Category Archives: Food Poisoning

US – Another Listeria monocytogenes Food Recall

Food Poison Journal

 On January 25, 2012, it was announced that Anytime Deli Turkey & Ham Footlong Sandwiches are being recalled due to potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  The sub sandwiches were distributed on January 2nd and 3rd to convenience stores in Florida and South Georgia.

The sandwiches being recalled have expirations dates of January 19 and January 22 and UPC 0543200194.  The sandwich is packaged in white butcher wrap. The Best Buy date is located on the white press on circular label. The UPC Code is located on the bottom of the product beneath the Ingredient and Nutrition Facts label.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

E. coli victim Mason Jones’ mother Sharon Mills wins Tesco Mum of the Year

BBC News

A mother whose five-year-old son died in Wales’ largest E. coli outbreak has won an award for improving food safety.

Sharon Mills was named Tesco Campaigning Mum of the Year for her work leading to a “scores on the doors” system forcing Welsh restaurants and takeaways to display hygiene ratings.

FSAI – Recall Iceland Frozen Lamb Mince – Salmonella

Iceland Foods Ltd. is recalling a batch of Iceland Frozen Lamb Mince, due to the presence of Salmonella arizonae.  No other products are known to be affected by this recall.  Iceland Foods Ltd. has issued in-store notices requesting customers who have bought this product to return it to an Iceland store.  No action is required by official agencies.

FSAI

 

FDA – Mock Salt Recall – Salmonella

FDA

It is quite interesting to see where pathogenic organisms can be found, I spend quite some time telling clients to be aware of control statements such as organisms will not grow below this pH, Temperature, aW etc. There is always a difference between growth and persistence and the organisms do not always know about the limits and tolerance they are supposed to have.

January 23, 2012 – University Place, Washington- Jones’ Seasoning Blends LLC announced a voluntary recall of Jones’ Mock Salt Original as well as Jones’ Mock Salt Spicy Southwest Blend due to the potential contamination of Salmonella.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this voluntary recall.

This recall has been initiated due to possible Salmonella contamination of the celery seeds ingredient used in Jones Mock Salt. Jones Seasoning Blends LLC is not responsible for the contamination of Salmonella. The supplier of the celery seeds has been recalling the product and Jones Seasoning Blends LLC has also taken every action possible in notifying the public.

The following affected products were directly distributed to grocery stores and markets in California, Minnesota, and Washington and it was also sold through internet orders on http://www.jonesmocksalt.com:

Jones’ Mock Salt Original: Organic Salt Free Seasoning, 1.6 oz bottles (UPC 0 94922 16616 6), 12 oz bags (UPC 0 94922 07199 6) and 16 oz bags (0 94922 16616 6).

Jones’ Mock Salt Spicy Southwest Blend: Organic Salt Free Seasoning, 1.6 oz bottles (UPC 0 94922 01560 0).

There is no lot number identifying the bottles or bags. Any products purchased from July 1, 2011 to December 14, 2011 should be destroyed.

Belgian Baby Formula Linked to Salmonella Outbreak in Russia

Food Quality News

Tainted powdered milk formula from Belgium has been recalled in Russia after more than a dozen babies were struck down with Salmonellosis.

Irish Cheese Recall – High Level Listeria monocytogenes

Food Safety Authority Ireland

Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese:  Wicklow Blue Irish Farmhouse Cheese (“a mild creamy blue veined brie cheese”); pack size: 150g, approval number: IE1915EC
Batch Code:  BATC11326B; best before date: 31/01/2012
Country Of Origin: Ireland

 

 

Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese Ltd  is recalling a batch of cheese as outlined above, due to the detection of a high level of Listeria monocytogenes.  No other products at this stage are known to be affected by this recall.  Investigations at the manufacturing premise are underway.

US – Cold Smoked Salmon – Listeria monocytogenes

PR News Wire

A Maine food processing and storage company destroyed its cold smoked salmon product under the supervision of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes within the firm’s facility and on processing.

Based on conditions at Mill Stream Corp. of Hancock, Maine, FDA investigators ordered an administrative detention of the firm’s cold-smoked salmon product, a ready-to-eat food, during an inspection in December 2011. Once the food was detained, Mill Stream Corp. agreed to voluntarily destroy the cold-smoked salmon, under FDA supervision.

The FDA may order the detention of food when an investigator has a reason to believe that the food is adulterated or misbranded. Food subject to an FDA detention order may not be moved, without agency permission, until the agency releases it or the detention order expires. A detention order may remain in place for up to 30 days

 

USDA – $25 Million to E.coli STEC Research

Food Navigator USA

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $25m research grant to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to tackle Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in the beef supply chain.

As reported on this blog last year the US have decided to ban six E.coli serotypes from the food chain and if the proposal goes through testing will need to begin in March 2012, this is still a very controversial proposal in the US. (link)

Sprouting Seeds – IIlness Outbreak Summary 1998-2011

This link was supplied to me by Mike Scott at Matrix, it is a list of the outbreaks associated with sprouting seeds and is of interest after the recent release for the EFSA on controlling sprouting seeds and food borne illness.

Bites

Are Sprouted Seeds Ever Going to be Safe?

Food Manufacture

Evidence is emerging that sprouted seeds could present an unacceptable risk to human health unless effective control measures such as irradiation can be used to make them safer.

Would the European market really want irradiated products?