Category Archives: Food Inspections

USA – Light start for foodborne illness outbreaks in 2020

Food Safety News

Almost one-third of the year is in the rearview mirror at the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and only two new multistate outbreaks of foodborne illnesses are on the books.

A dangerous outbreak of Listeriosis bubbled up out of Michigan late February involving Enoki mushrooms grown in South Korea. In its latest report on April 8, the CDC reported 36 confirmed cases in 17 states that involve 30 hospitalizations and four deaths.

As of March 19, the second outbreak involving the rare E.coli O103 had sickened 39 people in six states with two hospitalizations and no deaths. Clover sprouts are blamed for the second active outbreak of 2020.

The two foodborne illnesses outbreaks are small potatoes when compared to the COVID-19 outbreak that by April 15 infected 641,315, resulting in 28,386 deaths. By this point in a more typical year, CDC usually is working on a half dozen or more multistate foodborne outbreaks.

Australia – Green Co Ltd Choi’s Mushrooms — Enoki Mushrooms 300g – Listeria monocytogenes

FSANZ

Green Co Ltd Choi’s Mushrooms — Enoki Mushrooms 300g

Photograph of enokimushrooms

Identifying features

Other
APN/EAN – 9336764000101

What are the defects?

The recall is due to microbial contamination (Listeria monocytogenes).

What are the hazards?

Listeria may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems.

What should consumers do?

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact Choi’s Mushrooms on ​02 9826 1532

Supplier
Choi’s Mushrooms
Traders who sold this product

Asian supermarkets and grocers

Where the product was sold
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Queensland
South Australia
Victoria
Dates available for sale
  • 13 March 2020 – 10 April 2020

Recall advertisements and supporting documentation

Coordinating agency

Food Standards Australia New Zealand is the coordinating agency for this recall.

Product category

UK – Co-op recalls Sliced Pepperoni because of contamination with E. coli

FSA

Co-op is recalling Co-op Sliced Pepperoni because E. coli O157 has been found in the product.

Product details

Co-op Sliced Pepperoni

Pack size 70g
Use by 19 May 2020

Risk statement

The presence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in the product listed above.

Symptoms caused by this organism include diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhoea, and haemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal.

Action taken by the company

Co-op is recalling the above product. Point-of-sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Please see the attached notice.

Our advice to consumers

If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. Instead contact 0800 0686 727 or customer.careline@coop.co.uk to arrange a refund. If customers are making an essential trip to the store from where it was bought, they can return the item in-store for a full refund.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Enoki Mushrooms (March 2020)

FDA

Recommendation

Consumers should not eat and should check their refrigerators and throw away any recalled enoki mushrooms from Sun Hong Foods, Inc., Guan’s Mushroom Co., and H&C Food, Inc. because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Restaurants and retailers should not sell or serve recalled enoki mushrooms distributed by Sun Hong Foods, Inc., Guan’s Mushroom Co., and H&C Food, Inc.

FDA recommends that anyone who received recalled products use extra vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing any surfaces and containers that may have come in contact with these products to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Listeria can survive in refrigerated temperatures and can easily spread to other foods and surfaces.

At this time, high risk groups, including the elderly, people with weakened immune systems or chronic diseases, pregnant women and their newborn babies, should not eat enoki mushrooms from Korea (Republic of Korea), even if they were not part of the recalls.

Consumers, restaurants, retailers, and high risk groups should discard and not eat, sell, or serve enoki mushrooms if they cannot tell where they came from.

