Category Archives: food contamination

Spain – Presence of Listeria monocytogenes in Goat Cheese from the Netherlands

ACSA

The Public Health Agency of Catalonia has been informed by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) through the Coordinated System for Rapid Information Exchange (SCIRI) of the presence of the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes in the Rulo de Cabra Cheese product , made in the Netherlands and marketed from Germany.

The German company JERMI, which packages and markets the product, has detected Listeria monocytogenes in the course of its self-tests in the goat cheese cheese product, which has been sold exclusively to Lidl.

Of all the batches and expiration dates of the affected product, only lot 412 with an expiration date of 11/06/2020 has been distributed in Lidl establishments in Spain. The affected product is being withdrawn from the marketing market.

With the information available , no case associated with this alert has been confirmed in Spain.

It is recommended that people who have products affected by this alert at home, refrain from consuming them and return them to the point of purchase.

You can consult the information that the Lidl company has passed on to consumers and in which it requests the return of the product “Jermi goat cheese roll”, at the following link:

https://www.lidl.es/es/devolucion-del-pr

Germany – CF Grell Nachf. Naturkost GmbH & Co. – Basmati Rice – Aflatoxins

LMW

Warning type: Food
Date of first publication: October 19, 2020
Product name:

Basmati rice, real basmati rice, brown

Product pictures:

6/11/2015-12-16 Packshot (002) .JPG
Manufacturer (distributor): CF Grell Nachf. Naturkost GmbH & Co. KG Boschstrasse 3 24568 Kaltenkirchen
Reason for warning:

Exceeding limit values ​​for aflatoxins

Packaging Unit: 500g
Durability: 11/15/2021
Lot identification: 901584, 901665, 901722
Additional Information: further information can be found in the enclosed consumer information.
Homepage of the manufacturer:

Contact to the responsible authorities:

Berlin:

poststelle@senjustva.berlin.de

Brandenburg:

Konsumenterschutz@Msgiv.Brandenburg.de

Bremen:

Schnellwarnung@gesundheit.bremen.de

Hamburg:

poststelle@bgv.hamburg.de

Schleswig-Holstein:

poststelle@jumi.landsh.de

Belgium – Recall of Carrefour – Basmati rice – Aflatoxin B1

AFSCA

Following a control and as a precautionary measure in order to guarantee the safety of the consumer, SOUFFLET ALIMENTAIRE requests to withdraw from the trade the products RIZ BASMATI 1KG and RIZ BASMATI 4X125GR of the Carrefour brand sold in the grocery department of certain Carrefour stores in Belgium and remind consumers of them due to a too high aflatoxin content.

Product
Carrefour basmati rice
Packer code: EMB 59606B
PRODUCT: Basmati rice 500g box (4X125GR)
EAN: 3245412435256 Best
before (DDM): 07/16/2022 and 07/20/2022
PRODUCT: BASMATI RICE 1KG SACHET
EAN: 3560070837984 Best
before (DDM): 15/07 / 2m022

Aflatoxins are mycotoxins that can be present in different products such as grains, coffee, rice, raisins and dried fruits.

There is no direct risk. Aflatoxin only presents a health risk with high and repeated consumption. However, people who hold these products are asked not to consume them and to return them to the point of sale where they will be reimbursed.

For any further information, you can contact the Carrefour Belgium consumer service by dialing the free number 0800.9.10.11 , from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm, Monday to Saturday.

The company BELLOWS FOOD apologizes to Carrefour customers for the inconvenience.

Belgium – GHL – AMERICAIN NATURE 350g of the JEAN GOTTA brand – Listeria monocytogenes

AFSCA

In agreement with the AFSCA, the firm GHL groupe is withdrawing from sale the 350g plain American trays of the Jean GOTTA brand due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Product description Product

name: American nature
Brand: Jean GOTTA Best before
date ( BBD ): 20/10/2020
Batch number: 8404220
Type of packaging: packaged in a protective atmosphere
Weight: 350g

This recall action does not concern than the aforementioned product, in very limited quantities, for the communicated batch number.
No other product in the Jean Gotta range is affected.

We ask that you return the suspicious product (s) you purchased from your store. They will be fully refunded.

The product was marketed at the following point of sale:
Spar Express: Avenue Jules du Jardin 1 -1150 Woluwe-Saint-Pierre

For any further information , you can contact our quality department via 087/680210 or service.qualite@jeangotta. be

UK – Nearly 400 people sick from Salmonella in UK; nearly half are children.

