Monthly Archives: March 2022

RASFF Alert – Vibrio vulnificus – Shrimp

RASFF

Vibrio vulnificus – Shrimp from Ecuador in France

RASFF Alert – Norovirus – Oysters

RASFF

Norovirus in oysters from France in Italy

RASFF Alert – Listeria monocytogenes- Raw Milk Cheese – Smoked Salmon – Smoked Fish – Herring Fillet in Oil

RASFF

Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk cheese from France in Belgium

RASFF

Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Spain in Portugal

RASFF

Listeria monocytogenes in chilled smoked salmon from Germany in Portugal

RASFF

Listeria monocytogenes in smoked fish from France in Switzerland

RASFF

Listeria monocytogenes in Herring fillet in oil from the Netherlands in Germany

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Polish Chicken Products – Black Pepper – Mechanically Recovered Meat – Ground Ginger – Eggs

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in chilled chicken breast from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF

Withdrawal of eggs from Poland due to contamination of Salmonella Enteritidis in Hungary

RASFF

Salmonella in mechanically separated meats ( MSM )from Poland in Italy

RASFF

Salmonella Teshie in ground ginger from Poland in UK and Latvia

RASFF

Salmonella in Brazilian black pepper in the Netherlands

RASFF

Salmonella Infantis in chilled chicken breast fillet from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF

Salmonella infantis in fresh chicken wings from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF

Presence of Salmonella in ground black pepper from Spain in Portugal

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Organic Black Mulberries – Curry Powder – Pistachios – Peanuts – Pakistan Rice – Groundnuts – Hazelnuts – Melon Seeds – Dried Figs

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 and Aflatoxin total in Organic Black Mulberries from Turkey in Germany, Netherlands and Norway

RASFF

Elevated levels of aflatoxins in curry powder from Turkey in Germany

RASFF

Aflatoxins over the limits in Pistachios from United States in Italy

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 in Organic Egyptian Peanut kernels Blanched after further treatment in the Netherlands

RASFF

Aflatoxin in Pakistan Rice in the Netherlands

RASFF

Aflatoxins in Pakistani Super Basmati Brown Rice(Husked Rice) Crop 2020-2021 in the Netherlands

RASFF

Aflatoxins in organic groundnuts in shell from Egypt in Italy

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 (sample A: 3,37 +/- 0,51, sample B: 3,32 +/- 0,50 µg/kg) in organic groundnuts from Egypt in Poland

RASFF

Aflatoxins in hazelnut kernels from Azerbaijan in Italy

RASFF

Aflatoxin in Indian groundnuts in Netherlands and Switzerland

RASFF

Aflatoxins above legal limits in shelled pistachios from Turkey, origin Iran in Turkey and Italy

RASFF

Aflatoxins (B1 72.1±9.0 – Sum 80.1±9.0) above the maximum limits allowed in shelled Pistachios from USA in Italy

RASFF

Aflatoxins in melon seeds from China, via Netherland in Germany

RASFF

Aflatoxins in Pistachio kernels from the United States in Turkey and Germany

RASFF

Aflatoxins in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Organic Soya Press – Raw Cat Petfood

RASFF

Salmonella Abaetetuba in organic soya press cake from China in Belgium, Germany and Netherlands

RASFF

Salmonella Infantis in raw petfood for cats from the Netherlands in Belgium and France

Columbia – Authorities investigate alleged food poisoning in two schools in Boyacá

D1 Softball News

This March 6, the Secretary of Health of Boyacá, Luz Marina Estupiñán, announced that a series of investigations are being carried out on the intoxications that occurred in the municipal schools of Sáchica and Belén, on March 3 and 4.

The official told Caracol Radio that there were 16 children who were poisoned with food and had to be taken to the Villa de Leyva health centers “The children reported abdominal pain, vomiting and headaches from the Nueva Granada institution,” she said.

