Category Archives: Bacteria

Canada – Three Recall Walnuts / Hazelnuts/ Mixed Nuts – Salmonella

Posted on December 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CFIA CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Compass Food Sales are warning the public not to consume Compass brand in-shell California Walnuts described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following walnuts, product of USA, are affected by this alert:

Brand Product Size UPC Best Before
Compass California Walnuts (in-shell) 300 g 0 68297 20121 0 07MA2014

This product has been distributed nationally.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

The importer / packer, Compass Food Sales, Aurora, ON is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaws Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the in-shell filberts (hazelnuts) described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected filberts, product of USA, were sold in 454 g bags bearing UPC 7 75636 10004 1 and in bulk bins.

This product was distributed nationally in Loblaws banners – Real Canadian Super Store, Fortinos, Freshmart, Loblaws, No Frills, Valu-Mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs, Dominion, Red & White, Save Easy, Cash and Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, AXEP, Group Distribution, Intermarché, Maxi & Cie, Maxi, Presto, Club Entrepôt, Provigo, Extra Foods, Shop Easy, Super Valu, Westfair.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

CFIA

The public warning issued earlier on December 2, 2012has been updated to include additional products containing filberts (hazelnuts).

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the in-shell Mixed Nuts described below because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following mixed nuts, products of USA, are affected by this alert:

Product Size UPC
Mixed Nuts 454 g 6 28721 20678 7
Mixed Nuts 1.36 kg 0 33383 70401 2

These products were distributed nationally in Loblaw banners – Real Canadian Super Store, Fortinos, Freshmart, Loblaws, No Frills, Valu-Mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs, Dominion, Red & White, Save Easy, Cash and Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Maxi & Cie, Maxi, Presto, Club Entrepôt, Provigo, Extra Foods, Shop Easy, Super Valu, Westfair, Affiliated Independents, Quick Mart.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

Tagged , ,

USA – Recall Updates – Butter Chicken / Meatless Burger – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on December 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

USDA –

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is alerting the public of a recall being conducted by the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canadian Establishment 720, Aliya’s Foods Limited, for approximately 4,865 pounds of frozen butter chicken and rice products imported from Canada that may be contaminated with Listeria
monocytogenes.

FDA –

VEGGIE PATCH® is voluntarily recalling two products –The Ultimate Meatless Burger and Falafel– due to a risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Although healthy persons may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

The Ultimate Meatless Burger and Falafel, from VEGGIE PATCH, with the specific use-by dates and UPC codes listed below were distributed to a select number of retailers and distributors.

  • 9-ounce trays of refrigerated, fully cooked, VEGGIE PATCH, The Ultimate Meatless Burger with a Use-By date, Jan/12/2013; UPC code 6-10129-00211-5 (which can be found on back of package)
  • 9-ounce trays of refrigerated, fully cooked, VEGGIE PATCH, Falafel with a Use-By date, Jan/15/2013; UPC code 6-10129-06619-3 (which can be found on back of package)

The Ultimate Meatless Burger potentially affected was available for sale as of November 21, 2012, in the following states; NY, CT, PA, FL, IL, MD, IN, WI, VA, NJ and DE.  Falafel potentially affected, was available for sale as of November 21, 2012, nationwide. No illnesses have been reported to date.  VEGGIE PATCH discovered this issue as part of its routine testing of its products.

Consumers who purchased any product with the specific use-by dates and UPC codes listed above are asked to dispose of the product. They should email contactus@veggiepatch.com to arrange for a full refund.  The recall affects only these two items. Products that do not contain the specific use-by dates and UPC codes listed are not affected by the recall.  No other VEGGIE PATCH products or other use-by dates of The Ultimate Meatless Burger or Falafel are affected by this recall.  Frozen Veggie Patch products are not affected by this recall.

Consumers with questions can contact VEGGIE PATCH at 888-807-0765, 8am- 5pm EST, seven days a week, or at contactus@veggiepatch.com

More information is available on the VEGGIE PATCH website at http://www.veggiepatch.com

About VEGGIE PATCH

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, USDA

UK – FSA – The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) 2011 Annual Report.

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA 

The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) has published its 2011 annual report.

It covers the work of the committee for the calendar year 2011. The committee advises the Food Standards Agency on the microbiological safety of food

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Research

Tagged , ,

USA Research -CDC – Report on Levels of Yersinia in Pork

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

In a new study of raw pork chops and ground pork, Consumer Reports found 69 percent of samples were contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica, according to a report published by the group today.

