Category Archives: Food Poisoning

Research – Investigation of grouped cases of haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections linked to the consumption of Buitoni® brand Fraîch’Up pizzas. Update on May 4, 2022.

Posted on May 11, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

Public Health France and the National Reference Center (CNR) E. coli and its associated laboratory (Institut Pasteur, Paris, and Microbiology Laboratory of the Robert Debré Hospital, Paris), in conjunction with the Directorate General for Food, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Prevention, and in coordination with the Directorate General for Health, have been investigating since 02/10/2022 an increase in the number of cases of haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) pediatric infections and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections.

The epidemiological, microbiological and traceability investigations carried out since that date have confirmed a link between the occurrence of these grouped cases and the consumption of frozen pizzas from the Buitoni brand Fraîch’Up range contaminated with STEC bacteria. On 03/18/2022, the company proceeded with the withdrawal-recall of all the pizzas in the Fraîch’Up range, marketed since June 2021 and the authorities asked the people who hold these pizzas not to consume them and to destroy them.

The total number of HUS cases linked to the consumption of these pizzas has stabilized since the withdrawal-recall. Other reports of STEC infection are investigated as part of routine surveillance. To date, these reports are not linked to grouped cases or consumption of Fraîch’Up pizzas.

Case of SHU in France: update on 04/05/22

As of 04/05/2022, 56 confirmed cases have been identified, of which 54 are linked to STEC O26 strains, and 2 to STEC O103 strains.

These 56 cases occurred in 55 children and 1 adult, who presented symptoms between 18/01/2022 (week 3) and 05/04/2022 (week 14) (Figure 1). The epidemic peak is in week 7 (14/02 to 20/02) and week 9 (28/02 to 06/03), with 10 cases each of these weeks.

These 56 cases occurred in 12 regions of metropolitan France: Hauts-de-France (12 cases), Ile-de-France (9 cases), New Aquitaine (8 cases), Pays de la Loire (7 cases), Brittany ( 6 cases), Grand Est (3 cases), Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (3 cases), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (2 cases), Occitanie (2 cases), Center Val-de-Loire (2 cases) , Bourgogne Franche-Comté (1 case) and Normandy (1 case) (Figure 2).

The 55 sick children are aged from 1 to 17 years old with a median age of 6 years; 25 (45%) are female; 48 (87%) presented with HUS, 7 (13%) with STEC gastroenteritis. Two children died. The adult did not present with HUS.

Figure 1: Epidemic curve: number of confirmed cases of HUS and STEC infections, by week of onset of symptoms – metropolitan France, weeks 3 to 14, 2022 (N=54: week of onset of symptoms not specified for 2 cases )

Figure 2: Geographical distribution of confirmed cases of HUS and STEC infections (N=56) linked to the consumption of Buitoni® brand Fraîch’Up pizzas, by region of residence in metropolitan France, weeks 3 to 14, 2022

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Posted in E.coli O103, E.coli O26, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, outbreak, Poisoning, STEC, STEC E.coli

Belgium – Abbey cheese 230g from the Carrefour brand – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on May 10, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

AFSCA

Recall from Carrefour
Product: Abbey cheese 230g from the Carrefour brand.
Problem: suspicion of the presence of listeria monocytogenes.

Brussels, 09/05/2022 – Following an inspection and as a precautionary measure to guarantee consumer safety, the MILCOBEL company is requesting that the 230g Carrefour brand Abbey cheese sold in the CATERER section of certain stores be withdrawn from the market Carrefour and Mestdagh in Belgium and remind consumers of this following the possible presence of listeria.

Name: Fromage d’Abbaye 230g
EAN code: 3060921462469
Date of minimum durability: All DDM between 05/12/2022 and 05/14/2022
Batch numbers: 5404454I, 5500955I, 5903159I and 5A0735AI.

This product was marketed in the packaged fresh section of your Carrefour or Mestdagh store

from 04/15/2022 to 05/04/2022.

Carrefour has decided, in collaboration with the AFSCA (Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain), to recall these products from consumers.

All products have been withdrawn from sale. Some of these products were, however, marketed on the Belgian market before the withdrawal measure. It is therefore recommended that people who hold the products described above do not consume them and destroy them or bring them back to the point of sale where they will be refunded to you.

People who have consumed the products mentioned above and who have a fever, isolated or accompanied by headaches, are invited to consult their doctor and report this consumption. These symptoms may be aggravated in young children, immunocompromised subjects and the elderly. These symptoms may suggest listeriosis, a disease with an incubation period of up to eight weeks.

