Category Archives: Food Inspections

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Figs

Posted on January 3, 2020 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF – ochratoxin A (32 µg/kg – ppb) in figs from Turkey in the Netherlands

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Posted in 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, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Listeria monocytogenes – Bacon

Posted on January 3, 2020 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (220 CFU/g) in bacon from Austria in Austria

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Posted in 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, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Onion Powder – Hot Smoked Bacon – Chicken Liver – Chicken Fillets – Sesame Seeds – Sprouts – Black Pepper – Frozen Chicken MDM

Posted on January 3, 2020 by | Leave a comment

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RASFF – Salmonella (presence /125g) in onion powder from India in Germany

RASFF – Salmonella (1 out of 5 samples /25g) in hot smoked bacon from Poland in Poland

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in chilled chicken liver from Poland in Bulgaria

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in chilled chicken fillets from the Netherlands in the Netherlands

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

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

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in sprouts from Germany in Germany

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

RASFF – Salmonella enterica ser. Thompson (presence /25g) in frozen chicken MDM from Poland in Bulgaria

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Posted in 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, RASFF, Salmonella, Salmonella Sesame Seeds, Uncategorized

USA – FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Products Associated with the FDA Almark Foods Recall due to Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination

Posted on January 3, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FSIS USDA

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to illnesses caused by Listeria monocytogenes associated with FDA-regulated hard boiled eggs that have been recalled by Almark Foods. FSIS is issuing this public health alert out of an abundance of caution to ensure that consumers are aware that these products should not be consumed.

The following ready-to-eat FSIS-regulated product has been identified as containing ingredients involved in the Almark Foods recall: [View Label (PDF only)]

  • 3.6-oz. plastic packages containing “CHEESEWICH Ready to Eat BACON N EGGS” with “USE BY” dates 12/27/19, 1/3/20, 1/23/20, 1/30/20, 2/6/20, 2/14/20, 2/19/20 and 2/28/20 and lot codes 281191, 302191, 309191, 316191, 323191, 331191, 336191, 344191.

The products contain separately packaged bacon and hard-boiled eggs. Packages bear establishment number “P-45031” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Customers with questions may contact Almark Foods’ Customer Helpline at (877) 546-0454 Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm EST.

CDC, FDA and public health and regulatory officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to hard-boiled egg products produced by Almark Foods. There have been no confirmed reports of illness due to consumption of the FSIS-regulated products produced containing these eggs. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider. Consumers that have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

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Posted in 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, FSIS, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized, USDA

USA – FiveStar Gourmet Foods Voluntary Recalls Fresh Snack Products Due to Possible Health Risk

Posted on January 3, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FDA

MiniMeal2Go-AvocadoToast 6.75oz. top label

FiveStar Gourmet Foods takes issues of food safety seriously and in an abundance of caution is voluntarily recalling two fresh produce snack products, MiniMeal2Go-ProteinPack 8.25oz and MiniMeal2Go- AvocadoToast 6.75oz. due to the notification from Almark Foods of Gainesville, GA that Almark Foods may have supplied single-serve prepackaged Hard Boiled Eggs contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and its association with a current foodborne illness investigation.

No other FiveStar items are involved with this voluntary recall. There are no reported illnesses to date related to the FiveStar Gourmet Foods products.

MiniMeal2Go-ProteinPack 8.25oz top label

 

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Posted in FDA, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, outbreak, Uncategorized

USA – Death by Norovirus tied to Puritan Backroom in New Hampshire

Posted on January 2, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

The New Hampshire Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) has determined that norovirus was a contributing cause of death in the person who passed away after attending an event at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester, New Hampshire, on November 24, 2019. The OCME completed its final report today after conducting an autopsy last month.

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Posted in food contamination, food death, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, Uncategorized, Virus

Research – Salmonella Survival in Soil and Transfer onto Produce via Splash Events

Posted on January 2, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Journal of Food Protection

