Category Archives: Food Microbiology Blog

France – Raclette mozzarella pizza – Listeria monocytogenes

Gov france

  • Product category Food
  • Product subcategory Others
  • Product brand name Rotisserie Center E Leclerc de Gouesnou
  • Model names or references raclette mozzarella pizza
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Date
    0203885052151 Use-by date 08/26/2023
  • Marketing start/end date From 08/21/2023 to 08/26/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Further information Manufactured by the rotisserie department
  • Geographic area of ​​sale catchment area: Brest region
  • Distributors Center E Leclerc de Gouesnou only

Denmark – Polish chicken kebab is linked to Danish salmonella outbreak

SSI

Since May, 22 people have been registered in Denmark with the same salmonella type, which has also made people sick in other European countries. Now the investigation has shown that imported chicken kebab meat from Poland is also the source of infection for the Danish cases.

Last edited on August 29, 2023
Last week, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration found salmonella in a batch of frozen chicken kebab meat from Poland, and the batch was withdrawn from the market. Further analyzes have shown that it is the same type of salmonella that made 22 people sick in Denmark in the period May to August 2023. It is estimated that more people may have been infected, as not all infected people go to the doctor and are tested for salmonella. The frozen chicken kebab products have mainly been sold to restaurants.

“The investigation into this salmonella outbreak has been extensive – partly there has been international collaboration to compare salmonella samples from humans and food, and partly we in the Danish food emergency department have interviewed patients and unraveled where the chicken kebab meat they had eaten came from. We have now found a clear connection between the salmonella type in the chicken kebab meat and the salmonella type in the Danish cases,” says epidemiologist at the Statens Serum Institut, Luise Müller.

“In general, it is the restaurant’s responsibility that consumers do not get sick from the food that is served. The Salmonella bacteria cannot survive heat treatment above 75 degrees,” says Senior researcher and research group leader at the DTU Food Institute Marianne Sandberg.

Head of unit Lene Mølsted Jensen from the Danish Food and Drug Administration states: “The chicken kebab meat from Poland was pre-fried and intended to be further heat-treated before eating. It is therefore an important lesson for restaurants and kebab places that in the future they pay attention to the handling and frying of chicken kebab meat to avoid this happening again.”

In the coming time, the Danish Food and Food Administration will keep an extra eye on whether other batches of chicken products from Poland may be contaminated with salmonella.

What should you do if you have eaten chicken kebab?

If you have not had symptoms of a salmonella infection, or if you have had symptoms that have resolved on their own, do not take any action. In case of persistent symptoms or questions, you can contact your own doctor.

The coordination of the investigation of the disease outbreak has taken place under the auspices of the Central Outbreak Group. It consists of representatives from SSI, the DTU Food Institute and the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

Denmark – Mold/Mould in whole grain tortillas

Foedevarestyrelsen

REMA Distribution Danmark A/S is recalling REMA 1000 Tex Mex Whole Grain Tortilla, as mold has been found in the product. The product should be returned to the store where it was purchased or discarded.

Which food is recalled

REMA 1000 Tex Mex Wholegrain Tortilla
Net weight: 370g
EAN barcode: 5705830013231
Best before date: 03.01.2024

Where are the products sold?

REMA 1000 stores throughout the country.

Why is the product being recalled?

Mold has been found in the product. The presence of mold makes the product unsuitable as food.

What should you do as a consumer?

The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration advises consumers to discard the product or return it to the store where it was purchased.

Who recalls the product

REMA Distribution Danmark A/S
Marsallé 32
8700 Horsens

New Zealand – Durra brand Tahina (400g and 800g) – Salmonella

MPI

29 August 2023: Aldiery’s Mediterranean Market Ltd is recalling a specific batch of Durra brand Tahina due to the possible presence of Salmonella.

Product type Tahini
Name of product (size) Durra brand Tahina (400g and 800g)
Date marking EXP: 24/03/25
Package size and description The product is sold in a 400g and 800g plastic container.
Distribution The products are imported from Jordan.

The products are sold at retail outlets and ethnic grocery stores throughout New Zealand.

The products have not been re-exported.

Notes This recall does not affect any other Durra brand products.

Point of sale notice for retailers

If you are a retailer of the products in this recall, download a copy of the point of sale notice. You need to display it in your store for one month.

Point of sale notice – Durra brand Tahina (400g and 800g) [PDF, 40KB]

Consumer advice

Customers are asked to check the date mark on the product.

Affected products should not be consumed. There have been no reports of associated illness in New Zealand. If you have consumed any of these products and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.

Customers should return the products to their retailer for a full refund.

Who to contact

If you have questions, contact Aldiery’s Mediterranean Market Ltd:

  • Phone: 021 145 2970.

Germany – “Mu-err mushrooms in strips, 1 kg” – Salmonella

LMW

Alert type: Groceries
Date of first publication: 08/29/2023
Product name:

“Mu-err mushrooms in strips, 1 kg”

Product images:

20230706_115113.jpg
Manufacturer (distributor):

Importer according to labeling: Thanh Long Food Williama Heerleina Lindleya 16 02-013 Warzawa, Poland or Thin Son Handel GmbH Maximillianallee 24 04129 Leipzig

Reason for warning:

Health hazard due to microbiological contamination with Salmonella spp. (Section 40 paragraph 1 sentence 1)

Packaging Unit: 1 kg
Durability: putative HSD.20 12 24
Production date:

putative NSX.20 12 22

Additional Information:

Salmonella disease manifests itself within a few days after infection with diarrhoea, abdominal pain and occasionally vomiting and a slight fever. The symptoms usually subside on their own after a few days. Babies, small children, senior citizens and people with a weakened immune system in particular can develop more severe illnesses. Persons who have eaten this food and develop severe or persistent symptoms should seek medical attention and report possible Salmonella infection. It makes no sense to seek preventive medical treatment without symptoms.

Germany -Various types of soft cheese from the Belrieth cheese dairy – Listeria monocytogenes

LMW

Alert type: Groceries
Date of first publication: 08/29/2023
Product name:

Various types of soft cheese from the Belrieth cheese dairy

Manufacturer (distributor):

Hofkäserei Belrieth Sportplatzstraße 102 98617 Belrieth

Reason for warning: Listeria monocytogenes
Packaging Unit:

see consumer information

Durability:

see consumer information

Additional Information:

The soft cheeses affected by the recall (see recall letter) were sold nationwide.

Listeria disease usually manifests itself within 14 days after infection with diarrhea and fever. In particular, pregnant women, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system can develop serious illnesses with blood poisoning and meningitis. Anyone who has eaten this food and develops severe or persistent symptoms should seek medical attention and report a possible listeria infection.  

Belgium – Vadigran brand large white sunflower seeds (10kg) – Aflatoxin

AFSCA

Vadigran recall
Product: Vadigran brand large white sunflower seeds (10kg)
Nature of the problem: Possible too high aflatoxin content
In agreement with the FASFC, Vadigran is withdrawing Large White Sunflower Seeds (10kg) from sale and recalling them from consumers due to a possible high aflatoxin content.

Vadigran asks its customers not to give this product to their pets and to return it to the point of sale where it was purchased where they will be reimbursed.

Product Description :

– Product name: Large white sunflower seeds (10kg)
– Brand: Vadigran
– Date of minimum durability (BDD) (“Best before (or end)”): 05/16/2025
– Batch number: 23051601
– Sales period: from 06/21/2023 to 08/25/2023
– Type of packaging: plastic bag
– Weight: 10 kg

The product was distributed by:

Vadigran distributions A.Algoetstraat 36 1750 Lennik

Vadigran would like to apologize to its customers for any inconvenience caused by this recall.
Vadigran wishes to continue to guarantee 100% the quality and safety of the pet food it markets.

For any additional information , contact Mrs. Yana Van Lathem – yana@vadigran.be

Quebec – Notice not to consume lean ground meat (beef or veal) prepared and sold by Boucherie du Terroir in Montreal – STEC E.coli

Quebec

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the Food Inspection Division of the City of Montreal and the company Boucherie du Terroir, located at 2625, boulevard Rosemont , in Montreal, warns the public not to consume the products indicated in the table below, because these foods are likely to contain the bacterium E. coli producing shigatoxins.

Product name

Format

State

Batch

“LEAN GROUND BEEF”

Variable

Refrigerated

Packed: August 10, 2023

 

Best before: August 17, 2023

“LEAN GROUND VEAL”

The products that are the subject of this warning have been offered for sale only at 2625, boulevard Rosemont , in Montreal (Valmont grocery store). They were vacuum-packed in a transparent plastic wrapper. The label of the products included, in addition to their name, the words “Boucherie Valmont”.

The operator is voluntarily recalling the products in question. It has agreed with MAPAQ and the Food Inspection Division of the City of Montreal to distribute this warning as a precautionary measure. Also, people who have any of these products in their possession are advised not to consume it. They must return it to the establishment where they bought it or throw it away.

It should be noted that proper cooking of meat destroys the  E. coli  bacteria in all cases. The preparation of ready meals, such as spaghetti sauce, shepherd’s pie or meat pie, requires a long enough cooking time and a high enough temperature to destroy the bacteria.

Foods contaminated with the E. coli bacterium that produces shigatoxins do not necessarily show any visible spoilage or suspicious smell, but the consumption of these foods can cause serious and even fatal illnesses. They are manifested by diarrhea and abdominal pain, often accompanied by blood in the stool. These symptoms usually appear two to ten days after eating contaminated food. Nausea, vomiting and sometimes fever may also occur. When these symptoms appear, it is strongly recommended to consult a doctor without delay. Most symptoms disappear within five to ten days.

It should be noted that no case of illness associated with the consumption of these foods has been reported to MAPAQ to date.

USA – University of Arkansas officials report E. coli outbreak

Food Safety News

State and federal public health officials are working with the University of Arkansas on what appears to be an outbreak of E. Coli infections.

During a news conference this afternoon, a spokesman from the Arkansas Department of Health said four people were hospitalized. Also, about 100 students from the university responded to an email saying they currently have or have recently had symptoms.

The total number of confirmed outbreak patients has not been released.

The spokesman said the outbreak seems limited to the Northeast part of the state. He also said the state department and university officials are working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the outbreak.

The spokesman said health officials believe the outbreak started about a week ago.

Luxembourg – Medium Cockle shells sold at the stall at Auchan – E.coli

SAP

The following product is recalled in Luxembourg:

Name Medium hulls
Brand sold at the stall
Sale period from 08/22/2023 to 08/25/2023

Danger  : Presence of Escherichia coli

Among the  Escherichia coli  some can cause food poisoning which can occur within a week after consumption and result in gastrointestinal disorders often accompanied by cramps. These symptoms may be aggravated in young children, immunocompromised subjects and the elderly. People who have consumed these products and have these symptoms are invited to consult a doctor and report this consumption to him.

Sale confirmed in Luxembourg by: Auchan.

A sale by other operators cannot be excluded.

Information Source: Recall Notification