Spence & Co. of Massachusetts is recalling New York-Style Nova Lox in 4 ounce packages with code/lot number 9720704 because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recall affects a total of 1,563 packs of the product. Two people may have been stricken with listeriosis associated with the consumption of this product.
A Primrose Hill school was closed today after more than 200 pupils and 15 members of staff were struck down with the contagious Norovirus.
Health inspectors ruled the winter vomiting bug was present at North Bridge House Preparatory School. The building in Gloucester Avenue was being cleansed today amid fears the virus could spread to the school’s other buildings.
In a letter sent to parents, headteacher Brodie Bibby said the school was “afflicted by a particularly unpleasant virus.”
Any children showing signs of sickness were told to be kept at home by parents, she wrote – adding that any children still well enough were invited to attend a planned performance of Swan Lake tomorrow night.
She added that “a specialist team will clean the entire school with anti-viral sprays and use air-based products.”
One parent told a local newspaper that his daughter “suddenly turned white and projectile vomited all over her bedroom” after being struck down with the illness this week.
North Bridge House, which also has a nursery school, a junior and a senior school at different sites in Camden, will reopen on Monday.
RASFF 1 / RASFF 2 – Aflatoxin in Dried Figs in Germany sourced in Turkey two alerts
RASFF – Salmonella in Bovine Meat in Italy, Portugal and Malta sourced in Italy
RASFF – Salmonella in Soya Bean Meal in Poland sourced in the USA
RASFF – Salmonella in Whole Forzen Chicken in Finland sourced in the Netherlands
RASSF – Salmonella in Paan Leaves in the UK sourced in Bangladesh
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan, along with Community Health and the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development are investigating a series of E. coli infections that may be associated with unpasteurized, unlabeled apple juice in Antrim County. Officials are collecting stool samples and samples of the cider to test for the outbreak strain of the bacteria.
The cider was made by an unlicensed facility and was not labeled as unpasteurized.
Nestlé USA announced the voluntary recall of limited quantities of Nestlé NESQUIK® Chocolate Powder in the 10.9, 21.8 and 40.7 ounce canisters. The voluntary recall is limited to only NESQUIK Chocolate Powder, which was distributed nationally. No other varieties of NESQUIK powder or any sizes or flavors of NESQUIK ready-to-drink are affected by this recall.
Nestlé is removing the canisters from distribution because the company was notified by an ingredient supplier, Omya Inc. that it has issued a recall of certain lots of its ingredient, calcium carbonate due to possible presence of Salmonella. Calcium carbonate is used in NESQUIK as an ingredient. There have been no reports of any illnesses or adverse health effects associated with the affected product.
Charlotte, North Carolina – Fresh Express Incorporated is conducting a voluntary, precautionary recall of a limited quantity of Fresh Express Spinach with a Use-by Date of November 7 and Product Code of S299B25 due to a possible health risk from Salmonella.
No illnesses or consumer complaints have been reported to Fresh Express at this time in association with this recall. No other Fresh Express products are subject to this recall.
The recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution due to an isolated instance in which a random sample yielded a positive result for Salmonella under U.S. Department of Agriculture’s random sample testing program. Fresh Express is coordinating closely with regulatory officials.
HACCPEUROPA – Full Article
Norovirus causes more than half of all food-borne illnesses in the United States, and is the second greatest source of reported food borne illness outbreaks in the European Union. A norovirus is a small virus that contains RNA and is surrounded by a protein coating. By sequencing the RNA, scientists have discovered that there are many different types of norovirus. Originally, strains were named based on the city in which they were first identified. Thus, one common strain used to be called Norwalk virus. Based on genetic typing, we now know that there are at least 25 different strains of norovirus that affect humans.
A recent study found that grape seed extract could reduce the infectivity of Norovirus surrogates.
Researchers from Ghent University, Belgium have shown that grape seed extract does so by denaturing the capsid protein, which is the coat of the virus, thereby disabling the virus.
In the study, the researchers observed that under treatment with grape seed extract, at low doses, the spherically-shaped murine (mouse) norovirus-1 coat proteins clumped, and showed obvious deformation and inflation. At higher doses, the researchers saw no coat proteins, only protein debris. This provides evidence that grape seed extract could effectively damage the norovirus capsid protein, which could reduce viral binding ability and infectivity accordingly.
A cruise ship delayed its departure from Southampton after a suspected outbreak of norovirus on board. Celebrity Cruises’ vessel Constellation arrived in the city’s port at 06:00 GMT at the end of a 12-night cruise. Southampton’s Port Health Authority said about 350 passengers had fallen ill with the vomiting and diarrhoea bug. Its departure was delayed until 20:00 while deep cleaning took place.
The authority’s Rosie Zambra confirmed it was informed of “concerns over an increased levels of what appeared to be norovirus” several days before the ship’s arrival.
Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hand Washing, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Virus
Tagged celebrity cruises, night cruise, transportation, vomiting and diarrhoea
USDA Isolation of Non 0157 Shiga Toxin E.coli with Appendix
USDA Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes with Appendix
USDA Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes PCR
Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O104, E.coli O145, E.coli O157, E.coli O26, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, STEC, USDA
Tagged e coli, isolation, Methods, science, toxin, usda methods
Omya Inc. is voluntarily recalling certain lots of food grade ground limestone products processed at its Superior, Arizona plant because of the possible presence of Salmonella. There have been no reports of any illnesses or adverse health effects associated with any of Omya’s food grade ground limestone products. Although an investigation is still ongoing, Omya is recalling specific lots of Omya-Cal FG-4 AZ, Omya-Cal FG-10 AZ and Omya-Cal FG-15 AZ in the U.S. as a precaution. Omya’s voluntary recall is being conducted in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The most common symptoms of Salmonella infection are diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever, which develop within eight to 72 hours of eating contaminated food. The illness usually lasts for four to seven days and most people recover without treatment. However, salmonellosis can be severe or even life threatening for infants, older people, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. Individuals experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention.
Omya’s food grade ground limestone products were sold to distributors and/or manufacturers as ingredients for further processing in the U.S. The food grade products were not distributed for retail sale to consumers.
Omya is diligently investigating the possible problem and implemented additional precautionary food safety measures.
The products involved in this voluntary recall are:
| Product | Container Size | Lot numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Omya-Cal FG-10 AZ | 50 lb. bags 2500 lb. bulk bags 2000 lb. bulk bags |
Z227510511 Z227500511 Z227500511 |
| Omya-Cal FG-4 AZ | 50 lb. bags 50 lb. bags |
Z227510409 Z230310409 |
| Omya-Cal FG-15 AZ | 2500 lb. bulk bags 2500 lb. bulk bags |
Z228400712 Z228200712 |
At least 39 people fell ill with Norovirus infections after eating at a restaurant in central Illinois last week, according to the local health department.
All of those sickened were among a group of 80 people who attended an end-of-year banquet for a high school soccer team at Alexander’s Steakhouse in Peoria, IL October 28, reported the Peoria Journal Star.
Though the restaurant served a total of 1,100 meals the weekend the banquet was held, no patrons other than those who attended the banquet contracted the virus.
Victims experienced typical symptoms of Norovirus infection, including vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
FoodWorld 