Category Archives: Food Microbiology Testing

USA – Voluntary Recall of Specific Frozen Fruit Products Due to Possible Contamination by Listeria monocytogenes

FDA

Image 1 – Labeling, Great Value Mixed Fruit packaged in a 16-ounce plastic bag

Minneapolis, Minn. – June 21, 2023 – SunOpta Inc’s subsidiary, Sunrise Growers Inc., has issued a voluntary recall of specific frozen fruit products linked to pineapple provided by a third-party supplier due to the potential for these products to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

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. Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

Products were distributed via the following retailers:

  • Walmart: Great Value Mixed Fruit, Great Value Dark Sweet Cherries, and Great Value Mango Chunks sold at stores in AR, AZ, CA, CO, DC, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MD, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TX, UT, VA, WV and WY from January 19, 2023 to June 13, 2023
  • Whole Foods: 365 Organic Tropical Fruit Medley, 365 Organic Pineapple Chunks, 365 Pineapple Chunks, 365 Organic Whole Strawberries, 365 Organic Slice Strawberries and Bananas, and 365 Organic Blackberries distributed to select stores throughout the US from November 1, 2022 to June 21, 2023
  • Trader Joe’s: Trader Joe’s Organic Tropical Fruit Blend distributed to select distribution centers or stores in AK, AL, CT, CO, DE, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, and Washington DC from March 28, 2023 to April 11, 2023
  • Target: Good & Gather Organic Cherries and Berries Fruit Blend, Good & Gather Dark Sweet Whole Pitted Cherries, Good & Gather Mango Strawberry Blend, Good & Gather Mixed Fruit Blend, Good & Gather Mango Chunks, Good & Gather Blueberries, and Good & Gather Triple Berry Blend distributed nationwide from October 14, 2022 to May 22, 2023
  • Aldi: Season’s Choice Tropical Blend distributed to select distribution centers or stores in AL, AR, CT, FL, GA, IA, KS, KY, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT and WV from October 11, 2022 to May 22, 2023
  • AWG (Associated Wholesale Grocers): Best Choice Pitted Red Tart Cherries Unsweetened distributed to select distribution centers or stores in KS, MO, NE and OK from April 5, 2023 to May 4, 2023

To date, there have been no illnesses associated with this voluntary recall.

USA – Best Practices Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens

FSIS USDA

GUIDELINE IDFSIS-GD-2023-0004
ISSUE DATEJune 2023
FULL GUIDELINE

Replaces: FSIS-GD-2015-0014 and FSIS-GD-2015-0015

This guideline provides information on steps that retailers can take to prevent certain ready-to-eat (RTE) foods that are prepared or sliced in retail delicatessens (delis) and consumed in the home, such as deli meats and deli salads, from becoming contaminated with Lm. This guideline relates to FSIS regulations in 9 CFR parts 303, 327, 381, 416, and 430.

New Zealand – Shellfish Biotoxin Alert – Port Underwood – South Island

MPI

South Island warning

Reason for alert Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)

Date warning issued 31 May 2023
Affected area Port Underwood
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 mussels throughout Port Underwood at levels well over the safe limit of 0.8mg/kg set by New Zealand Food Safety. Ongoing testing will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly.

Map of the affected area

Map of affected area from Rarangi to Rununder Point, Port Underwood area in Marlborough.

India – Students fall ill due to food poisoning in Sedam, Bailhongal

Deccan Herald

As many as 52 students of Kittur Rani Chennamma Residential School in Kodla, Sedum taluk, and about 25 students residing in Backward Classes Pre-Metric Hostel for Boys at Harukoppa, Bailhongal taluk, took ill after consuming food.

USA – FDA – Retail Food Risk Factor Study

FDA

In 1998, the FDA National Retail Food Team initiated a three-phase, 10-year study to measure the occurrence of practices and behaviors commonly identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as contributing factors in foodborne illness outbreaks.

In 2013, the FDA National Retail Food Team initiated a new, 10-year study to measure the occurrence of practices and behaviors commonly identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as contributing factors in foodborne illness outbreaks. Initial data collections began in 2013 for select restaurant facility types, followed by data collection for select institutional foodservice facility types in 2014 and select retail food store facility types in 2015. The results of the initial data collection for each of the facility types will serve as the baseline measurement from which trends will be analyzed. Two additional data collection periods for each of the facility types are planned at 3-year intervals after the initial data collection for the purposes of analyzing trends.

Backgrounders

Canada/USA – Gastrointestinal Illness Outbreak on Viking Neptune Cruise Ship Sickens Over 12% of Guests

Cruise Law News

12.7% of the 838 passengers aboard the Viking Neptune cruise ship are experiencing abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nearly 2% of the crew are also experiencing these symptoms of gastrointestinal illness (GI). Cruise lines are required to report GI cases to the CDC whenever 3% or more of the passengers experience symptoms.

France – CHICKEN SIZE – Listeria monocytogenes

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Others
  • Product brand name UNBRANDED
  • Model names or references CHICKEN CHICKEN SIZE
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3469161001146 23159 Use-by date 06/25/2023
  • Marketing start/end date From 09/06/2023 to 20/06/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark EN 80.561.009 CE
  • Further information PRODUCT SOLD IN ANIMATION STAND
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors SYSTEM U CROSSROADS LECLERC AUCHAN

France – CARIBBEAN SALAD – Listeria monocyotgenes

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Others
  • Product brand name UNBRANDED
  • Model names or references CARIBBEAN SALAD
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3469161000767 23159 Use-by date 06/27/2023
  • Marketing start/end date From 09/06/2023 to 20/06/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark EN 80.561.009 CE
  • Further information PRODUCT SOLD IN ANIMATION STAND
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors CARREFOUR AUCHAN CASINO

France – ROTISSERIE YELLOW CHICKEN 1.2Kg W/BAG – Listeria monocytogenes

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Meats
  • Product brand name NEUTRAL
  • Model names or references ROTISSERIE YELLOW CHICKEN 1.2Kg W/BAG
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3345780294162 0093015879 Use-by date 06/06/2023
    3345780294162 0093016506 Use-by date 07/06/2023
  • Packaging NAKED
  • Marketing start/end date From 30/05/2023 to 02/06/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health markFR 71 056 001 CE
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributor INTERMARCHE, SYSTEM U

France – Heart of salmon fillet – Listeria monocytogenes

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Fishery and aquaculture products
  • Product brand name Unbranded
  • Model names or references Sashimi quality salmon fillet heart 140g
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    4056489370338 9231650001 Use-by date 06/28/2023
  • Packaging 140g
  • Marketing start/end date From 06/15/2023 to 06/19/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Geographic area of ​​sale some LIDL stores
  • Distributors LIDL
  • List of points of saleList_of_LIDL_stores.pdf