Monthly Archives: March 2020

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Frozen Poultry meat – Frozen Chicken Inner Fillet – Chilled Turkey Meat – Skewer of Chicken and Turkey Slices – Chicken Leg Quarters – Ground Ginger – Black Pepper

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

RASFF – Salmonella (5 out of 5 samples /25g) in frozen chicken innerfillet from Brazil in the UK

RASFF – Salmonella (present /25g) in chilled turkey meat from Poland in Poland

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen skewer of chicken and turkey slices from Germany in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken leg quarters from Poland in Italy

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in ground ginger from the Netherlands in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen chicken fillets from Brazil in Finland

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in chilled chicken legs with skin from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF Alert -Animal Feed – Aflatoxin – Groundnut Kernels

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 64.8 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from India in the UK

RASFF Aleret – Animal Feed – Ergot Alkaloids – Triticale

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RASFF – ergot (Claviceps purpurea) alkaloids (3.5 g/kg) in triticale from France in Belgium

USA – Mountain Rose Herbs Recalls Organic Kudzu Root Herbal Supplement Due to Possible Health Risk

FDA

Mountain Rose Herbs (MRH) of Eugene, Oregon is recalling all sizes of its Organic Kudzu Root Herbal Supplement from Lot #24247-X and #24247 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The product comes in a clear plastic or poly-woven bag, net weight ranges from 4 oz. to 50 lbs., marked with lot #24247-XExternal Link Disclaimer and #24247External Link Disclaimer. The lot number is located on the principal display panel on the lower left of the label (see linked label examples).

The recalled Organic Kudzu Root Herbal Supplement was distributed to customers who ordered from mountainroseherbs.com, purchased at the company’s retail shop in Eugene, Oregon, or placed mail orders by phone or fax between the dates of 6/17/2019 to 3/2/2020. It is possible MRH customers also resold the Kudzu Root to their own clientele.

Mountain Rose Herbs also distributed product directly to customers in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY, British of Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec of Canada.

No illnesses have been reported to date. We are initiating this recall as a precautionary measure. The potential for contamination was noted after testing by the company revealed the presence of Salmonella in a portion of its ingredients in inventory. Production of the product has been suspended while we continue our investigation.

We conduct this recall with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers who have purchased the affected Kudzu Root are urged not to consume and should return product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact Mountain Rose Herbs at 1-800-879-3337 X.109, Mon-Fri, 8 am-4:30 pm PT, or at claims@mountainroseherbs.com.

Tanzania – Fast-Track East African Community Aflatoxin Law to End Toxic Menace

All Africa

The war on aflatoxins in East Africa is intensifying as member-states of the East African Community (EAC) strategise through regular consultative meetings on how best to surmount the malady in the region.

Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi which include – but are by no means limited to – ‘Aspergillus flavus’ and ‘Aspergillus parasiticus,’ that are abundant in warm and humid regions across the world. The highly-carcinogenic toxins are mostly found on agricultural crops such as maize, as well as cottonseeds, peanuts, cashew nuts, walnuts, pine nuts, coconuts, almonds, etc.

What with maize being a staple food in the region – and nuts being popular ingestibles for all age groups – aflatoxins are a huge threat to humanity. Hence the concerns and dire need to wipe out aflatoxins in our region and the African continent as a whole…

 

Kenya – Aflatoxin Levels in Maize Worry Kebs and Millers

All Africa

The Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) and millers have raised concerns over high levels of aflatoxin in maize.

They say most of the maize contains unacceptable levels of the toxin, making it unfit for human consumption.

Poor storage facilities and heavy rains in maize-growing zones have contributed to the problem, said Dr Henry Rotich, the director of meteorology and testing at Kebs.

“Regular inspections and tests for aflatoxin are carried out to ensure maize flour and other products meet recommended standards,” he said.

“In Kenya, the allowable aflatoxin level in maize is 10 parts per billion. Anything above that is unacceptable.”

