Category Archives: Bacillus cereus

Research – Cooked rice safety: A review of status and potential of radiative pasteurization

Wiley Online

Abstract

Microbial contamination in cooked rice-based foods poses a global concern due to rice’s widespread consumption. This review aims to consolidate information on harmful microorganisms associated with such foods from various countries and their adverse effects on consumers. Additionally, it explores the reported causes of microbial contamination in cooked rice-based dishes and proposes an intervention strategy for safer consumption. The findings highlight that ready-to-eat cooked rice-based foods may harbor unsafe levels of microorganisms like Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aspergillus spp. A recommended solution is the application of microwave pasteurization. This method involves cooking rice in pasteurized packaging, minimizing human contact, and effectively controlling harmful microorganisms. Microwave pasteurization emerges as a promising approach to ensure the safe consumption of cooked rice-based foods by reducing microbial contamination levels.

RASFF Alerts – Bacillus cereus – Cheese Dips

RASFF

Bacillus cereus in dip sauses from Netherlands in  Austria (d)(ffup) Belgium (d)(op)(ffup) Czech Republic (d)(ffup) Denmark (d)(op)(ffup) Estonia (d)(ffup) Finland (d)(ffup) France (d)(ffup) Germany (d)(ffup) Greece (d)(ffup) Hong Kong (d)(op)INFOSAN (ffa) Iceland (d)(ffup) Ireland (d)(op)(ffup) Latvia (d)(ffup) Lithuania (d)(ffup) Luxembourg (d)(op)(ffup)(ffa) Malta (d)(ffup) Netherlands (o)(d)(op)(ffup)(ffa)Northern Ireland (d) Norway (d)(ffup) Poland (d)(ffup) Sweden (n)(d)(op)(ffup) Ukraine (d)(op)(ffup) United Kingdom (d)(ffup)

Czech Republic – Judas’ ear – Bacillus cereus

Potravinynapranyri

Illustrative photo #2

Place of inspection:
Prague (building no. XB2b/4) ( Libušská 319/126, 142 00 Prague (building no. XB2b/4) )
ID: 04936035
Invalid parameter:

Bacillus Cereus

The presence of the pathogenic bacterium Bacillus Cereus was detected in the food  . The food was assessed as unfit for human consumption. 

Best before date: HSD 01 04 25
Packaging: PE + weld
Quantity of the product in the package: 1 kg
Distributor: Vihafood s.r.o., Novodvorská 95/42, Lhotka 142 00 Prague
Country of origin:  Vietnam
Date of sample collection: 24. 7. 2023
Reference number: 23-000610-SZPI-CZ
The sample was detected by the official control of the State Agricultural and Food Inspection.

Czech Republic – Judas’ ear Produce – Bacillus cereus

Potravinynapranyri

Illustrative photo #1

Place of inspection:
Prague (building no. XB2b/4) ( Libušská 319/126, 142 00 Prague (building no. XB2b/4) )
ID: 04936035
Invalid parameter:

Bacillus Cereus

The presence of the pathogenic bacterium Bacillus Cereus was detected in the food   The food was assessed as unfit for human consumption. 

Best before date: 01 03 25
Packaging: PE bag + weld
Quantity of the product in the package: 0.1 kg
Distributor: Vihafood s.r.o., Novodvorská 95/42, Lhotka 142 00 Prague
Country of origin:  Vietnam
Date of sample collection: 10/07/2023
Reference number: 23-000609-SZPI-CZ
The sample was detected by the official control of the State Agricultural and Food Inspection.

Japanese boxed meal maker banned from operations over food poisoning

English News

TOKYO, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) — A boxed meal maker in northeastern Japan has been banned by public health authorities from operating due to hundreds of food poisoning cases caused by its products, local media reported.

Yoshidaya, a local maker of boxed meals, commonly known as “bento” in Japanese, voluntarily suspended operations starting Sunday, after being banned from operations on Saturday by public health authorities in Aomori Prefecture.

Nearly 300 people from 24 prefectures in the country, more than half the number of prefectures across Japan, reported symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting after eating bento meals supplied by the company based in Hachinohe city, Aomori Prefecture.

The number of patients might further increase, a public health official in Hachinohe said.

Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, which cause food poisoning, were detected in the feces of the patients who ate bento meals as well as unopened products made by the company, Japan’s Jiji Press reported, citing Hachinohe public health officials.

Hong Kong – CFS urges public not to consume a kind of prepackaged cheese sauce imported from Netherlands suspected to be contaminated with Bacillus cereus

CFS

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (September 25) urged the public not to consume a kind of prepackaged cheese sauce imported from the Netherlands due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. The trade should stop using or selling the affected batches of the product immediately if they possess it.

Product details are as follows:

Product name: DIP NACHO CHEESE STYLE
Brand: Santa Maria
Place of origin: The Netherlands
Net weight: 250 grams
Batch code: 2329019 and 2329231
Best-before date: June 7, 2025 and June 20, 2025
Importer: Pear & Carrot Limited

“The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that the above-mentioned batches of product might have been contaminated with Bacillus cereus and are being recalled. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted the concerned local importer for follow-up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong and ordered the affected batches of the product concerned,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

The importer concerned has stopped sales, has removed the imported affected product from shelves and has initiated a recall according to the instructions of the CFS. Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer’s hotline at 3616 0248 during office hours. The CFS will also mark and seal the product ordered by the importer upon its arrival to Hong Kong and ensure that the product will not enter the local market.

“Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea,” the spokesman said.

The spokesman urged consumers not to consume the affected product if they have bought any. The trade should also stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.

The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

USA – VistaPharm LLC Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Sucralfate Oral Suspension, 1g/10mL Due to Microbial Contamination Identified as Bacillus Cereus

FDA

Company Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 22, 2023 – Largo, Florida, VistaPharm LLC is voluntarily recalling one (1) lot of Sucralfate Oral Suspension, 1g/10mL, to the consumer level, due to Bacillus cereus contamination in the product.

Risk Statement:  In the population most at risk, the immunocompromised population, there is a reasonable probability that microbial contamination of the oral suspension can result in disseminated, life threatening infections such as endocarditis and necrotizing soft tissue infections. To date, VistaPharm LLC has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall.

The product is used as an antiulcer therapeutic and is packaged in a 16oz (414mL) PET Bottle with NDC 66689-305-16. The affected Sucralfate Oral Suspension lot is number 810300 with an expiration Date of October 31, 2023. The product can be identified with its product name Sucralfate Oral Suspension 1g per 10mL, which the product Lot No 810300 and expiration date of October 31, 2023, at the bottom right side of label. This Sucralfate Oral Suspension Lot was distributed Nationwide to three (3) distributors by wholesale.

A Contractor, Inmar, will perform this recall process, which is notifying its distributors by recall packet delivered by FEDEX Next Day Delivery and will receive an email notification as well. In addition, Inmar is arranging for the return of all recalled products. Distributors that have any bottles remaining from Sucralfate Oral Suspension Lot 810300, which is being recalled, should return to Inmar via instructions provided.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Inmar at 1-800-967-5952 or by email to rxrecalls@Inmar.com.Office hours 9am to 5pm EST Monday thru Friday. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced any problems that may be related to taking or using this drug product.

Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

  • Complete and submit the report Online
  • Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1- 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Iceland – Bacillus cereus in prepared sauces

MAST

The FDA warns against consuming certain Best before dates of Santa Maria’s Dip Nacho Cheese Style and Cheddar Cheese Sauce because of Bacillus cereus microorganisms, which were detected in the company’s own monitoring of one production batch. Bacillus cereus food poisoning can cause vomiting or diarrhea. There have been no reports of people getting sick from the product. The Swedish Food Agency received information about the product through the RASFF European rapid alert system for food and feed.

The distribution companies in cooperation with the Reykjavík Health Authority and the Suðurnesja Health Authority have stopped distribution and recalled the product, which only applies to the following production batches:

  • Product name: Santa Maria Dip Nacho Cheese Style
  • Weight: 250 g
  • Barcode: 7311312007223
  • Best for dates: are in the format year-month-day on packaging
    01/06/2025 to 31/08/2025
  • Country of manufacture: The Netherlands
  • Distribution:
    Supplies: All stores Bonus and Hagkaup
    Samkaup: The product was not distributed.
  • Product name: Santa Maria Cheddar Cheese Sauce 
  • Weight: 3 kg
  • Best for dates: 01/06/2024 to 31/08/2024
  • Country of manufacture: The Netherlands
  • Distribution:
    OJ&K-ÍSAM ehf: Several large kitchens.

Consumers are advised not to consume the product and can return it for a refund to the store where it was purchased.

Belgium – Sauces – Cheddar Cheese Sauce (3 kg) et Dip Nacho Cheese Style (250g) de la marque Santa Maria.- Bacillus cereus

AFSCA

The FASFC withdraws the Sauces products – “Cheddar Cheese Sauce (3 kg)” and “Dip Nacho Cheese Style (250g)” of the Santa Maria brand from sale and recalls them from consumers due to the possible presence of Bacillus cereus .

You are asked not to consume these products and to return them to the point of sale where they were purchased.

Product description

– Name of the products: Cheddar Cheese Sauce (3 kg) and Dip Nacho Cheese Style (250g)
– Brand: Santa Maria
– Minimum durability dates (MBD) (“Best before”):
           Cheddar Cheese Sauce (3 kg): from 06/01/2024 to 08/31/2024
           Dip Nacho Cheese Style (250g): from 06/01/2025 to 08/31/2025
– Batch numbers: all batches are affected
– Nature of packaging: plastic pots

The products were distributed through different points of sale.

For any further information , you can contact the AFSCA contact point for consumers: 0800/13.550 or pointdecontact@afsca.be .

Denmark – Bacillus cereus in cheese dip

Foedevarestyrelsen

Paulig Denmark A/S is recalling Santa Maria Dip Nacho Cheese Style, as Bacillus cereus bacteria have been found in the product. The product should be discarded or returned to the store where it was purchased.

Image of the product

Which food is recalled

Santa Maria Dip Nacho Cheese Style
Net content: 250g
Best before dates: From 01.06.2025 to 31.08.2025

Where is the product sold

The product is sold in grocery stores throughout the country.

Why is the product being recalled?

The bacterium Bacillus cereus has been detected in the product. The symptoms of infection with the bacteria are typically vomiting or diarrhea.

What should you do as a consumer?

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration advises consumers to return the product to the store where it was purchased, or discard it.

If you experience symptoms in connection with consuming the product, you should contact your own doctor.

Who recalls the product

Paulig Denmark A/S
Ringager 2A
2605 Brøndby