Category Archives: Eurofins Laboratories

US Recall E.coli O157 – Tenderised Beef

USDA Recall 

Town and Country Foods Inc., a Greene, Maine establishment, is recalling approximately 2,057 pounds of ground and tenderised beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The problem was discovered through company lab testing which confirmed a positive result for E.coli O157:H7. The company did not hold product pending test results, resulting in this recall. FSIS and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

It will be interesting to see if in the future both in the USA and UK if more testing for STEC E.coli will result in raw meat withdrawals.

US Recall Uneviscerated Fish – Clostridium botulinum

FDA Recall

April 10, 2012 – Import Foods Wholesale Inc. in St. Paul, MN is recalling: Smoked Croaker, Smoked Barracuda, Smoked Big Eye, and Smoked Red Snapper after it was discovered by the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture Laboratory personnel who confirmed that the product was not properly eviscerated prior to processing.

This product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause botulism, a serious and potentially fatal food–borne illness.

The sale of improperly eviscerated fish, 5 inches in length or greater, is prohibited because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning which may pose a potentially life-threatening health hazard. Symptoms of botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty swallowing and respiratory paralysis which may lead to death. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

The following recalled products were sold to retail stores in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Iowa.

  • Smoked Croaker comes in a 10lb cardboard box with a code: 298/11 and is a product of Guyana
  • Smoked Barracuda comes in a 10lb cardboard box with a code: 0282/011 and is a product of Guyana.
  • Smoked Big Eye comes in a 10lb cardboard box with a code: 287L10 and is product of Guyana.
  • Smoked Red Snapper comes in a 10lb cardboard box with a code: 298-11 is a product of Guyana.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. Consumers who have Smoked Croaker, Smoked Barracuda, Smoked Big Eye, and Smoked Red Snapper are advised not to eat it, but should return it to the place of purchase.

Import Foods Wholesale Inc. intend to provide safe quality foods. Consumer with questions may contact the company at 612-876-5412.

 

Two Food Poisoning Incidents in India – 300 Cases +

Food Safety 

JEWAR (GREATER NOIDA): More than 150 people, including women and children, were taken ill due to suspected food poisoning after eating at a ‘shraddh’ ceremony at Chiroli village near Jewar on Monday. District authorities said the food served for lunch might have caused the food poisoning. An investigation has been ordered into the matter. Locals state that as many as 300 were taken ill.

PUNE: Barring 12 children, 120 students of the municipal school at Janata Vasahat in Parvati, who suffered food poisoning on Saturday, were discharged on Sunday. A total of 132 students were admitted to different hospitals on Saturday after they complained of vomiting and nausea after they ate food served under the mid-day meal scheme.

World Data Center for Microoganisms-Reference Strain Catalogue

WDCM

This catalogue was produced to enable broader and easier access to the reference strains listed by the ISO TC 34 SC 9 Joint Working Group 5 and by the Working Party on Culture Media of the International Committee on Food Microbiology and Hygiene (ICFMH-WPCM) in their publication Handbook of Culture Media for Food and Water Microbiology. It fulfils a need expressed by these bodies for a unique system of identifiers for strains recommended for use in quality assurance.
 
UKAS in the UK will in time be expecting the use of WDCM Reference numbers in methods when the use of reference strains are quoted. This is to remove commercial bias from different culture collection material reference numbers

Salmonellla Newport – Polish Chicken in Denmark

RASFF

Chicken breast fillet from Poland has been withdrawn from the market, distribution status and product codes are not yet available.

 

USA – Raw Milk Link Between Recent E.coli O157 Cases

Food Safety News

Columbia Daily Tribune

An epidemiologist with the Columbia-Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services in central Missouri has confirmed with Food Safety News that three cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection in Boone County share raw milk as a common potential source of contamination.

China Life Ban for Food Safety Crimes

China Daily 

People convicted of crimes related to food safety in the capital will be banned from the food industry for life, under a draft amendment to the Beijing Food Safety Regulation.

The new draft, which aims to achieve tougher punishment for food safety crimes and violations, was released for public comment over the weekend.

The public can visit the websites of the city’s food safety office or legal affairs office to register opinions, or send comments by post to either office, by April 25.

Under the current regulations, which took effect in 2007, people whose licenses are revoked are banned from the food business for three years. The amendment would extend the ban to five years.

US – Dog Food Recalled – Salmonella

Food Safety News

Diamond Pet Foods is recalling its Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.
 
According to a recall notice posted by the company Friday, no illnesses have been reported and no other Diamond-manufactured pet food products are affected.  
 
The recalled dry dog food, Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice, was distributed to customers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, but it then could have been further distributed to other states, through pet food channels.
 

E.coli O157 – Missouri – 5 Cases – Source Unknown

MDHSS 

Ecoli Blog

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is investigating an increase in cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Central Missouri during late March and early April, 2012. Five cases of E. coli O157:H7 have been identified during this time period. Two of the cases, a two-year old child and a seventeen-month old child, reportedly have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a severe, life-threatening condition that may result in permanent kidney damage in some of those who survive.

The investigation is ongoing and the source of the infections has not been identified.

Canada – Beef Burger Meat Recall Salmonella

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Intercity Packers (East) Ltd are warning the public, distributors and food service establishments not to consume, sell, serve or use the beef burger meat mix described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Intercity Packers Ltd brand Beef Burger Meat Mix 80/20, is sold in 5 kg cases (each containing 2 x 2.5 kg units) bearing UPC 90066172180172 and lot code 046.  The affected product can be identified by the Establishment number (EST) 503 that appears on the outer cases. The chubs inside the case do not carry any label.

This product has been distributed to public and commercial food establishments in Ontario and Newfoundland and possibly retailers in Newfoundland. Consumers in Newfoundland are advised to check with their store of purchase to determine if they have the affected product.