Category Archives: Food Poisoning

European and RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Salmonella – Moulds – STEC E.coli – Norovirus – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF – Aflatoxins in Maize Feed in Germany sourced in Romania via Belgium

RASFF – Salmonella in Dried Whole Green Peppers in Germany via India

RASFF – Listeria in Frozen Raw Milk Sheep Cheese in France

RASFF – Aflatoxins in Red Hot Chilli Pepper Powder in Switzerland sourced in Turkey

RASFF– Salmonella in Frozen Beef in Sweden sourced in Ireland

RASFF – Moulds in Unsalted Butter in Greece sourced in France

RASFF – Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli in Smoked Sausage in Austria

RASFF – Norovirus (G I & GII) in Oysters in France

Germany – Listeria monocytogenes in Palatine liver dumplings in Germany

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Moulds, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Salmonella

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USA – Seattle – E.coli O157 Restaurant Based Outbreak

Posted on March 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

E.coli Blog

King County Public Health agency shut down an Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle’s central district on Wednesday afternoon after connecting the establishment to an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7, health agency spokeswoman Kathryn Ross has confirmed to Food Safety News.

At least two people have fallen ill in the outbreak, and Ross said the likelihood of others being sickened is uncertain.

In its closure notification, the agency cited Ambassel Ehtiopian Cuisine & Bar with five safety violations, including the outbreak.

Other violations included foods not being protected from cross-contamination, improperly sanitized equipment, and poor personal hygiene among employees due to inadequate handwashing facilities.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Pathogen

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Germany – Fungus Found in Raw Milk – Aflatoxin

Posted on March 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The LocalAspergillus WM

High levels of a cancer-causing fungus has been found in raw milk from a western German farm. The authorities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) suspect contaminated cow feed from Serbia.

Before being pasteurised, milk from the farm had twice as much aflatoxin – produced by the Aspergillus species of mould – than national standards allow.

There was a possibility that the contaminated raw milk had already been sent to dairies for processing, the state Consumer Protection Ministry said. Until the milk has levels below 50 nanogrammes of aflatoxin per kilogramme of milk it may not be sold. Current levels were around 100 nanogrammes.

Milk from cows which have ingested aflatoxin – one of the strongest naturally occurring carcinogens – is “particularly dangerous,” said Udo Paschedag from Lower Saxony’s Agriculture Ministry.

 

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Food Chemistry, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Moulds, Mycotoxin, Pathogen, Toxin

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Canada – Research -Parasites in Retail Leafy Greens

Posted on March 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CTV News220px-Cyclospora_cayetanensis_stained

In the first-ever large-scale study of its kind, Canadian researchers have  tested how clean pre-washed packages of leafy greens really are, and found  parasites in dozens of samples purchased in Ontario.

Looking at 544 samples of store-bought, pre-washed salads, researchers from  Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada found nearly one-tenth of  the samples were contaminated with either cyclospora, cryptosporidium or giardia  — parasites that can cause intestinal illness, such as diarrhea.

“In the present study, a relatively high prevalence of all three parasites  was found in packaged, ready-to-eat leafy greens,” said the study, published  recently in the Journal of Food Protection.

To conduct the study, the research team purchased a total of 544 prewashed  salad samples between April 2009 and March 2010 — all in the Waterloo, Ont.  area. After testing the samples, the team found:

  • Nine (1.7%) of the samples tested positive for cyclospora;
  • 32 (5.7%) of the samples tested positive for cryptosporidium;
  • 10 (1.8%) of the samples tested positive for giardia.

 

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Posted in Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Giardia, Hygiene, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

USA – Alaska – More Ill from Raw Milk – Campylobacter

Posted on March 6, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Campylobacter BlogCampylobacter

News reports that Alaska State health officials report a total of 24 people have fallen ill, two of whom were hospitalized, after drinking tainted raw milk from a Kenai Peninsula dairy. Among the ill is an infant who did not directly imbibe the raw milk, but got sick through a secondary transmission from an adult who had.  State epidemiologists said the illnesses are the result of milk tainted with campylobacter, a bacterium commonly found in cow manure.  After receiving multiple reports of sick people, state health officials traced the source of the outbreak to a cow share program at the Peninsula Dairy. State veterinarians visited the farm to take samples and said the farm owner is being cooperative with their investigation.