ABSTRACT

Nearly one-half of foodborne illnesses in the United States can be attributed to fresh produce consumption. The preharvest stage of production presents a critical opportunity to prevent produce contamination in the field from contaminating postharvest operations and exposing consumers to foodborne pathogens. One produce-contamination route that is not often explored is the transfer of pathogens in the soil to edible portions of crops via splash water. We report here on the results from multiple field and microcosm experiments examining the potential for Salmonella contamination of produce crops via splash water, and the effect of soil moisture content on Salmonella survival in soil and concentration in splash water. In field and microcosm experiments, we detected Salmonella for up to 8 to 10 days after inoculation in soil and on produce. Salmonella and suspended solids were detected in splash water at heights of up to 80 cm from the soil surface. Soil-moisture conditions before the splash event influenced the detection of Salmonella on crops after the splash events—Salmonella concentrations on produce after rainfall were significantly higher in wet plots than in dry plots (geometric mean difference = 0.43 CFU/g; P = 0.03). Similarly, concentrations of Salmonella in splash water in wet plots trended higher than concentrations from dry plots (geometric mean difference = 0.67 CFU/100 mL; P = 0.04). These results indicate that splash transfer of Salmonella from soil onto crops can occur and that antecedent soil-moisture content may mediate the efficiency of microbial transfer. Splash transfer of Salmonella may, therefore, pose a hazard to produce safety. The potential for the risk of splash should be further explored in agricultural regions in which Salmonella and other pathogens are present in soil. These results will help inform the assessment of produce safety risk and the development of management practices for the mitigation of produce contamination.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Salmonella was detected for 8 to 10 days after inoculation in soil and on produce.

  • Salmonella in soil can be detected in splash water from rainfall/irrigation events.

  • Salmonella was detected in splash water at heights of up to 80 cm.

  • Soil moisture conditions may affect the transfer potential of Salmonella.

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

South Africa -South African Listeria outbreak impacted food choices of students

Posted on January 2, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

The Listeria outbreak linked to a brand of polony in South Africa had a negative impact on student’s consumption patterns of cold meat, according to researchers.

The study analyzed the effect of the Listeria monocytogenes outbreak on consumption patterns of processed cold meat products by students at North West University, Mmabatho South Africa.

The 2017-2018 listeriosis outbreak was traced to contaminated processed meats produced by Enterprise Foods, a subsidiary of Tiger Brands, in Polokwane. About 1,060 cases were confirmed and 216 people died.

The North West University Mafikeng Campus has 12,864 registered students. Surveys and interviews were conducted from June to July 2018. Recently findings published in the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science journal.

 

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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 Testing, Research, Uncategorized

USA – Almark Eggs Secondary Recalls For Listeria Monocytogenes Listed

Posted on January 2, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

These are all of the recalls of Almark Foods hard boiled eggs to date:

  • The first recall was for Almark hard cooked and peeled eggs in pails within expiration dates. The company has suspended production of the eggs while an investigation is being conducted. Some of the brand names recalled in this initial recall include Nic’s, Rainbow Farms, and Sutherland’s Food Service.
  • Almark expanded that recall on December 23, 2019 to include al hard boiled eggs that were manufactured at the firm’s Gainesville, Georgia facility. Some brand names of those eggs include Egglands Best, Fresh Thyme, Giant Eagle, Great Value, and Kroger.
  • Bakkavor Foods recalled Trader Joe’s egg salad and potato salad on December 23, 2019. None of those products are linked to any illnesses.
  • Dierbergs Markets recalled potato and egg salads and remoulade on December 24, 2019 because they were made with the recalled Almark hard cooked eggs.
  • Reichel Foods recalled Pro2Snax in two varieties on December 26, 2019. These products were sold in retail outlets nationwide.
  • Great American Deli recalled egg salads sandwiches on December 24, 2019 because they were made with recalled Almark Foods hard cooked eggs.
  • Cece’s Veggie Fresh Ramen Salad with Chicken Broth was recalled on December 30, 2019 because the product was made with Almark Foods Eggs.
  • Meijer recalled diced hard cooked eggs used on salad bars in two of its stores in Grand Rapids, Michigan on December 31, 2019.

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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 Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Cyclospora Number One Multistate Food Poisoning Outbreak For 2019

Posted on January 2, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin cardcyclosporasme

Cyclospora is the number one multistate food poisoning outbreak for 2019, with more than 2400 people sick. This wasn’t an individual outbreak, but many individual cases and several outbreaks linked to a venue or product. The overall number of domestically acquired cases is higher than those from 2017 and 2018.

hese are the outbreaks of cyclosporiasis linked to a venue or food:

  • An outbreak associated with workplace cafeterias in Virginia that sickened at least 39 people.
  • A large cyclospora outbreak at Cooper’s Hawk Winery in the Jacksonville, Florida area sickened at least 132 people in 11 states.
  • An outbreak in Minnesota sickened 35 people and was associated with three restaurants located in different areas of the state.
  • Cyclosporiasis illnesses in New York City in July sickened more than 90 people.
  • A Boston Cyclospora outbreak, also in July, sickened more than 100 people.
  • A cyclospora outbreak linked to Siga Logistics de RL de CV basil imported from Mexico sickened more than 240 people. this was the largest individual outbreak in the overall case count.

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Posted in Cyclospora, food bourne outbreak, 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, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Uncategorized