Category Archives: Food Poisoning

US – California Farmers Markets Soups Warning – Possible Botulinum

Food Safety News

The California Department of Health is warning consumers not to eat certain soups sold at  southern California farmers markets because they may have been produced in a way that makes them susceptible to Clostridium botulinum.  

CDPH said Monday that canned soups manufactured by Malibu-based One Gun Ranch and Santa Barbara-based Organic Soup Kitchen had the potential to be contaminated with the bacteria, which produces harmful toxins that can be dangerous to human health.
 
The soups from One Gun Ranch (left) that are subject to the warning include: Campfire Kitchen Cauliflower Soup, Heirloom Tomato Fennel Gaspacho Soup, Sequoia’s Skinny Spiced Coconut, Parsnip, and Tumeric Soup, Oassian’s Pumpkin Stew and Freddy’s Firegrilled Meatballs. The soups were sold only at the Pacific Palisades Farmers Market located at Swarthmore Avenue and Sunset Blvd. in Pacific Palisades, CA on May 13, 2012 and June 3, 2012. They were sold in 16 oz. glass jars with screw-on metal lids.  
 
The soups from Organic Soup Kitchen (below) were sold at two farmers markets: the Calabasas Farmers Market, located at Calabasas Road and El Canon Avenue in Calabasas, CA 91302 (Saturdays) and the Studio City Farmers Market, located at Ventura Place between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Radford Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604 (Sundays). The soups were sold between June 6,2011 and May 6, 2012 in one-quart jars with screw-on metal lids. The affected soups include the following flavors: Fire Roasted Yam, Curried Potato Leek, Curry Lentil Bisque, Tomato Bean and Wild Herb and Mediterranean Chipotle Chili.   
 
Consumers who purchased any of the soups described above are urged to throw them out immediately and then thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water.
 
As of Monday, no illnesses had been linked to these soups, CDPH reported.  
 

France – Sardine Recall – Histamine

Rappels

The retailer Casino announced Monday, June 11 a recall of batches of canned sardines contaminated with histamine, a compound that is resistant to cooking and can cause digestive disorders, skin problems and headaches.

The products that must be returned to store are boxes of 120g of sardines in vegetable oil brand “Every Day” with the lot number BJ.L 019F, and as expiration date, January 19, 2017. These boxes have the barcode 3700311820348 when they are sold individually and in sets of three 3700311820331.

Also recalled are 120g cans of sardines in tomato sauce, branded “Everyday”, bearing the lot number BJ.L 020E, and the expiration date of January 20, 2015. These boxes have the barcode 3700311820362 when they are sold individually and in sets of three 3700311820355.

Casino has told customers not to eat these sardines and return them to the store for refund. These foods have significant levels of histamine that can cause, soon after ingestion, digestive problems or skin rash, accompanied by headaches,” even after cooking.

People who have consumed the products mentioned above and are presenting these symptoms should consult their doctor and draw attention to the consumer,” he adds.

A free call on 0800 13 30 16 provides more information.

Korean Oysters Recall Taipai – Food Poisoning

The China Post

TAIPEI–Health authorities in Taiwan said yesterday they have seized a batch of raw oysters at a high-end restaurant chain and have launched checks on all oyster imports from South Korea after dozens of consumers in Taipei and Taichung reported symptoms of food poisoning.

Since late May, there have been reports of 24 people experiencing nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains and diarrhea after eating at Taipei restaurants in the Eatogther chain.

Earlier this week, dozens of similar cases were reported in Taichung by people who bought food at Eatogther restaurants in the central Taiwan city.

Initial investigations showed that the problem was caused by eating uncooked oysters shipped from South Korea. Checks at the three Eatogther restaurants in Taipei and those in Taichung found sanitation problems in the kitchens, including a pileup of waste, inadequate refrigeration, and oysters being left to thaw out in plastic containers near sinks.

FSA – Research Financial Pressure- Increased Food Safety Risks

FSA

New research published today by the Food Standards Agency shows that some people are taking more risks with food safety as they try to save money and make their meals go further.

