Category Archives: Eurofins Laboratories

US – Another Listeria monocytogenes Food Recall

Food Poison Journal

 On January 25, 2012, it was announced that Anytime Deli Turkey & Ham Footlong Sandwiches are being recalled due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  The sub sandwiches were distributed on January 2nd and 3rd to convenience stores in Florida and South Georgia.

The sandwiches being recalled have expirations dates of January 19 and January 22 and UPC 0543200194.  The sandwich is packaged in white butcher wrap. The Best Buy date is 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 illnesses have been reported to date.

FSAI – Recall Iceland Frozen Lamb Mince – Salmonella

Iceland Foods Ltd. is recalling a batch of Iceland Frozen Lamb Mince, due to the presence of Salmonella arizonae.  No other products are known to be affected by this recall.  Iceland Foods Ltd. has issued in-store notices requesting customers who have bought this product to return it to an Iceland store.  No action is required by official agencies.

FSAI

 

EFSA – Scientific Opinion on Norovirus

EFSA

NoV is highly infectious, and there is no threshold infectivity limit for NoV detected by PCR. The probability of becoming infected increases with the dose but depends also on the characteristics of the organism, the food matrix and the host factors. The relationship between the number of infectious virus particles and the number of virus genome copies detected by quantitative PCR is not a constant, and it is important to realise that the infectious risk associated with low level positive oysters as determined by real-time PCR may be overestimated.

Quantitative data on viral load from areas compliant with current EU legislative requirements (E. coli standards) during January-March 2010 in 3 selected member states, show that a viral limit of 100, 200, 500, 1000 or 10.000 NoV PCR copies would result in 33.6-88.9%, 24.4-83.3%, 10.0-72.2%, 7.7-44.4% or 0-11.1% of non-compliant batches, respectively. Compliance with any of the above NoV limits would reduce the number of contaminated oysters placed on the market and therefore the risk for consumers to become infected. It is currently not possible to quantify the public health impact of different limits.

Microbiological criteria for NoV in oysters are useful for validation and verification of HACCP-based processes and procedures, and can also be used by competent authorities as an additional control to improve risk management in production areas, during processing and retail. The Panel recommended that risk managers should consider establishing an acceptable limit for NoV in oysters to be harvested and placed on the market. NoV testing of oysters (standardized CEN method) should be used to verify compliance with the acceptable NoV limit established.

The most effective public health measure to control human NoV infection from oyster consumption is to produce oysters from areas which are not faecally contaminated, particularly given the ineffectiveness of current depuration and relaying procedures.

FDA – Mock Salt Recall – Salmonella

FDA

It is quite interesting to see where pathogenic organisms can be found, I spend quite some time telling clients to be aware of control statements such as organisms will not grow below this pH, Temperature, aW etc. There is always a difference between growth and persistence and the organisms do not always know about the limits and tolerance they are supposed to have.

January 23, 2012 – University Place, Washington- Jones’ Seasoning Blends LLC announced a voluntary recall of Jones’ Mock Salt Original as well as Jones’ Mock Salt Spicy Southwest Blend due to the potential contamination of Salmonella.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this voluntary recall.

This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella contamination of the celery seeds ingredient used in Jones Mock Salt. Jones Seasoning Blends LLC is not responsible for the contamination of Salmonella. The supplier of the celery seeds has been recalling the product and Jones Seasoning Blends LLC has also taken every action possible in notifying the public.

The following affected products were directly distributed to grocery stores and markets in California, Minnesota, and Washington and it was also sold through internet orders on http://www.jonesmocksalt.com:

Jones’ Mock Salt Original: Organic Salt Free Seasoning, 1.6 oz bottles (UPC 0 94922 16616 6), 12 oz bags (UPC 0 94922 07199 6) and 16 oz bags (0 94922 16616 6).

Jones’ Mock Salt Spicy Southwest Blend: Organic Salt Free Seasoning, 1.6 oz bottles (UPC 0 94922 01560 0).

There is no lot number identifying the bottles or bags. Any products purchased from July 1, 2011 to December 14, 2011 should be destroyed.

Belgian Baby Formula Linked to Salmonella Outbreak in Russia

Food Quality News

Tainted powdered milk formula from Belgium has been recalled in Russia after more than a dozen babies were struck down with Salmonellosis.

US – Cold Smoked Salmon – Listeria monocytogenes

PR News Wire

A Maine food processing and storage company destroyed its cold smoked salmon product under the supervision of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes within the firm’s facility and on processing.

Based on conditions at Mill Stream Corp. of Hancock, Maine, FDA investigators ordered an administrative detention of the firm’s cold-smoked salmon product, a ready-to-eat food, during an inspection in December 2011. Once the food was detained, Mill Stream Corp. agreed to voluntarily destroy the cold-smoked salmon, under FDA supervision.

The FDA may order the detention of food when an investigator has a reason to believe that the food is adulterated or misbranded. Food subject to an FDA detention order may not be moved, without agency permission, until the agency releases it or the detention order expires. A detention order may remain in place for up to 30 days

 

USDA – $25 Million to E.coli STEC Research

Food Navigator USA

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $25m research grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to tackle Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in the beef supply chain.

As reported on this blog last year the US have decided to ban six E.coli serotypes from the food chain and if the proposal goes through testing will need to begin in March 2012, this is still a very controversial proposal in the US. (link)

Iceland Recalls Frozen Mince – Salmonella

FSA

Iceland is recalling its frozen minced lamb because some batches may be contaminated with salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium that causes food poisoning. The affected batches have a ‘best before’ date of 11 October 2012. If you have bought the product don’t eat it. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

The product being recalled is:

  • Iceland Frozen Lamb Mince, 454g
  • Best before date: 11 October 2012

Iceland has recalled the affected product. Customer notices have been displayed in stores, explaining why the product has been recalled. If you’ve bought the product, don’t eat it. You can return it to the store for a full refund.

No other Iceland products are known to be affected.

 

1000 New Food Regulations by 2015!

Food Navigator Asia

Catchy headline but if you not in China you can breathe again,recent food scandals have influenced China food officials to implement up to 1,000 food regulations by 2015. The aim is to regain consumer confidence in local processed foods.

India to Open 125 Food Safety Laboratories

Lab Saints

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed to set up 125 food testing laboratories in the country.

The proposed labs are meant to undertake tests to check whether the adulteration is chemical, physical or microbiological. Physical category means substandard particles mixed in a product. The 125 primary labs will join the existing 72 labs in the country. Apart from these, there are four central food labs, working as referral labs to the primary labs, providing information about various research projects, their findings and usefulness of technology in the food industry.

Times India