

Consumers who have purchased 5 lb packages of Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour with specific lot codes are urged to stop using the product immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company customer service M-F 9am to 3pm at 1-888-417-9343 x 1.

Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Bakers have trusted Hodgson Mill flour products in their kitchens for many years and because of that trust we have issued this voluntary recall. We remain committed to providing our consumers safe and superior products.


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
 888-417-9343

Product Photos

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Sesame Seeds – Chilled Poultry Meat – Cumin – Minced Veal and Turkey Doner – Broiler Meat – Pre- Cooked Mussels – Chicken Cutlets – Chicken Breast – Almonds – Salted Chicken Breasts

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RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in chilled poultry meat from Poland in Poland

RASFF – Salmonella (present /25g) in cumin (Cuminum cyminum) from Syria in Spain

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in chilled broiler meat from the Netherlands in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in frozen minced veal and turkey doner from Belgium in Belgium

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

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in chilled poultry meat from Poland in Poland

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Paratyphi B (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in frozen pre-cooked mussels from Chile in Italy

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in frozen chicken cutlets from Poland in France

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in chilled chicken breast fillet from Poland in Poland

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella (present /125g) in almonds from the United States, packaged in Germany in Austria

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

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in chilled chicken breast fillets from Poland in Poland

RASFF Alert – Mycotoxin – DON – Wheat Bran

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RASFF – deoxynivalenol (DON) (1516 µg/kg – ppb) in wheat bran from Slovakia in Hungary

RASFF Alert – Moulds -Candies – Greek Yoghurt

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RASFF – candies from Ukraine infested with moulds (9500 CFU/g) in Estonia

RASFF – Greek yoghurt from Germany infested with moulds and with yeasts in the Netherlands

RASFF Alert – Bacillus cereus Enterotoxin – Pumpkin Seeds

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RASFF – Bacillus cereus enterotoxin (130000 CFU/g) in pumpkin seeds from China in the Netherlands

RASFF Alert – E.coli – Live Scallops

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RASFF – too high count of Escherichia coli in live scallops from France in the Netherlands

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Roasted Red Rice Flour – Shelled Nuts – Dried Figs – Groundnut Kernels – Roasted Hazelnut Kernels

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 15.6; Tot. = 19.0 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted red rice flour from Sri Lanka in Switzerland

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 12.89; Tot. = 14.42 mg/kg – ppm) in shelled nuts from Turkey in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 13.8 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6; Tot. = 26 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Slovenia

RASFF – aflatoxins (4.4 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Brazil in Spain

RASFF – aflatoxins (Tot. = 33.2 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 22.5; Tot. = 25.5 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted hazelnut kernels from Georgia in Bulgaria

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 17.5; Tot. = 39.4 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Denmark