Category Archives: Food Poisoning

USA – Cuise Ship Norovirus Yet Again?

Food Poisoning NewsNorovirus

The Princess Cruise line Ruby Princess has reported a stomach illness outbreak on its latest cruise. The ship had voyage dates of March 3 to March 10, 2013. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. There is no known cause, although the cause of most outbreaks on cruise ships is norovirus. Symptoms of that highly contagious virus include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, along with possible headache and low grade fever.

Two hundred sixty six passengers (out of 3,129) and 10 crew (out of 1,189) reportedly became ill during the voyage. The outbreak was communicated to the Vessel Sanitation Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on March 10, 2013, so no on board response to the outbreak was conducted.

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Listeria monocytogenes

RASFF – Salmonella spp. (present /25g) in frozen cooked shrimps (Penaeus spp.) from India in France

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (presence /25g) and Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in fuet (extra dried ready-to-eat) sausages from Spain in France

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin

RASFF -Ochratoxin A (13 µg/kg – ppb) in organic rye snack from Estonia

RASFF Alert – Histamine

RASFF – Histamine (4 out of 9 samples between 100 and 200 mg/kg – ppm) in canned tuna flakes in oil from Thailand in Greece

USA – Cruise Ship – Norovirus – Again

Food Poisoning Bulletinnorovirus-2(1)

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship Vision of the Sea has reported an outbreak of norovirus that has sickened at least 105 people, according to the San Francisco Gate. The ship had 1,991 passengers on board and 772 crew members, which means 5.3% of the passengers were sickened.

The ship docked in Port Everglades, Florida on Friday March 7, 2013 and was thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before its next journey. Passengers “responded well to treatment”, according to the company.

Australia – Yoghurt Recall – E.coli

FSANZFSANZ

Shaw River Buffalo Cheese has recalled Shaw River Buffalo Yoghurt from some small gourmet retailers and health food stores in NSW, QLD and VIC due to microbial (E. coli) contamination. Foods contaminated with E. coli may cause illness if consumed. Customers should return these products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Date notified to FSANZ

8 March 2013

Food type

Dairy

Product name

Shaw River Buffalo Yoghurt (natural yoghurt)

Package description & size

500g and 1.2kg white plastic tamper-proof tub

Date marking

Best before 14 APR 13

Country of origin

Australia

Reason for recall

Microbial contamination (E. coli)

Denmark – Worlds Greatest Restaurant- 67 Sick

Copenhagen Post

A total of 67 guests succumb to vomiting and diarrhoea after dining at Noma, Denmark’s most famous gourmet restaurant
Fødevarestyrelsen criticised Noma for not disinfecting the kitchen in time in order to prevent the contagion from spreading and also said there was no hot water in the taps that staff used to wash their hands (Photo: Scanpix)

Noma’s reputation as one of the world’s best gourmet restaurants was blighted today after it was revealed that 67 people had become ill after eating there.

The national food authorities, Fødevarestyrelsen, inspected the restaurant on February 20 after it received reports that a number of the restaurant’s guests had become ill with Roskilde Sickness, a norovirus that causes vomiting and diarrhoea, after dining there from February 12-16.

Out of 78 guests served over the period, a total of 63 fell ill, which prompted Fødevarestyrelsen to make an inspection in which it found hygiene problems.

USA – FDA Two Recalls – Dog Treats/Food – Salmonella

FDA

Diggin’ Your Dog™ announced today that they are voluntarily withdrawing one lot of its Strippin’ Chicks™ Pet Treats produced on 8-30-12 because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. The sample was obtained in Colorado and the company has accounted for its distribution in Colorado of this lot.

No other Diggin’ Your Dog™ products, lots, or production dates are affected.

The lot being voluntarily withdrawn is: Strippin’ Chicks™ Pet Treats 5 oz Bag. Lot Code 250322 Use By Date: 2-23-14.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Animals with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some animals will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your animals have consumed the recalled product and have these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

FDA

Steve’s Real Food of Murray, Utah is recalling its 5 lb. bags of “Turducken
Canine Diet – 8oz. Patties due to potential contamination of
Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there
is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they
have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

RASFF Alerts – E.coli – Clams and Mussels

RASFF – Too high count of Escherichia coli (1400 MPN/100g) in clams (Veneus Gallina) from Italy in Italy

RASFF – Too high count of Escherichia coli (790 MPN/100g) in mussels ((Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Spain in Italy

RASFF – too high count of Escherichia coli (1300 MPN/100g) in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Spain in Italy

 

RASFF – Mycotoxin – Ochratoxin – Aflatoxin – Alerts – Turkey – Nuts – Kenya

RASFF – Aflatoxins (B1 = 9.21 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted pistachios from Turkey in Austria

RASFF – Aflatoxins (B1 = 16.5 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Austria

RASFF – Aflatoxins (B1 = 3.9; Tot. = 14.1 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey in Austria

RASFF – Aflatoxins (B1 = 12.2; Tot. = 12.2 µg/kg – ppb) in coated peanuts from Turkey in Italy

RASFF – Aflatoxins (B1 = 19.2; Tot. = 20.5 / B1 = 13.2; Tot. = 14 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from Turkey, with raw material from Syria in Italy

RASFF – Ochratoxin A (39 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted coffee from Kenya in Finland

RASFF – Ochratoxin A (10 µg/kg – ppb) in milling rye in bulk from Latvia, via Lithuania in Finland