Category Archives: Food Hygiene

Canada – Recall – Sandwiches – Salmonella

Posted on March 5, 2014 by | Leave a comment

CFIACIFA

Lucerne Foods is recalling various sandwich products from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and may have been sold in other provinces

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
None Roast Beef Submarine None BB MR  11, BB MR 12,BB MR 13,BB MR 14,BB MR 17 6 89048 03110 3
None Meat Lover’s Sandwich None BB MR 11, BB MR 12,BB MR 13,BB MR 16,BB MR 17 6 89048 03117 9
None Roast Beef Submarine None 4051 0 79944 00991 2
None Roast Beef & Cheddar Sandwich None 4051 0 79944 00987 5

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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Research Netherlands – Microbial Risk in Produce

Posted on March 4, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Ingentaconnect

The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbial hazard associated with the consumption of mixed salads produced under standard conditions. The presence of Salmonella, Campylobacter spp., and Escherichia coli O157 in the Dutch production chain of mixed salads was determined. Microbial prevalence and concentration data from a microbiological surveillance study were used as inputs for the quantitative microbial risk assessment. Chain logistics, production figures, and consumption patterns were combined with the survey data for the risk assessment chain approach. The results of the sample analysis were used to track events from contamination through human illness. Wide 95% confidence intervals around the mean were found for estimated annual numbers of illnesses resulting from the consumption of mixed salads contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 (0 to 10,300 cases), Campylobacter spp. (0 to 92,000 cases), or E. coli (0 to 800 cases). The main sources of uncertainty are the lack of decontamination data (i.e., produce washing during processing) and an appropriate dose-response relationship.

Ingentaconnect

Recent outbreaks with vegetable or fruits as vehicles have raised interest in the characterization of the public health risk due to microbial contamination of these commodities. Because qualitative and quantitative data regarding prevalence and concentration of various microbes are lacking, we conducted a survey to estimate the prevalence and contamination level of raw produce and the resulting minimally processed packaged salads as sold in The Netherlands. A dedicated sampling plan accounted for the amount of processed produce in relation to the amount of products, laboratory capacity, and seasonal influences. Over 1,800 samples of produce and over 1,900 samples of ready-to-eat mixed salads were investigated for Salmonella enterica serovars, Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli O157, and Listeria monocytogenes. The overall prevalence in raw produce varied between 0.11% for E. coli O157 and L. monocytogenes and 0.38% for Salmonella. Prevalence point estimates for specific produce/pathogen combinations ranged for Salmonella from 0.53% in iceberg lettuce to 5.1% in cucumber. For Campylobacter, this ranged from 0.83% in endive to 2.7% in oak tree lettuce. These data will be used to determine the public health risk posed by the consumption of ready-to-eat mixed salads in The Netherlands.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Salmonella

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RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Soybean – Dog Food – Dog Chews – Raw Rabbit

Posted on March 3, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF -Salmonella Tennessee (present /25g) in soybean meal from Italy in Austria

RASFF– Salmonella spp. in dry dog food from China in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella spp. in dried pet food from China in Germany

RASFF– Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in dried dog chews from India in Germany

RASFF– Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen raw rabbit by-products from Spain, via Denmark in Sweden

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Posted in Animal Feed, Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Salmonella

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Europe – German 2012 – Norovirus Oubreak Report

Posted on February 28, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Eurosurveillance Norwalk_Caspid

From 20 September through 5 October 2012, the largest recorded food-borne outbreak in Germany occurred. Norovirus was identified as the causative agent. We conducted four analytical epidemiological studies, two case–control studies and two surveys (in total 150 cases) in secondary schools in three different federal states. Overall, 390 institutions in five federal states reported nearly 11,000 cases of gastroenteritis. They were predominantly schools and childcare facilities and were supplied almost exclusively by one large catering company. The analytical epidemiological studies consistently identified dishes containing strawberries as the most likely vehicle, with estimated odds ratios ranging from 2.6 to 45.4. The dishes had been prepared in different regional kitchens of the catering company and were served in the schools two days before the peaks of the respective outbreaks. All affected institutions had received strawberries of one lot, imported frozen from China. The outbreak vehicle was identified within a week, which led to a timely recall and prevented more than half of the lot from reaching the consumer. This outbreak exemplifies the risk of large outbreaks in the era of global food trade. It underlines the importance of timely surveillance and epidemiological outbreak investigations for food safety.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Norovirus, Pathogen, Research

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Research – Poultry Food Safety Control Interventions in the Domestic Kitchen

Posted on February 27, 2014 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online Library imagesCAYZ5I84

