Category Archives: Food Microbiology

USA- FDA – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

FDA

What’s New

  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ (ref #1157), FDA initiated an on-site inspection and sample collection and analysis. The case count has increased from 33 to 34 cases.
  • For the outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1159), the case count has increased from 34 to 36 cases.
Date
Posted
Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness
Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses

(if any)
Total
Case
Count

Status
6/14/2023 1157 Salmonella
Paratyphi B
var. L(+)
tartrate+
Not Yet
Identified
34 Active
6/14/2023 1159 Cyclospora
cayetanensis
Not Yet
Identified
36 Active
5/24/2023 1156 Salmonella
Enteritidis
Raw
Cookie
Dough
See
Advisory
Active
4/26/2023 1152 Not Yet
Identified
Morel
Mushroom
See
Advisory
Active
3/1/2023 1143 Hepatitis
A Virus
Frozen
Organic
Strawberries
See
Advisory
Active

USA – Celebrate Your Fourth of July Without Foodborne Illness

USDA

The Fourth of July is a time of celebration, family and of course cookouts. Cooking safely is in your hands and doing so can help keep your family healthy this Independence Day. Control the transfer of bacteria by thoroughly washing your hands before and after touching raw meat, poultry and seafood.

The USDA recommends the following food safety tips for grilling:

Preheat your grill and scrub the grate with a long-handled brush once the grill has fully preheated. Remnants from the last grill session should scrape off.
Remove the meat, poultry or seafood from its container and place on the grill at a safe distance apart. Discard any marinade used to prepare your meat, poultry or seafood.
When grilling your foods, make sure you’ve destroyed dangerous bacteria by cooking to the proper internal temperature.

Beef, pork, lamb: 145 F with a 3-minute rest.
Ground meats: 160 F.
All poultry (whole or ground): 165 F.
Fish (whole or filet): 145 F.

You can’t tell by looking at food whether it is done. Always use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of your food to determine if it is safe to eat. The thermometer should be inserted into the thickest part of the meat and poultry, through the side of burgers and thin filets of fish, for the most accurate temperature reading.

Make sure to pack up any leftovers and refrigerate them within two hours. In hot weather (above 90 F), refrigerate within one hour.

For more food safety information, call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, in English or Spanish, or email mphotline@usda.gov. Consumers can also chat live at ask.usda.gov.

USA – Townsend Farms Inc. Voluntarily Recalling Specific Frozen Fruit Products Because of Possible Listeria monocytogenes Contamination

FDA

Private Selection Tropical Mango Chunks, 48 oz.

Private Selection Classic Fruit Medley, 48 oz.

Private Selection Blueberries, Strawberries & Mangoes, 48 oz.

Private Selection Strawberry, Mango & Pineapple Blend, 16 oz.

Townsend Farms Inc. of Fairview, Oregon out of an abundance of caution is voluntarily recalling specific frozen fruit products linked to mango chunks supplied by SunOpta (Sunrise Growers) due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

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 their physician.

The product was distributed to Kroger Stores in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia; and under the following banners: Baker’s, Dillons, Food 4 Less, FoodsCo, Fry’s, Gerbes, Jay C, Mariano’s, Metro Market, Pay Less, Pick n’ Save, Ralphs, Ruler, and Smith’s from November 06, 2022 to March 16, 2023.

This voluntary recall includes the following products date codes. Date codes can be found printed on the back panel of the packaging.

UPC 0 11110 84663 1 Private Selection 48oz Tropical Mango Chunks
Date Codes:
BEST IF USED BY 04/30/24 T1 PRODUCT OF MEXICO F2202171
BEST IF USED BY 04/30/24 T2 PRODUCT OF MEXICO F2202172
BEST IF USED BY 04/30/24 T1 PRODUCT OF MEXICO F2202182
BEST IF USED BY 04/30/24 T2 PRODUCT OF MEXICO F2202183
BEST IF USED BY 05/04/24 T1 PRODUCT OF MEXICO F2202225
BEST IF USED BY 05/04/24 T1 PRODUCT OF MEXICO F2202229
BEST IF USED BY 05/07/24 T4 PRODUCT OF MEXICO F2202236
BEST IF USED BY 05/07/24 T4 PRODUCT OF MEXICO F2202241
BEST IF USED BY 07/18/24 T3 PRODUCT OF MEXICO F2300116