Food Safety News

Almost 400 people have fallen ill with Salmonella since the start of the year in the United Kingdom after eating frozen chicken products.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Public Health England (PHE) are investigating a rise in patients with two strains of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to frozen raw breaded processed chicken products.

Cases of Salmonella linked to raw breaded chicken products have been identified in previous years, however there has been an increase in 2020.

There have been 327 people sick in England, 32 in Scotland, 26 in Wales and five in Northern Ireland.

UK – Precautionary advice on cooking frozen raw breaded chicken products following link to cases of Salmonella

FSA

The Food Standards Agency and Public Health England are reminding people to take care when handling and cooking frozen raw breaded chicken products at home, such as nuggets, goujons, dippers, poppers and kievs.

This comes as we investigate a rise in cases of two particular strains of Salmonella Enteritidis (a food poisoning bug) linked to frozen raw breaded processed chicken products. Two product recalls have been undertaken, however further investigations are ongoing.

Nick Phin, Deputy Director of PHE’s National Infection Service, said:

‘From January 2020 there have been 390 cases of Salmonellosis caused by two strains of Salmonella Enteritidis linked to frozen, raw, breaded chicken products.

‘Salmonella generally causes a mild illness, although vulnerable groups like children under five years, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems may experience more severe illness. Symptoms of a Salmonella infection include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. Anyone who is concerned about symptoms should contact their GP or out of hours service in the first instance.’

Further information on Salmonella can be found on the NHS choices website.

Colin Sullivan, Chief Operating Officer, FSA said:

‘You should always check the cooking instructions on food packaging, as different brands of the same product might have different instructions. Cooking food at the right temperature and for the correct length of time will ensure that any harmful bacteria are killed.

‘We’re not asking you to make changes to the food you buy, but we are asking you to always follow good hygiene practices to help reduce the risk of food poisoning to you and your family.’

Top food hygiene tips:

  • Always carefully check the advice on food packaging and follow the cooking instructions provided
  • If the packaging advises the product should be thawed/defrosted before cooking, follow the instructions
  • Consume or freeze food by its use-by date
  • Wash your hands with soap and water after touching raw chicken products and before you handle ready-to-eat food
  • Avoid cross-contamination by cleaning any surface, plate or utensil that has been in contact with raw meat

Salmonella is a common bacteria that can cause food poisoning. Salmonella can be found in raw meat (processed and unprocessed), undercooked poultry and unpasteurised milk. Inadequate cooking and cross-contamination in the kitchen during food preparation can lead to Salmonellosis.

The following recalls are linked to this Salmonella outbreak:

Aldi recalls Roosters Southern Fried Poppin’ Chicken and Roosters Breaded Poppin’ Chicken because of the possible presence of salmonella

Iceland recalls Chip Shop Curry Chicken Breast Toppers and Southern Fried Chicken Popsters because of the presence of salmonella

Spain – Updating of the information regarding the withdrawal of certain batches of the product “Fuet Cabanes 150g” due to the presence of Salmonella spp.

ACSA

The Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya of the Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya (ASPCAT) informs that in application of the precautionary principle, it has ordered the precautionary suspension of the activity of making fuet / espetec of the company name EMBUTIDOS SOLA SA.

Likewise, it has ordered the withdrawal from the market of all the fuet / espetec product produced by EMBUTIDOS SOLA SA (sanitary marks 10.12147 / B and 10.01924 / B) of any batch, format and presentation (150g, 140g, 175g and 800g, both units whole as sliced ​​in 125g containers).

The ASPCAT food control health authorities will verify the withdrawal of the products in the Catalan establishments involved. At the level of the Spanish State, the alert is being managed through the Rapid Information Exchange System (SCIRI).

If new information on this alert becomes available, ASPCAT will update this release.

