too high count of Escherichia coli (up to 330 MPN/100g) in live mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Spain, purified in Italy in Italy
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Category Archives: Food Poisoning
RASFF Alert – Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) – Frozen Cooked Mussels
Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins (247 µg/kg – ppb) in frozen cooked mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Spain in Itally
Posted in Algal Toxin, Biotoxin, Diarrhoeic Shellfish Poisoning, DSP, food contamination, 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, RASFF, shellfish toxin
East Africa – Food Safety – Aflatoxin
The recent decision by Kenya to suspend maize imports from Uganda and Tanzania has stirred public concern over the safety of some food that is produced in the region, particularly grains.
Last week, Kenya banned the importation of maize from both countries, saying the products contained high levels of aflatoxins.
Kenya’s Agriculture and Food Authority said that the products were not fit for human consumption.
“The recommended levels of aflatoxin are ten parts per billion but the imports indicate that the levels are at 2,000 parts per billion, which is lethal,” Kello Harsama, the Acting Director-General of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), told the media last week.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), aflatoxins are poisonous substances produced by certain kinds of fungi (moulds) that are found naturally all over the world; they can contaminate food crops and pose a serious health threat to humans and livestock.
WHO estimates that aflatoxins pose a significant economic burden, causing an estimated 25 per cent or more of the world’s food crops to be destroyed annually.
The decision by Kenya comes at the time some local agro-processing firms have been resorting to importing some grains, saying that the ones produced in the country contain high levels of aflatoxins.
Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, 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, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin
India – Evolution of Organic Food Safety Standards in India
Food safety is the key to achieve better public health. The high incidence of foodborne illness is a burden on public health and contributes significantly to the cost of health care. Though most of the foodborne illnesses are rare and often not reported in India, however, a nationwide study reported an alarming 13.2 per cent prevalence at the household level. Therefore there is a need for a comprehensive approach for safer and nutritious food for Indian citizens. Safer food promises a healthier lifestyle, longer lives, less costly healthcare and more resilient food industry.
The Indian food industry is regulated by the number of legislations covering licensing, sanitation, and permits. Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, established by the Government of India, was a vital step in the direction of developing the standards for food and regulating and monitoring the manufacture, processing, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food to ensure the availability of safe and nutritious food for human consumption.
Posted in food contamination, food death, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Poisoning Death, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Research
Australia – Preserved Chilli Beancurd 350g Le Couple – Bacillus cereus
Date published: 09 March 2021
Product information
Le Couple Trading Corporation Pty Ltd is conducting a recall of Preserved Chilli Beancurd 350g Use By EXP 24.12.2022. The product has been available for sale at Asian grocery stores in NSW.
Date markings
Use By EXP 24.12.2022.
Problem
The recall is due to microbial (Bacillus cereus) contamination
Food safety hazard
Food products contaminated with (Bacillus cereus) may cause illness if consumed.
Country of origin
China
What to do
Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.
For further information please contact:
Le Couple Trading Corporation Pty Ltd
0431 640 229
Related links:
Posted in Bacillus, Bacillus cereus, food contamination, 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 Testing, Food Toxin, FSANZ, microbial contamination, Microbiology
Thailand – Thailand warns food poisoning and diarrhea from ice cubes in summer season
The Department of Disease Control of Thailand (DDC) is advising people to be careful with what they eat this summer to avoid food poisoning and diarrhea.
DDC director-general Dr Opas Karnkawinpong warns people not to consume certain foods to avoid food poisoning, as 915,289 food poisoning and diarrhea cases were reported during summer in 2020.
He said diners must ensure the food they are served is hot and clean, adding that ice cubes are also carriers of germs.
Norway – Norway reports Salmonella outbreak, 10 people hospitalised
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) is reporting a Salmonella outbreak which is geographically spread over large parts of country.
Twenty cases have been reported–12 confirmed and 8 suspected cases. The same genetic profile have been detected in all 12 confirmed cases. Preliminary analyzes of samples from the 8 suspected cases indicate that these also carry the outbreak strain.
Those affected are aged from 11 to 91 years, median age is 59 years. 60% are women. The infected live in Viken (9), Oslo (3), Innlandet (2), Vestfold and Telemark (1), Agder (1), Rogaland (1), Vestland (1), Møre og Romsdal (1) and Nordland (1). 10 of the cases have been hospitalized.
“The infected live in many different counties. Therefore, we believe that they are infected through a food that is widely distributed”, says doctor Hilde Marie Lund at the department of infection control and emergency preparedness.
Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, 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 Testing, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Poisoning
Kenya – Kenya bans all maize imports over aflatoxin
Kenya has banned all maize imports to curb the entry of unsafe grains into the country.
According to a letter by the acting Director-General of the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA), Kello Harsama to the Commissioner of Customs in the Kenya Revenue Authority, the ban has been put in place after a survey on maize from Uganda and Tanzania showed it was not fit for human consumption.
“The authority has been conducting surveillance on the safety of food imports into Kenya. The results from maize imported from Uganda and Kenya have revealed high levels of mycotoxins that are consistently beyond safety limits,” reads the letter dated March 5.
Kyrgyzstan – Food poisoning kills 6 in Kyrgyzstan
Six people have died from food poisoning in Kyrgyzstan after dining at a cafe, the press service of the country’s Ministry of Health reported on Thursday.
Early Thursday morning, four victims went to the Aksy Territorial Hospital in Jalal-Abad Oblast in the southern part of the country for treatment for food poisoning.
Three of them have died despite rescue measures while the other one continued to receive treatment, whose symptoms are moderate and the person’s condition is stable, the ministry said, adding that another three victims died from food poisoning at home.
The victims said that 19 people had salad and beshbarmak and drank alcohol diluted with water for lunch at a cafe on Tuesday.
At present, local health workers are checking the rest participants of the meal, and an epidemiological investigation into the poisoning is ongoing, the ministry said. Enditem
Tunisia – Tunisia: Aflatoxin-Contaminated Rice Still Stored in Oct’s Warehouses
Tunis/Tunisia — A 800-tonne shipment of imported white rice, nearly half of which is contaminated with aflatoxins, is still stored separately in warehouses of the Tunisian Commerce Office (French: OCT), CEO Elyes Ben Ameur told TAP on Wednesday. Another shipment of 600 tonnes is being checked.
The value of imported shipments amounts to 1.5 million dinars. Ben Ameur said the OCT became aware of the contamination in early 2021 after a self-monitoring operation.
Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by certain fungi that proliferate in particular on seeds stored in hot and conditions. They are highly carcinogenic.
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