Category Archives: Eurofins Laboratories

RASFF and Other Alerts – Mould, Listeria, Salmonella,Aflatoxins, STEC, Campylobacter

RASFF – Mould in Cheddar Cheese in Denmark sourced in the UK.

RASFF – Salmonella in Roasted Soya Beans in Belgium.

RASFF – Campylobacter in Fresh Whole Chicken in Denmark sourced in Germany.

RASFF – Salmonella in Galacto Oligosaccharide in Netherlands sourced in South Korea

RASFF – STEC E.coli Bovine Meat in Belgium

RASFF – Aflatoxins in Groundnuts in Netherlands sourced in Nicaragua.

Denmark – Undesirable bacteria in Yoghurt

Denmark – Mould on Cheese products.

Germany – Salmonella in Teewurst Sausage

FSA – Bag it Up – Food Safety

FSA

The Food Standards Agency in Wales is reminding consumers how they can protect their shopping when packing raw and ready-to-eat food products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Information published today by the Welsh Government shows there has been a 96% reduction in the use of carrier bags in some retail sectors since charges for plastic bags were introduced in Wales in October 2011.

With more and more consumers reusing carrier bags, either for sustainability or as a result of charging, there are some important tips to help prevent bacteria spreading to ready-to-eat food.

  • Keep raw meat and fish separate from ready-to eat-foods, in separate bags.
  • If your bags are re-useable, keep one or two just for use with raw meat and fish. Don’t use them for ready-to-eat foods.
  • Re-useable bags (and single use carrier bags) should be disposed of if there’s been any spillage of raw meat juices.

China Vows to Stamp Out Food Safety Scandals

The Telegraph 

China has vowed to stamp out major food safety scandals in three years after fears surfaced that athletes might underperform at the Olympics because they were avoiding eating potentially contaminated meat.

Reports about shocking and often bizarre cases of contamination or adulteration appear in the Chinese media on an almost daily basis.

On Tuesday the Legal Daily newspaper reported that police in northeast China had arrested 6 people behind a £1.3m “fake beer” racket. Police claim the gang used hydrochloric acid and formaldehyde to produce counterfeit beer, including the country’s flagship Tsingtao lager.

The Telegraph China’s Top 10 Food Safety Scandals

Australia – Sour Cream Recall – E.coli

FSANZ

Coles Supermarkets have recalled Coles Lite Sour Cream (300ml) from its stores in WA due to E.coli contamination. Food contaminated with E.coli may cause illness if consumed. Consumers should not eat this product and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

 

Brussels Carrefour Recall Sardines – Histamine

DHBE

BRUSSELS Carrefour is recalling sardines in olive oil of the Carrefour brand, “as a precautionary measure and following the potential presence of histamine,” announced Tuesday the supply chain. . “This is part of standard methods of control implemented by the sign that the potential presence of histamine has been demonstrated,” said Carrefour in a statement.

The recall affects the following product: Sardines in olive oil 120 g, Carrefour brand, barcode: 3560070017522. These lots range BJL001F and BLJ043F.

Scombroid (histamine) food poisoning is a foodborne illness that results from eating spoiled (decayed) fish. However it is often missed because it resembles an allergic reaction. It is most commonly reported with mackerel, tuna, bluefish, mahi-mahi, bonito, sardines, anchovies, and related species of fish that were inadequately refrigerated or preserved after being caught. The syndrome derived its name because early descriptions of the illness noted an association with Scombroidea fish (e.g., large dark meat marine tuna, albacore, mackerel); however, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have identified the largest vector to be non-scombroid fish, such as mahi-mahi and amberjack. Scombroid syndrome can result from inappropriate handling of fish during storage or processing. One of the toxic agents implicated in scombroid poisoning is histamine. Other chemicals have been found in decaying fish flesh, but their association with scombroid fish poisoning has not been clearly established.

Food Standards Agency – New Q&A E.coli O157

FSA

The Food Standards Agency has today published the third edition of the Q&A on its guidance document E.coli O157: control of cross-contamination.

This new version of the Q&A addresses a number of issues that have arisen since the publication of the second edition in November 2011.

Among the issues addressed are:

  • an update on the extension of Remedial Action Notices as an enforcement power
  • advice on the use of the same food preparation sink for raw and ready-to-eat foods
  • clarification of when worktops are considered to be non-food contact surfaces
  • whether a change of use from raw to ready-to-eat foods is possible for ‘complex equipment’
  • advice on the cleaning of probes

RASFF Alerts – Histamine/Listeria/Salmonella

RASFF – Cheese from Italy – Listeria monocytogenes

RASFF – Yellow Fin Tuna – Histamine in the UK product from Vietnam

RASFF – Salmonella in Oats in Norway sourced in Sweden

US Dole Fresh Vegetables Third Recall this Year – Listeria

FDA

Dole Fresh Vegetables is voluntarily recalling 1,077 cases of bagged salads. The products being recalled are Kroger Fresh Selections Greener Supreme coded N158 211B 1613 KR04 with Use-by date of June 19 and UPC 11110 91039, Kroger Fresh Selections Leafy Romaine coded N158 111B KR11 with Use-by date of June 19 and UPC 11110 91046 and Wal Mart Marketside Leafy Romaine coded N158111B with Use-by date of June19 and UPC code 81131 02781 due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. Dole Fresh Vegetables is coordinating closely with regulatory officials. No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall.

US – Vibrio Outbreak – Raw Undercooked Shellfish

Food Poisoning Bulletin 

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has announced there is an outbreak of Vibriosis in eastern Missouri. The illnesses are caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus, which is usually associated with eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters.

Three cases of the illnesses have been identified June 27 and 28, 2012. Risk factors for acquiring this disease include eating raw or undercooked oysters, clams, mussels, or crabs; or cross-contamination of other foods or surfaces with raw seafood. The bacteria lives in brackish water and grows easily in warm water during the summer months.

 

US – Update on Salmonella fron Turtles

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The CDC has released updated information about multistate outbreaks of Salmonella linked to small turtles. So far, 149 people in 28 states are infected with outbreak strains of four types of bacteria: Salmonella Sandiego, Salmonella Pomona, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Poona. We’ve told you about this outbreak in March 2012 and again in May 2012. In the last update, there were five outbreaks; now there are six.

Very interesting as a UK food laboratory that Salmonella Poona used to be many laboratories control strain.