Category Archives: Clostridium

RASFF Alert- Clostridium botulinum – Chilled Soup

RASFF

Clostridia producing botulinum toxin in chilled soup with emmer and vegetables from Italy in Malta

Saudi Arabia – Botulism outbreak traced to mayonnaise at Riyadh restaurant

Arab News

RIYADH: The Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing announced on Saturday that a Saudi Food and Drug Authority laboratory test had found clostridium botulinum in a Bon Tum mayonnaise brand used by the Hamburgini food chain.

Since the bacterium was discovered in a Bon Tum factory, the ministry has collaborated with the SFDA and other authorities to enforce additional measures beyond those previously implemented.

These measures include suspending the distribution of the mayonnaise product and withdrawing it from markets and food facilities across all cities in the Kingdom. They also include halting operations at the factory in preparation for implementing statutory procedures.

Research – Exploring Propolis as a Sustainable Bio-Preservative Agent to Control Foodborne Pathogens in Vacuum-Packed Cooked Ham

MDPI

Abstract

The search for natural food additives makes propolis an exciting alternative due to its known antimicrobial activity. This work aims to investigate propolis’ behaviour as a nitrite substitute ingredient in cooked ham (a ready-to-eat product) when confronted with pathogenic microorganisms of food interest. The microbial evolution of Listeria monocytogenesStaphylococcus aureusBacillus cereus, and Clostridium sporogenes inoculated at known doses was examined in different batches of cooked ham. The design of a challenge test according to their shelf life (45 days), pH values, and water activity allowed the determination of the mesophilic aerobic flora, psychotropic, and acid lactic bacteria viability. The test was completed with an organoleptic analysis of the samples, considering possible alterations in colour and texture. The cooked ham formulation containing propolis instead of nitrites limited the potential growth (δ < 0.5 log10) of all the inoculated microorganisms until day 45, except for L. monocytogenes, which in turn exhibited a bacteriostatic effect between day 7 and 30 of the storage time. The sensory analysis revealed the consumer’s acceptance of cooked ham batches including propolis as a natural additive. These findings suggest the functionality of propolis as a promising alternative to artificial preservatives for ensuring food safety and reducing the proliferation risk of foodborne pathogens in ready-to-eat products.

Italy – Soup with spelled and vegetables – Clostridium botulinum

Salute

Brand : Green leaf

Name : Soup with spelled and vegetables

Reason for reporting : Recall due to microbiological risk

Publication date : 2 May 2024

Documentation

Documentation

Canada – Notice not to consume broccoli soups and butternut squash and ginger soups prepared and sold by the company Épicerie Basta- Clostridium botulinum

Quebec

QUEBEC CITY , April 24, 2024 /CNW/ – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the Food Inspection Division of the City of Montreal and the company Épicerie Basta , located at 505, rue Rachel Est, in Montreal, advises the population not to consume the products indicated in the table below, because they have not been prepared and packaged to ensure their safety. In fact, these products could promote the proliferation of the bacteria  Clostridium botulinum .

Product name

Format

Target lot

“Broccoli soup”

litre 

Units sold until April 23, 2024

“Butternut and ginger soup”

The products which are the subject of this warning were offered for sale until April 23, 2024, and only at the establishment designated above. The products were packaged in a transparent plastic bag and were sold refrigerated.

The operator is voluntarily recalling the products in question. He agreed with MAPAQ and the Food Inspection Division of the City of Montreal to broadcast this warning as a precautionary measure. Additionally, people who have one of these products in their possession are advised not to consume it. They must return it to the establishment where they purchased it or throw it away.

Even if the affected products do not show signs of spoilage or suspicious odor, they could be contaminated with the bacteria  Clostridium botulinum . Foods contaminated with the toxin of this bacteria can cause, when ingested, the following symptoms: facial paralysis, unresponsive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, vision and speech problems. In severe cases, the disease can cause death.

It should be noted that no cases of illness associated with the consumption of these foods have been reported to MAPAQ to date.

Canada – Notice not to consume vegetable soup and mushroom and sesame soup from the Taouk brand sold by the company Boucherie Les Saules inc. – Clostridium botulinum

Quebec

QUEBEC CITY , April 24, 2024 /CNW/ – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the company Boucherie Les Saules inc., located at 2070, boulevard Masson, in Quebec, advises the population not to consume the products indicated in the table below, because they have not been preserved to ensure their safety. In fact, the retailer did not follow the instructions regarding the method of storing the products; these products could encourage the proliferation of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum .

Product name

Format

Target lot

“Mushrooms & sesame”

750ml 

Units sold until April 23, 2024

” Vegetables “

The products which are the subject of this warning were offered for sale until April 23, 2024, and only at the establishment designated above. The products were packaged in a glass jar with a black metal lid. The products were sold at room temperature.

The operator is recalling the products in question. He agreed with MAPAQ to broadcast this warning as a precautionary measure. Additionally, people who have one of these products in their possession are advised not to consume it. They must return it to the establishment where they purchased it or throw it away.

Even if the affected products do not show signs of spoilage or suspicious odor, they could be contaminated with the bacteria  Clostridium botulinum . Foods contaminated with the toxin of this bacteria can cause, when ingested, the following symptoms: facial paralysis, unresponsive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, vision and speech problems. In severe cases, the disease can cause death.

It should be noted that no cases of illness associated with the consumption of these foods have been reported to MAPAQ to date.

Research – Food Safety News Publisher’s Platform: What you need to know about Botulism

Food Safety News

Botulism is a rare, life-threatening paralytic illness caused by neurotoxins produced by an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium, Clostridium botulinum.[1] 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.[2] These rod-shaped bacteria grow best under anaerobic (or, low oxygen), low-salt, and low-acid conditions.[3] Bacterial growth is inhibited by refrigeration below 4° C., heating above 121° C, and high water-activity or acidity.[4] And although the toxin is destroyed by heating to 85° C. for at least five minutes, the spores formed by the bacteria are not inactivated unless the food is heated under high pressure to 121° C. for at least twenty minutes.[5] C. botulinum bacteria and spores are widely distributed in nature, because they are indigenous to soils and waters.[6] They occur in both cultivated and forest soils, bottom sediment of streams, lakes, and coastal waters, in the intestinal tracts of fish and mammals, and in the gills and viscera of crabs and other shellfish.[7]

Quebec -Notice not to consume potted smoked salmon prepared and sold by Hébergement Copaco Anticosti inc. (Musquaro smokehouse) – Clostridium botulinum

Quebec

QUEBEC CITY , April 18, 2024 /CNW/ – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the company Hébergement Copaco Anticosti inc. (Fumoir Musquaro), located at 3, rue du Copaco, in L’Île-d’Anticosti, advises the population not to consume the product indicated in the table below, because it has not been prepared and packaged properly. way to ensure its safety. In fact, this product could promote the proliferation of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum . 

Product name

Format

Target lot

“Smoked salmon

Pot smoked salmon

Smoked salmon, maple syrup »

Unitary

Units sold

until April 18

2024

The product which is the subject of this warning was offered for sale until April 18, 2024, at the establishment designated above as well as at the establishments located at 1835, boulevard Laure, in Sept-Îles, and at 6, rue des Olympiades, in L’Île-d’Anticosti. The product was packaged in a glass jar with a metal lid and sold refrigerated. A label reading “Fumoir Musquaro” was affixed to the top of the lid.

The operator is recalling the product in question. He agreed with MAPAQ to broadcast this warning as a precautionary measure. In addition, people who have this product in their possession are advised not to consume it. They must return it to the establishment where they purchased it or throw it away.

Even if the affected product does not show signs of spoilage or suspicious odor, it could be contaminated with the bacteria Clostridium botulinum . Foods contaminated with the toxin of this bacteria can cause, when ingested, the following symptoms: facial paralysis, unresponsive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, vision and speech problems. In severe cases, the disease can cause death.

It should be noted that no cases of illness associated with the consumption of this food have been reported to MAPAQ to date.

Canada – Mowi brand Norwegian Atlantic Salmon – Cold Smoked recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria – Clostridium botulinum

CFIA

Product
Norwegian Atlantic Salmon – Cold Smoked
Issue
Food – Microbial Contamination – Clostridium botulinum
What to do

Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute recalled products

Distribution
Ontario

The affected product is being recalled from the marketplace because it may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum.

What you should do

  • If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider
  • Check to see if you have recalled products
  • Do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute recalled products
  • Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking, including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness. Symptoms of foodborne botulism in children can include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis. In all cases, botulism does not cause a fever. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

RASFF Alert – Clostridium perfringens –

RASFF

Occurrence of Clostridium perfringens in cinnamon from Vietnam. in Spain