Category Archives: Algal Toxin

British Virgin Islands- Ciguatera increase

Posted on June 16, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Authorities in the British Virgin Islands have issued a warning after a surge in Ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP) within the past few weeks.

Cases until the week of June 6 were sporadic, but within three weeks there have been eight confirmed infections with other suspected cases also being investigated.

National Epidemiologist Harmony Massiah said CFP is not uncommon in tropical and sub-tropical areas and is mainly associated with consumption of big coral reef fish like snapper, bass and perch that have accumulated ciguatoxin in the body.

Larger fish will have higher amounts of the toxin. Contaminated fish cannot be identified by appearance and the toxin cannot be destroyed by cooking or freezing.

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Biotoxin, Ciguatera, Ciguatera Poisoning, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Temperature Abuse, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Toxin

RASFF Alert – Algal Toxin – Okadaic Acid – DSP

Posted on May 28, 2021 by | Leave a comment

RASFF

HIGH LEVELS OF OKADAIC ACID IN MUSSEL FROM SPAIN in the UK

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning, DSP, food contamination, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Marine Biotoxin, okadaic acid, RASFF, Toxin

EU Research – Risk characterisation of ciguatera poisoning in Europe

Posted on May 26, 2021 by | Leave a comment

EFSA

The EuroCigua project main objective is to characterize the risk of Ciguatera Poisoning (CP) in Europe including several specific objectives: to determine the incidence of ciguatera in Europe and the epidemiological characteristics of cases; to assess the presence of ciguatoxin in food and the environment in Europe and to develop and validate methods for the detection, quantification and confirmation of the presence of ciguatoxin contaminated specimens.

This report compiles the activities carried out during the EuroCigua project from the signing in April 2016 until December 2020. The present document corresponds to Deliverable No. 6: “Final Scientific Report” on Risk characterization of ciguatera food poisoning in Europe of the Specific Agreement no. 1 “MANAGEMENT AND SCIENTIFIC COORDINATION” within the Framework Partnership Agreement GP/EFSA/AFSCO/2015/03 “Risk characterization of ciguatera food poisoning in Europe”.

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Ciguatera, Ciguatera Poisoning, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Food Toxin, Gambierdiscus, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Poisoning, Research, Toxin

France – Product recall: MAISON CHEVALLIER canned cooked meals – DSP

Posted on May 20, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Oulah

Product recall: MAISON CHEVALLIER canned cooked meals

ENCOUNTERED PROBLEM

Health risk, linked to the lack of stability test. (microbiological)
Marine biotoxins DSP (diarrheal toxins)
Manufacturing defect, sealing defect (ex: micro leaks, defective heat sealing) or packaging anomalies

PROPOSED SOLUTION

Do not consume and return to the point of sale for reimbursement

FURTHER INFORMATION

▸ Names of the models or references
• Country
pâté • Country pâté
• Rabbit terrine with prunes
• Rabbit terrine with duck foie gras • Pork terrine with duck
foie gras
• Lamb semolina
• Duck
parmentier • Diots crozets
• Quinoa salmon
• Sauerkraut
• Beef bourguignon
• Savoyard stew
• Blanquette of veal
• Chicken curry

▸ Packaging
Canned in glass

▸ Start date / End of marketing
From 12/01/2020 to 05/06/2021

▸ Health mark
FR 74 006 007 CE

▸ Geographical sales area
AIN (01), LOIRET (45), MARNE (51), SAVOIE (73), HAUTE-SAVOIE (74)

▸
MAISON CHEVALLIER – TRES ALPAIN distributors

▸ List of points of sale
Click here

▸ Consumer service contact
0450695241

▸ Source
SARL CHEVALLIER

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Biotoxin, food contamination, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Marine Biotoxin, Toxin

France – Product recall: Medium shells sold at retail – ASP Toxins

Posted on May 18, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Oulah

Product recall: Medium shells sold at retail

ENCOUNTERED PROBLEM

ASP marine biotoxins (amnesia toxins)

PROPOSED SOLUTION

Do not consume and bring back to the point of sale.

Food poisoning caused by these toxins results in digestive disorders (vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea) within 2 to 24 hours of ingestion of the contaminated shellfish. These disorders may be followed by feelings of dizziness, persistent headaches, disorientation, and possibly recent memory loss.

FURTHER INFORMATION

▸ Start date / End of marketing
Since 05/11/2021

▸ Health mark
FR.29.158.500.CE

▸ Distributors
CARREFOUR LECLERC POMONA POISSONNERIES – INDEPENDENT MARKETS

▸ Source
FURIC MAREE

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, ASP, food contamination, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Marine Biotoxin, shellfish toxin

Luxembourg – RECALL: MEDIUM SHELLS (CERASTODERMA EDULE) OF THE BRAND THAËRON – ASP Toxins

Posted on May 18, 2021 by | Leave a comment

SAP

Thaëron is recalling the following products:

Last name Medium Cockles (Cerastoderma edule)
Mark Thaeron
Unit 500 g
Bar code 3661737000281
Use by date (DLC) 05/19/21
Lot 13221
Last name Medium Cockles (Cerastoderma edule)
Mark Thaeron
Unit 1000 g
Bar code 3293580000974
Use by date (DLC) 05/19/21
Lot 13221

Danger  : Contains amnesic toxins (ASP)

Consumption of these products can be dangerous for health. The symptoms are: diarrhea, vomiting (within 2 to 24 hours) and neurological symptoms (headache, confusion, disorientation or even amnesia). 

