Category Archives: Eurofins Laboratories

Novel Coated Films Activity Against Listeria and Salmonella

Posted on February 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online Library

A novel type of environmentally friendly packaging with antibacterial activity was developed from lauric arginate (LAE)-coating of polylactic acid (PLA) films after surface activation using a corona discharge. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-based analysis of the LAE/PLA films confirmed the successful coating of LAE on the PLA surface. The mechanical properties of the LAE/PLA films with different levels of LAE-coating (0% to 2.6%[w/w]) were essentially the same as those of the neat PLA film. The antibacterial activity of the LAE/PLA films against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) was confirmed by a qualitative modified agar diffusion assay and quantitative JIS Z 2801:2000 method. Using the LAE/PLA film as a food-contact antimicrobial packaging for cooked cured ham, as a model system, suggested a potential application to inhibit L. monocytogenes and S. Typhimurium on ham with a 0.07% (w/w) LAE coating on the PLA when high transparency is required, as evidenced from the 2 to 3 log CFU/tested film lower pathogen growth after 7 d storage but even greater antibacterial activity is obtained with a LAE coating level of 2.6% (w/w) but at the cost of a reduced transparency of the finished product. This article shows how we can simply develop functional green packaging of PLA for food with effective and efficient antimicrobial activity by use of LAE coating on the surface via corona discharge.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

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Sampling Frequency for Pathogens- Very Low!

Posted on February 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

In Pennsylvania, where a raw milk Campylobacter outbreak has sickened at least 77 people during the last month, dairies – even those selling raw milk, are only required to test for pathogens twice a year, according to Penn State Food Safety, a blog by the Penn State College of Agricultural Services.

Pasteurisation kills harmful pathogens, but raw milk is unpasteurized and can sicken consumers if tainted. Since 2006, there have been seven raw milk outbreaks involving five or more people, sickening 284 Pennsylvanians. In addition, there were nine clusters of five or fewer cases during that same period.

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Posted in Campylobacter, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen

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Parisian Cooked Ham May Contain Dangerous Bacteria or Parasites

Posted on February 23, 2012 by | 1 comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Charcuterie La Tour Eiffel are warning the public not to consume the Tour Eiffel brand Parisian Cooked Ham described below because the product may be contaminated with dangerous bacteria or parasites.

The affected product, Tour Eiffel brand Parisian Cooked Ham was sold from deli counters at certain Sobeys stores (e.g., IGA, IGA extra) and Metro stores (e.g., Metro, Marché Richelieu), as well as certain independent grocers and delicatessens in Quebec between February 10 and 21, 2012.

Some deli packages may not bear a label indicating brand or date information. Consumers who cannot determine the original product identity are advised to check with their retailer to determine if the product is affected.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Parasite, Pathogen

MRSA – Source From Antibiotic Treated Livestock

Posted on February 22, 2012 by | Leave a comment

mBioSPhere

A strain of MRSA that humans can contract from livestock most likely became drug resistant due to the use of antibiotics on the farm. That’s according to the authors of a study in mBio this week, who looked closely at the genetic relationships among strains of the antibiotic resistant bacterium MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). They discovered that ST398, a type of MRSA found in livestock that can also be passed to humans was originally a human strain, and it developed resistance to antibiotics once it was picked up by farm animals. The finding illustrates a very close link between antibiotic use on the farm and potentially lethal human infections.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, MRSA, Pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus

German Girl dies E.coli EHEC

Posted on February 22, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BarfBlog

The translation is rough and details sketchy, but Focus is reporting a 6-year-old girl from Hamburg died over the weekend from the effects of EHEC, which probably means some strain of shiga-toxin producing E. coli.

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Posted in E.coli, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, STEC

Clostridium perfringens Toxin US Ham Product

Posted on February 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Bites

21 attendees of a catered lunch from an unliecensed cater in Las Vegas reported diarrhea and vomiting
– Toxin associated with Clostridium perfringens was isolated from some of the attendees
– The pathogen was found in ham and a plate of mixed food that was served at the luncheon
– Microwaves often heat foods unevenly making take the temperature with a tip-sensitive thermometer in multiple spots.

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Posted in Clostridium perfringens, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Toxin

Chlorine Dioxide – Listeria monocytogenes Control

Posted on February 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct – To purchase full report

Food Production Daily

Chlorine dioxide (CIO2) gas has the capacity to completely inactivate Listeria monocytogenes (LM) on ready-to-eat (RTE) meat processing equipment, according to new research.

 

 

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen

Viet Nam – Food Safety

Posted on February 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Viet Nam News 

HCM CITY — Health officials have called on local food and beverage enterprises to strictly follow the regulations on food safety to protect consumer rights and product quality.

Around 10,000 food-poisoning cases occur yearly. Phong said that last year inter-sector inspectors found many violations of food-advertising regulations.

Under a Government plan, 100 per cent of food-processing factories would qualify to receive food-safety certificates and 70 per cent of food processors and consumers and producers would be knowledgeable about food-safety practices.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen

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Australia Food Recall – Salad – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on February 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

NSW

S&B Gourmet Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd is recalling batches of their salad sold in NSW and VIC in IGA, Superbarn, and Thomas Dux supermarkets.

The batches are being recalled because of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. This bacteria can cause illness especially in pregnant women, children under 5 years, people over 70 years and people with weakened immune systems.

The recalled product is:

  • Salad Servers Chickpeas with Roast Pumpkin Salad in 350g and 500g sealed plastic containers, with ‘use-by’ date 23/02/12

The recall only applies to the above batches of the product and date.

Consumers in the vulnerable groups above should take care to not eat the product.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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CIFA – Beef Product Recall – E.coli O157

Posted on February 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and New Food Classics are warning the public not to consume certain Country Morning Beef Burgers, and no name Club Pack Beef Steakettes described below, because the products may be contaminated with E. coliO157:H7.

The Country Morning Beef Burgers product has been distributed to COOP and TGP grocery stores in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Northwest Territories.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of this product.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria my cause serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea. Some people may have seizures or strokes and some may need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis. Others may live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

 

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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