Category Archives: Food Inspections

Canadian Recalls – Listeria- Salads and Onions

Posted on May 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Sobeys Inc. are warning the public not to consume Compliments brand salads and prepared foods described below because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the Gills Onions brand Fresh Diced Red Onions described below because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The affected product, Gills Onions brand Fresh Diced Red Onions, Product of U.S.A., is sold in 198 g packages, bearing UPC 6 43550 00045 0, Best Before date 05/17/12, and lot code 51RDA1A2119. This product is known to be distributed in Ontario and may have been distributed nationally.

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

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, CIFA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Tagged , , ,

US – Bagged Salads Recall – Listeria monocytognes

Posted on May 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA

River Ranch Fresh Foods, LLC of Salinas, CA is initiating a voluntary recall of retail and foodservice bagged salads, because they have the potential of being contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes following routine random retail salad finished product tests conducted in the marketplace by the Food & Drug Administration.

Listeria monocytogenes is 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.

Retail salad products under this recall were distributed nationwide under various sizes and packaged under the brand names of River Ranch, Farm Stand, Hy-Vee, Marketside, Shurfresh, and The Farmer’s Market.

There have been NO reported illnesses associated with this recall.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Tagged ,

US Papaya Recall – Salmonella

Posted on May 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Caribe Produce LTD Co. of McAllen, TX, is recalling 286 cases of Papaya Maradol, Caribeña Brand papayas packed in 35 lb. cartons marked with the brand “ Caribeña “ and “ Product of Mexico” stamped on the side.

These papayas have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recalled Papaya Maradol, Caribeña Brand cases were distributed in the Bronx, New York in wholesale stores and through retail stores from May 14th, 2012 to May 17th, 2012.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Salmonella in the product.

Leave a comment

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

Tagged ,

US – Oysters Vibrio parahaemolyticus Warning

Posted on May 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin 

Massachusetts health officials are warning that oysters harvested from Cape Cod Bay may be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a bacteria that causes about 4,500 cases of foodborne illness every year.

That area has tidal flats with shallow water that can become very warm during the day. In just the right conditions of warm temperatures and the water’s salt content, the bacteria grows very quickly  in the shellfish. Then when those oysters are eaten raw or undercooked, the bacteria can make people sick.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Vibrio, Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Tagged , ,

FSA – Food Safety Videos Link

Posted on May 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA

The Food Standards Agency has published 10 short videos to help caterers produce food safely. Each video is about a minute long and covers specific food hygiene practices.

These training resources are designed to illustrate messages within the ‘Safer food, better business’ packs and they follow the same innovative and practical approach to food safety management as the packs.

The videos provide best practice guidance on a number of potential food safety issues, such as:

  • effective handwashing
  • chilling foods down as quickly as possible
  • checking that foods are cooked thoroughly
  • effective cleaning
  • what to do if a member of staff is ill at work
  • keeping pests out of your business, what to look for and the action to take

The films are being used as part of a training programme, funded by the Agency, to coach catering businesses in Olympic host boroughs in order to help raise standards and compliance levels.

The videos are available via the Agency’s YouTube channel.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Spoilage, Food Standards Agency, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Research

FSA – London 2012 Food Safety

Posted on May 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA

The Food Standards Agency has published a toolkit and newsletter for stakeholders to support their participation in the Agency’s Play it Safe campaign. This campaign is helping to ensure that food bought, cooked and eaten during the 2012 Olympics is safe.

The toolkit provides suggestions on how stakeholders, such as food businesses, tourism groups and trade associations, can contribute to the campaign. These include posting details of the campaign on company websites and in newsletters, using social media and issuing press releases. The toolkit also answers frequently asked questions about the campaign and about food hygiene and safety.

The newsletter, the first in the campaign, explains the work being done to protect consumers during the Olympics. It also includes details on how to subscribe to future editions.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Research

Tagged

US – Oyster Norovirus Outbreak – Area 23

Posted on May 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Area 23, a shellfish harvesting zone off the Louisiana coast roughly equal in size to the city of New Orleans, was closed this week after health officials linked a norovirus outbreak to its oysters.

An investigation into the outbreak that sickened 14 people who ate oysters at a Louisiana restaurant determined that the oysters were tainted before they arrived at the restaurant. Health officials issued a recall of the oysters and the temporary closure of Area 23.

Leave a comment

Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, outbreak, Pathogen

Tagged ,

US Herring Recall – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on May 12, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Listeria Blog

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine today alerted consumers that Mazowsze Deli Inc., 420 Church Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11218 is recalling (sliced) Herring due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

The recalled in-store packed (sliced) Herring comes in an un-coded, one pound clear plastic container with a plastic lid. The Herring was sold from the deli’s retail location at 420 Church Avenue in Brooklyn only.

The recall was initiated after routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis of the product by New York State Food Laboratory personnel, found Listeria monocytogenes present in the product.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. Consumers who have purchased the Herring should not consume it, but should discard the product or return it to Mazowsze Deli.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Tagged ,

Hep A Incidence US Steakhouse

Posted on May 11, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

The Vanderburgh County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health are investigating a case of Hepatitis A in a food worker at the Lone Star Restaurant located in the Eastland Place Shopping Center at 943 N. Green River Road Evansville IN, 47715-2418.

“We’ve been in contact with Lone Star and we wanted to let people know that they may have been exposed,” Dr. Ray Nicholson, Health Officer for the Health Department said.

Persons who were exposed and unvaccinated can receive a dose of Hepatitis A vaccine to help lessen the effects of the disease or prevent disease if given within 14 days of exposure. Persons who ate or drank at the Lone Star from April 20-April 26, 2012 could have been exposed to Hepatitis A, but should not receive vaccine because it is not effective for exposure past 14 days. Those people should seek medical care if they show symptoms of Hepatitis A.

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hepatitis A, Microbiology, Pathogen

RASFF Alerts

Posted on May 11, 2012 by | Leave a comment

 

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes Sweden Cheese Raw material from France

RASFF – Salmonella typhimurium Norway Beef from Uruguay.

RASFF – Salmonella and Bacillus cereus in All Spice in Austria orginating in Germany.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bacillus cereus, Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, RASFF

Tagged , ,