Category Archives: Food Hygiene

UK – Lactalis McLelland recalls Galloway Coloured Medium Grated Cheddar because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on June 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FSA

Lactalis McLelland Ltd has taken the precautionary step of recalling Galloway Coloured Medium Grated Cheddar because the product might contain Listeria monocytogenes.

Product details

Galloway Coloured Medium Grated Cheddar
Pack size 200g
Batch code 9154G53
Best before 26 August 2019

No other Lactalis McLelland products are known to be affected.

Risk statement

The product listed above might be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Symptoms caused by this organism can be similar to flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. Some people are more vulnerable to listeria infections, including those over 65 years of age, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than one month old and people with weakened immune systems.

Action taken by the company

Lactalis McLelland Ltd is recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Please see the attached notice.
Customer Notice: Galloway Coloured Medium Grated Cheddar

Our advice to consumers

If you have bought any of the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, fsa, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

UK – Salmonella cases in UK from food on cruise ships confirmed with WGS

Posted on June 19, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

The United Kingdom has reported 24 cases of Salmonella linked to travel on cruise ships.

Salmonella Enteritidis cases are from cruise ships visiting destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East. The outbreak was detected through whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. They have sampling dates from May 6 to 21, 2019. Five other cases have sample dates ranging from 2014 to 2018.

Of the 24 cases in 2019, 12 are female and the median age is 64 years with a range of 40 to 84 years old. The most commonly reported cruise ship destinations are Croatia, Corfu, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Montenegro and Oman.

A total of 717 Salmonella infections were reported from April 29 to June 2 in England and Wales compared to 367 from April 1 to 28, according to Public Health England figures.

Investigations to date indicate there is more than one cruise holiday associated with the outbreak. Patients for whom information is available said they ate all meals on the cruise ship with many spending the entire incubation period on board.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA -Sprouts Farmers Market Recalls Frozen Cut Leaf Spinach and Frozen Organic Cut Leaf Spinach 16oz. Packages Because of Possible Health Risk

Posted on June 19, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Summary

Company Announcement Date:
June 14, 2019
FDA Publish Date:
June 17, 2019
Product Type:
Food & Beverages
Produce
Reason for Announcement:
Listeria monocytogenes
Company Name:
Sprouts Farmers Market
Brand Name:
Sprouts Farmers Market
Product Description:
Frozen Cut Leaf Spinach

Company Announcement

Sprouts Farmers Market of Phoenix, AZ is recalling Frozen Cut Leaf Spinach conventional and organic 16oz bags, manufactured by National Frozen Foods of Oregon, because it has 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. Although 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.

Sprouts Recalls the following product:

Sprouts Frozen Cut Leaf Spinach, 16oz. bag, UPC 87487500982, Lot 19031203A03, USE BY 12/03/21. Identifying information can be found on the back of the package.

Sprouts Frozen Organic Cut Leaf Spinach, 16oz. bag, UPC 87487500991, Lot 19031203A03, USE BY 12/03/21. Identifying information can be found on the back of the package

Product was distributed to retail locations in AZ, CA, NV, UT, NM, CO, TX, KS, OK, MO, TN, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC, PA, MD, and VA.

No illnesses have been reported in connection to this product to date.

The recall is due to random sampling which revealed the finished products contained the bacteria. Sprouts Farmers Market has removed all affected product from its retail stores. In addition, Sprouts is conducting an internal investigation with National Frozen Foods to ensure all food safety standards and being met and enforced.

Consumers who have purchased the products are urged to destroy or return it to the stores for a full refund of the product. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1 (888) 577-7688 from 8am to 5pm PST

Company Contact Information

Consumers:
 1 (888) 577-7688

Product Photos

  • Front of Package – Sprouts Cut Leave Spinach
  • Back of Package – Nutrition Facts Panel and Cooking Instructions
  • Close Up of Use By Date

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Pillsbury Bread Flour Recalled For Possible E. coli Contamination

Posted on June 18, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin ecoli

Hometown Food Company is recalling specific lot codes of Pillsbury Bread Flour for possible E. coli contamination. This product was made by ADM Milling Company at the mill in Buffalo, New York. Some of the wheat used to make this product has been linked to an E. coli O26 outbreak that has sickened 17 people in 8 states. No illnesses have been associated with this specific recalled product.

Some lots of King Arthur all-purpose flour, and all lots of 5 pound bags of ALDI Baker’s Corner flour have been recalled in association with this issue. All of these products were manufactured at ADM Milling.

The recall is for 4,620 cases of Pillsbury Best Bread Flour in 5 pound bags. It was distributed to a limited number of retailers and distributors in these states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The recalled product has one UPC number, 0 5150020031 5. One of the bags has lot code 8 342 and use by date of JUN 08 2020. The other has lot code 8 343, and use by date JUN 09 2020.

