Category Archives: Food Hygiene

Nigeria – Family of four dies of alleged food poisoning

The Nation

The Police in Ebonyi state on Monday confirmed the death of a family of four from alleged food poisoning.

They include a 100-year-old woman and three other family members.

Spokesperson of the Police in the state, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state.

According to her, the corpses of the victims have been deposited in Matter Hospital located at Afikpo North local government area of the state.

“The death of the said persons was as a result of food poisoning. A family of four at Amachara village at Afikpo North LGA was discovered dead on their bed inside their room.

USA – ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 Outbreak Sickens 17

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 outbreak has sickened 17 people in 8 states, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Three of those patients have been hospitalized because they are so sick. The notice did not state whether or not any patients have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure that is a complication of this type of infection.

ALDI Bakers Corner Flour E. coli O26 Outbreak Sickens 17

Canada – Compliments brand Chicken Strips recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, May 24, 2019 – Sofina Foods Inc. is recalling Compliments brand Chicken Strips from the marketplace to avoid possible Salmonella illnesses. The Public Health Agency of Canada is investigating an outbreak of human illness and has identified this product as a source of illness. The outbreak investigation is ongoing and may identify other sources. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

The following product was sold nationally until May 1, 2019 but some consumers may still have it in their freezer.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Compliments Chicken Strips – Breaded Chicken Cutlettes – Uncooked 907 g Outer package: 2019 NO 24
Inner package: 3288M
0 57742 33687 0

Compliments - Chicken Strips - Breaded Chicken Cutlettes - Uncooked - Outer package

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella Carrau Linked to Pre-cut Melons

FDA

 

May 24, 2019

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local partners, have been investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Carrau illnesses linked to pre-cut melon products.

The FDA continues its investigation at the Caito Foods, LLC processing facility that cut and packed melons linked to this outbreak. The FDA investigated distribution and supplier information for these melons; a single source or potential point of contamination was not identified for this outbreak.

Today, the CDC announced that the outbreak appears to be over.

Recommendation

On April 12, 2019, FDA warned consumers not to eat the recalled pre-cut melon products.  It is not likely that any of these melon products are on the market or still in people’s homes.  Consumers need not avoid any type of melon currently on the market.

Hong Kong – Food Alert Not to consume a kind of imported prepackaged sauce suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

CFS

Issue Date 23.5.2019
Source of Information Australian authorities through the International Food Safety Authorities Network
Food Product Two batches of prepackaged sauce imported from Australia
Product Name and Description Product name: Miso & Edamame Dip

Brand : Roza’s Gourmet

Place of origin: Australia

Importer: Chef’s Garden Limited

Packing: 160 grams per pack

Best-before dates: June 5, and June 21, 2019

Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) received a notification from the Australian authorities through the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) that the abovementioned batches of the affected product might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and is being recalled. According to the information provided by INFOSAN, the above local importer has imported the affected batches of the product into Hong Kong.
  • Listeria monocytogenes can be easily destroyed by cooking but can survive and multiply at refrigerator temperature. Most healthy individuals do not develop symptoms or only have mild symptoms like fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea when infected. However, severe complications such as septicemia, meningitis or even death may occur in newborns, the elderly and those with a weaker immune system. Although infected pregnant women may just experience mild symptoms generally, the infection of Listeria monocytogenes may cause miscarriage, infant death, preterm birth, or severe infection in newborns.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • The CFS immediately contacted the importer concerned for follow up. Preliminary investigation showed that the importer had imported eight cartons of the abovementioned batches of the product and some of them were sold. The CFS has instructed the importer to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batches of the product and initiate a recall.
  • The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.
Advice to the Trade Stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess them.
Advice to Consumers Not to consume the affected product if they have bought any.
Further Information The CFS press release

Enquiries about the recall can be made to the importer’s hotline at 2501 5811 during office hours.

Research – Rapid detection of single viable Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells in milk by flow cytometry

Wiley Online

kswfoodworld E.coli O157

Image CDC

 

Abstract

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E coli O157:H7) is a highly virulent bacterial strain that is present in food, and as few as 10 cells can cause severe diseases. Rapid and sensitive bacterial detection is urgently required. In this study, we report a flow cytometry (FCM)‐based method for detecting E coli O157:H7 at the single‐cell level. Single E coli O157:H7 cells were obtained by a flow cytometric cell sorter and then artificially added to milk. Next, using BHI for 6.5 hr of enrichment, isolation of target cells, and dual staining, this method could be applied to detect single viable E coli O157:H7 cells in 25 mL of milk. The time to results (TTR) of the FCM‐based method was 7 hr.

Practical applications

The plate‐based method is the currently recommended method for detection of single E coli O157:H7 cells in milk because of the ease of operation. However, this method is time‐consuming, requiring enrichment of the target organism to attain quantifiable levels. Accordingly, rapid detection of microorganisms in milk would be of great benefit to public health. Flow cytometry (FCM) is a sensitive technique that can be used to rapidly analyze foodborne pathogens. Unfortunately, little attention has been paid to single‐cell detection in milk. This study provides a rapid method for detection of single viable E coliO157:H7 cells in milk. This method has the potential to provide effective protection against E coli O157:H7 contamination and is required for rapid detection of microorganisms in dairy products.

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Sesame Seeds – Chilled Beef and Pork Sausage -Chicken Breast – Salted Chicken Breast – Tumeric – Turkey Legs – Black Pepper

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Uganda in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in chilled beef and pork sausages (merguez and spicy sausages) from France in France

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Bardo (presence /25g) in chilled chicken breast from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (in 5 out of 5 samples /25g) in chilled chicken breasts from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Nigeria in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen salted chicken half breasts from Brazil in the UK

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Ethiopia in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella (presence in one out of five units /25g) in sesame seeds from Ethiopia in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Ethiopia in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in turmeric from India in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Newport (in 5 out of 5 samples /25g) in chilled chicken breast from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in hulled sesame seeds from India in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in chilled chicken breast from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence in 4 out of 5 samples /25g) in chilled chicken breast from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Newport (presence /25g) in chilled chicken breast from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (in 4 out of 5 samples /25g) in chilled turkey legs from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Newport (presence /25g) in chilled chicken breast from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Newport (5 out of 6 samples /25g) in chilled chicken breast from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in chilled chicken breasts from Poland in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Freetown (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

 

RASFF Alert – Histamine – Canned Tuna

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – histamine (587; 110 mg/kg – ppm) in canned tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) from Ecuador in Germany

RASFF Alert -Vibrio vulnificus – Frozen Shrimps

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – Vibrio vulnificus (presence /25g) in frozen shrimps (Penaeus vannamei) from Honduras in the Netherlands

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Raisins – Sweet Paprika – Liquorice Roots

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – ochratoxin A (17 µg/kg – ppb) in raisins from Turkey in France

RASFF – ochratoxin A (30 µg/kg – ppb) in sweet paprika from unknown origin, packaged in Italy, via Spain in Italy

RASFF – ochratoxin A (107.4 µg/kg – ppb) in liquorice roots from Azerbaijan in Ireland