Category Archives: Food Poisoning

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Pistachios – Ground Kernels – Groundnuts – Apricot Kernels

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RASFF – aflatoxins (Tot. = 10 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from Iran, via Turkey in the Czech Republic

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 5.1; Tot. = 8 µg/kg – ppb) in blanched from Argentina in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6.5; Tot. = 8.4 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 4.3 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts in shell from China in the Uk

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 20; Tot. = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 135; Tot. = 186 µg/kg – ppb) in apricot kernels from Turkey in Germany

RASFF Alert – Histamine – Chilled Tuna Loins

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RASFF – histamine (> 250 mg/kg – ppm) in chilled tuna loins from Sri Lanka in France

RASFF Alert – STEC E.coli – Chilled Beef Meat

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RASFF – shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli in chilled beef meat from Belgium in the Netherlands

Research – Research shows estimated 180 deaths per year in UK because of foodborne illness

Food Safety News

Researchers have estimated there are 180 deaths per year in the United Kingdom caused by foodborne diseases from 11 pathogens.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) estimates that about 2.4 million cases of foodborne illness occur every year in the UK.

Foodborne norovirus is projected to cause 56 deaths per year, Salmonella 33 deaths, Listeria monocytogenes 26, Clostridium perfringens 25, and Campylobacter 21. Most fatalities occur in those aged 75 years and older.

Foodborne deaths from Shigella, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, adenovirus, astrovirus and rotavirus are rare, according to the study published in the journal BMJ Open Gastroenterology.

Belgium – Carrefour recall American Nature recall of the Carrefour brand. Problem: potential presence of E. Coli STEC.

AFSCA

Following a check and as a precautionary measure in order to guarantee consumer safety, CARREFOUR requests to withdraw from the market the American Nature 200g, 300g, 600g, 1.2kg sold in the BUTCHER department of certain Carrefour stores in Belgium and calls them back to the consumers following a potential presence of E. Coli STEC.


Product description:

– Product name: Américain Nature
– Brand: Carrefour
– Use by date (DLC) (“To consume until”): 07/19/2020 and 07/20/2020
– Sale period: from 13 / 07/2020 to 15/07/2020
– Type of packaging: transparent plastic tray
– Weight: 200g, 300g, 600g and 1.2 kg
– The package bears the supplier’s stamp number 26/1

PRODUCTS PACKED IN STORES ARE NOT CONCERNED

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

People who have consumed these products and who have intestinal disorders are invited to consult their doctor by reporting this consumption. These symptoms can be made worse in young children, pregnant women, immunocompromised people and the elderly.

People who have consumed the products mentioned above and who present these symptoms are invited to consult their doctor by reporting this consumption.

For any further information, you can contact the Carrefour Belgique consumer service by calling the free number 0800.9.10.11 , from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on working days and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.

Belgium – Viangro Recall -Spicy Beef Hamburger 500g. – STEC E.coli

AFSCA

In agreement with the AFSCA, Viangro is withdrawing the 500g spicy beef burger from the sale and is recalling it from consumers due to the potential presence of E. Coli STEC.

LIDL Belgium asks its customers not to consume this product and to bring it back to the point of sale in which it was purchased.


Product description

– Product name: Spicy beef hamburger
– Use by date (DLC) (“To consume until”): 07/19/2020 and 07/20/2020
– Sales period: from 07/13 / 2020 to 07/15/2020
– Type of packaging: plastic tray
– Weight: 500g

The product was sold through Lidl stores in Belgium.

For further information, contact Lidl customer service ( 0800/73520 (free))

Japan – E. coli in salad cause of over 3,400 students’ food poisoning at east Japan schools

Mainichi

ecoli

Image CDC

SAITAMA — The cause of a food poisoning outbreak that affected a total of 3,453 students and others at 15 public schools in the city of Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, eastern Japan, has been pinpointed to a seaweed salad harboring E. coli bacteria, the city’s board of education advised on July 13.

India -76 people from Andhra’s Visakha tribal area hospitalised with food poisoning

The News Minute

At least 76 residents of a village in the Paderu ITDA (Integrated Tribal Development Agency) limits suffered food poisoning on Wednesday after consuming contaminated meat. The incident occurred in Magatapalem village of Gaduturu panchayat, in Gangaraju Madugula mandal of the Paderu Agency region.

While it was ascertained that the meat was contaminated, he said that it was unclear whether it was because of the way the cow died, or because of the cooking process.

Paderu MLA Bhagyalakshmi Kottagulli, who visited the patients at the hospital, told the media that the exact cause of the food-borne illness was yet to be determined. “They unknowingly ate polluted food. We are requesting people to be careful with their health.”

 

 

New Zealand – Shellfish biotoxin alert – Hawke’s Bay extended warning

MPI

The Ministry for Primary Industries today extended the current public health warning against collecting shellfish in the Hawke’s Bay region. The affected area now extends from the Mohaka River to the southern end of Pōrangahau beach.

Routine tests on shellfish samples taken from this region have shown levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins above the safe limit of 0.8 mg/kg set by MPI. Anyone eating shellfish from this area is potentially at risk of illness.

Other public health warnings remain in place for Port Levy on Banks Peninsula and Nydia Bay in the Pelorus Sound.

Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish should not be eaten.

Note, cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin.

Taiwan – Taiwan records 6,944 food poisoning cases in 2019, marking 23-year high

Taiwan News

Taiwan recorded 6,944 instances of food poisoning last year, which marked a 23-year high, according to numbers released by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In 2019, there were 503 food poisoning incidents, leading to 6,944 people becoming ill, compared to 2018 when 398 cases caused 4,616 people to get sick, according to government figures cited by Liberty Times. Last year’s number of cases was also the second-highest since the country started keeping food poisoning records in 1981.

The highest number occurred in 1997. when 7,235 people were affected by food poisoning.

Among last year’s cases, 4,000 people came down with food poisoning while at school. Most of these were linked to the large group meals served during lunchtime.