Category Archives: Bacteria

Canada – CFIA Extended Recall – Cheese – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 18, 2014 by | Leave a comment

CFIA CIFA

Castle Cheese Inc. is recalling Meddo Belle and Okanagan’s Choice Cheese brands shredded cheese products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Alberta, British Columbia, and may have also been distributed in other provinces.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Meddo Belle Crumbled Feta Cheese 200 g Best Before 14 DE 13 0 62608 13907 0
Okanagan’s Choice Cheese Chipped Parmesan Cheese 175 g Best Before 14 DE 31 0 59756 07314 1
Okanagan’s Choice Cheese Shredded Parmesan Cheese 175 g Best Before 14 DE 31 0 59756 07210 6

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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Canada – CFIA Recall – Cheese – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 14, 2014 by | Leave a comment

CFIA Eurofins Food Testing UK

Castle Cheese Inc. is recalling Okanagan’s Choice Cheese brand shredded cheese products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba.

 Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Okanagan’s Choice Cheese Nacho Blend – Cheddar, Mozzarella Shredded Cheese 200 g Best Before 15JA13 0 59756 08208 2
Okanagan’s Choice Cheese Shredded Cheddar Cheese 200 g Best Before 15JA13 0 59756 08008 8
Okanagan’s Choice Cheese Shredded Mozzarella Cheese 200 g Best Before 15JA20 0 59756 08108 5
Okanagan’s Choice Cheese Shredded Parmesan Cheese 175 g Best Before 15JA20 0 59756 07210 6

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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USA – FDA Recall – Frozen Sliced Fruit – Salmonella

Posted on March 14, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FDA Salmonella

Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. of Albany, OR has voluntarily recalled 59,780 cases of Kirkland Signature Real Sliced Fruit, produced exclusively for Costco Wholesale Stores. In cooperation with Costco, the company issued the recall after determining the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Precautionary recall measures began on Saturday, March 8, 2014. Consumers who may have purchased the product were contacted by phone and US. Mail, and a letter regarding the voluntary recall was posted on the Costco website. Furthermore, the affected product was removed from Costco floors. No confirmed cases of Salmonella poisoning from consumption of this product have been reported at this time, Any Kirkland Signature Real Sliced Fruit that is currently available for purchase has been rigorously tested and is safe for consumption. No other products made by Oregon Freeze Dry, Inc. are affected.

Kirkland Signature Real Sliced Fruit is sold in a red and white case containing 20 pouches of freeze-dried snacks. Consumers who have purchased Kirkland Signature Real Sliced Fruit with the following “Best Before Dates,” listed on the upper left corner of the front panel of the case, are urged to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Best Before Date: FEB 14 2015 – MAR 11 2015 (which reads FEB142015 – MAR112015)

Customers with questions may contact the company at recall@ofd.com. or 1-888-641-2933 (this line is staffed Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time).

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Posted in Bacteria, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Laboratory, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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Ireland – Shellfish Recall – Possible Illness – DSP

Posted on March 13, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSAIMussels

Following reports of illnesses associated with diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in Ireland, Shellfish De La Mer, Castletownbere, Co. Cork is recalling the above two batches of frozen cooked mussel meats, which were sold by Dunnes Stores and Tesco Ireland.  The implicated batches have been removed from sale.  A point of sale recall notice should be displayed in stores informing customers not to eat the implicated mussel meats.

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Posted in Bacteria, DSP, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, FSAI, Recall

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Canada – CFIA Recall Salad – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 13, 2014 by | Leave a comment

CFIACIFA

Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. is recalling Dole brand Italian Blend salad from the marketplace due to possible Listeria contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

The following product is known to have been distributed in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick and may have been also been distributed in other provinces.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Dole Italian Blend Salad 10 oz. (283 g) Best Before: 14-MR-12 0 71430 00819 5

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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RASFF Alerts – Listeria monocytogenes – Raw Milk Cheese – Tuna Salad- E.coli – Razor Clams – Beef – Staphylococcus – Raw Ham

Posted on March 10, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Food Testing - Eurofins

RASFF -Listeria monocytogenes (510 CFU/g) in raw milk cheese from Italy in Austria

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes in chilled spicy tuna salad from Belgium

RASFF -shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli in boneless beef meat (Bos taurus) from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF -too high count of Escherichia coli (490 MPN/100g) in live razor clams from Ireland

RASFF -coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (400 000 /g) in raw ham from Spain in France

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hygiene, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Miscarriage, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Staphylococcus aureus, STEC

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Research – Levels of microbial contamination of domestic refrigerators in Italy

Posted on March 7, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct iStock_000012710183Small

Aim

According to the EFSA Report 2013, 32.7% of outbreaks of foodborne illness registered in Europe occurs within the home, due to inadequate hygienic behaviour of consumers when preparing foods in the kitchen. The efficacy of proper cleaning of cutting boards, dishes and cutlery in limiting microbial cross-contaminations in the kitchen has been documented many times, whereas few researches have been performed to determine the microbial load of the internal walls of domestic refrigerators, in Italy. The aim of this investigation is to ascertain the role played by internal surfaces of home refrigerators as possible sources of microbial contamination of foods.

