Category Archives: Eurofins Laboratories

CIFA – Recall Salted Cured Fish – Clostridium botulinum

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the salted and cured fish product (fesikh) described below because it may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by this bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

The affected product, whole fesikh mullet, was sold in clear vacuum-packaged bags of varying count and weight, bearing no code or date information.

This product was sold from Lotus Catering and Fine Food, 1960 Lawrence Ave. E, Toronto, ON, on or before April 17, 2012.

There have been 3 reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Canadians Open to Food Irradiation for Food Safety

CTV News

A new survey shows Canadians might be willing to eat food with small doses of radiation to prevent foodborne illnesses.

The survey was conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion for the Consumers Association of Canada. It found that while Canadians are concerned about food contamination, most don’t know much about food irradiation.

The online survey of 1,006 Canadians found 57 per cent of respondents had not heard of irradiation, which is a process that exposes foods to minute doses of radiation like X-rays to kill off bacteria.

And yet when the Canadians polled in the survey were given a brief explanation of the process, most said they would support having irradiated food at the grocery store as a choice.

US – Salmonella Poisoning from Live Chcikens

Food Bites

Greene County has recently seen three confirmed cases of salmonella that are likely related to the purchase of chickens from local vendors. The vendors followed all applicable laws and took necessary precautions against the disease on their premises. However, these cases serve as a reminder for consumers to be aware of the potential risk for illness whenever they deal with chickens.

More local residents may be interested in keeping chickens at home. Some are doing it to be more sustainable, or produce their own food.

US – Mexican Food – Another Norovirus Outbreak

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Another norovirus outbreak at another Mexican restaurant in Fort Wayne, Indiana has been reported. John Silcox, director of Communications for the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health, confirmed that illness reports from consumers who at at El Azteca Mexican restaurant on State Blvd. were received during the week of April 2, 2012.

Ten complaints have been received about 35 consumers who ate at the restaurant during the potential outbreak timeframe.

Foot Long Subs – Listeria monocytogenes

FDA

M.E. Thompson, Inc. is expanding the recall of its Anytime Deli Turkey & Ham Footlong, to include Italian Footlong, and Classic Cuban, because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.  Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The initial date of the recall was January 24, 2012.

The following products with expiration dates from January 19th through May 2nd and lot number from 00112 through 10412 are being recalled:

Turkey & Ham Footlong  UPC 0543200194
Italian Footlong UPC 0543200196
Classic Cuban UPC 0543200156

The sub sandwiches were distributed on January 2nd through April 13th to convenience and grocery stores nationwide under the labels Anytime Deli, Sandwich Central and Dandee.  All sandwiches are packaged in white butcher wrap.  The Best Buy date and/or the Lot Number are located on the white press on circular label. The UPC Code is located on the bottom of the product beneath the Ingredient and Nutrition Facts label.

No confirmed illnesses have been reported to date.

Norovirus at Tennis Tournament

mydesert.com

A highly contagious stomach flu contracted through touch was the cause of some cases of nausea, diarrhea and chills that afflicted players and staff at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in March.

The illness knocked several top players out of the world-class BNP event at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“Some individuals were tested and we did have some positive results for norovirus,” said Barbara Cole, director of disease control for the Riverside County Department of Health.

Oregon Raw Milk Farm – Cows, Milk and Surfaces Positive E.coli O157

E.coli Blog

Four children are hospitalised; a total of five confirmed with E. coli – as many as seventeen sick

Oregon Public Health officials today report test results of samples taken from Foundation Farm cows, manure and surfaces as well as raw milk from a farm customer are positive for E. coli O157.

The samples came from leftover milk recovered from one household, rectal swabs from two of four cows, and multiple manure and other environmental samples collected at the farm.

EFSA Food Videos – Salmonella/Campylobacter/Pathogens

EFSA Videos

Understanding Science short videos including Salmonella and Campylobacter.

Wolverhampton Wedding – Norovirus

Express and Star

Fifty guests at a diamond wedding party in Wolverhampton were struck down with Norovirus prompting a city-wide alert to GPs.

The outbreak of the bug occurred after the anniversary party in Tettenhall. Everyone is understood to have now recovered but guests had to answer questions from doctors and the Health Protection Agency.

Wolverhampton City Council said tests of food samples indicated it was a viral infection and nothing to do with the venue itself or caterers.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA), Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust and the council worked together to establish the cause of the 50 cases of diarrhoea and vomiting and confirmed it was Norovirus.

E.coli Vaccine for Cattle

Food Safety News 

A Canadian biotech company has developed a vaccine for cattle that prevents them from shedding E. coli in their manure, and its CEO now hopes the Canadian and U.S. governments will help spread the vaccine to combat the threat posed by E. coli contamination in beef.
E. coli illnesses cost the Canadian medical system more than $200 million a year, but vaccinating every cow in the country would cost less than $50 million.