Category Archives: Food Poisoning

Viet Nam – 1 student dead, dozens hospitalized for suspected food poisoning in Vietnam

English News

HANOI, April 5 (Xinhua) — A fifth-grade student died and dozens of others were hospitalized on Friday morning in Vietnam’s central city of Nha Trang after having breakfast sold by street vendors or at local food stalls, Vietnam News Agency reported.

After having breakfast on Friday morning, a student from Vinh Truong primary school reportedly felt sick and fainted.

Doctors said the cases were suspected to be caused by food poisoning, VnExpress reported.

As of Friday noon, those students’ state of health has been stable, Vietnam News Agency reported.

Local authorities were further investigating the cause of the case

New Zealand – Prolife Foods Value Pack and Refill Pack Products Containing Peanuts – Aflatoxin

MPI

New Zealand – Recall of peanut products due to aflatoxin above acceptable levels

MPI

New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) is supporting Prolife Foods in its recall of specific batches of various Value Pack and Refill Pack products containing peanuts.

“The concern with these products is that they contain levels of aflatoxins above the allowable level in New Zealand,” says NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.

The products affected by this recall are:

  • Value Pack (VP) Nuts and Raisins (400g) with a Best Before: 29 SEP 2024
  • Value Pack (VP) Roasted Salted Peanuts (400g) with a Best Before: 08 OCT 2024 and 15 OCT 2024
  • Value Pack (VP) Roasted Salted Peanuts (750g) with a Best Before 08 OCT 2024
  • Refill Pack brand Roasted Nut Mix (850g) with a Best Before: 05 OCT 2024
  • Refill Pack brand Raw Nut Mix (850g) with a Best Before: 05 OCT 2024

“If you have bought any of these products, don’t consume them and return them to the place of purchase for a refund.

“Aflatoxins are naturally occurring in many food products and are produced by a group of moulds that grow on foods produced in hot and tropical climates.

“Levels of aflatoxin in the New Zealand diet are usually very low and don’t represent a health risk, however, consumption of food products with increased levels of aflatoxin over an extended period of time can be harmful.”

The affected products are sold at selected supermarkets throughout New Zealand.

Visit New Zealand Food Safety’s recall page for more information about batch details and photographs of the affected product.

“The recalled products are imported and, although they have undergone the necessary testing, they were released by the importer in error without confirming the results,” says Mr Arbuckle.

The products have been removed from stores. The affected products are not available overseas.

“As is our usual practice, NZFS will work with Prolife Foods to understand how the products were released and to prevent it happening again,” Mr Arbuckle said.

New Zealand Food Safety has not received any notifications of associated illness.

If you have consumed any of this product and are concerned for your health, contact your health professional, or call Healthline on 0800 61 11 16 for free advice.

Norway – Midsona Norge AS withdraws Helios organic dark baking mix and Helios organic light baking mix -Aflatoxins

Mattilsynet

Helios dark makemix.JPG

Helios light baking mix.JPG

Midsona Norge AS withdraws Helios organic dark baking mix and Helios organic light baking mix, both gluten-free. Aflatoxins above the limit value have been found in the ingredient rice flour.

Updated 05/04/2024
Importer Midsona Norge AS has informed the Norwegian Food Safety Authority that the withdrawal applies to more “best before dates” than those stated in the online notification 27/03/2024

Dark baking mix, best before dates:
09.03.2024, 12.04.2024, 11.05.2024, 26.06.2024, 15.08.2024, 03.09.2024, 05.11.2024, 04.12.2024.

Light baking mix, best before dates:
07.02.2024, 12.04.2024, 11.06.2024, 02.07.2024, 06.11.2024, 04.12.2024.
The products are sold via health food stores, shop outlets and through Oda.

The mycotoxin aflatoxin has been found in the ingredient rice flour from Cambodia. Mold toxins (mycotoxins) are naturally occurring toxins from molds. Mycotoxins occur in feed and food and can cause long-term negative health effects in humans and animals.

The importer asks customers who have bought the products to throw them away.

