Category Archives: Food Safety Regulations

South Korea – S. Korea sees dramatic surge in food poisoning cases this winter

Korea Herald

The number of food poisoning cases involving raw oysters has surged dramatically this winter compared to last year.

According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Tuesday, a total of 524 cases of food poisoning due to raw oysters were reported between November 2022 and February 2023. This figure is an eightfold increase compared to the same period between 2021 and 2022, which only had 68 cases.

Oysters are rich in minerals and vitamins but can be one of the main sources of the norovirus, which is more common in winter.

Hong Kong – CFS urges public not to consume a kind of imported tahini product suspected to be contaminated with Salmonella

CFS

Issue Date 13.3.2023
Source of Information The International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN)
Food Product Prepackaged tahini product
Product Name and Description Product name: Organic Hulled Tahini
Brand: Ceres Organics
Pack size: 300 grams
Place of origin: Product of Mexico or Israel, packed in New Zealand
Best-before date: May 25, 2023
Importer: The Dairy Farm Company Limited
Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) received a notification from the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) that the above-mentioned product might have been contaminated by Salmonella. According to the information provided by INFOSAN, the affected product has been imported into Hong Kong.
  • Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local importers for follow-up. A preliminary investigation found that the above-mentioned importer had imported into Hong Kong the affected batch of the product concerned.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • The importer concerned has stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected product and has initiated a recall according to the CFS’s instructions.
  • The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.
Advice to the Trade
  • Stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess it.
Advice to Consumers
  • Not to consume the affected product if they have bought any.
Further Information The CFS press release

Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer at 2299 1133 during office hours for enquiries.

France – TURKEY PAN – Salmonella

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Meats
  • Product brand name EXPENSES
  • Model names or references EXPENSES
  • Identification of products
    Batch Date
    066/9305 Use-by date 03/15/2023
  • Packaging VACUUM SKIN packaging
  • Marketing start/end date From 07/03/2023 to 10/03/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark FR 42 305 003CE
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Departments: ARDECHE (07), HAUTE-GARONNE (31)
  • Distributors EAT FRESH
  • List of points of saleLIST_OF_STORES.pdf

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Salmonella presence detection

France – St Nectaire farmer AOP Le Buron – Listeria monocytogenes

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Milk and dairy products
  • Product brand name The Buron
  • Model names or references Cut cheese in the LS cheese department
  • Identification of products
    Batch Date
    63AAKM20122 Use-by date 04/03/2023
  • Products List doc_20230313_091654.pdfAttachment
  • Packaging Film-wrapped plastic tray of 200 gr
  • Marketing start/end date From 02/18/2023 to 03/04/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Further information The product was on sale in the cut cheese section of the store.
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Regions: Grand-Est
  • Distributors INTERMARCHE 51490 PONTFAVERGER M

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall bacteriological analysis made by non-compliant aqualeha (presence of listeria)
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Listeria monocytogenes (causative agent of listeriosis)

France – Joint Bio 400 mg tablets – E.coli

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Diet foods and nutrition
  • Product brand name Bio-Atlantic
  • Model names or references Pillbox of 120 tablets of Organic Joint 400 mg Pillbox of 200 tablets of Organic Joint 400 mg
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3700216208272 221123017 Date of minimum durability 23/11/2025
    3700216208579 221123017 Date of minimum durability 23/11/2025
    3700216208272 230202009 Date of minimum durability 02/02/2026
    3700216208272 221206026 Date of minimum durability 06/12/2025
    3700216208579 221206026 Date of minimum durability 06/12/2025
  • Packaging Pill boxes
  • Marketing start/end date From 22/11/2022 to 16/02/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored at room temperature
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors Detail in list of points of sale
  • List of points of saleList_of_customers_purchase_tablets.pdf

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Exceeding legal limits of Escherichia Coli
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Escherichia coli

France – Yellowfin tuna steak – Histamine

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Fishery and aquaculture products
  • Product brand name great expense
  • Model names or references great expense
  • Identification of products
    Batch Date
    C30620041 Use-by date 08/03/2023
    C30610082 Use-by date 07/03/2023
  • Packaging Plastic tray
  • Marketing start/end date From 03/03/2023 to 04/03/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Whole France
  • Distributors Fresh, Fresh, Monmarché, Biofrais

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Presence of histamine above the regulatory level.

