Category Archives: Clostridium botulinum

Alaskan Smoked Salmon – Botulinum Scare

Posted on August 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Botulinum Blog

Smoked salmon products made in Alaska and sold in the Fairbanks area have been recalled by their maker due to possible contamination with botulism-causing bacteria, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation.

DEC says the recall includes both commercial and custom-processed items that were hot-smoked, vacuum-packed and sold since December 2011 by Interior Alaska Fish Processors, Inc., under the Santa’s Smokehouse brand, with labels incorrectly indicating that they can be kept under refrigeration.

While no cases of illness have been reported, DEC says the affected products were sold in and around Fairbanks, as well as online through the website http://www.santassmokehouse.com/

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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FSA – Update Olives and Botulisum

Posted on July 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA 

The Food Standards Agency is warning people not to eat a certain batch of Italian olives sold in jars after one person became ill with botulism poisoning after eating them. The Agency has now received further information from the Italian Authorities confirming that 60 jars of the affected Divini Di Chicco Francesco olives product were distributed to one supplier in the UK.

Divini Di Chicco Francesco olives

The Agency has issued an updated Food Alert for Action. The news story about the original Food Alert for Action, which was issued on 25 July 2012.

The UK supplier has confirmed that the implicated product was distribution to three independent delicatessens in the UK between July 2011 and July 2012. These delicatessens have been visited by the supplier and any remaining stock of the product has been removed from sale.

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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HPA – Warning Clostridium boutlinum – Italian Olives

Posted on July 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

HPA 

Tests carried out by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) identified the toxin that causes botulism in a jar of Italian olives after an Oxfordshire resident was admitted to hospital with botulism poisoning. No further cases have been identified to date.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is now asking people who have bought jars of the implicated olives not to eat them and to contact their local authority environmental health food safety team to arrange collection of the product.

The implicated olives are “Olive Bella Di Cerignola” produced by ‘I Divini’. These are large green olives from the Puglia region of Italy and are packaged in brine in glass jars with a lot number of 161/11 and best before date of 10/06/2014. This type of olive is distributed under a number of different brand names but only the I DIVINI di Chicco Francesco brand is associated with this incident.

The HPA is working with the local authority environmental health department and the Food Standards Agency on the investigation. Botulism is rare in the UK – there have only been 33 recorded cases of food-borne botulism in England and Wales since 1989, with 27 of these linked to a single outbreak.

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Standards Agency, Foodborne Illness, HPA, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen

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US – Botulism Outbreak

Posted on July 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Three Oregonians were hospitalized with boutlism after eating at a private barbecue, according to state health officials. 

The Clostridium botulinum bacteria that infected these individuals is thought to have come from home-canned foods served at the event, held in Deschutes County. All three victims were residents of the county, located in central Oregon.     
 
The public should see this outbreak as an example of the dangers of improper home canning, warns the agency.

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

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US- Carrot Juice Recall- Clostridium botulinum

Posted on June 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Healthy Choice Island Blends, Inc. of Los Angeles, CA, is recalling all sizes of LIQUID GOLD CARROT JUICE including 128oz, 64oz, 32oz, and 16 oz, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism, a serious and potentially fatal foodborne illness.

Foodborne botulism is a severe type of food poisoning caused by the ingestion of foods containing the potent neurotoxin formed during growth of the organism. Foodborne botulism can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking, breathing and swallowing. Weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms.

People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Liquid Gold Carrot Juice was distributed in California and sold wholesale to produce companies.

Product was sold in plastic see-through containers in gallon, half-gallon, and quart sizes. Product has a white label branded Liquid Gold with picture of carrots and a glass of carrot juice, with UPC Code 7 63213 00130.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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FDA – Univiscerated Fish – Clostridium botulinum

Posted on June 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Euphoria Fancy Food Inc. at 149-151 2nd Ave. Brooklyn NY 11215 is recalling DRIED BREAM discovered by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors during a routine inspection and subsequent analysis of product by Food Laboratory personnel confirming that the fish was not properly eviscerated prior to processing.