Material and methods

We analyzed 293 domestic refrigerators of students or workers at the university campus of Agripolis (Legnaro, Italy). For each refrigerator, 2 internal surfaces were sampled using sponge-bags. The amounts of total viable count (TVC), Gram-negative spoiling bacteria, moulds and yeasts and the main pathogenic bacterial species were determined.

Results

TVCs greater than 1 log CFU cm−2 are in a little over 50% of the samples analyzed and are found mainly on the bottom of the refrigerator (61%) compared to the walls (39%) (P < 0.001). Even for other microbial counts the risk ratio of finding them on the bottom of the refrigerator is significantly higher than on the walls; the possibility of there being a finding on the bottom with respect to the walls varies from 2.5 to 8.5 times respectively for moulds and Aeromonas spp. Salmonella spp. was found in 1.7% of the samples, Bacillus cereus in 5.6%, Coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) in 4%, the prevalence of which is always higher on the bottom of the refrigerator. Listeria monocytogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica were never found.

Conclusions

It is necessary to better educate consumers to clean their appliances more frequently.

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Posted in Bacillus cereus, Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Hygiene, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus

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Australia Recalls – Organic Sprout Salad – Salmonella – Blue Cheese – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 7, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FSANZ FSANZ3

Energetic Greens has recalled Organic Sprouts Salad (Broccoli, sunflower and radish) from local greengrocers and IGA stores in northern NSW and the Mullumbimby, Bangalow and Glorious Organic Farmers Markets due to Salmonella contamination. Food products contaminated with Salmonella may cause illness if consumed. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

Food type

Mixed sprouts salad

Product name

Organic Sprouts Salad (Broccoli, Sunflower, and Radish) Energetic Greens

Package description & size

50g plastic punnet

Best Before 08/03/14
Australia
Salmonella contamination.
Whitestone Cheese (NZ) has recalled Whitestone Windsor Blue Cheese 110g from Woolworths Supermarkets in QLD, NSW, ACT and VIC due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  Listeria monocytogenes may cause illness in
pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems. Consumers should not eat this product. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full cash refund

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, FSANZ, Laboratory, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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Canada – Recall – Sandwiches – Salmonella

Posted on March 5, 2014 by | Leave a comment

CFIACIFA

Lucerne Foods is recalling various sandwich products from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and may have been sold in other provinces

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
None Roast Beef Submarine None BB MR  11, BB MR 12,BB MR 13,BB MR 14,BB MR 17 6 89048 03110 3
None Meat Lover’s Sandwich None BB MR 11, BB MR 12,BB MR 13,BB MR 16,BB MR 17 6 89048 03117 9
None Roast Beef Submarine None 4051 0 79944 00991 2
None Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich None 4051 0 79944 00987 5

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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Research Netherlands – Microbial Risk in Produce

Posted on March 4, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Ingentaconnect

The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbial hazard associated with the consumption of mixed salads produced under standard conditions. The presence of Salmonella, Campylobacter spp., and Escherichia coli O157 in the Dutch production chain of mixed salads was determined. Microbial prevalence and concentration data from a microbiological surveillance study were used as inputs for the quantitative microbial risk assessment. Chain logistics, production figures, and consumption patterns were combined with the survey data for the risk assessment chain approach. The results of the sample analysis were used to track events from contamination through human illness. Wide 95% confidence intervals around the mean were found for estimated annual numbers of illnesses resulting from the consumption of mixed salads contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 (0 to 10,300 cases), Campylobacter spp. (0 to 92,000 cases), or E. coli (0 to 800 cases). The main sources of uncertainty are the lack of decontamination data (i.e., produce washing during processing) and an appropriate dose-response relationship.

Ingentaconnect

Recent outbreaks with vegetable or fruits as vehicles have raised interest in the characterization of the public health risk due to microbial contamination of these commodities. Because qualitative and quantitative data regarding prevalence and concentration of various microbes are lacking, we conducted a survey to estimate the prevalence and contamination level of raw produce and the resulting minimally processed packaged salads as sold in The Netherlands. A dedicated sampling plan accounted for the amount of processed produce in relation to the amount of products, laboratory capacity, and seasonal influences. Over 1,800 samples of produce and over 1,900 samples of ready-to-eat mixed salads were investigated for Salmonella enterica serovars, Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli O157, and Listeria monocytogenes. The overall prevalence in raw produce varied between 0.11% for E. coli O157 and L. monocytogenes and 0.38% for Salmonella. Prevalence point estimates for specific produce/pathogen combinations ranged for Salmonella from 0.53% in iceberg lettuce to 5.1% in cucumber. For Campylobacter, this ranged from 0.83% in endive to 2.7% in oak tree lettuce. These data will be used to determine the public health risk posed by the consumption of ready-to-eat mixed salads in The Netherlands.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella

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