Category Archives: Clostridium botulinum

New Zealand – Fonterra Investigation

BBC News

New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, has launched a ministerial-level inquiry into a botulism scare at dairy giant Fonterra.

Fonterra said last week that batches of concentrated whey product used in infant formula that were exported to China and elsewhere could contain botulism-causing bacteria.

The government inquiry will be over by the end of the year, Mr Key said.

Fonterra has announced two of its own internal investigations.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has also said it will conduct a separate inquiry.

USA- Chai Tea Recalled Possible Botulism

Botulism BlogClost

A Washington state company is recalling its chai tea because the beverage was improperly processed and therefore has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria.

Harmony Chai of Eastsound, WA issued a voluntary recall of its concentrated black spiced and decaffeinated roobius chai teas Friday after testing by the Washington State Department of Agriculture revealed the product had not been processed in a way that prevents Clostridium botulinum contamination.

No illnesses have been linked to consumption of the product to date, according to the company

Information Clostridium botulinum

Food Poisoning JournalClost

Botulism is a rare, life-threatening paralytic illness caused by neurotoxins produced by an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. Unlike Clostridium perfringens, which requires the ingestion of large numbers of viable cells to cause symptoms, the symptoms of botulism are caused by the ingestion of highly toxic, soluble exotoxins produced by C. botulinum while growing in foods.

New Zealand – Whey Protein – Clostridium botulinum

Safe Food Blog

Fonterra, New Zealand’s largest dairy manufacturer, last week issued a warning that Clostridium botulinum had been found in three batches of whey protein, (approximately 40 tonnes), which can be used to boost the protein content of many foods, including infant feeding formula.

The warning caused a New Zealand manufacturer of infant feeding formula to recall certain batches of product.  Fonterra Chief Executive, Theo Spierings also flew to China to discuss the issue with Chinese food safety authorities.

Apparently, the source of the bacteria has been traced to a dirty pipe in a processing factory.  If this is true, it’s a serious lapse in process control and obviously should not have occurred.

FSANZ Statement

Food Standards Australia New Zealand is aware of the announcement by Fonterra regarding several batches of its whey protein concentrate possibly contaminated with Clostridium botulinum and subsequent recalls of two Nutricia products as a precautionary measure. 

Please see the following joint media statement issued by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Food Standards Australia New Zealand.

RASFF Alerts – Listeria – RTE Products – Clostridium – Pesto – Bacillus cereus – Vanilla Sauce – Outbreak in Mussels

RASFF -Listeria monocytogenes in various ready-to-eat meat products from Sweden

RASFF – Clostridium botulinum (present /25g) in pesto from Italy

RASFF – Bacillus cereus (4.3 x 10^5 CFU/g) in chilled vanilla sauce from Germany

RASFF -Foodborne outbreak caused by mussels from Greece in France

Italy – Recall Pesto – Botulism Poisoning

Italia and Mondo

Twenty people have been hospitalized in the emergency room of three hospitals int the Genoese area are under observation for suspected botulism poisoning.

They ate pesto of the company that has withdrawn a batch of jars and showed symptoms consistent with a possible poisoning. Two patients have already been discharged.

 

USA – FDA Recall – Clostridium botulinum – Olives

FDAFDA

The Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH) advises consumers not to eat Mediterranean Olives: Calcidica Sweet (Brand: Bel Frantoio) sold at any Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL) stores. OSJL is voluntarily recalling the product after HEALTH staff discovered that these products were not handled appropriately to prevent production of the toxin that causes botulism.

Mediterranean Olives: Calcidica Sweet, produced by Bel Frantoio and packaged in 34-oz. plastic containers, were sold in OSJL stores in New York and throughout the Northeast (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine). This product is being voluntarily recalled because it is labeled “Keep Refrigerated,” but was sold at room temperature, making it susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum.

Other olive products produced by Bel Frantoio that were sold at Ocean State Job Lot, as well as other brands of olives, do not currently pose a safety issue. This recall applies only to this product sold at Ocean State Job Lot.

This product sold elsewhere, where refrigerated, is safe for consumption.

Ingestion of botulinum toxin from improperly stored foods can lead to serious illness and death.

Anyone who has eaten this product and has experienced abdominal cramps; difficulty breathing, speaking or swallowing; double vision; muscle weakness; muscle aches; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; or fever should contact their healthcare provider immediately for evaluation and treatment. The young, elderly, immune-compromised, and pregnant women are especially susceptible to foodborne illness.

No illnesses associated with this recall have been reported at this time

USA – Clostridium botulinum – Black Spiced Chai

Food Poisoning BulletinClost

Harmony Chai is recalling its Concentrated Black Spiced Chai and Decaffeinated Rooibos Chai because it may not be properly processed and could possibly be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria. There have been no reported illnesses to date in connection with the consumption of this product.

Canada – Recalls – Salmonella – Mycotoxin – Clostridium botulinum

CFIA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Wonder Berry North America are warning the public not to consume certain baby cereal products described below because they may contain mycotoxin HT-2.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of these products. The affected products have been distributed in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.

The importer, Wonder Berry North America, Toronto, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

CFIA – The public  warning issued on June 24, 2013 has been updated to include additional  product, importer, and distribution information.

The Canadian Food Inspection  Agency (CFIA) and UNFI Canada Inc. are warning the public not to consume the  Prince brand Tahini products described below because they may be contaminated  with Salmonella.

The following Prince brand  products, product of Israel, are affected by the recall. There have been no reported  illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The importer, UNFI Canada Inc.,  Concord, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the  marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the  effectiveness of the recall.

CFIA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)  and Overwaitea Food Group are warning the public not to consume the Prince  brand Tahini described below because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following Prince brand product, product of Israel, is affected by the recall. There have been no reported  illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The distributor, Overwaitea  Food Group, Langley, BC, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the  marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the  effectiveness of the recall.

The CFIA is  working with Canadian importers to have these products removed from the  marketplace

CFIA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Ratinaud French Cuisine are warning the public not to consume certain Charcuterie Ratinaud French Cuisine brand Confit Tomatoes because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by these bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

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

The manufacturer, Ratinaud French Cusine, Halifax, NS, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

USA – Fruit Juice – Clostridium botulinum

Botulism BlogClost

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to consume any juice products or other beverages from Juices Incorporated (aka Juices International and Juices Enterprises) of Brooklyn, N.Y. The company’s carrot and beet juice products have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause botulism, a serious and potentially fatal foodborne illness. Consumers are warned not to consume these products even if they do not look or smell spoiled.