UPC 0 11110 87853 3 Private Selection 16oz Strawberry, Mango & Pineapple Blend
Date Codes:
BEST IF USED 04/30/24 T4 PRODUCT OF USA, MEXICO & COSTA RICA F2202174
BEST IF USED 04/30/24 T4 PRODUCT OF USA, MEXICO & COSTA RICA F2202185
BEST IF USED 05/04/24 T2 PRODUCT OF USA, COSTARICA & MEXICO F2202227
BEST IF USED 05/28/24 T2 PRODUCT OF PERU, MEXICO & COSTA RICA F2202332

UPC 0 11110 82026 6 Private Selection 48oz Classic Fruit Medley
Date Codes:
BEST IF USED 05/03/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA, MEXICO, CHILE & COSTARICA F2202213
BEST IF USED 05/03/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA, MEXICO, CHILE & COSTA RICA F2202220
BEST IF USED 05/04/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA, MEXICO, CHILE & COSTA RICA F2202226
BEST IF USED 05/04/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA, MEXICO, CHILE & COSTA RICA F2202230
BEST IF USED 05/10/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA, MEXICO, PERU, CHILE & COSTA RICA F2202268
BEST IF USED 05/10/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA, MEXICO, PERU, CHILE & COSTA RICA F2202273
BEST IF USED 05/18/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA, MEXICO, CHILE, PERU & COSTA RICA F2202319
BEST IF USED 05/18/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA, MEXICO, CHILE, PERU & COSTA RICA F2202325

UPC 0 11110 89623 0 Private Selection 48oz Blueberries, Strawberries & Mangoes
Date Codes:
BEST IF USED 04/30/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA & MEXICO F2202173
BEST IF USED 04/30/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA & MEXICO F2202184
BEST IF USED 05/07/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA & MEXICO F2202235
BEST IF USED 05/07/24 T3 PRODUCT OF USA & MEXICO F2202240
BEST IF USED 05/08/24 T6 PRODUCT OF USA & MEXICO F2202247

The affected retail customers have been notified of this recall and instructed to remove any recalled product from retail store shelves and inventories.

Customers are urged to check their freezers for the recalled product, not to consume it and either discard the product or return it to the store for a full refund. Consumers may also request a refund by calling Kroger Customer Connect at 800-632-6900, Option 1, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.- Midnight, EST. Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-9:30 p.m., EST.

Consumers seeking product information may email recalls@townsendfarms.com or call 503-512-1317. Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-Midnight, EST; Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-9:30 p.m., EST.

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

This voluntary recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Townsend Farms Inc.
 recalls@townsendfarms.com
 503-512- 1317
Media:
Kroger Customer Connect
 800-632-6900, Option 1

France – Paris-Brest x 2 Pastry – Salmonella

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Sweet products
  • Product brand name Paris-Brest sold in a traditional pastry tray
  • Model names or references Paris brest x 2
  • Identification of products
    Batch Date
    pdv7353 Use-by date between 06/23/2023 and 06/29/2023
  • Packaging Plastic tray – Set of 2 cakes
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Only Intermarché St André de la Marche
  • Distributors Only Intermarché St André de la Marche

Italy – Corn flour for instant polenta – Fumonisins – Mycotoxin

Salute

Brand : MOLINO RIVA

Name : Corn flour for instant polenta

Reason for reporting : Recall due to chemical risk

Publication date : 28 June 2023

Documentation

Documentation

UK retailers share Campylobacter in chicken results

Food Safety News

Supermarkets in the United Kingdom have reported their Campylobacter in chicken results for late 2022.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) maximum target level is up to 7 percent of birds with more than 1,000 colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g) of Campylobacter.

Data from the retailers covers October to December 2022 on high findings of Campylobacter in fresh, shop-bought, UK-produced chickens.

Results at Waitrose, Morrisons and Lidl went up while Marks and Spencer, Aldi, Asda, and Sainsbury’s recorded lower levels of contamination than the previous quarter. Figures for Co-op stayed the same.

