Monthly Archives: September 2023

Hong Kong – Not to consume a kind of baby snack imported from UK suspected to be contaminated with Aflatoxin

Posted on September 5, 2023 by | Leave a comment

CFS

Issue Date 4.9.2023
Source of Information Routine Food Surveillance Programme
Food Product Baby snack
Product Name and Description Product name: Organic Blueberry Puffs (Little Bellies Organic Blueberry Puffs)
Brand: Baby Bellies
Place of origin: United Kingdom
Net Weight: 12 grams
Best-before date: April 4, 2024
Distributor: Woolies Limited
Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) collected the above-mentioned sample from an online vendor for testing under its routine Food Surveillance Programme. The test result showed that it contained aflatoxin B1 at a level of 0.14 micrograms per kilogram.
  • Under the Harmful Substances in Food Regulation (Cap 132AF), the maximum concentration for aflatoxin B1 in any other food intended to be consumed principally by persons under the age of 36 months other than infant formula and follow-up formula manufactured from milk protein is 0.1 micrograms per kilogram.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO)’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified naturally occurring aflatoxins as carcinogenic to humans, and the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives advised that intake of aflatoxins should be reduced to levels as low as reasonably possible although no health-based guidance value has been set. Aflatoxins can lead to liver cancer after long-term ingestion, and the risk for hepatitis B carriers is relatively high.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • The CFS has informed the online vendor and distributor concerned of the unsatisfactory test result.
  • The concerned vendor has stopped sales and removed the affected batch of product from shelves. The concerned distributor has initiated a recall according to the CFS’s instructions.
  • The CFS has alerted the trade and will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.
Advice to the Trade Stop using or selling the product concerned immediately.
Advice to Consumers
  • Not to consume the affected batch of the product if they have bought it.
  • To avoid excessive intake of mycotoxins, people should maintain a balanced and varied diet to minimise the risk from a small range of food items, and to avoid consuming food that looks mouldy or damaged.
Further Information The CFS press release

Members of the public may call its hotline at 2335 0511 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

Leave a comment

Posted in Aflatoxin, Aspergillus Toxin, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin

Luxembourg – Medium and large tellines sold in bulk on fish stalls – Presence of lipophilic toxins (DSP) exceeding the regulatory health threshold

Posted on September 5, 2023 by | Leave a comment

SAP

The following product is recalled in Luxembourg:

Consumption reminder
Name Medium and large tellina
Brand Bulk sale on Auchan fish market stall
Sales period 08/29/2023 – 09/01/2023

Danger  : Presence of lipophilic toxins (DSP) exceeding the regulatory health threshold

DSP toxins cause intoxication in consumers, the effects of which appear within 2 to 18 hours after ingestion of contaminated shellfish. The main symptoms are gastrointestinal: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and chills.

Sale confirmed in Luxembourg by: Auchan on fish stall .

A sale by other operators cannot be excluded.

Information Source: Recall Notification

Leave a comment

Posted in Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning, DSP, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Lipophilic Marine Biotoxin, Marine Biotoxin, Shellfish, shellfish toxin

Ireland – Recall of some batches of Lidl McEnnedy Corn Dogs due to Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on September 5, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FSAI

Alert Summary
Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2023.24
Product Identification: McEnnedy Corn Dogs; pack size: 530g
Batch Code Use by dates: 28.04.2024, 10.06.2024 and 10.08.2024
Country Of Origin: Germany

Message:

The above batches of McEnnedy Corn Dogs are being recalled by Lidl due the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale in Lidl stores.

Nature Of Danger:

Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.  In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly.  The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days.

Action Required:

Consumers:

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, FSAI, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes

The Netherlands – Safety warning ‘Corndogs’ from the MCennedy brand from Lidl (alert)- Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on September 5, 2023 by | Leave a comment

NVWA

Safety warning ‘Corndogs’ from the MCennedy brand from Lidl

Lidl warns against ‘Corndogs’ from the MCennedy brand. The bacterium Listeria monocytogenes has been found in corn dogs. This bacterium can pose serious health risks to people with low resistance, such as the sick, pregnant women, young children and the elderly. Do not eat the product!
See the Lidl website
Which product is it?