USA – Listeria Outbreak linked to China Buffet in Alexandria, Minnesota

Food Poison Journal

Local and tribal health department: Please forward to hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, emergency departments, and convenience clinics in your jurisdiction.
Hospitals, clinics and other facilities: Please distribute to infection preventionists, internists, infectious disease doctors, OB-GYN physicians, family physicians, emergency department staff and all other health care providers who might see patients with bacteremia or meningitis.
Health care providers:
•Consider listeriosis in patients who present with compatible symptoms (listed below), especially among individuals who ate or may have eaten at China Buffet restaurant in Alexandria.
•Be aware that two cases of listeriosis have been identified in Minnesotans who ate at China Buffet in Alexandria on February 15; one was a previously healthy teenager.
•Report all cases with positive Listeria monocytogenes results (including both culture and culture-independent tests) to MDH at 1-877-676-5414 (toll-free) or 651-201-5414, and forward clinical specimens to the MDH Public Health Laboratory per normal reportable disease surveillance procedures.

Research – Compatibility of commercially produced protective cultures with common cheesemaking cultures and their antagonistic effect on foodborne pathogens

JFP

The documented survival of pathogenic bacteria including Listeria monocytogenes (LM), shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), and Salmonella during the manufacture and aging of some cheeses highlights the need for additional interventions to enhance food safety. Unfortunately, few interventions are compliant with the Standards of Identity for cheese. Protective bacterial cultures (PC) represent actionable, natural interventions. However, supportive data for commercially produced PCs regarding their efficacy against pathogens and potential antagonism with each other and cheesemaking cultures are scant, thereby impeding their potential use by the cheese industry. The overall objective of this study was to identify commercially produced PCs that exert antimicrobial activity towards pathogens with minimal impact on beneficial cheese microbes. Direct antagonism and agar well diffusion assays were used to determine the impact of 10 commercially produced PCs on the growth of starter cultures and cultures of ripening bacteria and fungi. Deferred antagonism was used to evaluate the potential for antimicrobial effects against LM, STEC, and Salmonella. PCs and starter cultures were co-cultured in UHT milk to determine the effects of co-culture on starter acidification profiles when incubated according to a simulated cheese-making temperature profile (4 h at 35°C followed by 20 h at 20°C). Compatibility assays suggest that PC antagonism is microbe and strain specific. Only one PC negatively impacted the acidification of the starters tested. PC antagonism of ripening bacteria and fungi growth varied but was consistent within species. All PCs displayed deferred inhibition of LM, STEC, and Salmonella growth but to varying degrees. These data identify commercial PCs with potential for the control of pathogens and characterize their compatibility with cheesemaking cultures for future use by cheesemakers and investigations of their efficacy in the production of cheese.

Research – Biofilm formation by South African non-O157 Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli on stainless steel coupons

NRC

This study examined the biofilm-forming ability of six non-O157 Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains: O116:H21, wzx-Onovel5:H19, O129:H21, O129:H23, O26:H11, and O154:H10 on stainless steel coupons after 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation at 22 °C and after 168 h at 10 °C. The results of crystal violet staining revealed that strains O129:H23 and O154:H10 were able to form biofilms on both the submerged surface and the air–liquid interface of coupons, whereas strains O116:H21, wzx-Onovel5:H19, O129:H21, and O26:H11 formed biofilm only at the air–liquid interface. Viable cell counts and scanning electron microscopy showed that biofilm formation increased (p < 0.05) over time. The biofilm-forming ability of non-O157 STEC was strongest (p < 0.05) at 22 °C after 48 h of incubation. The strongest biofilm former regardless of temperature was O129:H23. Generally, at 10 °C, weak to no biofilm was observed for isolates O154:H10, O116:H21, wzx-Onovel5:H19, O26:H11, and O129:H21 after 168 h. This study found that temperature affected the biofilm-forming ability of non-O157 STEC strains. Overall, our data indicate a high potential for biofilm formation by the isolates at 22 °C, suggesting that non-O157 STEC strains could colonize stainless steel within food-processing facilities. This could serve as a potential source of adulteration and promote the dissemination of these potential pathogens in food.

USA – Norovirus outbreak reported on Royal Caribbean’s Grandeur of the Seas

Outbreak News Today norovirus-1080x655

Federal health officials report investigating a norovirus outbreak onboard Royal Caribbean International vessel, Grandeur of the Seas.

The outbreak on the March 7–March 19, 2020 voyage has sickened 83 passengers and six crew members, who developed symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

Specimens have been collected, tested onboard, and found to be positive for norovirus. The specimens will be sent to CDC for genome sequencing.