Monthly Archives: September 2023

Canada – Ararat brand Tahina recalled due to Salmonella

Posted on September 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Gov france

Summary

Product
Tahina
Issue
Food – Microbial Contamination – Salmonella
What to do

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

Distribution
Ontario
Quebec
Ararat - Tahina - 600 g - Front
Ararat - Tahina - 600 g - Lot

The affected product is being recalled from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.

What you should do

  • If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider
  • Check to see if you have recalled products
  • Do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products
  • Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

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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, Salmonella, Salmonella Sesame Seeds, Salmonella Tahini

USA – Life Raft Treats has Expanded their Recalls of Ice Cream Products, Not Fried Chicken And Life Is Peachy, Due to Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination – Expanded Recall

Posted on September 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FDA

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – September 19, 2023 – Life Raft Treats is expanding their recall of their Not Fried Chicken 64 oz bucket, Not Fried Chicken 2.5 oz bar UPC 8 60006 18210 6 and Life Is Peachy 6 count box ice cream products, to include the BEST BY DATES up to and including AUG 08282024 due to a potential contamination of Listeria monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, a Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

On September 18, 2023, the firm was notified by South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) that they needed to include an additional lot of their Not Fried Chicken ice cream treat which also test positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The firm also decided to recall their Life Is Peachy Ice Cream treats because both products were manufactured in the same room.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

Products affected are:

Product Product UPC Use By Dates
LIFE RAFT TREATS
LIFE IS PEACHY		 6 COUNT NO UPC CODE Up to and
including
BEST BY
AUG 08282024
LIFE RAFT TREATS
NOT FRIED CHICKEN
ICE CREAM		 64 OZ BUCKET NO UPC CODE Up to and
including
BEST BY
AUG 08282024
LIFE RAFT TREATS
NOT FRIED CHICKEN
ICE CREAM		 2.5 OZ BAR 8 60006 18210 6 Up to and
including
BEST BY
AUG 08282024

See attached photos for product identification.

The recalling firm began shipping recalled products on 8/28/2023. These products were packaged in laminated buckets and plastic wrap and shipped via www.Goldbelly.comExternal Link Disclaimer online directly to consumers located in AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA & WI.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them and to return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund or they may discard the product. Consumers with questions may contact the firm via email recall@liferafttreats.com or telephone us at (843) 695-9806 M-F 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

Original Press Release

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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 Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria Ice Cream, Listeria monocytogenes

Sweden – Paulig recalls Santa Maria cheese sauce and cheese dip – Bacterium

Posted on September 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Livsmedelsverket

2023-09-22

Paulig is recalling Santa Maria Cheddar Cheese Sauce and Santa Maria Dip Nacho Cheese Style.

The recall of Santa Maria’s cheese sauce and cheese dip is done after the discovery of a bacterium in a batch of cheese sauce, and as a precautionary measure, Paulig is recalling all products where there may be a risk of bacterial presence.

More information about the recall from Paulig

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Posted in bacterial contamination

USA – Salmonella Outbreak in Campbellsville Kentucky

Posted on September 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

(Campbellsville, KY) – Due to multiple reports of illness, the Lake Cumberland District Health Department (LCDHD) and the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) are investigating a foodborne illness outbreak in Campbellsville, Kentucky. As of Friday, September 22, 2023, there have been 13 cases of illness reported. Six cases have been confirmed as Salmonella while the remaining seven are categorized as probable Salmonella.

According to the onset of symptoms, those who are ill were likely exposed between September 8-10, 2023. There have been no newly reported cases of illness within the past several days so it does not appear this is an ongoing outbreak.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Salmonella

Research – Determination of mycotoxins in nuts, cereals, legumes, and coffee beans and effectiveness of a selenium-based decontamination treatment

Posted on September 24, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Abstract

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used for the rapid quantification of multiple mycotoxins, specifically aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 (AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), and zearalenone (ZEN), in walnuts, pistachios, peanuts, coffee beans, rice, and chickpeas from various countries. Total counts of fungi, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus parasiticus were also assessed, along with the effectiveness of a decontamination treatment with inorganic selenium to reduce mycotoxin levels. Of the 78 samples tested, 69% were contaminated with mycotoxins. ZEN, the predominant mycotoxin contaminant, was detected in all the contaminated samples in concentrations often exceeding the maximum level, followed by AFG1 (28% of the contaminated samples), DON (22%), AFG2 (11%), and AFB1 (5.5%). The occurrence of aflatoxins was associated with high proportions of A. flavus and A. parasiticus. Complete removal of AFB1 from walnuts and DON from roasted coffee beans was achieved by treatment with aqueous selenium, while the levels of ZEN and AFG1 were respectively lowered by 65% to 89% depending on the commodity and by about 56% in roasted coffee beans. While this novel treatment is a promising approach for mycotoxin decontamination, it is not intended to replace safe practices upstream.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Animal Feed Mould Toxin, Aspergillus Toxin, deoxynivalenol, DON, Food Microbiology Research, Food Toxin, Fusarium Toxin, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, Ochratoxin A, Pet Food Aflatoxin, Research, Zearalenone