  • Corn dogs from the MCennedy brand
  • Expiration dates: 28-04-2024, 10-06-2024 and 10-08-2024

Yours sincerely

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, NVWA

Research – Vital Surveillances: Epidemiological Evaluation of Bacillus cereus-Induced Foodborne Outbreaks — China, 2010–2020

Posted on September 5, 2023 by | Leave a comment

China CDC

Abstract

IntroductionBacillus cereus (B. cereus) is a common gram-positive bacterium that contaminates starch-rich food and can cause outbreaks of foodborne diseases. This study describes the characteristics of outbreaks caused by B. cereus in China during 2010–2020 and explore the possible reasons for changes in the number of outbreaks over time. Results of this analysis can efficiently help guide and allocate public resources to prevent B. cereus-caused foodborne diseases

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacillus, Bacillus cereus, Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Poisoning

France – OLD-FASHIONED AC HAM COOKED IN A TOWEL – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on September 5, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Gov france

  • Product category Food
  • Product subcategory Meats
  • Product brand name TALLEC
  • Model names or references OLD-FASHIONED AC HAM COOKED IN A TOWEL
  • Product identification
    GTIN Batch Date
    3268680020474 02324109 Use-by date 01/10/2023
  • Start/end date of marketing From 08/29/2023 to 08/30/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to keep in the refrigerator
  • Health mark FR 29 004 023
  • Geographical sales area Whole France
  • Distributors Monoprix

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, food safety training, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria France, Listeria monocytogenes

France – Grillon Charentais – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on September 5, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Gov france

  • Product category Food
  • Product subcategory Meats
  • Product brand name EMMARY
  • Model names or references Grillon Charentais – Lot number: 080823
  • Product identification
    GTIN Batch Date
    2259623022151 080823 Use-by date 08/29/2023
  • Products List GRILLON_CHARENTAIS.pdfAttachment
  • Packaging vacuum pack
  • Start/end date of marketing From 08/10/2023 to 08/29/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to keep in the refrigerator
  • Health mark FR 17 028 002 EC
  • Geographical sales area Whole France
  • Distributors Saveurs d’Antoine U GAMM VERT Stores
  • List of points of sale List_of_Points_of_Sale.pdf

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria France, Listeria monocytogenes

If a Fly Lands in Your Drink, Should You Still Drink It?

Posted on September 4, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Science Alert

Despite their salubrious sounding name, fruit flies (Drosophila species),
eat food that is decaying. They inhabit rubbish bins, compost heaps or any place where food is present, including drains. Rotting food is rich in germs, any of which a fly can pick up on their body and transfer to where it next lands.

These bacteria include E coli, Listeria, Shigella, and Salmonella, any of which can cause a potentially serious infection in even healthy people. The fruit fly, you realise, may have just deposited potentially lethal microbes in your wine, so you toss it in the sink and pour a fresh glass.

However, the scientific evidence suggests you may have just wasted a good glass of wine. Wine has typically between 8 percent and 14 percent ethanol and has a pH of around 4 or 5 – a pH below 7 is considered acidic.

Alcohol is well known to be inhibitory to germs and is one reason wine can be stored for so long. Several laboratory studies have also shown that the combined effects of wine alcohol and organic acids, such as malic acid, can prevent the growth of E coli and Salmonella.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

India – 170 orphanage school students hospitalised with suspected food poisoning

Posted on September 4, 2023 by | Leave a comment

My Pune Pulse

Around 170 students at an orphanage school in Sangli, Maharashtra, were hospitalised on Monday following a suspected case of food poisoning.

They were admitted to the hospital, and their conditions are stable, an official said.

According to the information received, the affected children were students at Samata Ashram School in Umdi.

In Sangli, students in the age group of 5 to 15 complained of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea shortly after consuming dinner served by the school staff.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

USA – ShopRite link in 4 State Salmonella Outbreak linked to Ground Beef

Posted on September 4, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

State and local public health officials interviewed people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 16 people interviewed, 10 (63%) reported eating ground beef. Nine sick people reported purchasing the ground beef from ShopRite locations in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. Seven of these people specifically reported purchasing 80% lean ground beef products. Two people reported purchasing ground beef products from ShopRite but could not remember the type of ground beef. Epidemiologic showed that ground beef was the likely source of the outbreak.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that bacteria from sick people’s samples were closely related genetically. This suggested that people in this outbreak may have gotten sick from the same food.

Leave a comment

Posted in Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella