Category Archives: Food Safety Management

Research – Combined Pulsed Electric Field with Antimicrobial Caps for Extending Shelf Life of Orange Juice

MDPI

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of combined pulsed electric fields (PEF) and antimicrobial packaging treatment in maintaining the quality and stability of orange juice stored at 10 °C. Orange juice was treated by PEF and stored in glass jars with antimicrobial caps coated with 10 µL of carvacrol essential oil (AP). Microbial reductions and physiochemical properties of juice samples were determined after treatments and during storage at 10 °C. Orange juice samples subjected to the combined treatment (PEF+AP) had the lowest yeast and mold populations after 14 day-storage at 10 °C. There were no significant differences in pH, acidity, color, total soluble solid contents, total phenol compounds, and Vitamin C among all samples after treatments. Storage studies showed that PEF, AP, and PEF+AP treatments maintained the quality and stability of orange juice stored at 10 °C for 5 weeks but lost Vitamin C. This study provides valuable information to juice processors for consideration and design of nonthermal pasteurization with antimicrobial packaging of juice products. View Full-Text

France – Natural Helva 300g – Salmonella

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Sweet products
  • Product brand name EKONOMIK
  • Model names or references Helva tahini Nature
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    4260065870994 L09 E22 Use-by date 05/31/2024
  • Packaging plastic box
  • Marketing start/end date From 01/09/2021 to 07/11/2022
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored at room temperature
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Departments: RHONE (69)
  • Distributors Rize Market
  • List of points of saleAddresses_Rize_Market.pdf

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Possible presence of serogroup C salmonella

France – Wheat flour T80 – Mycotoxin – Ochratoxin A

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product categoryFeed
  • Product subcategoryCereals and baked goods
  • Product brand nameTRANSITION
  • Model names or referencesWheat flour T80 1kg Transition – in organic conversion
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3770014111470 191121 Date of minimum durability 19/11/2022
  • Marketing start/end dateFrom 02/12/2021 to 11/03/2022
  • Storage temperatureProduct to be stored at room temperature
  • Geographic area of ​​saleWhole France
  • DistributorsAuchan, Match, Franprix, Carrefour, Cora, Intermarché, Leclerc, super U

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recallOchratoxin A level above the authorized regulatory limit

USA – CDC Investigation Notice – Listeria Outbreak Linked to Enoki Mushrooms

CDC

Listeria is especially harmful if you are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system. If you are in any of these groups, do not eat raw enoki mushrooms. Cook enoki mushrooms thoroughly to kill any foodborne germs.

Investigators are working to identify specific brands of enoki mushrooms that may be contaminated with the outbreak strain of Listeria. However, many brands of enoki mushrooms have been recalled since the 2020 Listeria outbreak linked to enoki mushrooms.

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 2
  • Hospitalizations: 2
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 2
  • Recall: No
  • Investigation status: Active
Enoki mushrooms on a white background
Listeria in Enoki Mushrooms

Enoki mushrooms are white and have long, thin stems. They are often sold in a bunch with roots in sealed plastic packaging. They are popular in Japanese, Chinese, and Korean food, and they are almost always eaten cooked in soups, hot pots, and stir-fried dishes.

In 2020, CDC investigated the first known Listeria outbreak in the United States linked to enoki mushrooms. This outbreak resulted in three recalls of enoki mushrooms that were imported from Korea. Since then, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and public health officials from several states have been collecting samples of enoki mushrooms and found Listeria in many samples, resulting in more than 20 recalls of enoki mushrooms.

Source of the Outbreak

Information collected so far shows that enoki mushrooms are the likely source of these illnesses.

Both sick people reported eating enoki mushrooms or eating at restaurants with menu items containing enoki mushrooms. The outbreak strain was previously found in one sample of enoki mushrooms that FDA collected at import. However, to date, the firm associated with this sample has not been identified as a potential source of enoki mushrooms in this outbreak.

Investigators are working to identify specific brands of enoki mushrooms linked to these illnesses.

Research – Guidance for Controlling Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) in Retail Delicatessens – Best Practice Tips for Deli Operators

FSIS USDA

This guidance document provides specific recommendations for actions that retailers can take in the delicatessen (deli) area to control Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products. This document is also available in PDF format. These materials highlight recommendations that are based on an evaluation of retail conditions and practices in the Interagency Risk Assessment–Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Delicatessens (Interagency Retail Lm Risk Assessment). In addition, FSIS has included information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code, scientific literature, other guidance documents, and lessons learned from Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) verification sampling and review of sanitation programs for Lm in meat and poultry processing establishments.

This version of the guidance document replaces the previous version of the document which was issued and announced in the Federal Register (79 FR 22082; April 21, 2014). FSIS updated this guidance based on comments received during the public comment period, which closed on June 20, 2014. FSIS made the following changes in response to comments:

  • Clarified that food processing equipment should be disassembled during cleaning and sanitizing.
  • Added a recommendation that retailers scrub surfaces during cleaning to prevent biofilm formation.
  • Clarified that retailers should rotate (change) sanitizers to help prevent Lm from establishing niches in the environment and forming biofilms.

LISTERIA – Action Plan for Retailers

FMI

LISTERIA Action Plan for Retailers
Listeria control is an ongoing challenge for retailers in the deli and any department where fresh foods are stored and foods are prepared. FMI and our members are committed to finding ways to control the growth and if possible, eliminate the presence of Listeria at retail to reduce the risk in the retail environment. Retail delis provide an ideal environment for Listeria growth due to the type of food (ready to eat [RTE] meats, cheeses, and salads), the moist environment, and temperatures that support the growth of Listeria. As retailers increase the RTE and prepared foods they offer to customers, Listeria control plans need to be in place to offer the appropriate food safety controls. For the purposes of this document, the organism we are concerned about is Listeria monocytogenes which we will abbreviate as Listeria. It is commonly found in the environment and when ingested, it can cause serious disease in humans and has been associated with a significantly higher hospitalization and fatality rate than other foodborne pathogens. FMI Food Protection Committee have expanded upon the advice and recommendations of the Listeria Action Plan for Retail Delis to include additional recommendations in order to assist retailers in developing food safety plans to help control the growth of Listeria beyond the deli.

Italy – CHICKEN AND TURKEY Sausages – Salmonella

Salute

Brand : SALUMIFICIO SCARLINO SRL

Name : CHICKEN AND TURKEY COCKS

Reason for reporting : Remind for microbiological risk

Date of publication : 18 November 2022

Documentation

Documentation

Israel – Cooked Smoked should of Roast Beef – Listeria monocytogenes

GovIL

The manufacturer Textbot Ltd. calls for the return of the product “Cooked Smoked Shoulder Roast Beef”

In an inspection conducted by the Food Service of the Tel Aviv Health Bureau for the product “Cooked Smoked Shoulder Roast Beef” the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes was found in the product.

Israel – Chopped Liver Salad – Listeria monocytogenes

GovIL

The manufacturer Eitan Nissim Ltd. calls for the return of the “chopped liver salad” product

An inspection conducted by the food service of the Tel Aviv Health Bureau for the product “chopped liver salad” found the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes in the product.

Germany – Fish Cake – Listeria monocytogenes

LMW

Alert type: Food
Date of first publication: 11/16/2022
Product name:

Fischfrikadelle, offered in the fresh food counter Offers in the market from 01.08.2022 up to and including 15.11.2022

Manufacturer (distributor):

Distributor: Jeka Fish A/S, Denmark Sales through several retail chains throughout Germany.

Reason for warning:

The reason for the precautionary recall is a contamination with listeria found at the production site during an inspection.

Durability: 01/12/2024 to 04/10/2024
Further information:

Reference is made to the company’s attached customer information.

Click to access MSC+Fisch+Frikadelle_00898051_1511_%F6RR_Kundeninformation_NEU.pdf