USA – BAM Chapter 5: Salmonella – Updated

Posted on September 23, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Editions

Current Edition

BAM Chapter 5: Salmonella (September 2023 Edition) in PDF

Previous Editions

To obtain a copy of a prior version not currently posted, please contact Thomas Hammack

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Posted in BAM, Salmonella

Research – Surface inoculation method impacts microbial reduction and transfer of Salmonella Enteritidis PT 30 and potential surrogates during dry sanitation

Posted on September 23, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Researchgate

Dry sanitation methods are often limited to physical removal strategies such as brushing or wiping with sanitary cleaning tools. However, the relative efficacy of these approaches to remove microbiota on surfaces, and the risk of transferring cells to other surfaces via the cleaning tool, is unclear. The effect of dry wiping with a single-use towel on the removal of four different bacteria (Salmonella Enteritidis, Enterococcus faecium, Listeria innocua, Escherichia coli) was investigated. We also quantified the number of cells transferred to the towel itself during dry cleaning. Three different surface inoculation methods (spot, glass bead, contaminated milk powder) were assessed and significantly impacted initial surface microbial load. Higher initial counts corresponded to lower transfer coefficients (e.g., proportion of transferred cells). The effect of bacterial identity was significant on reduction after dry wiping for all three inoculation methods. Moreover, both bacterial identity and inoculation method had significant effects on the number of cells transferred to the towel. In most scenarios, dry wiping resulted in a reduction <1.0 log CFU/coupon. Although, on surfaces inoculated via contaminated milk powder, reductions of up to 1.6 ± 0.3 log CFU/coupon were obtained. Overall, E. faecium transferred more readily to the towel. These results may help guide experimental design for future research on dry sanitation.

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Posted in Food Microbiology Research, Research, Salmonella

USA – Food truck implicated in outbreak

Posted on September 22, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

County officials are reporting an outbreak of gastrointestinal illnesses linked to a food truck in Kirkland, WA.

Thirty-four people reported having developed symptoms after consuming food from the food truck on Sept. 14. The truck was from Tacos El Guero and was catering a private event.

The symptoms mentioned by public health officials that were reported by those who became sick included diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and nausea. Anyone who has developed symptoms after eating at the restaurant’s food truck is asked to contact the public health department.

Officials with Public Health — Seattle & King County reported that the sick people developed symptoms the day after consuming food from the truck. The public health department did not report what event was involved.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak

USA – Salmonella Strikes Seattle Restaurant

Posted on September 22, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Public health officials are investigating an outbreak of Salmonella infections associated with CrackleMi Café in Seattle, WA.

The restaurant closed on Sept. 20 because of the outbreak and the results of an inspection.

There are currently three patients confirmed with lab testing. All three have the same strain of Salmonella and all three reported eating at the restaurant before becoming ill. The patients reported eating banh mi sandwiches made with pork, chicken and egg. The restaurant is located at 709 N 35th Street in Seattle.

All three people developed one or more symptoms consistent with salmonellosis, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, bloody stool, and fever.

The health department did not identify any ill employees.

Patients range in age from 23 to 38 years old. None have required hospitalization and none have died.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Salmonella

UK – CFA responds to ACMSF Report on Botulinum Neurotoxin-Producing Clostridia

Posted on September 22, 2023 by | Leave a comment

CFA

UK Government’s Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF), has been reviewing the risk basis of the FSA’s guidance on the control of non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum (npcb) in vacuum packed and modified atmosphere packed (VP/MAP) chilled foods. In June 2022 CFA Director Karin Goodburn presented evidence to the group (CFA News #58 & #59). ACMSF has now published its report on Botulinum Neurotoxin-Producing Clostridia. The report is available on on the ACMSF website.

CFA welcomes this Report, which not only updates the risk basis of the guidance but also extends the scope of interest to all Botulinum neurotoxin-producing Clostridia.

The Report reviews botulism incidents globally, noting they have only occurred in very rare occasions in chilled foods and only when not sold or stored chilled, and there is no correlation between the major growth in the chilled prepared food market and botulism.

Read more at the link above

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Posted in ACMSF, CFA, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Risk