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Posted in Bacteria, Campylobacter, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen

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Canada – Recall – Gorgonzola Cheese – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on March 4, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Updated Health Hazard Alert – Certain Mauri brand Gorgonzola may contain Listeria monocytogenes

Recall date: March 1, 2013

Reason for recall:Microbiological – Listeria

Hazard classification:Class 1

Recalling Firm:Arla Foods Incorporated

Distribution:Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec

Extent of the distribution:Retail

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Pathogen, Recall

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Canada – CFIA Recalls – Salmonella and Listeria in Pepperoni

Posted on March 1, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CFIA – CIFA

Reference Number: 7859 Recalling Firm: PRODUITS ALIMENTAIRES ITALIENS MILANO INC. Date of Recall: 2/25/2013 Recall Classification: 1 Distribution : Ontario, Quebec Extent of the Product Distribution : Hotel/Restaurant/Institutional

Product List

Brand Name Common Name Size Codes(s) on Product UPC Reason for Recall:
NEW MILANO PEPPERONI AND MINI PEPPERONI 5 x 10 lb 2013 FEB 12 1 80019 00011 3 Microbiological – Listeria
NEW MILANO PEPPERONI AND MINI PEPPERONI 5 x 10 lb 2013 FEB 12 1 80019 00011 3 Microbiological – Salmonella

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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USA – Consumers Warned About Shellfish PSP

Posted on March 1, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers not to eat recreationally harvested mussels, clams, or whole scallops from Marin County. Dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins have been found in mussels in this region. These naturally occurring toxins can cause illness or death. Cooking does not destroy this toxin.

This warning is in addition to the annual mussel quarantine that was extended on October 31, 2012 for Del Norte and Humboldt counties. That quarantine is still in effect.

PSP Factsheet

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Posted in Bacteria, CDPH, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, PSP

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WHO – New Food Safety Platform – FOSCOLLAB

Posted on February 28, 2013 by | Leave a comment

WHO foscollab_wordle

An innovative tool for food safety

FOSCOLLAB is a new WHO platform for food safety professionals.

FOSCOLLAB enables users to:

  • Access food safety data and information quickly
  • Maximize the utility of already existing sources and minimize duplication of efforts
  • Integrate data and information coming from animal/agriculture, food and human health areas to improve global public health
  • Promote better generation of data
  • Strengthen the underlying sources by promoting awareness and increased utilization

By integrating multiple sources of reliable data, FOSCOLLAB helps overcome the challenges of accessing these key sources in a timely manner. It allows for better risk assessment and decision-making by food safety professionals and authorities.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Methods, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, Research

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Ireland – Recall – Cheese – E.coli O157

Posted on February 27, 2013 by | Leave a comment

FSAIcheese

E.coli O157 present in Gouda Herb Cheese by Kilshanny Farmhouse Cheese

Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Summary
Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2013.05
Product: Kilshanny Farmhouse Cheese Gouda Herb Cheese: approval number: IE 1859 EC
Batch Code: production date: 19/09/2012
Country Of Origin: Ireland

Message:

E.coli O157 has been found in a batch of Gouda herb cheese by Kilshanny Farmhouse Cheese. This product has been sold in a foodstall in the Limerick Milk Market and in a retailer in Co. Clare. The company has been ordered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to withhold placing any further batches on the market.  Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated cheese due to the presence of E.coli O157.

Nature Of Danger:

E.coli O157 may cause severe bloody diarrhoea and abdominal cramps, although sometimes the infection causes non-bloody diarrhoea or no symptoms. In some groups, particularly children under 5 years of age and the elderly, the infection can also cause a complication called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), in which the red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys fail.

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated cheese.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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