Category Archives: Food Micro Blog

Germany -Happy Cheeze GmbH President-Herwig-Str. 6-8 27472 Cuxhaven – Listeria monocytogenes

LMW

Alert type: Groceries
Date of first publication: 05/09/2023
Product name:

dr Mannah’s Happy White; dr Mannah’s Happy White with Green Pepper

Product images:

HappyWhite_.jpg

Happy Cheeze GmbH

HappyWhite-green-pepper_.jpg

Happy Cheeze GmbH

Manufacturer (distributor):

Happy Cheeze GmbH President-Herwig-Str. 6-8 27472 Cuxhaven

Reason for warning: Listeria
Packaging Unit: 120g
Durability: Happy White 06/08/2023; Happy White with Green Pepper 06/10/2023
Production date:

15th week 2023

Lot identification: 152311- both products
Additional Information:

Listeria disease usually manifests itself within 14 days after infection with diarrhea and fever. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system in particular can develop more severe illnesses with blood poisoning and meningitis. In pregnant women, even without symptoms, the unborn child can be harmed. Anyone who has eaten this food and develops severe or persistent symptoms should seek medical attention and report possible Listeria infection. Pregnant women who have eaten this food should seek medical treatment and advice even if they have no symptoms. For other people without symptoms, this is not useful.

New Zealand – Shellfish biotoxin alert – North Island

MPI

North Island warning

Reason for alert Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)

Date warning issued 10 May 2023

Media release

Affected area Western side of the Firth of Thames.
Shellfish affected Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish.

Note, cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin.

Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

Symptoms Symptoms typically appear between 10 minutes and 3 hours after ingestion and may include:

  • numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, and extremities (hands and feet)
  • difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  • paralysis and respiratory failure and in severe cases, death.
Other information Paralytic shellfish toxins have been detected in shellfish from the Kaipara Harbour at levels over the safe limit of 0.8mg/kg set by MPI. Ongoing testing will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly.

Map of the affected area

Map of affected area from the western half of the Firth of Thames.

Public warnings about toxic shellfish

We test shellfish and seawater for toxic algae every week from popular shellfish gathering areas around New Zealand. If the shellfish are not safe to eat, we issue public health warnings and put up signs at affected beaches.

France – Smoked garlic sausage 300 g – Listeria monocytogenes

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Meats
  • Product brand name U-system
  • Model names or references Smoked garlic sausage 300 g
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3256229807013 L:7043661 16:07 Use-by date 05/27/2023
  • Marketing start/end date From 08/04/2023 to 13/04/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark EN 44.180.004 CE
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors U-system
  • List of points of sale2023_05_SYSTEM_U_-_ZS473F001_lot_7043661.pdf

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Presence of Listeria < 10 cfu/g
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Listeria monocytogenes (causative agent of listeriosis)

France – Label Rouge mackerel fillets with Dijon mustard – Food Safety

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Fishery and aquaculture products
  • Product brand name Constable
  • Model names or references 169g
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3263670297812 T30170516 Date of minimum durability 01/17/2026
  • Marketing start/end date Since 03/10/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored at room temperature
  • Health mark EN 29.046.532 EC
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors E.LECLERC signs

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Production incident that may affect the preservation of the product
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Other biological contaminants

France – BANANA ECLAIR – Listeria monocytogenes

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Cereals and baked goods
  • Product brand name UNBRANDED
  • Model names or references NAMELESS
  • Identification of products
    Date
    Use-by date 04/05/2023
  • Marketing start/end date From 02/05/2023 to 04/05/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark UNBRANDED
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Dijon and agglomerations
  • Distributors INTERMARCHE

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Listeria presence
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Listeria monocytogenes (causative agent of listeriosis)

Canada – Red Chilli Powder – Extra Hot recalled by Sun Global due to Bacillus cereus

CFIA

Summary

Product
Red Chilli Powder – Extra Hot
Issue
Food – Microbial Contamination – Other
What to do

Do not use, sell, serve or distribute the affected product

Audience
Hotels, restaurants and institutions

Affected products

Issue

Red Chilli Powder – Extra Hot recalled by Sun Global due to Bacillus cereus. The recalled product was sold in Ontario.

Australia – Hepatitis A cases linked to café in Australian state

Food Safety News

Officials in Australia have issued a health alert after two hepatitis A cases were recently linked to a café.

The Department of Health in the state of Victoria said there was a risk of further locally acquired cases being reported in the coming weeks. No information was provided about the patients or if illness was caused by a contaminated food or food handler.

People who had food from Creatures of Habit café in the city of Springvale in Melbourne were advised to be aware of the symptoms of hepatitis A infection.

The café is located in the Springvale Homemaker Centre. A clean-up of the restaurant has been undertaken and there is no longer a risk to the public, according to officials. There are no other venues at the center implicated.

USA – White cheese queso recalled over inadequate pasteurization

Food Safety News

Pool Forge Dairy, of East Earl, PA, is recalling certain white cheese queso because of the possible risk of pathogen contamination due to inadequate pasteurization.

According to the information posted online by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on March 14 and is ongoing.

The recalled products were distributed in New Jersey.

Recalled product:

  • White Cheese Queso Blanco Delicias del Campo Queso Blanco White Cheese Net Wt. 1lb (453g)
  • UPC: 7 69602 55441 9 White Cheese also packaged in Pool Forge Dairy LLC labeling
  • The product is vacuum packaged in plastic and in a plastic container with a press-on lid
  • Sell-by dates are Jan. 7 to March 28, 2023

Consumers who purchased the recalled product should immediately dispose of it and not consume it.

Hong Kong – Not to consume a batch of prepackaged caviar suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

CFS

Issue Date 5.5.2023
Source of Information The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission
Food Product Prepackaged caviar
Product Name and Description Product name: Lachskaviar

Brand: Balik Pearls

Net weight: 100 g

Place of origin: United States

Best-before date: December 31, 2023

Batch number: 113023

Importer: Caviar House & Prunier (HK) Limited

Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The CFS received a notification from the RASFF of the European Commission that the above-mentioned batch of product might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and was being recalled.
  • Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted the local importer for follow-up. A preliminary investigation found that the importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • The importer concerned has stopped sales, has removed the affected product from shelves and has initiated a recall according to the CFS’s instructions.
  • The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action. Investigation is ongoing.
Advice to the Trade The trade should stop using or selling the affected batch of products immediately if they possess it.
Advice to Consumers Do not consume the affected products.
Further Information The CFS press release

Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer, Caviar House & Prunier (HK) Limited, at 3974 6746 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the product concerned.

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Hepatitis A Virus Infections: Frozen Strawberries (February 2023)

FDA

Product

California Splendor Recall: Kirkland Signature 4-lb. bag Frozen Organic Whole Strawberries in certain states with specific lot codes.

Scenic Fruit Recall: frozen organic strawberries with the following brand names and Best By Dates distributed to specific states:

  • Simply Nature, Organic Strawberries, Best By 06/14/2024
  • Vital Choice, Organic Strawberries, BEST BY 05/20/2024
  • Kirkland Signature, Organic Strawberries, Best If Used By 10/08/2024
  • Made With, Organic Strawberries, Best Before 11/20/2024
  • PCC Community Markets, Organic Strawberries, Best By 29/10/2024
  • Trader Joe’s, Organic Tropical Fruit Blend with the following Best By dates: 04/25/24; 05/12/24; 05/23/24; 05/30/24; 06/07/24

Stores Affected

California Splendor supplied recalled product to Costco stores in Los Angeles and Hawaii, and to two San Diego business centers. Scenic Fruit supplied recalled product to Costco, Aldi, KeHE, Vital Choice Seafood, and PCC Community Markets in specific states, and to Trader Joe’s nationwide.

On March 17, 2023, the retailer, Meijer, also issued press to voluntarily recall Made-WithExternal Link Disclaimer brand frozen organic strawberries from certain market store locations.

This is not an exhaustive list of products or stores. FDA is continuing to work with the firms to identify potential additional product information.

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Illness usually occurs within 15 to 50 days after eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Symptoms of hepatitis A virus infection include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, jaundice, dark urine, and pale stool. In some instances, particularly in children under the age of six, hepatitis A infection may be asymptomatic.

Status

Ongoing

Recommendation

  • Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not sell, serve, or eat recalled frozen strawberries. These recalled products should be returned or thrown away.
  • If consumers purchased the recalled frozen organic strawberries and ate those berries in the last two weeks, and have not been vaccinated against hepatitis A, they should immediately consult with their healthcare professional to determine whether post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is needed. PEP is recommended for unvaccinated people who have been exposed to hepatitis A virus in the last two weeks because vaccination can prevent a hepatitis A virus infection if given within 14 days of exposure. Those with evidence of previous hepatitis A vaccination or previous hepatitis A virus infection do not require PEP.
  • Contact your healthcare provider if you think you may have symptoms of a hepatitis A virus infection after eating these frozen organic strawberries, or if you believe that you have eaten these strawberries in the last two weeks.

Current Update

May 8, 2023

As of May 5, 2023, a total of 9 outbreak-associated cases of hepatitis A have been reported from 3 states. Based on epidemiological data collected by CDC, 9/9 (100%) people who provided information about what they ate before becoming ill reported eating frozen organic strawberries.