Category Archives: Food Hygiene

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin A – Roasted Pistachios – Groundnuts – Pistachio Bars

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 18; Tot. = 29 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted pistachios in shell from Turkey, via Belgium in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 11; Tot. = 21 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 15; Tot. = 18 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 15; Tot. = 18 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 58.7; Tot. = 67.14 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Egypt in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 28.2; Tot. = 35.7 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts in shell from Egypt in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 10.6; Tot. = 11.5 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio bars from Turkey in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 9.6 µg/kg – ppb) in spice mix from Pakistan in Ireland

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 12.3; Tot. = 14.2 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from the United States, via Turkey in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 14.7; Tot. = 15.4 µg/kg – ppb) in seasoning mix from Pakistan in Ireland

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 164.4; Tot. = 191 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Egypt in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 8.8; Tot. = 9 µg/kg – ppb) in seasoning mix from Pakistan in Ireland

RASFF Alert -Hepatitis A – Mixed Frozen Berries

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RASFF – hepatitis A virus (presence /25g) in mixed frozen berries from Italy, with raw material from Ukraine, Lithuania and Romania in Italy

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Organic Fruit and Nut Mix with Sultana’s

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RASFF – ochratoxin A (in sultanas: 180 µg/kg – ppb) in organic fruit and nut mix with sultanas from Belgium, with raw material from Turkey, via the Netherlands in Belgium

RASFF Alerts – E.coli – Chilled Venus Clams

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RASFF – high count of Escherichia coli (3.3 x 10E2 MPN/100g) in chilled venus clams (Chamelea gallina) from Italy in Spain

RASFF – high count of Escherichia coli (790; 780 MPN/100g) in chilled venus clams from Italy in Spain

RASFF Alert – STEC E.coli – Organic Baby Spinach

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RASFF – shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx1+ stx2+ eae+) in organic baby spinach from Italy in Germany

RASFF Alert – Bacillus cereus – Curry

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RASFF – enterotoxin producing Bacillus cereus (1200 CFU/g) in curry from the West Bank and Gaza Strip in Slovenia

RASFF Alert – Vibrio parahaemolyticus – Frozen Raw Whole Shrimps

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RASFF – Vibrio parahaemolyticus (ToxR+ Tdh+ /25g) in frozen raw whole shrimps from Ecuador, via Spain in France

USA – Cargill Expands Previously Announced Voluntary Recall of Select Southern States® Feed Due to High/Excessive/or Elevated Aflatoxin Levels

FDA

Company Announcement

Cargill’s animal nutrition business is expanding its voluntary recall of select Southern States® feed due to aflatoxin levels that exceed FDA’s action levels. This is an expansion of the recall initiated May 6, 2019 and is the result of Cargill’s internal investigation that identified additional products containing an ingredient provided from the same supplier referenced in the May 6, 2019 recall announcement. The expansion includes products manufactured between October 31, 2018 and March 1, 2019.

Livestock, horses, and poultry exposed to elevated levels of aflatoxin are at risk of exposure to several health effects. Aflatoxicosis has the same acute and chronic adverse effects and health consequences across all species and age classes (immature and mature). Immature animals are more sensitive to aflatoxins. Acute aflatoxicosis may result in generalized hemorrhage, bloody diarrhea and death in 1-3 days. In addition, aflatoxin toxicity can cause reduced feed intake, reduced weight gain, liver damage, jaundice, and eventually death.

Cargill has received a small number of adverse event reports. These reports are currently being investigated to determine if they are related to the recalled feed. Cargill is voluntarily expanding the scope of this recall.

The following affected products were manufactured at Cargill’s Cleveland, North Carolina, facility and are being recalled from retail outlets and distributors in the Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia markets.

Consumers with animals who have consumed products referenced in the table and are exhibiting these symptoms, should contact their veterinarian. Consumers and other end users who have any of the affected lots in their possession should return remaining product to their local dealer or retailer for a replacement or full refund. For more information, call the Customer Service line at 833-224-2003, which is available 24×7.

USA – ADM Milling Expands Recall of Baker’s Corner All Purpose Flour 5lb Bags Packaged for ALDI in Select States -E.coli

FDA

Company Announcement

ADM Milling Co. is recalling all five-pound bags of Baker’s Corner All Purpose Flour packaged for ALDI in select markets because of the potential presence of E.coli, which was discovered during testing of a five-pound bag of Baker’s Corner All Purpose Flour by the Rhode Island Department of Health.

This E.colistrain found in the bag has been linked to 17 illness in eight states. The food source of the E.coli strain for all cases remains under investigation, but out of an abundance of caution, ADM is expanding its previous recall notice of only two specific lots to include all Baker’s Corner All Purpose
Flour five-pound bags currently in distribution that were manufactured for ALDI at ADM’s flour mill in
Buffalo, New York. The recall includes products distributed in select stores in 11 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia.

ADM Milling is working directly with ALDI, which has already recalled all potentially impacted products from store shelves in the region. ADM Milling is conducting an in-depth investigation to determine the cause of the contamination and is working closely with regulators throughout this process.

ADM reminds customers and consumers that flour is not ready-to-eat and must be thoroughly cooked before eating to prevent illness from possible bacteria in the flour. Do not eat or play with raw dough, and wash hands, utensils and surfaces after handling. Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

If customers have product affected by this voluntary recall, they should discard it immediately or return it to their local ALDI store for a full refund. Please direct any customer inquiries for ADM Milling to 800-422-1688 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Central Time Monday through Friday.

South Africa – Pupils rushed to hospital after suspected food poisoning

IOL

DURBAN – At least 49 girls from a KwaZulu-Natal high school boarding establishment were rushed to hospital on Sunday with suspected food poisoning.

The girls, who live at the Albini Girls’ High School boarding establishment near Hammarsdale, were taken to St Mary’s Hospital for treatment. The pupils live at the boarding establishment, which is on the school’s property.

“We can’t say for sure what the cause was and will wait to hear from our sister department on their investigation,” he said.