Category Archives: Food Hygiene

USA – FDA Recall Chococlate Bars – Salmonella

Posted on March 19, 2013 by | Leave a comment

FDASalmonella

  • Pro-Amino International Inc., of Saint-Eustache, Quebec, Canada, is recalling the ProtiDiet High Protein Chocolate Dream Bars described below.
  • The recalled product may contain Salmonella.
  • Salmonella is a public health risk and is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness. Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.
  • This product has been distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.  It was also sold via the Internet.
  • Consumers should avoid eating the potentially contaminated High Protein Chocolate Dream Bars and discard the product or return it to the point of sale.

What is the Problem? Pro-Amino International Inc. is recalling protein bars which may contain Salmonella. The product is the ProtiDiet High Protein Chocolate Dream Bar, sold in 210 gram (7.4 oz.) packages, 7 bars per package, bearing UPC 6 21498 42238 1, lot code CR 18 13B, and Best Before date of 2015-08.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) along with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Pro-Amino International are warning people not to consume these high protein bars, which may contain Salmonella.

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

Canada – CFIA Recalls – Walnuts – Salmonella – Clams – Clostridium botulinum

Posted on March 18, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the walnuts described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected walnuts were sold in bulk from Produce Depot, 2446 Bank St., Ottawa ON between February 26 and March 15, 2013, inclusive.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and St. Thomas Fish Market are warning the public not to consume the Bar Clams described below because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.  Toxins produced by these bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

The manufacturer, St. Thomas Fish Market Inc., Saint-Thomas-De-Kent, New Brunswick, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.

The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

 

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

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Australia – Recall – Kosher Chicken and Veal – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

FSANZFSANZ

Melbourne Kosher Meats has recalled Chicken and Veal Wurst from Melbourne Kosher Meats in St Kilda and Meal Mart in Balaclava (Victoria) due to  Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Listeria monocytogenes may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, FSANZ, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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RASFF Alerts Salmonella – Seasame Seeds – Chicken Fillets-Frozen Beef – Black Pepper- Shrimps

Posted on March 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF -Salmonella (presence /25g) in whitish sesame seeds from Sudan in Cyprus

RASFF -Salmonella (presence /25g) in chicken fillets preparation from Belgium

RASFF -Salmonella Montevideo (presence /25g) in frozen beef trimmings from Poland, processed in the Netherlands, via Germany in Sweden

RASFF -Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in black pepper from Vietnam in Poland

RASFF – Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in frozen shrimps (Penaeus vannamei) from Panama in Italy

RASFF – Salmonella spp. (present /25g) in frozen cooked shrimps (Penaeus spp.) from India in France

 

 
 

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Salmonella

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RASFF Alert – STec E.coli – Deer Meat

Posted on March 15, 2013 by | 1 comment

RASFF – Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VT1 positive) in frozen deer meat from Austria in Italy

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O103, E.coli O145, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, STEC

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RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin/Aflatoxin – Rasins – Groundnut Paste – Figs – Pistachio – Rye

Posted on March 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF– Ochratoxin A (31.5 µg/kg – ppb) in raisins from Iran in Slovakia

RASFF– Aflatoxins (B1 = 38.9; Tot. = 53.9 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut paste from Ghana in Belgium

RASFF– Aflatoxins (B1 = 15.44; Tot. = 16.69 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Tunisia in Germany

RASFF– aflatoxins (B1 = 31.20; Tot. = 35.12 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio bars from Turkey in Germany

RASFF– Ochratoxin A (13 µg/kg – ppb) in organic rye snack from Estonia in Finland

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Moulds, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, RASFF, Recall

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RASFF Alerts – Norovirus -Clams – Oysters

Posted on March 15, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF-Norovirus in chilled clams (Tapes decussatus) from Turkey in Italy

RASFF-Norovirus (GI and GII) in chilled oysters (Cassostrea gigas) from France in Italy

RASFF-Norovirus in chilled clams (Tapus decussatus) from Turkey in Italy

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Microbiology, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall

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New Zealand – Fresh Fish Recall – Histamine Poisoning

Posted on March 14, 2013 by | Leave a comment

New Zealand Herald

Foodstuffs has recalled a batch of its fresh trevally fillets after they are suspected to have given two people histamine poisoning.

According to the Ministry for Primary Industries website, histamine, or scombroid, poisoning is due to a buildup of toxins that occurs when certain types of fish, including kahawai, mackerel, tuna, bonito and butterfly kingfish, have not been chilled adequately.

Symptoms can include tingling and burning around the mouth, facial flushing, diarrhoea, skin rash, nausea, abdominal cramps and vomiting, and can last for 12 hours.

Foodstuffs has initiated a voluntary recall of their in-store processed trevally fish fillets sold before March 6 and with a best before date up to March 7.

A spokeswoman said two people had potentially contracted histamine poisoning as a result.

Affected products were sold in New World, Pak’nSave and Four Square stores throughout the Upper North Island.

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Posted in Allergic Reaction, Food Hygiene, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Histamine, Microbiology, Recall

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UK -HPA -Burger Vans – Ecoli Contamination

Posted on March 14, 2013 by | Leave a comment

ITV News

HPA Report

Research from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed that food, water, chopping boards, cleaning cloths and security wristbands sampled from mobile and outdoor food vendors were contaminated with a range of bacteria including E.coli.

The bacteria, which originates from human or animal faeces is usually an indicator of either poor hygiene, undercooking or cross-contamination in the kitchen.

The events where samples were taken included 50 concerts or music festivals, 20 sports events, 39 carnivals, fetes and fairs and 44 ‘other’ events.

8% of food samples were of an unsatisfactory quality with a further 1% containing potentially hazardous levels of bacteria.

Water samples tested revealed that 27% contained unacceptable levels of coliform bacteria which can be found in the environment in soil, water and on plants and may also be a sign of faecal contamination.

E.coli and/or enterococci bacteria (of faecal origin) were found in 8%.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hand Washing, HPA, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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Research – Pesticide Application as Potential Source of Noroviruses

Posted on March 14, 2013 by | Leave a comment

HACCP EuropaNorwalk_Caspid

Human norovirus (hNoV), also known as the winter vomiting bug, is one of the most common stomach bugs in the world. The virus is highly contagious, causing vomiting and diarrhea, and the number of affected cases is growing. Currently there is no cure; sufferers have to let the virus run its course for a few days.

The consumption of fresh produce is frequently associated with outbreaks of hNoV but it remains difficult to identify where in the supply chain the virus first enters production.

A new study, published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology investigated whether contaminated water used to dilute pesticides could be a source of hNoV. Farmers use various water sources in the production of fresh fruits and vegetables, including well water and different types of surface water such as river water or lake water — sources which have been found to harbour hNoV.

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Virus, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Research

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