RASFF Alert- Histamine – Tuna Fillet

RASFF

Histamine in Tuna filet from the Netherlands in Belgium

RASFF Alerts – Mycotoxin – Ochratoxin A – Bush Mango Powder – Dried Figs – Sultanas

RASFF

Ochratoxin A and aflatoxins in bush mango powder from Togo in Switzerland

RASFF

Ochratoxin A in dried figs from Türkiye in Italy

RASFF

Ochratoxin A in organic sultanas from Turkey in  Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Kingdom

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Peanuts – Popcorn – Almonds – Dried Figs – Pistachios – Rice – Groundnuts

RASFF

Presence of aflatoxins above the established limit in almonds from United States in Spain

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 in popcorn from France in the Czech Republic and Austria

RASFF

Presence of aflatoxins above the established limit in almonds from United States. in Spain

RASFF

Total aflatoxins in dried figs from Turkey in France

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins in dried figs from Turkey in France

RASFF

Aflatoxins in U.S.A. peanuts in the Netherlands

RASFF

Aflatoxin in roasted antep pistachio from Türkiye in Netherlands and Bulgaria

RASFF

Pesticide residues and aflatoxin in Indian rice in the Netherlands

RASFF

Aflatoxin in USA groundnuts in the Netherlands

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 in groundnuts from Paraguay in the Netherlands

RASFF

Aflatoxins (B1 = 3,94 ppb; Tot. = 5,77 ppb) in groundnuts kernels from Argentina in Poland

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxins in dried figs from Turkey in France

Taiwan – Banquet hall shut after illness reports

Taipei Times

A banquet hall in New Taipei City’s Sinjhuang District (新莊) has been ordered to suspend operations amid an investigation into a suspected food poisoning outbreak affecting 62 people, the city’s health department said yesterday.

The New Taipei City Department of Health said it received reports on Sunday of people experiencing an upset stomach after attending banquets held by Watson’s Personal Care Stores (Taiwan) Co at Gala De Chine Xinzhuang Crystal Crown Plaza (雲品集團新莊晶冠館) on Tuesday and Wednesday last week.

Watson’s Taiwan, the nation’s largest cosmetics and drugstore operator, told the health department that 62 of the 2,201 people who attended the banquets last week reported having an upset stomach.

Taiwan – Three staff members at food poisoning restaurant banned from leaving Taiwan

Focus Taiwan

The legal representative of Polam Kopitiam as well as a branch manager and a chef were banned from leaving the country by prosecutors Thursday for their “suspected involvement” in what is believed to be a food poisoning outbreak.

The case has left two dead and 17 seeking medical treatment as of Thursday, according to health authorities.

All of the people who fell sick dined at the restaurant’s branch in Xinyi District between March 19-23 and consumed dishes made of rice noodles.

Quebec – Notice not to consume La Cloche cendrée cheese prepared and sold by the company Fromagerie du Vieux St-François – Staphylococcus aureus

Quebec

QUEBEC CITY ,  March 28, 2024 /CNW/ – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the company Fromagerie du Vieux St-François, located at 4740, boulevard des Mille-Îles , in Laval, advises the population not to consume the product indicated in the table below, because this food is likely to contain the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus .

Product name

Format

Target lot

“The Ashen Bell”

200g

190524

70

The product which is the subject of this warning was offered for sale at the establishment designated above. It came in white packaging with a black label on it. It was sold refrigerated.

The operator is recalling the product in question. He agreed with MAPAQ to broadcast this warning as a precautionary measure. People who have this product in their possession are advised not to consume it. They must return it to the establishment where they purchased it or throw it away.

Even if the affected product does not show signs of spoilage or suspicious odor, its consumption may represent a health risk.

Food poisoning caused by staphylococci is characterized by a sudden onset of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cramps and diarrhea. Usually, symptoms appear 30 minutes to 8 hours after eating contaminated food and disappear after 24 hours.

It should be noted that no cases of illness associated with the consumption of this food have been reported to MAPAQ to date.