Category Archives: Food Hygiene

USA – 159 sick after eating AFC Sushi from Harris Teeter in Concord North Carolina

Posted on December 17, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Pathogen not yet announced that has caused illnesses.

Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA) and Harris Teeter officials are investigating multiple reports of illness linked to AFC sushi purchased and eaten from Harris Teeter at 358 George W. Liles Pkwy NW, Concord and Harris Teeter at 1245 Concord Parkway North, Concord. Those ill are experiencing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle aches and abdominal cramps. CHA is aware of more than 10 (now 159) individuals who are sick, and all have consumed sushi from the third-party AFC Sushi kiosk located within the two Harris Teeter stores between Nov. 13, 2020 and Nov. 19, 2020.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Poisoning

UK – Lidl GB recalls Red Hen Breaded Chicken Nuggets and Red Hen Southern Fried Chicken Pops because of contamination with Salmonella

Posted on December 17, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FSA

Lidl GB is recalling Red Hen Breaded Chicken Nuggets and Red Hen Southern Fried Chicken Pops because salmonella contamination has been found in some of the products in the batch.

Product details

Red Hen Breaded Chicken Nuggets
Pack size 450g
Best before End: February 2022
Red Hen Southern Fried Chicken Pops
Pack size 210g
Best before 05 February 2022

Risk statement

The presence of salmonella in the products listed above.

Symptoms caused by salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

Action taken by the company

Lidl GB is recalling the above products. Point of sale notice has been displayed in the Lidl’s stores. This notice explains to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Please see the attached notice.
Customer notice: Lidl GB Red Hen Chicken Nuggets and Chicken Pops(Opens in a new window)

Our advice to consumers

If you have bought any of the above products do not consume them. Instead, return them to a Lidl GB store for a full refund, with or without a receipt. Alternatively, dispose of the product and email customer.services@lidl.co.uk, including photo of the affected product with Best Before Date and Lot Code. The team will process this refund via letter.

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, fsa, Salmonella, Salmonella in Chicken

Research – Assessing Food Safety Practices Among Texas Small Growers

Posted on December 16, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Journal of Food Protection

This could be applied to many small growers all over the world.

This study aimed to assess current food safety gaps among small growers in Texas to identify key areas of focus for potential education and training materials for these stakeholders. Small growers earn ≤$25,000 in annual sales over a 3-year period and have an average food sale of less than $500,000. To this end, a survey tool was designed to determine the gaps in small farm growers’ food safety knowledge. A total of 29 questions were disseminated to participants at fruit and vegetable conference. The questions included topics such as food safety practices and perceptions, and current and past food safety training experiences. Data from 70 growers was collected and analyzed and the results demonstrated that more than 34% of growers use manure and 51% have domestic animals on the farm premises. Even though more than 51% of participants use bare hands for harvesting, 39% of growers do not provide handwashing facilities for workers, and 46% of the growers do not provide toilet facilities for their workers. Only 25% of the growers surveyed have access to food safety training materials for their employees. The results also showed that 21% of participants have previous food safety training. Furthermore, half of the growers surveyed used soil amendments and approximately 87% did not test irrigation water. About 30% of growers believe that organic produce is safer than conventional produce and 37% believe that organically grown produce has fewer harmful bacteria. Also, > 41% of participants could not recognize the difference between hydroponically grown produce and conventional systems. The results indicated specific areas of opportunity, gaps in resources needed by growers, and lack of food safety training materials. The results of this study will help in the design of targeted and specific food safety training materials for small growers.

 

 

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology

Belgium – Organic minced pork (400g) from the Colruyt brand – Salmonella

Posted on December 16, 2020 by | Leave a comment

AFSCA

Colruyt Group recalled
Product: Organic minced pork (400g) from the Colruyt brand.
Problem: Possible presence of Salmonella.During microbiological checks at the supplier, the presence of Salmonella was observed in the organic minced pork product 400 g bearing the expiration date (DLC) 18/12/2020.

In consultation with the AFSCA, Colruyt therefore decided to withdraw the product concerned from sale.

Customers who have purchased this product are advised not to consume it and to bring it back to the store, where they will be reimbursed. In the meantime, all stores have removed the affected products from the shelves.

Product description: • Organic minced pork 400 g •

Use-by date (Best before date): 18/12/2020 •

Item number: 17968 • Sales period: from 9/12/2020 to 15/12/2020 included

This product has been offered for sale in Colruyt stores in Belgium.

For more information , customers can contact Colruyt Group Customer Service on 0800 99 124 .

Possible symptoms of Salmonella poisoning
Possible symptoms of Salmonella poisoning are fever, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. These symptoms usually appear within 12 to 48 hours of ingestion.

Symptoms usually last 4-7 days, and most people recover without specific treatment. Young children, pregnant women, the immunocompromised and the elderly are among the groups at risk. In these people, the symptoms can be severe enough to require hospitalization.

People who have consumed this product and who present this type of symptoms are advised to consult their attending physician and notify them of this consumption.

