Monthly Archives: April 2022

EU – 19 April update: Monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak

ECDC

As of 19 April 2022, an outbreak of 187 confirmed and probable cases of monophasic S. Typhimurium (cluster 1) has been identified in the EU/EEA and the United Kingdom.

Number of confirmed and probable cases* with monophasic S. Typhimurium infection by country, EU/EEA and the UK, as of 19 April 2022

The outbreak is characterised by an unusually high proportion of children being hospitalised, some with severe clinical symptoms such as bloody diarrhoea. Based on interviews with patients and initial analytical epidemiological studies, specific chocolate products have been identified as the likely route of infection. Affected cases have been identified through advanced molecular typing techniques. As this method of testing is not routinely performed in all countries, some cases may be undetected.

Product recalls have been launched globally and examples of these can be found on several countries web sites including BelgiumFranceGermanyIrelandLuxembourgNetherlandsNorway, and the UK. The recalls aim to prevent the consumption of products potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Further investigations are being conducted by public health and food safety authorities in countries where cases are reported, to identify the cause and the extent of the contamination, and to ensure contaminated products are not put on the market.

ECDC and EFSA published a rapid outbreak assessment on 12 April 2022. The second strain of monophasic S. Typhimurium in non-human samples (cluster 2), which is mentioned in the published ROA, was found matching with 23 human cases from Belgium (n=5), France (n=5), Germany (n=4), Ireland (n=1), the Netherlands (n=1), and the UK (n=7).

Questions regarding ongoing product recalls should be addressed to national food safety authorities.

Number of confirmed and probable cases* with monophasic S. Typhimurium infection (cluster 1) by country, EU/EEA and the UK, as of 19 April 2022

Country Confirmed cases Probable cases Total cases
Austria 5 1 6
Belgium 7 22 29
Denmark 1 0 1
France 37 0 37
Germany 11 3 14
Ireland 15 0 15
Luxembourg 1 1 2
Netherlands 2 0 2
Norway 1 0 1
Spain 1 2 3
Sweden 4 0 4
Total EU/EEA 85 29 114
United Kingdom 73 0 73
Total 158 29 187

*According to the European outbreak case definition

USA – Alabama warms of E. coli and Rotavirus cases in children

Food Poison Journal

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is investigating four cases of E. coli O157:H7 and two cases of Rotavirus in younger children in Northeastern Alabama. ADPH regularly investigates clusters and outbreaks of communicable diseases as required by Notifiable Disease Rules in Alabama.

In 2021, ADPH investigated 113 cases of E. coli, shiga toxin-producing illness (includes O157:H7). People of any age can become infected with this germ, but very young children and the elderly are more likely to develop severe illness and kidney problems than others.

UK – UKHSA update on Salmonella cases linked to confectionary products

Gov UK

Investigating an ongoing outbreak linked to certain Kinder products made by Ferrero. The majority of the cases are children under 5 years of age.

Latest

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is continuing to work with the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland – as well as international public health and food safety authorities – to investigate an ongoing outbreak of salmonella linked to certain Kinder products made in one of Ferrero’s factories, in Arlon, Belgium.

As of 20 April, there are 73 cases linked to this outbreak in the UK. The majority of the cases are children under 5 years of age.

We continue to remind people that a range of Kinder Egg products and Schoko-Bon’s should not be eaten.

Full details on the products affected and the recall can be found here.

Further information on case numbers in all affected countries can be found at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

Previous

15 April 2022

As we enter the bank holiday weekend, the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) are strongly reminding people that a range of Kinder Egg products and Schoko-Bon’s should not be eaten.

The agencies are continuing to work with Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland – as well as international public health and food safety authorities – to investigate an ongoing outbreak of salmonella linked to certain Kinder Egg product ranges and Schoko-Bons produced at one of the Ferrero company’s factories, in Arlon, Belgium.

Full details on the products affected and the recall can be found here.

As of 15 April, there are 70 cases linked to this outbreak in the UK. The majority of the cases are in children under 5 years of age.

Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said:

We’re reminding people of the recall this bank holiday weekend as it’s possible these products have been bought and stored as gifts, or for events such as Easter trails.

It’s crucial these products are not eaten and are discarded. Salmonella infection can be severe and many children affected in this outbreak have been very unwell and hospitalised, so anyone giving chocolate products to friends or family should take extra care to ensure their Easter gifts are not amongst those products recalled.