The technical team travels to inspect the hygienic-sanitary situation in the place where the events occurred, background versions are verified where the directors and coordinators state that when classes start on March 3, in the morning hours, the children requested permission to be absent from the classrooms because they felt abdominal pain

Likewise, the authorities took samples from the dining room of the School Feeding Program (PAE) and gave a favorability rating greater than 77.5%, but they continue to track foods such as powdered milk, the same one that was served to intoxicated minors.

“We do not know specifically the real cause if it was the food consumed or the powdered milk, we are doing the traceability of previous events,” Estupiñán signed.

In addition, samples were taken of the water used to cook and the boiled water consumed by minors. For now, the children are recovering satisfactorily and have been discharged as they show improvement in their health.

USA – Felix Custom Smoking Enjoined From Distributing Seafood Products – Listeria

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Felix Custom Smoking has been enjoined from distributing seafood products through a consent decree filed on March 9, 2022 by the FDA and the U.S. Justice Department. The owner of that establishment, Diane Zollinger, has allegedly violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) by distributing “adulterated ready-to-eat seafood products, including fish jerky and cold- and hot-smoked salmon,” according to the complaint.

The business sells products directly to consumers from its location and through farmers markets, as well as providing custom processing for fishermen and other wholesalers. The facility is located in Monroe, Washington. The claims made in the complaint are allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trail, the government must prove by a preponderance of the evidence.

FDA inspectors visited the facility in 2021 and found “a significant infestation of flies and other filthy conditions that can create an ideal environment for the growth of harmful bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes,” according to the complaint. The FDA took multiple samples at the facility and confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in and around food preparation areas.

Genetic testing showed that the same strain of Listeria Monocytogenes had been present in the facility since at least 2018, and a sample of seafood from one of the company’s customers also showed the same strain of Listeria, according to the complaint. FDA issued a public health alert against purchasing or eating Felix Custom Smoking seafood products on August 27, 2021

The injunction requires the company to eliminate Listeria monocytogenes at their facility, make sanitation improvements, and comply with federal food safety regulations before processing or distributing any more seafood.

USA – FDA Core Investigation Table

FDA

Date
Posted
REF Pathogen
Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses

(if any)
Total
Case Count

Status
Outbreak
Status
2/17/

2022

1056 Cronobacter
sakazakii
Powdered
Infant
Formula
See
Advisory
Active Ongoing
See
Advisory
2/9/

2022

1040 Listeria
monocytogenes
Not Yet
Identified
14 Active Ongoing
See Advice
2/2/

2022

1054 Enteroinvasive
E. coli
O143:H26
Not Yet
Identified
16 Closed Ended
See Advice
1/10/

2022

1050 E. coli
O121:H19
Romaine 4 Closed Ended
12/29/

2021

1052 E. coli
O157:H7
Packaged
Salad
See Outbreak
Advisory
Closed Ended
See Outbreak
Advisory
12/20/

2021

1039 Listeria
monocytogenes
Packaged
Salad
See Outbreak
Advisory
Closed Ended
See Outbreak
Advisory
12/15/

2021

1048 Listeria
monocytogenes
Packaged
Salad
See Outbreak
Advisory
Active Ongoing
See Outbreak
Advisory

New Zealand – Gopala brand Paneer – Listeria monocytogenes

MPI

10 March 2022: Gopals Sweets & Snacks Ltd is recalling all batches and all dates up to and including best before 05.05.22 of its Gopala brand Paneer due to the possible presence of Listeria.

Product identification
Product type Cheese
Name of product (size) Gopala brand Paneer (various weights between 300g and 1kg)
Date marking All dates up to and including best before 05.05.22
Package size and description The product is sold in various weights between 300g and 1kg in a plastic package.
Distribution The product was sold in supermarkets and ethnic grocery stores throughout New Zealand.

The product has not been exported.

Notes This recall does not affect any other Gopala brand products.

Consumer advice

Customers are asked to check the date mark printed on the back of the product packaging.

Affected product should be cooked thoroughly (piping hot all the way through). The affected product should not be consumed raw. If you are in any doubt please throw the product out or return it to the place it was purchased.

There have been two reports of illness which may have been associated with this product, however a definitive link between the two cases and the product has not been confirmed. If you have consumed any of this product and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.