All other Pillsbury bread flour products with other UPC numbers, best by dates, and lot codes are not affected by this recall. Best if used by dates are  printed on the side of the package below the Nutrition Facts Panel.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O26, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Testing, Uncategorized

USA – WinCo Frozen Red Raspberries Recalled For Norovirus

Posted on June 18, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin norovirus-1080x655

WinCo Foods of Boise, Idaho is recalling frozen red raspberries that were manufactured by Rader Farms of Bellingham, Washington, because the product may be contaminated with norovirus. Norovirus is highly contagious, and causes symptoms of vomiting, watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and nausea. No  illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, Uncategorized, Virus

Sweden – New outbreak of Yersinia infection is being investigated

Posted on June 18, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News

In Sweden, the National Institute of Public Health, or Folkhälsomyndigheten is reporting a new outbreak of infections caused by Yersinia enterocolitica type O3. The source of infection is still unknown.

So far, 26 cases of disease have been confirmed to belong to the outbreak by means of whole-genome sequencing. Another handful of cases are investigated. Since the current outbreak strain of Yersinia enterocolitica type O3 has been found in different parts of the country, it is likely that a food borne infection. The current outbreak strain differs from the one that caused a Yersinia outbreak earlier in the spring.During the middle of May, an number of reported cases of Yersinia infection has been seen in Sweden. Seven regions from different parts of the country have reported cases, but the majority of cases come from the northernmost regions of the country.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Uncategorized, Yersinia, yersinia enterocolitica

UK – Scotland – Cyclospora risk for travellers to Mexico

Posted on June 18, 2019 by | Leave a comment

HPS 

Seasonal outbreaks of Cyclospora infection in UK travellers returning from Mexico have been reported, with the majority of cases in travellers who have stayed in the Riviera Maya and Cancun regions of Mexico. The source of infection was likely to be contaminated food items supplied to hotels throughout the area.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a protozoan parasite that can infect humans, causing frequent, watery diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, flatulence, low-grade fever and loss of both appetite and weight. HIV-positive individuals and those with other immune deficiencies can be at risk of more severe infection.

On return from Mexico, travellers with any symptoms such as those described should seek medical attention and inform their GP of their travel history.

Healthcare practitioners should raise awareness of Cyclospora infection with all travellers to Mexico, and should strongly advise that travellers maintain a high standard of food, water and personal hygiene, even if staying in high-end resorts.

For further information on protozoan parasitic infection, including Cyclospora, consult TRAVAX (for health professionals) and fitfortravel (for the general public).

Sources: TRAVAX and fitfortravel (both 10 June 2019)

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Posted in Contaminated water, Cyclospora, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Uncategorized, Water, water microbiology

Australia – The Egg Basket the seventh company to recall eggs due to Salmonella contamination

Posted on June 18, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Weekly Times Now

 

FOUR brands of eggs in NSW are the latest to issue a recall due to a salmonella enteritidis contamination.

Wholesale company The Egg Basket conducted a recall of Country Fresh Eggs, Just Eggs, Chefs Choice Free Range and Chefs Choice Cage Free eggs on Friday.

The eggs were sold directly from the business in Kemps Creek and at Flemington Markets in NSW and can be identified by use-by dates of 14 June, 20 June, 24 June, 29 June, 5 July, 9 July or by the stamp eb24449 on the shell.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Iceland -E. Coli Found in Icelandic Meat

Posted on June 18, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Iceland Review

E. coli was found in 30% of lamb samples and 11.5% of beef samples in a test carried out by the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST). The particular strain discovered is known as STEC, or shiga-toxin producing E. coli. This is the first time lamb and beef have been screened for STEC in Iceland.

The testing was carried out on around 600 samples of lamb, beef, pork, and chicken of both Icelandic and foreign origin between March and December 2018. The purpose of the testing was to determine the prevalence of pathogenic micro-organisms in products when they reach the consumer, and for this reason the samples were taken from shops.

Campylobacter and salmonella were not detected in pork or chicken samples, with the exception of a single sample of pork from Spain. MAST attributes this to improved preventative measures in slaughterhouses.

 

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Posted in E.coli, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

USA – Delaware Warns Consumers Against Raw Milk After Brucellosis Case

Posted on June 18, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The Delaware Division of Public Health is warning consumers to avoid consuming raw dairy products as a woman living in Sussex County has been diagnosed with a Brucella melitensis infection. This illness affects people who come into contact with sick animals or contaminated animal products.

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Posted in Brucella melitensis, Brucellosis, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Raw Milk, Uncategorized