Category Archives: Food Microbiology

India – One person dies, 158 others fall ill due to food poisoning in Assam: Police

Hindustan Times

According to official reports, the affected people had attended a feast followed by a religious event organised in Mariampur village bordering Meghalaya

According to official reports, the affected people had attended a feast followed by a religious event organised in Mariampur village bordering Meghalaya.

After eating the food, people started feeling unwell.

Police said that they are yet to ascertain the reason behind the death.

“We are investigating if the person died due to food poisoning or due to other reasons. Things will be clearer once we get the post-mortem report,” the official said.

India – 31 fall ill after attending funeral service ; food poisoning suspected

The Shillong Times

Nongpoh, May 12: Dozens of villagers from Nongladew village in Ri Bhoi district of Meghalaya fell ill after attending a funeral service in Mariampur under Goalpara District of Assam. As many as 41 villagers had attended the funeral rituals of their relative on May 9. However, on Wednesday night (May 10), 31 of them returned home and fell ill, prompting immediate action from health officials.

The villagers had consumed fish, potato, and dal during the funeral service, and many of them complained of illness when they returned home. While the exact cause of the illness is not known, the villagers suspect the fish, which they believe was poisoned, to be the reason for their condition

USA – RiverStone: 80 St. Vincent employees sickened by foodborne illness in Billings

KTVQ

RiverStone Health is investigating a large foodborne illness case with 80 people showing symptoms Friday.

RiverStone can’t confirm the source of the outbreak but says the possibly contaminated food was delivered to various St. Vincent Health Care facilities on Wednesday as part of National Nurses Day celebrations.

“A gastrointestinal illness has impacted a number of our caregivers. At this time, we believe that the illness is from an external source. We are partnering with RiverStone Health for the outbreak investigation,” St. Vincent leaders said in a statement.

Quebec – Notice not to consume smoked mussels and warning concerning the lack of information necessary for the consumption of certain smoked fish products, prepared and sold by Poissonnerie de la Baie inc. by Bonaventure – Clostridium botulinum

Quebec

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the company Poissonnerie de la Baie inc., located at 170, avenue de Port- Royal , in Bonaventure, warns the public not to consume the product indicated in the table below, because the retailer mentioned above has not prepared and packaged it in such a way as to ensure its safety. Indeed, this product could promote the proliferation of the bacterium  Clostridium botulinum .

Product name

Format

Affected lot

“ATKINS SMOKED MUSSELS”

Unitary

Units sold until May 12, 2023

In addition, the MAPAQ, in collaboration with the same company, warns the population not to consume the products indicated in the table below beyond 14 days following the date of packaging.

Product name

Format

Affected lot

“SMOKED SALMON BITES IN LERABLE”

Variable

Units sold until May 12, 2023

“ATKINS SMOKED TURBOT FILLET”

Variable

Units sold until May 12, 2023

The products that are the subject of this warning were offered for sale until May 12, 2023 inclusively, and only at the establishment designated above. The smoked fish products were vacuum packed in a transparent plastic bag and the smoked mussels were packed in glass jars with a metal lid. The products were all sold chilled. The label of the products included, in addition to their name, the words “Poissonnerie de la Baie”.

The operator is voluntarily recalling the products in question. It has agreed with MAPAQ to issue this warning as a precautionary measure. 

Smoked mussels  : people who have this product in their possession are advised not to consume it. They must return it to the establishment where they bought it or throw it away. Even if the affected product shows no signs of tampering or suspicious odors, its consumption may represent a health risk.

Maple Smoked Salmon Bites and Smoked Turbot Fillets  : People who have either of these products in their possession are advised not to consume it if it has been packaged for more than 14 days. They must return it to the establishment where they bought it or throw it away. Even if the affected products show no signs of tampering or suspicious odors, their consumption may represent a health risk. In fact, when smoked fish is sold refrigerated, mandatory preventive measuresThis link will open in a new window. must be taken with regard to the type of packaging and the shelf life.

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

USA – Possible Foodborne Illness Kills Two People in Montana – Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Donna Ventura

Food Poisoning News

On April 30th, a 64 year old woman, Donna Ventura, died of a suspected foodborne illness. The county police officer reports that she was a regular at Dave’s Sushi restaurant. One week before, a 74 year old man named William Lewis also died of a foodborne illness. He was also a patron of Dave’s Sushi. The cause of death is currently under investigation, though morel mushrooms are suspected. While the two deaths have not been “directly” linked to the sushi restaurant, yet, at least three dozen other patrons of Dave’s Sushi have reported illnesses. The autopsy results will be available in 4-6 weeks, and toxicology results will be available in 2-6 months.