H&C Food Inc Enoki Mushrooms

 

Guan’s Mushroom Co.
Guan’s Mushroom Co.
Picture of enoki mushroom case
Sample Enoki Mushrooms Imported from Korea
Company Size UPC Code Retailers* Distribution*
Sun Hong Foods, Inc. 200 g/ 7.05 oz. 7 426852 625810 J&L Supermarket, Jusgo Supermarket, ZTao Market, New Sang Supermarket, Galleria Market, Distributors CA, FL, IL, OR, TX, WA
Guan’s Mushroom Co. 200 g/ 7.05 oz. 859267007013 Sold to Distributors and Wholesalers CA, NY, PA
H&C Food Inc. 200 g/ 7.05 oz. 831211204181 Great Wall Supermarket NY, MD, VA

*This includes confirmed distribution information from companies; products could have been further distributed and sent to additional retailers and states.

Update

FDA, CDC, and state and local partners are currently investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to enoki mushrooms. Enoki mushrooms are a long thin white mushroom, usually sold in clusters. They are especially popular in East Asian cuisine and are also known as enokitake, golden needle, futu, or lily mushrooms.

On April 7, 2020, H&C Foods Inc. recalled 200 g/7.05 oz packages of enoki mushrooms imported from Green Co. LTD of the Republic of Korea. FDA import samples of enoki mushrooms from Green Co. LTD tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and on April 6, 2020, whole genome sequencing analysis determined that the Listeria monocytogenes found in the positive samples matched the outbreak strain. As a result, On April 7, 2020, Green Co. LTD was placed on Import Alert 99-23, which flags imported shipments from this firm for potential detention without physical examination. The FDA is encouraging the international community to consult the Import Alert.

The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and if additional products are linked to illness. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.


Case Counts

Total Illnesses: 36
Hospitalizations: 30
Deaths: 4
Illness Onset Date Range: November 23, 2016 – December 13, 2019
States with Cases: AZ (2), CA (9), FL (2), HI (3), IN (1), KY (1), MA (2), MD (2), MI (1), MO (1), NC (1), NJ (1), NV (1), NY (4), RI (1), TN (1), VA (3)
Product Distribution*: CA, FL, IL, NY, MD, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA
*States with confirmed distribution; product could have been distributed further

USA – Warning letters cite artisanal smokehouse and bakery for Listeria

Food Safety News

CATSMO LLC, Wallkill, NY
Markus Draxler, CEO
In a March 25 warning letter the FDA described a Nov. 18 – Dec. 12, 2019, inspection at CATSMO LLC in Wallkill, NY. Inspectors found that the company has serious violations of the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP). The FDA also collected environmental samples and found the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Cafe Valley Bakery, LLC, Phoenix, AZ
Brian Owens, CEO
In a March 18 warning letter the FDA described a Nov. 5 – Dec. 17, 2019, inspection at Cafe Valley Bakery LLC in Phoenix, AZ. Inspectors found that the company has serious violations of the Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation. Additionally, the FDA collected environmental samples from various areas in the processing facility and analysis of the environmental swabs found the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Afganistan – Afghan Authorities Say 26 Police Officers Poisoned In Laghman Province

Urdu Point

Police in Afghanistan had 26 of its officers sustain food poisoning after consuming lunch in the eastern Laghman province, the provincial governor‘s spokesman Asadullah Dawlatzai told Sputnik on Saturday.

According to the spokesman, the police are now probing the food contractor, and an investigation is underway to determine how officers were poisoned.

RASFF Alert – Listeria monocytogenes -Ra Milk Cheese – Salad with Vegetables, toasts, cream egg and Smoked Salmon

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RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (110 CFU/g) in chilled raw milk cheese from France in France

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (<10 CFU/g) in salad with vegetables, toasts, cream, egg and smoked salmon from France in France

RASFF Alert- Enterobacteriaceae – Ground Almonds

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RASFF – high count of Enterobacteriaceae (70000 CFU/g) in ground almonds from Germany in Austria

RASFF Alert- Aflatoxin – Blanched Groundnuts

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 3; Tot. = 5.9 µg/kg – ppb) in blanched groundnuts from China in Spain

RASFF Alert – Ochratoxin A – Dried Figs

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RASFF – ochratoxin A (39.7 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Spain in Switzerland