For any additional information , you can contact the Carrefour Belgium consumer service by dialing the free number 0800.9.10.11, from 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on working days and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The MILCOBEL Company apologizes to the customers of Carrefour and Mestdagh for the inconvenience caused.

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Posted in afsca, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, food safety training, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes

France – Tellines – DSP marine biotoxins – Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning

Posted on May 9, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

Product category Food
Product subcategory Fishery and aquaculture products
Product brand name Unbranded
Model names or references Tellines shipped between 03 and 05 May 2022
Identification of products

Batch

All lots
Storage temperature Product to be stored at room temperature
Health markFR.29.158.500.CE
Geographic area of sale Whole France
Distributors Wholesalers / Independents

Batch
All lots

Practical information regarding the recall

Reason for recall Prefectural decree – Closure of fishing area
Risks incurred by the consumer DSP marine biotoxins (diarrheal toxins)

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Posted in Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning, DSP, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Marine Biotoxin, Toxin

India – Food poisoning: Salmonella, Shigella found in shawarma samples

Posted on May 9, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

New Indian Express

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The food samples collected from the shawarma outlet at Cheruvathur had the presence of salmonella and shigella bacteria, Health Minister Veena George has said. The chicken shawarma samples had salmonella and shigella while the pepper powder had salmonella. These samples have been confirmed ‘unsafe’ as per the Food Safety Act. A 16-year-old schoolgirl died and 52 persons fell sick after having shawarma from a snacks bar at Cheruvathur recently.

The special drive of the Food Safety Department saw inspections on 349 premises across the state on Saturday. Action was taken against 32 outlets which did not have licence or registration. Notices were served on 119 institutions. Twenty-two kilograms of stale meat was seized. Thirty-two samples were sent for lab test.

Since May 2, 1,132 raids were conducted across the state. Action was taken against 142 outlets which lacked licence or registration. Notice was served on 466 establishments. One hundred and sixty-two kilograms of stale meat was seized and 125 samples were sent for lab test. A total of 6,035 kg of fish, either adulterated or stale, was destroyed. Four hundred and fifty eight outlets were raided as part of ‘Operation Jaggery’ drive, the minister said.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Food Poisoning Death, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, outbreak, Poisoning, Salmonella, Shigatoxin, Shigella, Shigella flexneri

Sabah – Food poisoning: 10 clusters detected in Sabah during fasting month, only two linked to bazaars

Posted on May 6, 2022 by KSW | Leave a comment

The Star

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah recorded 10 food poisoning clusters involving 189 individuals throughout the fasting month, says Datuk Dr Rose Nani Mudin (pic).

The state Health director said from these cases reported between April 3 and May 1, only two clusters were related to Ramadan bazaars.

“The patients involved have mostly received treatment and recovered from food poisoning,” she said in a statement late Thursday (May 5).

She said none were hospitalised due to food poisoning.

Dr Rose said these cases were detected during ongoing integrated operations on bazaar stalls throughout the fasting month.

She said the main contributors to these cases were unhygienic food handling and food contamination.

“We also conducted activities and operations to monitor the spread of water and food borne transmittable diseases,” she said.

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations

Belgium – Original Cracker Nuts from the Nagaraya brand – Aflatoxin

Posted on May 6, 2022 by KSW | 2 comments

AFSCA

FASFC recall
Product: Original Cracker Nuts from the Nagaraya brand.
Problem: Aflatoxin content too high.
The FASFC is withdrawing the Original Cracker Nuts (160 g) of the Nagaraya brand from sale and recalling them from consumers due to an excessively high aflatoxin content.

This recall is being issued in response to a RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) alert.

The FASFC asks not to consume these products and to bring them back to the point of sale where they were purchased.

Product Description: Product

Name: Original Cracker Nuts
Brand: Nagaraya Best Before
Date (BDD): 18/07/2023
Batch Number: 000049798
Weight: 160g.
Type of packaging: plastic bag

This product was sold via several points of sale:

Kam Yuen Supermarket NV– Rue de la Vierge Noire 2-4, 1000 Brussels
Ofeljay Store – Sint-Salvatorstraat 61/2, 9000 Ghent
Sun Wah Supermarket – Van Wesenbekestraat 16-18, 2050 Antwerp

For any further information , you can contact the contact point FASFC for consumers: 0800/13.550 or pointdecontact@afsca.be .