Monthly Archives: March 2020

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Groundnut Kernels – Peanuts – Capsicum – Dried Red Chillies – Date Syrup – Shelled Groundnuts

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RASFF  – aflatoxins (B1 = 38.1; Tot. = 42.2 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from the United States in Norway

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6.4) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 8.1; Tot. = 10 µg/kg – ppb) in peanuts from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 4.9; Tot. = 4.9 µg/kg – ppb) in blanched groundnut kernels from China in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 20; Tot. = 20 µg/kg – ppb) in capsicum from Sri Lanka in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 13.7; Tot. = 14.0 mg/kg – ppm) in dried red chillies from India in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (Tot. = 89.2 / Tot. = 82.4 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled groundnuts from Egypt in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 3.6; Tot. = 23. µg/kg – ppb) in date syrup from Tunisia in Belgium

Canada – Outbreak of Salmonella illnesses linked to raw turkey and raw chicken is over.

PHN

 

This is the final update for this outbreak investigation. The Public Health Agency of Canada collaborated with provincial and territorial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to raw turkey and raw chicken products. The investigation has been closed, however illnesses could still be reported because this Salmonella strain is present in some raw turkey and raw chicken products in the Canadian marketplace.

The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to remind Canadians to always handle raw turkey and raw chicken carefully, and to cook it thoroughly to prevent food-related illnesses like Salmonella. The Public Health Agency of Canada is not advising that consumers avoid eating properly cooked turkey or chicken products, nor is it advising retailers to stop selling raw turkey and raw chicken products.

The Public Health Agency of Canada collaborated with provincial and territorial public health partners, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada to investigate an outbreak of Salmonella infections.

Based on the investigation findings, exposure to raw turkey and raw chicken products was identified as the likely source of the outbreak. Many of the individuals who became sick reported eating different types of turkey and chicken products before their illnesses occurred. A single common supplier of turkey and chicken products was not identified through the investigation. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency did not issue any food recall warnings related to this outbreak. The Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency shared investigative findings with representatives from the turkey and chicken industries.

The investigation has been closed, however illnesses could still be reported because this Salmonella strain is present in some raw turkey and raw chicken products in the Canadian marketplace. The Public Health Agency of Canada will continue to monitor reports of illnesses and will provide updates in the future if there is an increase in newly reported cases or new investigation information is identified.

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Poultry Meat – Turkey Neck Skin – Chilli Powder – Chicken Legs – Turkey and Veal Kebab – Meatballs – Chicken Fillet – Goose Legs – Marinated Chicken Breast – Goose Breast – Turkey Fillet

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RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in chilled turkey neck skin in Poland

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

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in chili powder from India in Spain

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (in 5 out 5 samples /25g) in chilled boneless chicken legs from Poland in Poland

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken leg with skin on from Poland in Cyprus

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Derby (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Saintpaul (presence /25g) in turkey and veal kebab from Germany, with raw material from Germany and the Netherlands in Italy

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen meatballs from Belgium in Belgium

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

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in frozen legs of goose from Poland in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (in 2 out of 5 samples /25g) in frozen marinated chicken breast fillets from Germany in Italy

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (4 out of 7 samples /25g) in environment in egg laying facility from the United Kingdom in the UK

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen goose breasts from Poland in Germany

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

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken from Poland in France

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken breast from Hungary in Italy

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken meat from Poland in Italy

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken broiler fillets from Poland in Lithuania

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in chilled turkey fillet from Poland in Poland

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in frozen turkey fillets from Belgium, with raw material from Germany in Belgium

RASFF Alert – Listeria monocytogenes – Frozen Chicken Kebab – Bio Frozen Smoked Salmon

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RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (presence CFU/g) in frozen chicken kebab from Poland in Poland

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (presence /25g) in bio frozen smoked salmon from Poland in Cyprus

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Dried Figs – Dried Currants

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RASFF – ochratoxin A (19.9 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF – ochratoxin A (81.4 µg/kg – ppb) in dried currants from Greece, via Germany in Siwtzerland

RASFF Alerts – Norovirus – Raspberries – Oysters

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RASFF – norovirus (presence /25g) in raspberries from Serbia in Belgium

RASFF – norovirus (GII) in oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from Ireland in the Netherlands

RASFF – norovirus (GI and GII) in live oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from France in Italy

RASFF Alert – STEC E.coli – Organic Raw Milk Goats Cheese – Soft Cheese – Raw Milk Goats Cheese

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RASFF – shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (Stx1-, Stx2+, eae+, O103) in organic raw milk goat’s cheese from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF – shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx1+ stx2+ eae+ /25g) in soft cheese from Italy in the Netherlands

RASFF – shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx2a+ and stx2d+ /25g) in goat cheese with raw milk from France in Switzerland

 

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Dog Chews (dried tripe) – Organic Soyabean Cake – Soybean Meal

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RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Newport (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in dog chews (dried tripes) from India in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Tennessee (presence /25g) in organic soybean cake from China in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Liverpool (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Senftenberg (presence /25g) in soybean meal from Germany in Finland

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Hard-Boiled Eggs (December 2019) FDA’s investigation is complete. CDC announces outbreak is over.

FDA

March 4, 2020

Rainbow Farms Select Hard Cooked Peeled Eggs 20 lbs container

FDA, CDC, and state and local partners investigated an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to hard-boiled eggs produced by Almark Foods’ Gainesville, Georgia facility. Almark Foods announced an initial voluntary recall of hard-boiled and peeled eggs in pails on December 20, 2019, and then on December 23, 2019 expanded the recall to include all hard-boiled eggs produced at the Gainesville, Georgia facility. All recalled products are now past their “best by” dates.

CDC has announced this outbreak is over. FDA’s investigational activities, including an inspection, are complete. At this time, the firm is no longer producing products at this facility.

Recommendation

Recalled products are now past their “best by” dates and should be thrown away.

FDA recommends that food processors, restaurants and retailers who received recalled products use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces that may have come in contact with these products, to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

USA – Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Maine link in Listeria Egg Outbreak

Food Poison Journal

Eight ill with one death. As of March 4, 2020, this outbreak appears to be over.

A total of eight people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes were reported from five states.

Listeria specimens from ill people were collected from April 10, 2017, to December 7, 2019. Ill people ranged in age from less than 1 to 82 years, with a median age of 71. Sixty-two percent of ill people were male. Of seven ill people with information available, five hospitalizations were reported. One death was reported from Texas. One illness was reported in a newborn who was infected with Listeria while the mother was pregnant, but the newborn survived.

Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicated that hard-boiled eggs produced at the Almark Foods Gainesville, Georgia, processing facility were the likely source of this outbreak.