The Singapore Food Agency (SFA)’s mission is to ensure and secure a supply of safe food for Singapore. Food security is an existential concern for Singapore.
We import more than 90% of the food we consume, making it impossible for us to insulate ourselves from global food supply shocks. In recent years, Singapore experienced first-hand the effects of supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, geopolitical disruptions and policy decisions taken by foreign governments.
SFA works closely with government agencies, businesses and consumers to manage food security risks, and transform the agri-food sector to be more productive, climate resilient and resource efficient.
To safeguard Singapore’s food security, SFA adopts a multi-pronged approach which includes diversifying food import sources, increasing local production and growing food overseas. SFA also has in place an integrated farm-to-fork food safety system to ensure that food for sale in Singapore is safe for consumption.
SFA’s food safety takes a risk-based approach that is guided by science and aligned to international standards. This Singapore Food Statistics publication describes the developments in Singapore’s food supply and food safety situation in 2022. 3SINGAPORE FOOD STATISTICS 2022
The Ministry of Health (MOH), the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), and the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) are investigating three incidents of gastroenteritis reported at MindChamps preschools (MindChamps Preschool @ Bishan, MindChampsPreschool@ Changi Airport and MindChampsPreschool@ Tanglin).
As of 12pm, 30 May 2023, a total of 89 persons (79 children and 10 staff) reported gastroenteritis symptoms after consuming food prepared by Nosh Cuisine Pte Ltd between 17 May and 29 May 2023. Six were hospitalised and are in stable condition. The rest had either sought outpatient treatment, self-medicated, or recovered without treatment.
Potential Contamination with Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:
Cricket Creek Farm, LLC
Brand Name:
Cricket Creek Farm
Product Description:
Sophelise Cheese and Tobasi Cheese
Company Announcement
Cricket Creek Farm of Williamstown, MA is recalling 165 units of Sophelise cheese and 149 pounds of Tobasi cheese because it has the potential to be contaminated with 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, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
Sophelise and Tobasi were distributed in Massachusetts and New York through Wild Oats, Williamstown, MA; Provisions Williamstown, Williamstown, MA; McEnroe Organic Farm Market, Millerton, NY; New Lebanon Farmers Market; New Lebanon, NY, at restaurants, and farmers markets.
Sophelise product code: 087055 is a washed, pasteurized milk cheese with a soft rind and pinkish hue; the circular cheese measures 4 inches in diameter and roughly 1 inch tall. It is sold in semi-transparent packaging with a round blue label. Sophelise was distributed between March 29, 2023 and May 26, 2023.
Tobasi with a product label of 315, 341, 048 is a washed raw-milk cheese with an orange rind and creamy interior. When sold retail by Cricket Creek Farm, it is wrapped in clear packaging with a gray and orange label. When sold at retail stores, it is sold in small rectangular cuts. When sold wholesale, the cheese is a square format roughly 8”x8” and 1.25 inches tall. These batches of Tobasi were distributed between March 26, 2023, to May 26, 2023.
One hospitalization due to Listeria monocytogenes has been reported to date. Following this customer notification of illness, products purchased by this individual were tested by Biotrax Testing Laboratory and the current batch of Sophelise was determined to be positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The three batches of Tobasi are being recalled due to their proximity during storage to the exposed product.
Consumers who have purchased Sophelise, with product code 087055 or Tobasi cheese 315, 341, 048 on or after March 26, should not consume or distribute the product, and they are urged to return any remaining product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company 8:00am – 5:00pm EST Monday – Friday at info@cricketcreekfarm.com or 413-458-5888.
Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish.
Note, cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin.
Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.
Symptoms
Symptoms typically appear between 10 minutes and 3 hours after ingestion and may include:
numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, and extremities (hands and feet)
difficulty swallowing or breathing
dizziness
headache
nausea
vomiting
diarrhoea
paralysis and respiratory failure and in severe cases, death.
Other information
Paralytic shellfish toxins have been detected in shellfish from the Kaipara Harbour at levels over the safe limit of 0.8mg/kg set by MPI. Ongoing testing will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly.
Map of the affected area
Map of affected area from Rarangi to Rununder Point, Port Underwood area in Marlborough.
Two men have been handed suspended prison sentences of six months in the Netherlands for their roles in the sale of Salmonella contaminated eggs.
The director and a manager at the implicated company were also ordered to do 200 hours of community service. Both men, aged 43 and 51, are still working in the poultry sector.
This company was fined €80,000 ($86,000), which was lower than the €140,000 ($150,400) asked for by the Public Prosecution Service (OM). The court in Zwolle said this was because of the considerable time that had passed since the incident.
The business was found guilty of placing eggs contaminated with Salmonella on the market when it knew this was harmful to health and concealing this information from customers.
Exclusive research carried out by ITV News and Watershed Investigations found some shellfish areas have seven times the E. coli levels deemed safe for eating. See the video at the link above.
Families visiting farms and petting zoos this summer are being urged to protect themselves following a rise in infections.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning about gastrointestinal infections such as salmonella, cryptosporidium and e.coli.
They can all be passed from farm animals to humans, causing illness.
There have already been 92 cases of cryptosporidium in the east of England so far this year, 14 more than in all of 2022.
So the UKHSA is urging anyone visiting a farm to remember the importance of thoroughly and frequently washing hands to avoid getting the bugs, which can make you seriously ill.
QUEBEC CITY , May 29, 2023 /CNW/ – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the Food Inspection Division of the City of Montreal and the company Del Monaco , located at 2968, boulevard Saint-Charles , in Montreal ( Kirkland ), warns the public not to consume the product indicated in the table below, because this food is likely to contain the bacterium E. coli .
Product name
Format
Affected lot
“alfredo rosso sauce”
500ml
BEST BEFORE 09 NOV. 2023
The product that is the subject of this warning was offered for sale until May 24, 2023, and only at the establishment designated above. The product was packaged in a plastic container with a transparent snap-on lid and sold frozen. The product label included, in addition to its name, the words “www.delmonaco.ca”.
The operator is voluntarily recalling the product in question. It has agreed with MAPAQ and the Food Inspection Division of the City of Montreal to distribute this warning as a precautionary measure. In addition, people who have this product in their possession are advised not to consume it. They must return it to the establishment where they bought it or throw it away. Foods contaminated with E. coli bacteria do not necessarily show any visible spoilage or suspicious smell, but can still make a person who eats them sick. The possible symptoms are as follows: nausea, vomiting, more or less acute abdominal cramps and watery or bloody diarrhea.
It should be noted that no case of illness associated with the consumption of this food has been reported to MAPAQ to date.