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Posted in afsca, Bacteria, bacterial contamination, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Certain Compliments brand and Levitts brand deli meat products recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on December 16, 2020 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, December 15, 2020 – The food recall warning issued on December 7, 2020 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Levitts Foods (Canada) Inc. is recalling certain Compliments brand and Levitts brand deli meat products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Compliments Montreal-Style Smoked Meat 175 g 0 68820 13357 5 BEST BEFORE 2021JA20
EST 48
Levitts Corned Beef 150 g 8 82756 72084 1 BEST BEFORE 2021JA20
EST 48
Levitts New York Style Pastrami 150 g 8 82756 73084 0 BEST BEFORE 2021JA20
EST 48

What you should do

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

Background

This recall was triggered by CFIA test results. The 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 products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. However, there has been one reported illness that may be associated with the consumption of the products included in the Food Recall Warning of December 7, 2020.

Related recalls

2020-12-07 – Certain Compliments brand, Levitts brand, and The Deli-Shop brand deli meat products recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

2020-11-22 – Compliments brand Smoked Beef Pastrami recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Compliments – Montreal Style Smoked Meat – 175 grams
  • Levitts – Corned Beef – 150 grams
  • Levitts – New York Style Pastrami – 150 grams

Public enquiries and media

Company information
Levitts Foods (Canada) Inc.: Simon Larochelle, 514-367-1654
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 Bacteria, bacterial contamination, CFIA, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbiology

Research – Bioengineered probiotic could prevent Listeria infections

Posted on December 15, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Purdue

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For pregnant women, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, listeriosis is a serious foodborne illness often linked to deli meats, fresh produce and dairy products. Even with antibiotic treatment, listeriosis is fatal for about 20 percent of patients, resulting in thousands of deaths annually.

Purdue University’s Arun Bhunia, a professor of food science, and postdoctoral researcher Rishi Drolia have developed a probiotic that could prevent infections in at-risk populations. A bioengineered version of Lactobacillus, a bacterium common in the human gut, can block the pathway the Listeria monocytogenes bacteria use to cross intestinal wall cells into the bloodstream, his team reports in the journal Nature Communications.

“The Lactobacillus bacteria we developed seeks out the same proteins as Listeria monocytogenes in the gut. When it attaches, it blocks the roadway for Listeria,” Bhunia said. “This could be included in probiotic yogurts, capsules or gummies and used as a preventive measure to treat people who are at high risk of infection.”

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Posted in food contamination, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Lactobacillus, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Research, Technology

UK – Salmonella contributed to deaths linked to butchers

Posted on December 14, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

A Salmonella infection contributed to the deaths of two people who were part of an outbreak in England in 2018, according to an inquest report.

Sandra Blake, 68, and Stewart Graham, 66, both ate pork from Chapman and Sons in early 2018. Sandra’s husband, Heath, aged 71, also fell ill with similar symptoms but survived. Tests confirmed all three had Salmonella infections.

The inquest heard that 28 people were affected and 23 were linked to the butchers in Blackhall Colliery, County Durham.

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, food contamination, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Testing, Salmonella

Canada – Public Health Notice: Outbreak of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections linked to shellfish is over.

Posted on December 14, 2020 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Food Illness

In total, 23 confirmed cases of Vibrio parahaemolyticus illness were reported in the following provinces: Saskatchewan (1), Quebec (7), New Brunswick (10), and Prince Edward Island (5). Individuals became sick between early July and late October 2020. One individual was hospitalized. No deaths were reported. Individuals who became ill were between 11 and 92 years of age. The majority of illnesses (61%) were male.

Table 1 – Number of people confirmed to be infected with Vibrio parahaemolyticus by week of illness onset or specimen collection
Week of symptom onset or specimen collection Number of cases
2020-06-28 1
2020-07-05 0
2020-07-12 0
2020-07-19 0
2020-07-26 1
2020-08-02 2
2020-08-09 2
2020-08-16 4
2020-08-23 3
2020-08-30 2
2020-09-06 5
2020-09-13 2
2020-09-20 0
2020-10-04 0
2020-10-11 0
2020-10-18 0
2020-10-25 0
2020-11-01 1

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, outbreak, Vibrio, Vibrio parahaemolyticus

New Zealand – Butchery at centre of Listeria scare says it is ‘devastating’

Posted on December 14, 2020 by | Leave a comment

STUFF

The butchery owner whose hams have been recalled due to fears they may contain listeria says the scare is stressful and devastating.

“We’ve been manufacturing hams for 23 years and had minimal complaints … and we’ve never had an outbreak of listeria like this before,” Pestell’s Rai Bacon Company Ltd owner Chris Pestell said.

The listeria cases were isolated to the ham, he said, and stressed that all other products were safe.

“We sell thousands of hams all over the south to lots of businesses and supermarkets, and lower North Island. We’ve built up a good reputation over the years.”

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes

USA – Cozy Vale Raw Milk again linked to E. coli

Posted on December 14, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

Cozy Vale Creamery of Tenino, WA, is advising consumers to throw out or return any of the dairy’s retail raw milk and cream products with the best by dates of Dec. 12-14 through 12-23 because state tests showed E. coli contamination.

The unpasteurized dairy products were bottled in a gallon, half-gallon, quart, and pint containers, were sold to customers, including retail stores, in Western Washington. The dairy had pathogen problems at least twice in 2017.

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, Bacterial Toxin, Biotoxin, E.coli, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin