Category Archives: Food Pathogen

Hong Kong – Suspension of import and sale of raw oysters harvested in zone 56.09.3, Morbihan Department, France – Norovirus

CFS Vibrio

Issue Date 23.2.2019
Source of Information Centre for Food Safety
Food Product Raw oysters
Product Name and Description Raw oysters harvested in zone 56.09.3, Morbihan Department, France
Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The CFS received a notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Commission that raw oysters harvested in abovementioned area in France which were suspected to be contaminated with norovirus was under recall. According to the information provided by RASFF, a local importer, Tasty Seafood and Fine Food Limited, had imported the raw oysters concerned.
  • The CFS immediately contacted the importer concerned for follow-up and the importer confirmed that it had imported the affected oysters.
  • Preliminary investigation by CFS found that 135 kilograms of the affected oysters were imported by the importer and some were distributed.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately suspended the import into and sale within Hong Kong of raw oysters harvested in the area concerned.
  • The CFS has instructed the importer to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected product, and initiate a recall.
  • The CFS will inform the French authorities of the import suspension and notify the local trade.
  • The CFS will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.
Advice to the Trade
  • Stop selling the affected product.
Advice to Consumers
  • Regardless of the season or the region in which the oysters are harvested, consuming oysters, particularly raw or partially cooked ones, carries an inherent food safety risk.
  • Susceptible groups, such as pregnant women, young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or liver diseases, should avoid eating raw oysters.
  • Members of the public may call the importer’s hotline at 3590 4849 during office hours to enquire about the recall.
Further Information The CFS press release

USA – Yet Another Cruise Ship with Norovirus ? 91 sickened on Princess Cruises Island Princess; Samples sent for Norovirus testing

Outbreak News Today Norwalk_Caspid

Federal health officials reported another cruise ship outbreak this week. According to officials, 91 passengers and crew onboard the Princess Cruises February 8–18, 2019 Island Princess voyage were stricken with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

 

USA- Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Infections Linked to Raw Chicken Products Final Update

CDC

Final Outbreak Information
At A Glance
  • As of February 21, 2019 this investigation is over.
  • A total of 129 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Infantis were reported from 32 states.
    • Twenty-five people were hospitalized. One death was reported from New York.
  • Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicated that many types of raw chicken products from a variety of sources are contaminated with Salmonella Infantis and are making people sick.
    • In interviews, ill people reported eating different types and brands of chicken products purchased from many different locations.
    • The outbreak strain was identified in samples taken from raw chicken products, raw chicken pet food, and live chickens.
  • Antibiotic resistance testing conducted by CDC on Salmonella bacteria isolated from ill people showed that the outbreak strain is resistant to multiple antibiotics. For more information read the advice to clinicians.
  • A single, common supplier of raw chicken products or of live chickens was not identified.
  • The outbreak strain of Salmonella Infantis is present in live chickens and in many types of raw chicken products, indicating it might be widespread in the chicken industry. CDC and USDA-FSIS shared this information with representatives from the chicken industry and requested that they take steps to reduce Salmonella contamination.

Ireland – Recall of Old Irish Creamery Cheese Irish Cheddar with Chilli Due to Presence of Listeria monocytogenes

FSAI

Chilli_Cheddar

Message:

JOD Food Products is recalling the above batch of its Old Irish Creamery Cheese Irish Cheddar with Chilli following detection of Listeria monocytogenes in the batch. This batch of cheese was sold at Cork City Craft Fair on 24th-26th November 2018. Samples were also available at the craft fair.

Nature Of Danger:

Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness.  In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis. Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly.

Action Required:

Consumers:

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch of cheese. Consumers who may have already consumed it and are feeling unwell should seek medical advice.

Norway – Nine sick in Norway from Salmonella; source unknown

Food Safety News 

Authorities in Norway are investigating a Salmonella outbreak that has affected nine people.

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Folkehelseinstituttet) said the patients became ill in January and early February. They are aged from 2 to 91 years old. The agency is investigating with local authorities, the Veterinary Institute (Veterinærinstituttet) and the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (Mattilsynet).

Five men and four women have been confirmed infected with Salmonella Agbeni. They live in Oslo, Akershus, Buskerud, Rogaland and Vest-Agder. Bacteria with a similar DNA profile has been detected in all nine people, which strongly suggests a common source. Officials are interviewing patients and sampling food leftovers to find the infection vehicle.

Officials from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said such investigations can be complicated and take time with no guarantee the source of infection will be found. They added it was too early to say whether it is a limited outbreak or whether additional patients will be identified.

Slovenia – Slovenia withdraws batch of Polish kebab meat over Salmonella and Listeria

Reuters

 

LJUBLJANA (Reuters) – Salmonella and listeria bacteria have been found in another batch of kebab meat imported from Poland, Slovenia’s food safety authorities said on Friday, adding the meat in question will be removed from the Slovenian market.

The frozen meat was produced by Polish company Efes-pol Fedai Simsek Sp. z o.o. and distributed to Slovenia and Croatia by Slovenian distributor Alebon d.o.o., the Food Safety Administration said in a statement.

Australia – Source of Salmonella outbreak identified

9 News EGGS

SA Health says a raw egg butter product is to blame for more than fifty people being struck down by the illness.

Spain – Investigation opens into Michelin restaurant death and food poisonings

The Guardian

A Spanish judge has launched an investigation into the death of a woman who had eaten at a Michelin-starred restaurant now at the centre of a major food poisoning outbreak.

The 46-year-old woman, who has not been named, died in the early hours of Sunday after having a meal with her husband and son at the Riff restaurant in the eastern city of Valencia.

Regional health authorities say 30 people – including the woman, her husband and son – fell ill with food poisoning after eating at Riff between 13 and 16 February. The woman’s husband and son are recovering.

A judge in Valencia has opened an inquiry into the death and is awaiting the results of a postmortem and an analysis of samples taken from the restaurant.

The regional high court told the Europa Press news agency that no individuals were currently under investigation.

Australia – Elderly woman dies of Listeria infection as authorities warn thousands at risk

The Age

A woman has died and thousands of people are at risk of listeria infection after the bacteria was detected in food from a south-east Melbourne catering company that supplies food to hospitals, aged care homes and Meals on Wheels.

The catering service I Cook Foods has been shut down after the woman, who was aged in her 80s and from the eastern suburbs, died in Knox Private Hospital on February 4.

The woman contracted a listeria-related illness while in hospital after being admitted for an unrelated condition in late January, a health department spokesman said.

Six positive samples of listeria were found at the company’s Dandenong South kitchen during an investigation into the cause of the woman’s death over the past two weeks.

RASFF Alerts – Listeria monocytogenes – Frozen Beef and Turkey Kebab Meat – Sweet Gorgonzola Cheese – Chilled Sausage

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (up to 200 CFU/g) and Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen beef and turkey kebab meat from Poland, via Slovenia in Croatia

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (in 2 out of 5 samples, up to 1900 CFU/g) in sweet gorgonzola cheese from Italy in Italy

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (presence /25g) in chilled sausage from Poland in Poland