Category Archives: Food Inspections

UK -FSA – Results of Industry Testing

FSAfood_standards_agency_logo

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has agreed with the food industry to publish the results of industry testing of meat products, to provide a clearer picture of standards in the food chain. The results will also be made publicly available.

The decision was taken at a meeting to address how testing can maintain consumer confidence in the accuracy of food labelling, attended by Food and Farming Minister David Heath, representatives of the FSA, and major food businesses and suppliers.

Catherine Brown, Chief Executive of the FSA, said: ‘I am pleased that we have been able to agree a way forward to maintain consumer confidence in the food that people eat. We need to move swiftly to get this work under way to reassure consumers.’

European RASFF Alerts – Norovirus – Moulds – E.coli – Ochratoxin – Histamine

RASFF – Norovirus in Oysters in Italy sourced in France

RASFF – Moulds in Chocolate and Ornage Spread in France sourced in Denmark

RASSF – Histamine in Tuna in France sourced in Vietnam

RASFF – Histamine in Tune in Italy sourced in Spain

RASFF – E.coli in Clams in Italy sourced in Spain via France

RASFF – Ochratoxin in Figs in Germany source in Turkey

Greece – Bacillus cereus in Soy Cheese Cubes

Australia – Third Cheese Recall of Cheese for Listeria monocyotgenes in Cheese 2013

FSANZFSANZ

Calendar Cheese has recalled MAURI BONTA’ZOLA GORGONZOLA DOP (Blue Cheese) from Thomas Dux Grocer, David Jones and Coles Supermarkets in NSW, VIC, WA, QLD, SA and TAS 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. Consumers should not eat this product. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

Calendar Cheese Company

03 8645 4666

USA – The Listeria monocytogenes Issues keep Coming – Crab – Sea Salmon – Sprouted Seedss

PR Newswire

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC, following a recall by GoldCoast Salads, announced it removed from sale Gold Coast Fresh Crab Spread due to possible contamination by listeria monocytogenes.

The following product is included in this recall:

  • Gold Coast Fresh Crab Spread, UPC 83355500325, 8 oz., expiration date of 1/31/2013

To date, Stop & Shop has received no reports of illness. Customers who have purchased the product should discard any unused portions and bring their purchase receipt to Stop & Shop for a full refund.

Listeria is a common organism found in nature.  Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis.  However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

FDA

Whole Foods Market is recalling four items made with Circle Sea Salmon Lox Trim sold in Oregon and Washington state store seafood departments due to possible Listeria Monocytogenes contamination. Listeria is an organism which can cause a sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer short term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headaches, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled products were sold before Jan. 29, 2013 in all Whole Foods Market stores in Oregon and Washington. No illnesses have been reported related to the recalled products.

The salmon lox trim products (cold smoked salmon lox trim — PLU 97629, Bagel Half with Lox Cream Cheese w/Capers – PLU 92811, Whole Bagel with Lox Cream Cheese with Capers – PLU 98437, Gravlox Cream Cheese Spread – PLU 95307) were sold in clear plastic containers or plastic wrapped with the label “Whole Foods Market.” The recall includes all of these products sold before Jan. 29, 2013.

Signage is posted in Whole Foods Market stores to notify customers of this recall. Consumers who have purchased these products in these two states should discard them, and may bring their receipt to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact 206-854-9880 Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm PST.

FDA – This recall extends to Canada and CFIA also has a recall out

Sprouters Northwest of Kent, Washington is voluntarily recalling all varieties of sprouts products, wheatgrass and pea shoots due to the potential contamination 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.

All varieties of sprouts products including 3-Bean Munchie, Alfalfa, Bean, Broccoli, Brocco Sandwich sprouts, Clover, Deli, Spicy; Wheatgrass and/or Pea Shoots were distributed through 1/30/2013 in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and British Columbia, Canada through retail stores and food service distribution chain.