Thank you to parents and guardians  who worked with us and other public health authorities in the UK to tell us what their children had eaten prior to becoming unwell – this allowed us to rapidly pinpoint a potential source of infection and helped food chain investigations both in this country and in Europe. We understand this has been a worrying time for these families, and their responses have helped to prevent more children and vulnerable adults being affected.

Emily Miles, Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency, said:

As we go into the Easter weekend, we are strongly urging consumers to follow the advice in the latest recall notice and to check any Kinder products they might have already bought against the list detailed in the notice, as they may pose a risk to health. If they do have any products on the list, they should not eat them and should discard them immediately.

We have emphasised to the business and the authorities in Belgium the importance of taking a precautionary approach to their recall and trust that they will continue to put consumers’ needs first in any action they take.

Symptoms of salmonellosis – or infection with salmonella – typically resolve themselves within a few days. However, symptoms can be more severe, especially in young children, those who are pregnant and those with weakened immune systems.

Anybody with concerns that they have symptoms of salmonellosis should contact their GP or call NHS 111. Salmonella can be spread from person to person as well as from food, so anyone affected should adhere to good hygiene practices, such as washing hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and avoiding handling food for others where possible, if you have symptoms.

The following products have been recalled and regardless of best-before date, should not be eaten.
The recall includes:

  • Kinder Surprise 20g and 3x 20g
  • Kinder Surprise 100g
  • Kinder Egg Hunt
  • Kinder Mini Eggs
  • Kinder Schoko-Bons

13 April 2022

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is continuing to work with the Food Standards Agency, Food Standards Scotland, Public Health Scotland, Public Health Wales, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland – as well as international public health and food safety authorities – to investigate an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella linked to certain Kinder products produced by the Ferrero Group.

Full details on the products affected and the recall can be found here.

As of 13 April, there are 67 cases linked to this outbreak in the UK. The majority of the cases are in children under 5 years of age.

Dr Lesley Larkin, Surveillance Lead, Gastrointestinal Pathogens and Food Safety (One Health) at UKHSA, said:

We would like to thank all the parents who worked with us and other public health authorities in the UK to tell us what their children had eaten prior to becoming unwell – they allowed us to rapidly pinpoint a potential source, which facilitated food chain investigations both in this country and in Europe. We understand this has been a worrying time for these families, and their responses have helped to prevent more children being affected.

Symptoms of salmonellosis typically resolve themselves within a few days. However, symptoms can be more severe, especially in young children, those who are pregnant and those with weakened immune systems.

Anybody with concerns that they have symptoms of salmonellosis should contact their GP or call NHS 111. Salmonella can be spread from person to person as well as from food, so anyone affected should adhere to good hygiene practices, such as washing hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and avoiding handling food for others where possible, if you have symptoms.

Belgium – Product Recall: Several Kinder chocolates – Salmonella

AFSCA

04/22/2022 (Product Recall Update 04/08/2022)
Ferrero
Product Recall: Several Kinder chocolates.
Problem: Possible presence of Salmonella.


FERRERO RECALLS THAT KINDER SCHOKOBONS SHOULD NOT BE CONSUMED. REGARDLESS OF THE EXPIRY DATE , LOT NUMBER OR PACKAGING SIZE Ferrero wishes to draw attention to the possible presence, albeit small and unlikely, of Kinder Schokobons of different sizes than those usually present

on the Belgian market, because they would be imported from foreign markets. These products, also produced in the Arlon factory, should not be consumed.

Kinder Schokobons and Kinder Happy Moments, all formats combined, were withdrawn from the market on April 8th. Since then, Ferrero and the distributors have made every effort to ensure that the products withdrawn from the market no longer circulate and are no longer available for sale, under the control of the FASFC.

However, it seems that certain formats of Schokobons, usually not distributed in Belgium, are present in minute quantities on the market and this, following import practices, not controlled by Ferrero Belgium.

The full product list is below.

Product Weight
Kinder Surprise Maxi 100g
Kinder Surprise 1 x 20g
Kinder Surprise 3 x 20g (60g)
Kinder Surprise 4 x 20g (80g)
Kinder Schokobons WHITE All weights _
Kinder Schokobons All weights _
Kinder Mix Plush 133g
Kinder Mix Advent Calendar 127g
Kinder Mini Eggs Hazelnut 100g
Kinder Mini Eggs Mix 250g
Kinder Happy Moments All weights _

We advise consumers who have purchased the products concerned by the recall, not to consume them and to return them to the store where they purchased them in order to be reimbursed. He can also contact Ferrero’s consumer service for any questions on this subject or to obtain a refund at the following address Consumer.Service.benelux@ferrero.com or on the number 0800 21042 .