Sale in Luxembourg by: Auchan

A sale by other operators cannot be excluded.

Source of information: Auchan recall notification

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

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, ASP, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, shellfish toxin

France – Product recall: Thaëron France Pavilion shellfish Thaëron 300g tray -ASP Toxins

Posted on May 17, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Oulah

Product recall: Thaëron France Pavilion shellfish Thaëron 300g tray

ENCOUNTERED PROBLEM

Possible presence of ASP toxins

PROPOSED SOLUTION

Do not consume and return to the point of sale for reimbursement.

These shells come from a fishing area contaminated by a toxin-producing algae. In the event of the appearance of gastrointestinal and / or neurological symptoms, consult your doctor, telling him that you have consumed shellfish contaminated with ASP phycotoxins.

FURTHER INFORMATION

▸ Barcode
3661737004869

▸ Lot
13221

▸ DLC – DDM
05/19/2021

▸ Start date / End of marketing
since 05/13/2021

▸ Health mark
FR 29 236 500 CE

▸ Source
https://www.supercasino.fr/

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning, ASP, food contamination, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, shellfish toxin, Toxin

Research – ANSES sets value to protect people from emerging toxin in shellfish

Posted on May 13, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

A French agency has proposed a guideline value to protect consumers of shellfish from a group of marine biotoxins.

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) said brevetoxins (BTX) were first detected in mussels in Corsica in 2018. If ingested by humans, these toxins can cause neurological, gastrointestinal or cardiovascular symptoms.

After this finding a few years ago, ANSES was asked by the Directorate General for Food (DGAL) and Directorate General for Health (DGS) to propose a guideline value to protect the health of people who eat shellfish. The agency has published an opinion and report on the subject in French.

Based on reports of food poisoning in other countries, ANSES has set a guideline value to protect consumers of products such as oysters and mussels. This value is 180 µg/kg of shellfish flesh, expressed in BTX-3 equivalents, with BTX-3 being the form of brevetoxin used as the reference.

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Biotoxin, Brevetoxin, BTX, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Research, shellfish toxin

UK – Northern Ireland – Consultation on the rationalisation of official control shellfish biotoxin and phytoplankton monitoring points in Carlingford Lough

Posted on April 21, 2021 by | Leave a comment

FSA

Northern Ireland specific
CONSULTATION
Consultation seeking stakeholders’ views on the proposed rationalisation of biotoxin and phytoplankton monitoring in Carlingford Lough and the implementation of Representative Monitoring Points (RMPs) and Associated Harvesting Areas (AHAs).

Who will this consultation be of most interest to?

Carlingford Lough shellfish harvesters, enforcement authorities, official control sampling officers, official control testing laboratories and other interested stakeholders.

Consultation subject

A proposal by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to rationalise the number of official control monitoring points for biotoxin and phytoplankton monitoring in Carlingford Lough and introduce Representative Monitoring Points (RMPs) and Associated Harvesting Areas (AHAs) .

Purpose of the consultation

To seek comments from industry, enforcement authorities, and other interested stakeholders on the proposed rationalisation of biotoxin and phytoplankton monitoring in Carlingford Lough and the implementation of RMPs and AHAs.

Consultation Pack

Northern Ireland

How to respond

Responses to this consultation should be emailed or posted to the addresses below:

Email: executive.support@food.gov.uk

Postal address:

Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland
Executive Support Unit
10a-c Clarendon Road, Belfast
Co Antrim
BT1 3GB

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Biotoxin, Food Microbiology Research, Food Toxin, Marine Biotoxin, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Research, shellfish toxin, Toxin

Hong Kong – Officials investigate ciguatoxin poisoning cases

Posted on April 9, 2021 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

Hong Kong health officials report investigating a suspected ciguatoxin poisoning cases affecting two people.

The case involves two females, aged 34 and 66 respectively, who developed symptoms of ciguatoxin poisoning including abdominal pain and diarrhea about six to seven hours after consuming a marine fish for dinner at home on April 5. The latter patient also developed perioral numbness and attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Kwong Wah Hospital the next day. She was admitted for further management. Both patients are in a stable condition.

Initial inquiries revealed that the fish consumed was bought from a fish stall in Yeung Uk Road Market, Tsuen Wan, on April 4.

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Biotoxin, Ciguatera, Ciguatera Poisoning, food contamination, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Toxin