The affected products are sold under the Sprouters Northwest and LifeForce brand names and are packaged in plastic clamshell containers, plastic cups, plastic trays in 3 oz., 4 oz., 5 oz., and in plastic 1 lb. 2lb, or 5lb. bags. The Best by Dates are including all and up to 2/17/2013.

The problem was identified through surveillance finished products samples collected at retail locations and at the firm by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Sprouters Northwest is working with WSDA and the Food & Drug Administration on this recall.

Consumers should not consume the recalled sprouts product, wheatgrass, pea shoots and are advised to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-253-872-0577 from 7AM to 2PM PST.

 

 

USA – Norovirus Outbreak Deli

Concord PatchNorwalk_Caspid

A Concord deli has been closed by Contra Costa County environmental health officials due to norovirus contamination.

Marilyn Underwood, environmental health department director, said the North Park Deli on Nelson Avenue was shut down late Tuesday afternoon. It’s uncertain when the eatery will re-open.

Underwood said two employees at the deli have tested positive for the virus.

She said her department was first notified of the illness when 15 people who were at an event catered by North Park Deli on Friday evening became sick over the weekend.

It usually takes 36 to 48 hours after exposure for norovirus symptoms to appear.

Underwood said anyone who visited the deli late last week or early this week and becomes sick should avoid contact with other people. In addition, surfaces and other contaminated items should be cleaned with bleach.

USA – Updated Smoked Salmon Recall – Listeria monocytogenes

Food Poisoning Bulletinlisteria-hp

Whole Foods Market is expanding its smoked salmon recall for potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes to include an additional lot code. The black and gold, flat, rectangular, vacuum-sealed 4 oz packages of Whole Catch Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon with UPC code 0 99482 40880 0  were sold in 18 states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island Texas, and Utah. The lot codes now included in the recall are 7425A2297A. and 7425A2298B.

No illnesses have been reported related to these lot codes. But a sample of the product has tested positive for Listeria.

USDA – Recall Veal Trimmings – E.coli O157:H7

USDAUSDA

San Jose Valley Veal, a Santa Clara, Calif. establishment, is recalling
approximately 1,260 pounds of veal trimmings that may be contaminated with
E. Coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

RASFF – Alerts – Salmonella – Ochratoxin A

RASFF – Salmonella in Dog Chews in Germany sourced in Argentina

RASFF – Ochratoxin A in Coffee in Belgium

Canada – CFIA – Recall Spouted Seeds – Listeria monocytogenes

CFIAEurofins

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canada Safeway Limited are   warning the public not to consume the LifeForce Foods brand Sprouts described below because they may be  contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

All codes of the following LifeForce Foods brand sprouts, product of USA,   packaged in plastic clamshell containers of 85 grams, are affected by this alert:

               Product UPC
               Brocco Sprouts                8 51042 00400 2
               Spicy sprouts                8 51042 00401 9
               Alfalfa sprouts                8 51042 00402 6

These products have been distributed through Canada Safeway stores in British Columbia only.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

USA – Ground Beef – Salmonella Typhimurium – Outbreaks

Food Safety News – First Outbreak Update

An emerging outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium has expanded to five states with 16 people infected with the outbreak strain, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta said Friday.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)– just 24 hours earlier– announced the existence of the outbreak with seven illnesses in two states, Michigan and Arizona.

CDC said the states and the number of persons infected in the outbreak now includes: Arizona (!), Illinois (2), Iowa (1), Michigan (9), and Wisconsin (3). No deaths have been reported, but 53 percent of the ill persons have required hospitalization.

Food Safety News – Second Outbreak

A second Michigan retail store has recalled about 550 pounds of ground beef products that may be associated with a Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to a Macomb County restaurant.

Troy-based Gab Halal Foods recalled various size bags of ground beef, wrapped in clear plastic. The recalled product was produced between Dec. 4, and Dec. 10, 2012 and distributed to the Macomb County restaurant and directly to consumers.

The beef products were sold without labels.

According to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the second recall was initiated out of concern for a cluster of Salmonella Typhimurium illnesses that may be caused by eating a raw ground beef product at a restaurant in Michigan’s Macomb County.