We reassure our consumers that all other products in the Kinder range are perfectly safe to eat: Kinder Bueno, Kinder Chocolat, Kinder Maxi, Kinder Country, Kinder Cards, Kinder Joy, Kinder Tranche au Lait, Kinder Pingui, Kinder Choco Fresh and Kinder Délice can be consumed with confidence.

We would like to thank the distributors and the authorities for their collaboration. We take food safety very seriously and all actions we take are guided by our commitment to consumers.

Belgium – PORK HEAL 200G from the Delhaize brand – Listeria monocytogenes

AFSCA

Delhaize recall
Product: PORK HEAL 200G from the Delhaize brand.
Problem: Possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
Delhaize asks its customers not to consume and to bring the products below back to the store.

In collaboration with the FASFC, Delhaize has decided to withdraw these products from the market and to recall them from consumers due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.


Product info:

Name: PORK HEAL 200G
Brand: Delhaize
EAN code: 5400112720066
Expiry date (BID): 02/05/2022 to 07/05/2022
Marketing period: from 08/04/2022 to 22/04/2022 included

Every day, Delhaize performs hundreds of internal quality controls to guarantee the quality and food safety of its products at all times.

In the meantime, Delhaize has already taken all affected products off the shelves and tightened checks on the product and the supplier. Customers who have purchased this product are asked not to consume it. Customers have the option of returning the product in question to the point of sale where they purchased it. Reimbursement for each affected item is guaranteed.

Other products of the same assortment are not affected and can therefore be consumed in complete safety. Delhaize would like to apologize for the inconvenience caused.

Advice and information for consumers:

What if you have already purchased the product?
Do not consume the product and return it to your Delhaize store. The products will be refunded to you.

For further information , customers can contact our Customer Service on the free number 0800/95 713 .

USA – SCPA closed Friday after nearly 300 cases of norovirus reported

Cincinnati.com

Cincinnati’s School for the Creative and Performing Arts was closed Friday after officials said nearly 300 cases of norovirus were reported this week.

Principal Michael Owens sent a message to students, families and staff Thursday evening, stating the Cincinnati Health Department recommended the closure. The illness at the nearly 1,400 student school was not linked to the cafeteria, Owens wrote.

Luxembourg – ALBURJ BRAND HALVA – Salmonella

SAP

The Luxembourg food safety authorities are recalling the following product:

name halvah
Brand Alburj
Unity 6x 800g
bar code 6217000020486
Date of minimum durability (MDD) 09.07.2022

Danger  : Possible presence of salmonella

Salmonella can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever and headache within 6 to 72 hours after consumption. These symptoms may be aggravated in young children, immunocompromised subjects and the elderly. People who have consumed these products and have these symptoms are invited to consult a doctor and report this consumption to him.

Source of information: RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed)

Communicated by: Government Commission for Quality, Fraud and Food Safety .

Luxembourg – DELHAIZE BRAND PORK HEAD – Listeria monocytogenes

SAP

Delhaize recalls the following product:

name pork head
Brand Delhaize
Unity 200g
bar code 5400112720066
Use-by date (DLC) 02/05/2022 – 07/05/2022
Sale period from 08/04/2022 to 22/04/2022 inclusive

Danger: Presence of Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes can cause fever, headache and gastroenteritis. Vulnerable people such as immunocompromised and elderly people and young children may present with neurological symptoms due to meningitis. Pregnant women should also be especially alert to these symptoms. Gastroenteritis can appear between a few hours and 3 days after consumption, while neurological symptoms can only appear after 3 months. People who have consumed these products and have these symptoms are invited to consult a doctor and report this consumption to him.

Sale in Luxembourg by: Delhaize

Source of Information: Delhaize Recall Notification

Communicated by: Government Commission for Quality, Fraud and Food Safety .

Canada – Update – Various poppy seeds recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Product
Various poppy seeds
Issue
Food – Microbial Contamination – Salmonella
What to do

Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute the recalled products

Issue

Industry is recalling various poppy seeds from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.

The recalled products have been sold as indicated in the table.

Canada – Update – Various poppy seeds recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Product
Various poppy seeds
Issue
Food – Microbial Contamination – Salmonella
What to do
Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute the recalled products

Industry is recalling various poppy seeds from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.

The recalled products have been sold as indicated in the table.