Research was undertaken to investigate cross-contamination of the domestic kitchen environment during poultry fillet preparation using a streptomycin-resistant strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens as a model organism. The potential role of a cook-in-the-bag technology to control this cross-contamination was also investigated. Poultry fillets were inoculated with P. fluorescens (6.06 log10 CFU/cm2). Six people were challenged to unpack, defrost, cut and cook without contaminating the preparation environment. After preparation, the chopping board, knife blade, dishcloth, refrigerator handle, oven handle, oven buttons, draining board, tap, microwave handle, microwave buttons, plate, tinfoil and press handle were tested for the presence of the P. fluorescens strain, before and after washing. The experiment was then repeated with a precut cook-in-the-bag product. In a separate experiment, the effect of freezing and frozen storage (−20C) on Campylobacter and the sensory attributes of chicken fillets were investigated. The cook-in-the-bag approach considerably reduced the incidence and levels of cross-contamination in the domestic kitchen. Freezing significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the Campylobacter counts on inoculated fillets after 7 days at −20C (1.73 log10 CFU/g). While there was no adverse effect on taste, fillets that had been frozen were significantly more “firm” and “less moist” as compared with fresh product.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Spoilage, Food Testing, Hygiene, Illness, Laboratory, Microbiology, Pathogen, Pseudomonas, Research

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Canada – Alfalfa Sprouts Recalled – Salmonella

Posted on February 26, 2014 by | Leave a comment

CFIA Eurofins

Aquafuchsia Foods Inc. is recalling Aquafuchsia brand alfalfa sprout product from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

The following product has been sold in Quebec.

 Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Aquafuchsia Salad Plus – Alfalfa with a touch of radish! 125 g 041 0 551176 1

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hygiene, Laboratory, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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USA – FDA Expanded Recall – Cheese – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on February 26, 2014 by | Leave a comment

FDA FDA

Update: Roos Foods has voluntarily expanded their February 23, 2014 recall to include all lots of Amigo and Mexicana brands of Requesón (part-skim ricotta in 15 oz. and 16 oz. plastic containers and all lots of Amigo, Mexicana and Santa Rosa De Lima brands of Queso de Huerta (fresh curd cheese).

Roos Foods, Kenton De Recalls ALL LOTS of the Following Cheeses:

Mexicana: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses; Amigo: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses; Santa Rosa De Lima: Cuajada En Terron, Cuajada/Cuajadita Cacera, Cuajada Fresca, Queso Fresca Round, Queso Dura Viejo Hard Cheeses and Anita Queso Fresco Because Of Possible Health Risk.

Roos Foods of Kenton, DE is recalling the above cheeses because they have 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. Products were distributed in Maryland, Virginia and Washing ton D.C through retail stores.

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Posted in Bacteria, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Miscarriage, Pathogen, Recall

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RASFF Alerts – STEC E.coli – Beef – Roquefort Cheese – Salami – Clams

Posted on February 24, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF -shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli in frozen bovine meat from Brazil in Italy

RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (presence /25g) in chilled beef (Bos taurus) from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC stx+; STEC eae + /25g) in chilled beef shoulder from Belgium

RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (presence /25g) in Roquefort cheese from France in Belgium

RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli in vacuum packed sliced salami from Italy

RASFF-high count of Escherichia coli (between 490 and 2400 MPN/100g) in frozen baby clam meat (Venus spp.) from Turkey in Greece

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, STEC

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RASFF Alerts – Histamine – Sardines

Posted on February 24, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF – histamine (between N. D. and 267 mg/kg – ppm) in sardines in oil from Indonesia in Germany

RASFF – histamine (152: 160 mg/kg – ppm) in sardines in soybean oil from Indonesia in Germany

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Histamine, RASFF, Recall

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Pine Nuts – Chicken – Frozen Sparrows – Clams – Pork

Posted on February 24, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF -Salmonella Montevideo (presence /10g) in poultry sausages (merguez) from France

RASFF -Salmonella Hadar (presence /25g) in pine nuts from Pakistan in Germany

RASFF -Salmonella typhimurium in chicken breast from Thailand in Germany

RASFF -Salmonella in frozen poultry meat preparations from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (presence) in frozen poultry preparations from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF -Salmonella typhimurium (presence /25g) in frozen sparrows from Tunisia in Italy

RASFF -Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in frozen clams (Meretrix spp) from Vietnam in Portugal

RASFF -Salmonella (presence /10g) in pork cordon bleu from Belgium

RASFF -Salmonella spp. (presence /10g) in frozen gyros-like pork roasting spit from the Czech Republic, with raw material from Germany

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Salmonella

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