The research showed that most of those questioned (97%) believed the cost of their typical shopping basket has gone up significantly in the last three years, with half of these (47%) trying to make better use of leftover food. However, some people are ignoring ‘use by’ dates more than they used to, while others are keeping leftovers for longer than the recommended limit of two days in the fridge.

Australia Milk Recall Listeria

FSANZ 

Parmalat Australia Ltd has recalled Pauls Smarter White Milk (1L) from Woolworths, Coles, BP Service Stations and smaller independent outlets in NT due to Listeria Monocytogenes contamination. Listeria may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems.

US E.coli O145 Outbreak Now Hits Six States

Food Safety News 

Today the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that the E. coli O145 outbreak that killed a young girl in Louisiana has sickened at least 14 people in six states:

Georgia (5 illnesses), Louisiana (4), Alabama (2), California (1), Florida (1) and Tennessee (1).
 
Three people have been hospitalised. 
 
The source of the contamination remains unknown.
 
“The investigation is looking at both food and non-food exposures as part of the ongoing investigation,” a CDC statement read. “State public health officials are interviewing ill persons to obtain information regarding foods they might have eaten and other exposures in the week before illness.”
 
Illness onset dates range from April 15 to May 12. Infections that began after May 12 may not have been reported yet. The most recent case was reported on June 4.
 
A 21-month-old girl in Louisiana died from her infection on May 31 after falling ill several weeks earlier. This outbreak has no connection to the May 26 death of a 6-year-old Massachusetts boy suffering from an E. coli O157:H7 infection.

Australia – Salmonella in Raw Eggs and E.coli on Greek Salad

The Poultry Site 

AUSTRALIA – Currently the NSW Food Authority is investigating 49 cases of Salmonella poisoning, suspected to be from consuming foods containing raw egg.

06.jun.12
FSANZ
Jmark Pty Ltd (trading as Gourmet Selections) has recalled Gourmet Selections Greek Salad from Woolworths, IGA and other independent supermarkets in WA due to E.coli contamination. Consumers should not eat this product and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.
Date notified to FSANZ
6 June 2012
Food type
Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs
Product name
Gourmet Selections Greek Salad
Package description & size
150g and 300g plastic tub
Date marking
All Use By dates from 6 JUN 12 to 14 JUN 12 inclusive
Country of origin
Australia
Reason for recall
Microbial Contamination (E.coli)
Distribution
The product has been available for sale from Woolworths, IGA and other independent supermarkets in Western Australia.
Consumer advice
Consumers should not eat this product and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.
Contact
Jmark Pty Ltd
08 9303 0600

US Multi State E.coli O145 Outbreak

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Florida is part of an E coli outbreak that includes Georgia and Louisiana, according to the Florida Department of Health. A spokesperson for the Florida DOH told Food Poisoning Bulletin that a case has been confirmed and that they are “using routine processes and working closely with the CDC in the investigation of a potential commonality.”

News of this multi-state outbreak began this week with the death of a toddler in New Orleans. Our investigation has found that Georgia and Florida also have patients ill with the same strain of E. coli 0145. No particular source has been pinpointed as the cause of this outbreak.

The CDC has not released any information about the outbreak. The case count is as follows:

  • Florida (1)
  • Georgia (5)
  • Louisiana (3) (1 death)

Euro 2012 – Ukraine Players Food Poisoning

SI.COM

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -European Championship co-host Ukraine has concerns over 10 players who are struggling with food poisoning before its opening game against Sweden on Monday.

The main concern is over Ukraine’s most-capped player, midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, who has been on a drip.

“We have to bring the guys out of this condition,” coach Oleg Blokhin said. “It’s good that the poisoning didn’t happen on June 11. For me, the most important thing is healthy footballers.”

Team doctor Leonid Mironov told reporters Wednesday that Tuesday’s match against Turkey, which Ukraine lost 2-0, was almost cancelled after the players had come down with the bug that was causing some of them to vomit. Blokhin said that fullback Bohdan Butko and midfielder Denys Harmash played against Turkey despite being ill.

Toxoplasma Research Required

Food Manufacture

More research is needed to determine how big a role food plays in the transfer of the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis to humans in the UK, according to scientists.

Toxoplasmosis has been implicated in the USA and UK as a  foodborne illness in about 50% of reported cases.