France – DEVIL PALETTE (LS) – Salmonella

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Meats
  • Product brand name COSME BUTCHER
  • Model names or references DEVIL PALLETS (Quantity = 9 units)
  • Identification of products
    Batch Date
    231010 Use-by date 03/16/2023
    231030 Use-by date 03/18/2023
  • Packaging TRAY
  • Marketing start/end date From 06/03/2023 to 09/03/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark EN 72.181.005 EC
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Departments: ORNE (61), SARTHE (72), YVELINES (78)
  • Distributors E LECLERC – SUPER U
  • List of points of sale List_of_clients.pdf

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall Suspicion of the presence of Salmonella
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Salmonella spp (causative agent of salmonellosis)

France – COOKED ROLLED BREAST 4 SLICES – Listeria monocytogenes

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Meats
  • Product brand name GAST
  • Model names or references COOKED ROLLED BREAST BARQUETTE OF 4 SLICES
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3411320501196 23060 Use-by date 03/28/2023
    3411320501196 23060 Use-by date 03/29/2023
  • Marketing start/end date From 07/03/2023 to 29/03/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored in the refrigerator
  • Health mark FR69273009CE
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Regions: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
  • Distributors LECLERC LUX CHAZAL LA RAVOIRE CASINO ST ETIENNE NORTH DOMAINE DE LIMAGNE TAIN L’HERMITAGE SARL PICOT PRIMEURS CASINO TASSIN PROXI SERVICE LES 3 CORKS SPAR CHAMPIER

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall detection of the presence of Listeria
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Listeria monocytogenes (causative agent of listeriosis)

USA – FDA wants infant formula manufacturers to step up work to prevent contamination

Food Safety News

Top FDA officials are calling on manufacturers of infant formula to clean up their act.

In a letter this week Robert M. Califf, FDA Commissioner, and Susan T. Mayne, Director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, addressed concerns about infant formula along the food chain, speaking to manufacturers, packers, distributors, exporters, importers and retailers.

“FDA is sharing this information with you with the expectation that you will act to mitigate potential food safety risks in powdered infant formula in accordance with FDA regulations while further striving to improve operations, especially given the critical nature of these products,” a letter from the FDA leaders states.

“. . . The FDA has reviewed conditions during recent inspections of powdered infant formula manufacturers, including routine surveillance inspections, for-cause inspections to follow up on consumer complaints and other interactions with manufacturers.”

New Zealand – Little Bird Organics brand Good Breakfast Cookie Apple Cinnamon Almond Hemp – Salmonella

MPI

11 March 2023: Little Bird Organics Ltd is recalling specific batches of its Little Bird Organics brand Good Breakfast Cookie Apple Cinnamon Almond Hemp due to the possible presence of Salmonella.

Product identification
Product type Cookie
Name of product (size) Little Bird Organics brand Good Breakfast Cookie Apple Cinnamon Almond Hemp (70g)
Batch marking 60301
Date marking Best Before: 02NOV23 and 16NOV23
Package size and description The product is sold in a single pouch (70g) or box of 12 (may be mixed with other flavours)
Distribution The products include tahini imported from Turkey.

The products are sold online, at the Little Bird Kitchen, New World supermarkets, selected retail outlets and health food stores throughout New Zealand.

The products have not been exported.

Notes This recall does not affect any other Little Bird Organics brand products.

Point of sale notice for retailers

If you are a retailer of the product in this recall, download a copy of the point of sale notice. You need to display it in your store for one month.

Point of sale notice – Little Bird Organics Ltd [PDF, 59 KB]

Consumer advice

Customers are asked to check the batch number and best before date written on the back of the packaging.

Affected products should not be consumed. There have been no reports of associated illness, however if you have consumed any of these products and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.

Customers should return the products to Little Bird Organics Ltd or where the products were purchased from for a full refund and any further enquiries.