A lesser-known foodborne pathogen, Yersinia enterocolitica can cause fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea, lasting one to three weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is approximately one confirmed infection per 100,000 people reported each year, but since these cases are severely under-reported, CDC estimates there are actually around 100,000 infections in the United States annually.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, CDC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Yersinia

Tagged , , ,

USA – Illinois MacDonalds Closed Salmonella Investigation

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Owners of a Bloomington, Illinois McDonalds voluntarily shut the establishment down last week after it was linked to a series of Salmonella infections.

Bob and Julie Dobski, who own 9 McDonalds franchises in the Bloomington-Normal area, were informed by health officials Wednesday night that the South Main Street location had been connected to a cluster of Salmonella illnesses. The owners chose to shut down the restaurant before Thanksgiving the following day.

Less than 10 Salmonella cases have been reported, according to Keri Simon, communications director for the McClean County Health Department, as reported by Pantagraph. People affected by the bacteria report eating at the restaurant between October 18 and November 11, according to the county health department, which is conducting the investigation along with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

Tagged ,

Research – Factors Affecting Pathogens on Fruit and Vegetable Farms

Posted on November 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

ASMAEA

Produce related outbreaks have been traced back to the preharvest environment. A longitudinal study was conducted on five farms in New York State to characterize prevalence, persistence, and diversity of foodborne pathogens in fresh produce fields and to determine landscape and meteorological factors that predict their presence. Produce fields were sampled four times per year for two years. A total of 588 samples were analyzed for L. monocytogenes, Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The prevalence measures of L. monocytogenes, Salmonella and STEC were 15.0, 4.6, and 2.7%, respectively. L. monocytogenes and Salmonella were detected more frequently in water samples, while STEC was detected with equal frequency across all sample types (soil, water, feces and drag swabs). L. monocytogenes sigB gene allelic types 57, 58 and 61, and Salmonella Cerro, were repeatedly isolated from water samples. Soil available water storage (AWS), temperature, and proximity to three land cover classes: water, roads and urban development, and pasture/hay grass, influenced the likelihood of detecting L. monocytogenes. Drainage class, AWS, and precipitation were identified as important factors in Salmonella detection. This information was used in a geographic information systems framework to hypothesize locations of environmental reservoirs where the prevalence of foodborne pathogens may be elevated. The map indicated that not all croplands are equally likely to contain environmental reservoirs of L. monocytogenes. These findings advance recommendations to minimize the risk of preharvest contamination by enhancing models of the environmental constraints on the survival and persistence of foodborne pathogens in fields.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Hygiene, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, STEC, Toxin

Tagged , , , ,

USA – Illegal Prison Hooch – Clostridium botulinum

Posted on November 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Prison hooch, or homemade alcohol,  is the likely source of a botulism outbreak at an Arizona prison that sent seven inmates to intensive care. The seven inmates, all from Special Management Unit 1 of the Arizona State Prison Complex Eyman in Florence, were hospitalized over the weekend.

Botulism is not spread through person-to-person contact. Although it can develop in contaminated wounds or through IV drug use, it most often develops after eating or drinking food that is tainted with the toxin. Botulism poisoning  must be treated with a course of special anti-toxin, the stockpile of which is controlled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Toxin

Tagged , ,

European Alerts – Listeria, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, Bacillus cereus

Posted on November 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes in Pate from Belgium

RASFF – Salmonella in Chilled Sausage in UK sourced in Italy

Denmark  – Suspected Hepatitis A in Strawberry Yoghurt in Germany

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes in Raw Milk Cheese in Belgium sourced in France.

Greece – Organic Radish Seeds Bacillus cereus

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis A, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Salmonella, Virus

Tagged , , , ,

European Alerts – Salmonella, Listeria, E.coli and Lactic Acid Bacteria

Posted on November 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

RASFF – Salmonella in Duck Breasts in Sweden sourced in France

RASFF – Salmonella in Chicken Breast in Italy sourced in Romania

RASFF – E.coli in Mussels in Italy sourced in Spain

RASFF – Lactic Acid Bacteria in Whiskey Sauce in Denmark

Belgium – Blood Sausage with Listeria monocyotgenes

Norway – Salmonella Outbreak

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Listeria welshimeri, Pathogen, RASFF

Tagged , , , ,

Canada – Recall – Ham Sausages – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on November 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Capital Packers Inc. (EST 231) are warning the public not to consume Capital brand and Compliments brand Ham Sausages described below because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The following products are affected by this alert:

Brand Product Size UPC Code
Capital Ham Sausage 300 g 0 64946 51100 6 2012 DE 26
Compliments Ham Sausage 375 g 0 68820 10061 4 2012 DE 26

The CFIA has suspended the licence to operate at Establishment 231, Capital Packers Inc. effective today. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation and the public warning may be updated if additional food products are identified which are deemed to be a health risk.

These products may have been distributed nationally.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen

Tagged , , , ,