This product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause Botulism, a serious and potentially fatal food-borne illness.

The sale of this type of fish is prohibited under New York State Agriculture and Markets regulations because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish.  Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning. Symptoms of  botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty in swallowing and respiratory paralysis.

The recalled DRIED BREAM comes in an un-coded, 7.5 ounce vacuum packed plastic bag and was sold nationwide.  The UPC number is 7 930042 250954. It is a product of Russia.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.  Consumers who have DRIED BREAM are advised not to eat it, but should return it to the place of purchase. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 718-768-3400.

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

US – California Farmers Markets Soups Warning – Possible Botulinum

Posted on June 12, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

The California Department of Health is warning consumers not to eat certain soups sold at  southern California farmers markets because they may have been produced in a way that makes them susceptible to Clostridium botulinum.  

CDPH said Monday that canned soups manufactured by Malibu-based One Gun Ranch and Santa Barbara-based Organic Soup Kitchen had the potential to be contaminated with the bacteria, which produces harmful toxins that can be dangerous to human health.
 
The soups from One Gun Ranch (left) that are subject to the warning include: Campfire Kitchen Cauliflower Soup, Heirloom Tomato Fennel Gaspacho Soup, Sequoia’s Skinny Spiced Coconut, Parsnip, and Tumeric Soup, Oassian’s Pumpkin Stew and Freddy’s Firegrilled Meatballs. The soups were sold only at the Pacific Palisades Farmers Market located at Swarthmore Avenue and Sunset Blvd. in Pacific Palisades, CA on May 13, 2012 and June 3, 2012. They were sold in 16 oz. glass jars with screw-on metal lids.  
 
The soups from Organic Soup Kitchen (below) were sold at two farmers markets: the Calabasas Farmers Market, located at Calabasas Road and El Canon Avenue in Calabasas, CA 91302 (Saturdays) and the Studio City Farmers Market, located at Ventura Place between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Radford Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604 (Sundays). The soups were sold between June 6,2011 and May 6, 2012 in one-quart jars with screw-on metal lids. The affected soups include the following flavors: Fire Roasted Yam, Curried Potato Leek, Curry Lentil Bisque, Tomato Bean and Wild Herb and Mediterranean Chipotle Chili.   
 
Consumers who purchased any of the soups described above are urged to throw them out immediately and then thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water.
 
As of Monday, no illnesses had been linked to these soups, CDPH reported.  
 

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Posted in Bacteria, CDPH, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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CIFA Recalls – Salmonella and Clostridium botulinum

Posted on June 2, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CIFA 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Pusateri’s Fine Foods is warning the public not to consume certain vacuum packaged fish products, described below, because the products may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Les Aliments 2000 Inc. are warning the public not to consume Cuisine du Viêt-nam brand Butterfly Knots Honey & Sesame because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Cuisine du Viêt-nam brand Butterfly Knots Honey & Sesame, is sold in 102 g packages bearing UPC 8 59912 00102 1. All lot codes are affected by this alert.

This product has been distributed in Quebec.

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

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Posted in Bacteria, CIFA, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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US – Soup Recall – Clostridium botulinum Risk

Posted on May 25, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CDPH

Taste of Roux brand vegetarian soups Taste of Roux, LLC,

Valley Village, CA

 Possible

Clostridium botulinum contamination

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen

US – More Dried Fish – Clostrium botulinum Issues

Posted on April 27, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Bites

LA Star Seafood Co. Inc., Los Angeles, CA is recalling Vobla Dry and Vobla Smoked because they have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.
The sale of improperly eviscerated fish, 5 inches in length or greater, is prohibited because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning which may pose a potentially life-threatening health hazard. Symptoms of botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty swallowing and respiratory paralysis which may lead to death. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
The following products are recalled:
Vobla Dry, 20lb bulk boxes, not vacuum packed, no lot numbers or expiration dates.
Vobla Smoked, 20lb bulk boxes, not vacuum packed, no lot numbers or expiration dates.

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Uncategorized