Research – Assessment of spoilage potential posed by Alicyclobacillus spp. in plant-based dairy beverages mixed with fruit juices during storage

Journal of Food Protection

The scope of the present study was to assess the spoilage potential of different Alicyclobacillus spp. in commercial pasteurized (ambient-stable) plant-based dairy beverages mixed with fruit juices at different inoculation levels and storage temperatures. Different products (Coconut and Berry‒CB; Almond, Mango, and Passionfruit‒AMP; Oat, Strawberry, and Banana‒OSB) were inoculated with 10 or 2×103 spores/mL of either Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris or A. fastidiosus or A. acidocaldarius strain composites, while non‒inoculated samples served as controls. Samples inoculated with A. acidoterrestris and A. fastidiosus were stored at 30°C and 45°C, while in case of A. acidocaldarius storage took place at 50°C for 240 days. Gas composition, Alicyclobacillus spp. populations, total viable counts, pH, aw, color, and guaiacol off-taste were monitored. CB and AMP supported growth of A. acidoterrestris and A. fastidiosus, reaching populations of 4.0‒5.0 log CFU/mL. In OSB, populations of the latter species remained close to the initial inoculation levels during storage at 30°C, while at 45°C, the populations declined <1 CFU/mL. A. acidocaldarius growth was supported only in CB samples, reaching ca. 3.0 log CFU/mL at 50°C, regardless of initial inoculum size. Total color change was increased during storage, however the instrumentally recorded color changes were not macroscopically visible. Spoilage in terms of guaiacol off-taste, was identified only in CB and AMP samples inoculated with A. acidoterrestris after 60 days at 30°C and 45°C. Considering that these products are becoming increasingly popular and the scarcity of existing literature related to their spoilage by Alicyclobacillus spp., the contribution of the findings and data of present study are critical for assessing the significance of Alicyclobacillus spp. as a potential spoilage hazard in these products and thus, to assist in the design and implementation of effective mitigation strategies by the beverage industry.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Enteritidis: Peaches (August 2020)

FDA

The FDA, along with CDC, Canadian, state and local partners, has been investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to peaches packed or supplied by Prima Wawona or Wawona Packing Company.

The multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infections linked to peaches from Prima Wawona that were sold in several regions of the United States and Canada, investigated by the FDA, along with CDC and Canadian, state, and local partners, is over. As of October 15, 2020, CDC reported a total of 101 cases across 17 states. This outbreak resulted in recalls of bagged and bulk, or loose, peaches packed or distributed by Prima Wawona. FDA also worked to publicly disclose international distribution of recalled product from Prima Wawona in an effort to facilitate the swift removal of all potentially affected product from the international market. More information about international distribution of the recalled product can be found in the previously published table below. FDA’s traceback investigation, which included 18 cases across eight states, identified multiple distributors, packing facilities, and orchards that supplied peaches during the time period of interest. Investigators from FDA, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) visited Wawona packing facilities and/or orchards that likely supplied peaches to Prima Wawona during the timeframe of interest. FDA’s traceback investigation is ongoing; however, the cause and source of the outbreak has not yet been determined.

Thus far, in an effort to investigate several possible pathways of contamination, FDA has completed over 570 product and environmental sample analyses from multiple facility locations and/or peach orchards, including environmental swabs, peaches and peach tree leaf samples. At this time, sample collection and analysis is underway related to additional peach orchards. A genetic match to the outbreak strain has yet to be identified in any of the samples collected, although a different serotype of Salmonella was detected in one sample collected and analyzed during the investigation. No peaches linked to the positive sample ever reached the marketplace. Although the outbreak is being declared over, FDA will continue its investigation and will communicate any findings that could assist future prevention efforts.

Available recall information is included below.

Recommendation

On August 22, 2020, Prima Wawona recalled bagged and bulk, or loose, peaches that they supplied to retailers nationwide.

The recalled products are now well beyond expiration and likely no longer on the market or in consumers’ homes. However, consumers who may have frozen the recalled bagged peaches packed or supplied by Prima Wawona from June 1, 2020 to August 19, 2020 or the recalled loose/bulk peaches packed or supplied by Prima Wawona from June 1, 2020 to August 3, 2020 should throw them away.

Canada – Vibrio parahaemolyticus: Canadian officials investigate outbreak in 4 provinces

Outbreak News Today

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced investigating  an outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections occurring in four provinces.

Based on the investigation findings to date, exposure to shellfish has been identified as a likely source of the outbreak. Many individuals who became sick reported eating shellfish, mainly raw oysters, harvested from eastern coastal waters, before their illnesses occurred.

As of October 14, 2020, there are 21 confirmed cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus illness in the following provinces: Saskatchewan (1), Quebec (7), New Brunswick (10), and Prince Edward Island (3). Individuals became sick between early July and mid-September 2020. One individual has been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.