Campylobacter is the most common cause of bacterial food poisoning in the UK and the dose needed to make people sick can be as low as a few hundred cells.

Tesco has stopped publishing data as it has changed the way it monitors the pathogen in chicken so findings are not comparable with other retailers.

Catalonia – Cook and preserve egg foods safely

ACSA

USA – Applesauce recalled over elevated patulin levels

Food Safety News

Motts LLP, of Frisco, TX, is recalling 9,593 cases of Motts applesauce because of elevated patulin levels.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), patulin is a mycotoxin produced by a variety of molds, particularly Aspergillus, Penicillium and Byssochlamys. Often found in rotting apples and apple products. The acute symptoms in humans include nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting.

According to the details posted online by the FDA, the recall was initiated on May 18, 2023, and is ongoing.

The recalled products were distributed in the U.S. in the following states: Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. It was also distributed in Bermuda and the Dominican Republic.

Armenian Poultry Producer “Mum” on Salmonella Outbreak

HETQ

A leading poultry producer in Armenia remains silent on why salmonella was found in its frozen chickens sold on supermarket shelves.

Hetq, in conjunction with Armenia’s Food Safety Inspectorate (FSI) sent frozen chickens sold by Getamej and the Arax Poultry Factory for lab testing and found the bacteria.

The FSI, on June 15, stated it shut done the Arax Poultry Plant and banned the sale of Getamej products.

Hetq attempted to contact the Arax Poultry Plant to see if the bacteria has killed off some of their birds.

For weeks, company representatives never responded to our inquiries after promising to do so.

Today, the company contacted Hetq, saying they will get back to us when necessary.

New Zealand – Lindsay Farm brand Organic Raw Milk (unpasteurised) – Campylobacter

MPI

28 June 2023: Lindsay Farm HB Ltd is recalling specific batches of its Lindsay Farm brand Organic Raw Milk (unpasteurised) as the product may contain Campylobacter.

Product identification
Product type Raw (unpasteurised) drinking milk
Name of product (size) Lindsay Farm brand Organic Raw Milk (unpasteurised) 2L
Batch marking Lot Numbers : 0806, 0906,1006, 1106,1206, 1306, 1406, 1506, 1606, 1906, 2006, 2106, 2206, 2306, 2406, 2506, 2606, 2706
Date marking Use by date between 12.06.2023 and up to and including 01.07.2023.
Package size and description The product is sold in a plastic 2L bottle.
Distribution The product is sold in the Hawke’s Bay region via home deliveries and the following registered depots:

  • Betta Electrical, 46 – 48 Ruatainwha Street, Waipukurau
  • Chantal Shop, 45 Hastings Street, Napier
  • Cornucopia – The Organic Shop, 221 Heretaunga Street East, Hastings
  • Dawnacres Florist, 208 Havelock Road, Akina, Hastings
  • Nature’s Nurture – The Organic Grocer, 100 High Street, Waipawa
  • Tangaroa Seafoods, 7 Tangaroa Street, Ahuriri, Napier
  • Unichem Taradale Pharmacy, 288 Gloucester Street, Taradale, Napier.

The product has not been exported.

Notes This recall does not affect any other batches of Lindsay Farm brand Organic Raw Milk (unpasteurised) or any batches of Lindsay Farm brand Organic Pasteurised Whole Milk.

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 [PDF, 68.4KB]

Consumer advice

Customers are asked to check the lot number and Use by date printed on the bottle.

If you have purchased any of the affected product listed on this notice, do not consume it. Customers should return the product to their retailer for a full refund. Alternatively, consume after heating to 70°C and holding at this temperature for one minute. If you don’t have a thermometer, heat the milk until it nearly reaches a boil (or scald the milk) before drinking it.

There have been no reports of associated illness in New Zealand. If you have consumed any of this product and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.

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

How to reduce the risk of illness if you drink raw unpasteurised milk

Campylobacter infection: symptoms and advice

Who to contact

If you have questions, contact Lindsay Farms HB Ltd:

  • Phone: 06 858 5333
  • Address: Lindsay Road, Waipukurau, Central Hawke’s Bay.