Category Archives: Food Microbiology Testing

Research – Development and characterization of antibacterial packaging film based on poly (vinyl alcohol)/agarose enriched with cinnamon oil

Posted on August 27, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Abstract

The antibacterial packaging films were produced from poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), agarose, and cinnamon (Cinnamon cassia) oil (CO). The mechanical, antibacterial, water- and UV-barrier properties of the resulting films were fully characterized. Our findings revealed that increasing amount of CO slightly affected the color of resulting film, while the dispersion of CO in polymeric matrix was influenced by CO concentration. UV-barrier property of PVOH/agarose was enhanced by adding a small amount of CO. Tensile strength of the resulting films insignificantly changed (8.94–10.23 MPa) with raising CO content while the flexibility remarkably dropped from 92.63% to 75.49%. Remarkably, the PVOH/agarose containing 1.5% (v/v) CO presented strong inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus due to the presence of cinnamaldehyde in CO and this inhibitory efficiency was maintained for up to 7 days. Furthermore, the PVOH/agarose film enriched with 1% (v/v) CO was applied for enhancing the storability of bread slices during 50-day storage at room temperature.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

ECDC -Botulism – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2021

Posted on August 26, 2023 by | Leave a comment

ECDC

In 2021, 82 confirmed cases of botulism were reported in the EU/EEA. Among 30 reporting countries, 19 countries notified zero cases. The overall notification rate was 0.02 cases per 100 000 population. Denmark reported the highest notification rate (0.10 cases per 100 000 population), followed by Romania (0.06 cases per 100 000 population) and Italy (0.05 cases per 100 000 population).

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Botulism AER Cover 2021
Botulism Annual Epidemiological Report for 2021 – EN – [PDF-1.12 MB]

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Posted in Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, ECDC, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

USA – Ready-to-eat meat products recalled because of contamination with Listeria

Posted on August 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Salmon’s Meat Products of Luxemburg, WI, is issuing a recall for a variety of ready-to-eat meat products sold at retail stores throughout Northeast Wisconsin because of contamination from Listeria monocytogenes.

According to the company’s recall notice the recalled products are:

  • Sliced Homestyle Summer Sausage, approximately 16 oz. packages, packed with “Best if used by” dates of 09/30/23 and before
  • Cracker-sized Sliced Summer Sausage, approximately 8 oz. packages, packed with “Best if used by” dates of 09/30/23 and before
  • Country Smoked Sliced Ham, approximately 2 lb. packages, packed with “Best if used by” date 09/11/23 and before
  • Country Smoked Ham Steaks, approximately 0.4 lb. packages, packed with “Best if used by” date 09/11/23 and before
  • Country Smoked Shaved Ham, variable weight packages, packed with “Best if used by” date 09/11/23 and before
  • Cooked Ham, approximately 1 lb. packages, packed with “Best if used by” date 09/11/23 and before
  • Beef Stick Snack Bites, approximately 12 lb. packages, packed with “Best if used by” date 11/05/23 and before
  • Smoked Sliced Ribeye, approximately 1 lb. packages, packed with “Best if used by” date 09/11/23 and before

Product labels also have a mark of inspection with establishment No. 742.

As of the posting of the recall notice, no illnesses had been reported as a result of consuming these products. Anyone with signs or symptoms of a foodborne illness should contact their doctor.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes

Survey: Increasing levels of mycotoxins in the EU

Posted on August 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Agriland

Levels of mycotoxins in the EU are higher than last year, according to results from the world’s largest mycotoxin survey, from health, nutrition and bioscience company, Royal DSM.

The survey results comprise data from 10,199 samples, from 78 countries around the world for the months of January to June 2023.

Read more at the link above

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, mold, Mold Toxin, Mould/Mold, Mycotoxin

Czech Republic – Warning for consumers: Salmonella in chilled chicken meat from abroad

Posted on August 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

SZPI

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) warns consumers of unsafe foodstuff TESCO CHICKEN PRSNÍ ŘÍZEK (chicken breast meat), lot: 23293102, bred and slaughtered: the Ukraine, pursuant to the veterinary identification stamp (SK 10094 ES) packaged by WE Trade s.r.o., Hlavná 1088, 92503 Horné Saliby, Slovakia. The inspectors took the sample at the premises of Tesco Stores ČR a.s., Rudolická 1706/4, 434 01 Most.

Laboratory analysis confirmed presence of bacteria of the genus Salmonella Infantis causing salmonellosis in the food lot in question.

As the product was labelled “use by: 26.07.2023”, it is no longer available on the market. However, CAFIA strongly advises all consumers who might have the product at home in a frozen state that they do not consume it. Freezing has virtually no effect on bacterial contamination.

Notification of the detection of the non-compliant food was entered into the European Rapid Alert System for Food (RASFF).

The food was sampled as a part of a planned extraordinary microbiological inspection.

CAFIA will initiate an administrative procedure with the inspected person to impose a fine.

CAFIA informed of a similar finding in its Press Release of 12 July 2023.

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Salmonella, Salmonella in Chicken

India – 30 Students Admitted To Hospital After Suspected Food Poisoning In Maharashtra’s Bhandara

Posted on August 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

India.com

Mumbai: Over 30 students of an ashram school in Maharahstra’s Bhandara district were admitted to hospital after suspected food poisoning.  The incident was reported at Yerali Ashram School in Tumsar town on Thursday. Talking to PTI, Bhandara district health officer Milind Somkuwar said, “Some students of the ashram school complained of vomiting, abdominal pain and fever on Thursday, after which a team of district health department examined 325 students residing in the school hostel.”

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

USA – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef is Over

Posted on August 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

CDC

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 18
  • Hospitalizations: 7
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 4
  • Recall: No
  • Investigation status: Closed
Outbreak Investigation Summary

Ground beef was the only common food people reported eating. Of the people who remembered the type of ground beef they ate, most reported eating 80% lean ground beef before they got sick. Traceback information did not identify a common source of ground beef

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella

Denmark – Mold in rye bread

Posted on August 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Foedevarestyrelsen

Kohberg Bakery Group A/S is recalling a number of rye bread varieties, as there is a risk of mold in the products. The products should be discarded or returned to the stores where they were purchased.

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Temperature Abuse, Food Toxin, mold, Mold Toxin, Mould/Mold

Israel – El-Othmani Salads Ltd. wishes to inform its customers that a test carried out by the company found Listeria monocytogenes in hummus 

Posted on August 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

GovIL

Below are the details of the products infected with the bacteria:

Product name: Hummus salad.
Barcode number: 7290006202185
Production date: 23.07.2023
Use by date: 06.09.2023
Weight: 700 grams.

Name of the product: Masabah hummus salad.
Barcode number: 7290006202116
Production date: 23.07.2023
Use by date: 06.09.2023

Click to access NEWS_recalls_food_rcl23082023.pdf

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes

Romania – Product recall – Organic rice balls with raspberries 8 months+ ECO 35g – dm – drogerie markt – Aflatoxin

Posted on August 25, 2023 by | Leave a comment

ANSVSA

Reason for withdrawal: It cannot be ruled out that individual items with a use-by date mentioned above may have a high aflatoxin content. These substances can be harmful to health if consumed for a long time. Aflatoxins are metabolic products, which come from various molds.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, ANSVSA, Aspergillus Toxin, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin