The factories that process our food and beverages (newsflash: no, it doesn’t come straight from a farm) have to be kept very clean, or we’d all get very ill, to be blunt. Ensuring that usually entails deploying petri-dish-based microbiological monitoring, hardware and waiting for tests to return from labs. A new startup has plans to use deep-learning algorithms to speed up this process.
Spore.Bio is a French startup that has developed a new pathogen-detection methodology. It works by shining an optical light on surfaces where clean food has been, and doing the same with unclean food. It then compares the two datasets to detect when a surface is not clean.
Off the back of this solution, it’s now raised €8 million in pre-seed funding led by London’s LocalGlobe VC. Also participating was EmergingTech Ventures, No Label Ventures, Famille C (Clarins Family Office), Better Angle, Plug & Play Ventures, Entrepreneur First, Kima Ventures, Raise Sherpas, Fair Equity, Sharpstone Capital and angels.
Scientists from the University of the Philippines (UP) are gently reminding the public to thoroughly wash and cook their market-bought fresh produce and seafood as a precautionary measure against parasites.
The parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, called Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), is one of the most infectious parasites in the world: it affects almost a third of the world’s population, most especially vulnerable groups such as the pregnant and immunocompromised. While most people infected with the disease do not present any symptoms, some may suffer flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and muscle aches. But in severe cases, toxoplasmosis can cause inflammation of the brain and blurry vision. Infected parents’ newborn infants may suffer from excessive fluid in the brain and developmental issues. Fortunately, treatments are available for toxoplasmosis, hence symptomatic individuals are advised to seek timely medical attention.
Cielo Emar M. Paraoan, Ren Mark D. Villanueva, and Marie Christine M. Obusan of the UP Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB) found that T. gondii is fairly common in vegetables and oysters that they sampled from local markets in Central Luzon. Among the vegetables tested were lettuce, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, and mung bean sprouts.
Posted in 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 Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Research, Toxoplasma gondii, Toxoplasmosis
Product category
Food
Product subcategory
Milk and dairy products
Product brand name
TOMME OF BAZAS
Model names or references
portions of tomme de bazas sold in the packaged fresh cheese section during the period from 11/25/2023 to 12/10/2023
Product identification
GTIN Date
0200531000000 Use-by date 10/12/2023
Packaging
portions of approximately 200g
Start/end date of marketing
Of 11/25/2023 At 10/12/2023
Storage temperature
Product to keep in the refrigerator
Further information
Portions sold only in the fresh-packaged cheese section between 11/25/2023 and 12/10/2023
Geographical sales area
Intermarché of Saint-Symphorien 33113
Distributors
Only the Intermarché store in Saint-Symphorien Route de Sore 33113
Posted in food recall, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, product recall, Recall
Product category
Food
Product subcategory
Meats
Product brand name
SVA JEAN ROZE
Model names or references
Minced meat SVA JEAN ROZE on request
Product identification
Batch
B146000005810
Packaging
BULK BUTCHER
Start/end date of marketing
Of 11/21/2023 At 07/12/2023
Storage temperature
Product to keep in the refrigerator
Geographical sales area
INTERMARCHE SELONCOURT
Distributors
INTERMARCHE 28 RUE DU GENERAL LECLERC 25230 SELONCOURT
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
Product category
Food
Product subcategory
Meats
Product brand name
On-site manufacturing
Model names or references
Provencal pork crepinette
Product identification
GTIN
0201890000000
Packaging
Product sold individually in the Traditional butcher section
Start/end date of marketing
Of 08/12/2023 At 09/12/2023
Storage temperature
Product to keep in the refrigerator
Further information
Raw Provencal pork crepinette
Geographical sales area
Leclerc Trélissac
Distributors
Leclerc Trélissac
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 training, Food Testing, Salmonella
WRAL News reports that as of today there are now 241 complaints from people who ate at Sushi Nine since November28, the date the first customers became ill. Since WRAL News first reported the outbreak on Nov. 30, three stool samples collected from complainants have tested positive for norovirus, a contagious virus that causes vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain, among other symptoms.
Campylobacter in oysters from the Netherlands in Belgium
Posted in Campylobacter, 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, RASFF
Mycotoxins in pistachios from the USA, via Germany in the Netherlands
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 Poisoning, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Food Toxin, mold, Mold Toxin, Mycotoxin, RASFF
FoodWorld 