Category Archives: Food Hygiene

Research – Project confirms growing threat in Europe from toxins created by microalgae

Posted on January 11, 2021 by KSW | Leave a comment

gam

A project looking at the risk of ciguatera poisoning in Europe has finished work after almost five years.

An international scientific meeting was held in October for the EuroCigua project which began in April 2016 and ends this month.

Ciguatera is a type of food poisoning associated with consumption of fishery products that contain toxins produced by a microalgae called Gambierdiscus toxicus. The toxin does not affect the appearance, odor or taste of the fish and is not destroyed by cooking, refrigeration or freezing.

It causes an estimated 10,000 to 50,000 cases per year worldwide and outbreaks have been reported in Spain and Portugal. From 2012 to 2018, four European countries reported 23 ciguatera outbreaks and 167 cases.

Results confirmed the appearance of ciguatera in the European Union, having identified native species of fish with ciguatoxins in Macaronesia, Madeira and the Canary Islands. The presence of Gambierdiscus in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus and Greece was also detected, as well as the first finding in the Balearic Islands.

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Posted in Algal Blooms, Algal Toxin, Ciguatera, Ciguatera Poisoning, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Gambierdiscus, Research

Denmark – Ochratoxin A in licorice root powder

Posted on January 11, 2021 by KSW | Leave a comment

DVFA

Midsona Danmark A / S is recalling licorice root powder. An excessive content of the fungal poison Ochratoxin A. has been found.

Recalled Foods , Published: January 8, 2021

What food:
Urtekram Licorice root
Best before date: 09.23.2022
EAN: 5765228750483

Sold to:
supermarket, Bilka, Kvickly, SuperBrugsen, Meny, Spar, My Grocery, ABC low, LetKøb, Løvbjerg, Super Land, Liva Stormarked, Strynø Købmand, Magasin Kgs. Nytorv, Søstrene Grene, Helsam, Med24 and various online health food stores.

Company recalling:
Midsona Danmark A / S

Cause:
An analysis has shown an excessive content of Ochratoxin A in the product. Ochratoxin A is a fungal toxin that is formed due to fungal growth in the product.

Risk:
As the level of ochratoxin A is above the limit, it can pose a health risk.

Advice for consumers: The Danish
Veterinary and Food Administration advises consumers to deliver the product back to the store where it was purchased or to discard it.

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Posted in DVFA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin

Canada – Food Recall Warning – Belle Grove brand Whole White Mushrooms recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria – Clostridia botulinum

Posted on January 11, 2021 by KSW | Leave a comment

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, January 9, 2021 – Monaghan Mushrooms Ltd. is recalling Belle Grove brand Whole White Mushrooms from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

Recalled product

Brand	Product	Size	UPC	Codes
Belle Grove	Whole White Mushrooms	227 g	8 87462 00000 3	Best Before 15 Jan

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the recalled product in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.

Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking, including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness.

Symptoms of foodborne botulism in children can include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis. In all cases, botulism does not cause a fever. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This recall was triggered by the company. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled product from the marketplace.

Illnesses

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

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

Public enquiries and media

Public enquiries: Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and U.S.)
Telephone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: cfia.enquiries-demandederenseignements.acia@canada.ca
Media relations: Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@canada.ca

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Posted in Bacterial Toxin, CFIA, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology

Australia – Australian egg industry cracks down on Salmonella

Posted on January 8, 2021 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Processing.com.au

Salmonella Eggs Food Poisoning Food Safety

The Australian egg industry has continued to work closely with authorities to respond to and eliminate the threat of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) since its initial outbreak in September 2018.

Additional legislation was introduced in New South Wales in the form of a Biosecurity (Salmonella Enteritidis) Control Order to manage the risk of SE to consumers. It has been in effect since August 2019.

In its 2019–20 Annual Report, NSW Food Authority reported a reduction in compliance of the food safety program across the NSW egg industry as a result of increased regulatory controls placed on industry due to the introduction of the Biosecurity (Salmonella Enteritidis) Control Order.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Testing, Research, Salmonella, Salmonella in Eggs

Belgium – Watermelon Seeds, Roasted & Salted – Aflatoxin – Ochratoxin A

Posted on January 8, 2021 by KSW | Leave a comment

AFSCA

Following a notification via the RASFF system (European Food and Feed rapid alert system), the AFSCA withdraws from sale and recalls the following product to consumers: watermelon seeds “watermelon seeds, roasted & salted” of the brand Ciloglu due to a too high content of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A.

The AFSCA asks not to consume this product and to bring it back to the point of sale where it was purchased.

Product Description:

• Product Category: Watermelon Seeds
• Product Name: watermelon seeds, roasted & salted
• Brand: Ciloglu
• Date of Minimum Durability (DDM)
: 09/28/2021
• Lot: NTX591477 • Weight: 200g

Ce product was sold through several points of sale in Belgium.

For any further information , you can contact the AFSCA contact point for consumers: 0800 / 13.550 or pointdecontact@afsca.be .

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Posted in Aflatoxin, afsca, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin

USA – Sushi related outbreak stumps health officials; more than 150 sickened

Posted on January 8, 2021 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Public health officials in North Carolina have concluded their investigation of a foodborne illness outbreak linked to sushi, saying they were unable to determine the specific cause behind the illnesses of more than 150 people.

Only a handful of ill people who ate the suspect sushi sold at two Harris Teeter grocery stores agreed to provide samples for pathogen testing, according to the Cabarrus Health Alliance environmental health director. Officials also tested one sample of sushi.

All patient samples and the product specimen were tested for a broad range of pathogens in an attempt to identify the agent responsible for the illnesses.