The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and 3903052 Canada Inc. are warning the public not to consume the cheese and dairy products described below because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
There is a long list of suspected products at the link above but there has only been one associated illness so far.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Listeria, Microbiology, Recall
The FSA have conducted a survey on Mycotoxins in cereal based foods.
This is the first year’s results from a four-year rolling surveillance programme.
The survey found that 97% of samples were below the legal limits for mycotoxins. Only 7 of the 220 samples analysed contained levels of mycotoxins above the legal limits. The Agency took immediate action to ensure any non-compliant products were withdrawn from the market.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, Mycotoxin
Sprouted seeds are young seedlings obtained from the germination of seeds. They are ready-to-eat foods which have caused large outbreaks. The bacterial pathogens most frequently associated with illness due to contaminated sprouted seeds are Salmonella and to a lesser extent STEC. Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica have also been transmitted by sprouted seeds, albeit very rarely. The EFSA has published a scientific opinion paper on the issue which can be accessed at the link above. There is a summary or you can download the 101 page full report.
Posted in E.coli, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today launched a new campaign reminding people to wash raw vegetables to help minimise the risk of food poisoning. The campaign is in response to E.coli outbreaks in Britain and abroad this year including one linked to soil on raw vegetables and another caused by contaminated sprouted seeds.
Posted in E.coli, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak
The Food Standards Agency has published the results of a survey looking at levels of mycotoxins in food. Mycotoxins are chemicals produced by certain moulds.
The majority of the samples tested contained levels of mycotoxins below the legal limits; only one sample had mycotoxin above the legal EU limit. Overall, the results of the survey is reassuring and does not raise any health concerns.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology
The Food Standards Agency has today published the second edition of the Q&A on its guidance document ‘E.coli O157: control of cross-contamination’. This is an interesting Q&A based document which you may find useful.
Posted in E.coli, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology
An article in Huff Post reports J.M. Smucker Co. a Ohio based company is recalling thousands of 16-ounce jars of its Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter Chunky because of possible salmonella contamination. No illnesses have been reported yet.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Microbiology, outbreak, Salmonella
An article in Food Manufacture has a statement from an agent stating that after a FSA inspection that Premier Foods who produce the sauce are not responsible for the recent cases of suspected Botulinum in Loyd Grossman Korma Sauce.
A further article in the same online journal (Food Manufacturer) also reports on the poor year that Premier Foods has had with profit warnings and now this Botulinum scare. It is difficult to assess the damage done.
FnBnews has reported on the European Food Agency wanting new controls on sprouting seeds, I have just recently posted on the new Australian and NZ guidelines for sprouting seeds. Producers of sprouted seeds should tighten safety measures along the production chain as ready-to-eat food can cause large outbreaks of illness, the EU food safety agency said after thousands of people were hit by E.coli infection this year.
Posted in E.coli, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak
An article in Food Production Daily has reported that an Australian Poultry Producer has been fined $AUD 250,000 for pre-cooked chicken contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The firm supplied the Australian Airline Virgin Blue with the chicken meat that was in sandwich wraps, 29 people were affected including one who gave birth prematurely.
Posted in Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Listeria, Microbiology, outbreak