The restaurant has been closed for more than 2 weeks after receiving multiple complaints from more than 30 consumers falling ill after eating Dave’s Sushi. The FDA has focused its attention on morel mushrooms, sourced from China, as the source of the illnesses. Although it is not yet confirmed that these mushrooms were what caused the outbreak, this was an off-menu addition and only those who consumed the tainted product became ill – usually within 30 to 270 minutes post-consumption.

Czech Republic – Salmonella detected in chicken meat from Ukraine and Brazil

Food Safety News

Officials in the Czech Republic have revealed poultry meat from Ukraine and Brazil has tested positive for Salmonella.

The State Veterinary Administration (SVS) has carried out more than 20 inspections as part of a control campaign aimed at shipments of poultry meat and eggs from countries outside the European Union.

In total, 21 inspections, 18 on poultry meat and three on eggs, have been undertaken since early April. A total of 43 samples were taken and results are available for 29 of them.

Samples of poultry meat from Ukraine, Brazil and the United Kingdom have been tested so far. As have some eggs from Ukraine.

Salmonella was confirmed four times in poultry meat, one from Ukraine and three from Brazil.

Ireland – Recall of a batch of Full Moon Frozen Shrimp due to the presence of Vibrio

FSAI

Alert Summary
Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2023.12
Product Identification: Full Moon Raw Frozen Shrimp; pack size: 2kg
Batch Code 29936030; ​​​​​​​Best before: 01/03/2025
Country Of Origin: Ecuador

Message:

The above batch of Full Moon Raw Frozen Shrimp is being recalled due to the presence of Vibrio cholera and Vibrio parahaemolyticus.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Nature Of Danger:

Symptoms typically include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, headache, and watery diarrhoea (which may be bloody or contain flecks of mucus). Symptoms generally start within 6 to 48 hours and usually last between three to five days. However, depending on the species of Vibrio, symptoms may persist for up to 3 weeks. In some people, particularly children under 5 years of age, the elderly, or those with underlying health conditions, the infection can lead to severe dehydration, which may be fatal if not treated promptly.

Action Required:

Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers:

Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and display recall notices at point of sale.

Consumers:

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.

Netherlands – Safety warning Free-range chicken fillet steaks from Jumbo Supermarkets – Salmonella

NVWA

Safety warning Free-range chicken fillet steaks from Jumbo Supermarkets

Jumbo warns against the free-range chicken fillets from Jumbo Supermarkets. Salmonella has been found in products with a Best before date of 16-05-2023. Eating the product may pose a health hazard. Do not eat the product.
See Jumbo’s website

Which product is it?

  • Jumbo Free-range chicken Fillet steak
  • Best Before: 16-05-2023
  • Barcode: 8718452684656

Yours sincerely

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority

Ireland – Recall of specific batches of Tesco Southern Fried Chicken Goujons due to the possible presence of Salmonella

FSAI

Alert Summary
Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2023.11
Product Identification: Tesco Southern Fried Chicken Goujons (frozen); pack size: 360g
Batch Code 23122 and 23123; best before date: 31/05/2024
Country Of Origin: Netherlands

Message:

Tesco is recalling the above batches of Tesco Southern Fried Chicken Goujons due to the possible presence of Salmonella.  

Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale in Tesco stores.

Nature Of Danger:

People infected with Salmonella typically develop symptoms between 12 and 36 hours after infection, but this can range between 6 and 72 hours. The most common symptom is diarrhoea, which can sometimes be bloody. Other symptoms may include fever, headache, and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Diarrhoea can occasionally be severe enough to require hospital admission. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Action Required:

Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers:

Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Consumers:

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches. If the chicken has already been consumed, cooking should remove the risk. Raw chicken should always be handled hygienically when defrosting and preparing it, and also cooked thoroughly before eating it.

Ireland- Recall of batch of Wrights of Howth Smoked Salmon due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes

FSAI

Alert Summary
Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2023.13
Product Identification: Wrights of Howth Oak Smoked Farmed Irish Organic Salmon; pack size: 120g, 140g, 250g & 350g
Batch Code 21P; best before date: 19/05/2023
Country Of Origin: Ireland

Message:

Wrights of Howth is recalling the above batch of Oak Smoked Farmed Irish Organic Salmon due to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. 

Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Nature Of Danger:

Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symtpoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symtpoms appearing) is on average 3 weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days.

Action Required:

Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers:

Display recall notices at point-of-sale

Consumers:

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.

Smoked Salmon Product Label