Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today called for submissions on a proposal to review existing limits for Listeria monocytogenes in the Food Standards Code.
FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said that since the limits were first set, preventative food safety requirements had been introduced and new limits had been established internationally.
“These changes mean it’s time for FSANZ to review the limits in the code to ensure we are providing a nationally consistent approach and where possible, harmonising our standards with those set by international standard-setting bodies,” Mr McCutcheon said.
“FSANZ is also exploring what tools would need to be developed to help industry and enforcement agencies apply any new approach.”
L. monocytogenes causes the serious illness, listeriosis, in some people. People particularly at risk of listeriosis include pregnant women, their unborn and newborn babies, the elderly, and other people whose immune systems have been weakened by illness or immuno-suppressant drugs.
The review of the limits for L. monocytogenes is the first stage of a broader review of microbiological limits in the Code.
The closing date for submissions on Proposal P1017 is 16 November 2012.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is announcing a Public Health Alert for raw boneless beef trim products imported from Canada that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
The results from the analysis of food samples collected from Scottish businesses in 2011 have shown a slight increase in the levels of satisfactory samples in comparison with the previous year.
The report has shown that 80% of samples collected in 2011 by local authorities in Scotland and submitted to the UK Food Surveillance System (UKFSS) were satisfactory, a rise of 3% on 2010. Areas where improvements could be made in relation to food handling practices in retail and catering businesses were also identified in the report (see attached).
During 2011, almost 9,200 food samples were collected from Scottish businesses and analysed by the Public Analyst Laboratories in Scotland. More than 5,000 samples were examined microbiologically and a further 4,188 underwent chemical analysis, including tests for contaminants, additives and labelling inaccuracies.
As in previous years, the results of sampling in 2011 show that there were very few issues relating to foodborne pathogens (illness causing organisms). The majority of failures in microbiological testing (83%) were due to the elevated levels of hygiene indicators (bacteria that can be used as indicators of general hygiene practices in food premises) and total bacterial counts (total number of bacteria on a food sample). These are not inherently a hazard but can indicate poor hygiene practices during food preparation and handling.
Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Spoilage, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Research
Tagged environment, food premises, food surveillance, hygiene practices, science
The public warning issued on September 18, 2012 has been expanded to include additional ground beef products because the products may be contaminated with E. coliO157:H7.
The CFIA is warning the public, distributors and food service establishments not to consume, sell, or serve the ground beef products described in the link above because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) Family of Stores in 15 states is asking customers to check their refrigerators for certain Kroger Fresh Selections Tender Spinach 10 ounce packages (UPC: 0001111091649) with a “best if used by” date of September 16.
This product, supplied by NewStar Fresh Foods LLC, is being recalled because the product may contain Listeria monocytogenes. Customers should return the items to stores for a full refund or a replacement. Customers can visit www.kroger.com/recall1 for more information.
Stores under the following names in 15 states are included in this recall:
Stores the company operates under the following names are not included in this recall: Fry’s, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, QFC, Smith’s, King Soopers, City Market and Food 4 Less/Foods Co. in California.
United Salad Co. is initiating a voluntary, precautionary recall on various products it distributes to retail supermarkets that contain Mangoes associated with the Food Source Tomorrow’s Tropical recall with the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
There have been no reported illnesses attributed to the recalled items. United Salad Co. is issuing this voluntary recall linked to the supplier’s Tropical Mangoes recall to minimize risk to the public health.
The recalled products were distributed to retailers and supermarkets from 09/01/12 to 09/17/12 in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. A list of recalled products is listed in the attached table.
The company has directly notified all customers who received the recalled product and requested removal from store shelves.
Anyone who has the recalled product in their possession should not consume it and should destroy or discard it. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-800-547-5536 Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific Time).
In cooperation with the FDA’s warning to not consume mangoes from Agricola Daniella, FreshLine / Caito Foods Service of Indianapolis, Indiana, is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of expired products that contain fresh-cut mangoes and are distributed to retail supermarkets due to the potential risk that the mangoes may contain Salmonella. This is associated with FoodSource’s (Edinburg, TX) recall of mangoes sourced from Agricola Daniella. The FDA has placed Agricola Daniella on the Import Alert Listing.
There have been no reported illnesses attributed to the items listed in this recall.
GHSW, LLC of Houston, Texas is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited quantity of expired products that contain fresh-cut mangoes and are distributed to retail supermarkets due to the potential risk that the mangoes may contain Salmonella. Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
This recall is associated with Food Source’s recall of mangoes sourced from Agricola Daniella. The FDA has issued an Import Alert and advised consumers not to eat mangoes from Agricola Daniella.
I am suprised that with the issues of last year and again this that anyone is eating Cantalopues in the USA.
Kroger is recalling 9 count boxes of cantaloupe for possible Salmonella contamination. The fruit was sold at Kroger stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Illinois, Eastern Missouri, Arkansas, Indiana (except Evansville), Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana. It was also sold in the greater Cincinnati area, including northern Kentucky; Dayton Ohio; Knoxville, Tennessee, and southeastern Indiana.
The public warning issued on September 16, 2012 has been expanded to include additional ground beef products. See link above for lis of products.
CIFA – E.coli O157 Information Sheet
A Pakistani man died and 15 people, including 10 children, were hospitalised due to food poisoning in two difference cases.
The condition of the victims who were rushed to Al Qasimi and Al Kuwaiti hospitals have been described to be between serious and minor. The victims ate food from two different places, including an Asian traditional food joint and a fast food outlet at one of the shopping centres in Sharjah.
Dr Yousif Al Serkal, Director of Al Kuwaiti Hospital, said four patients with suspected food poisoning were received at the emergency room of the hospital and were provided necessary treatment. But, despite the efforts of the medical staff, one of the patients, aged 40, died. The other three are still receiving treatment at the hospital and their condition are stable.
The ages of the patients range between 40 and 55 years and all are from Pakistan. The hospital management notified the authorities concerned, including the police and the municipality, for action against the Asian food outlet.
In the second incident, Dr Khalid Khalfan bin Sabt, Deputy Technical Director of Al Qasimi Hospital, said the hospital received 12 food poisoning cases on Friday, including 10 children of ages ranging from five to 13 years, and two men — a 38-year-old Arab and a 30-year-old Asian.
They ate at a fast food joint in one of the shopping centres. Six patients were discharged after they received necessary treatment and six are under medical supervision, but their condition is not critical except that of a little child who is five years old.
Officials at the municipality said inspectors were sent to the particular restaurant and food samples have been collected and are being analysed at the central food laboratory.
FoodWorld 