Category Archives: Food Standards Agency

UK – FSA Recall – Koon Yick Wah Kee Rose Bean Curd (Tofu) and Chilli Bean Curd (Tofu) due to contamination with Bacillus cereus and yeasts

Posted on December 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA – food_standards_agency_logo

Heads of Environmental Health and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware of a recall associated with rose bean curd tofu and chilli bean curd tofu originating from China via the Netherlands. The Dutch importer Liroy B.V, is recalling all affected batches.

The two affected products have shown to be contaminated with Bacillus cereus and several different yeast varieties. The affected products have been distributed widely throughout the UK. Pictures are attached for ease of identification.

The levels of Bacillus cereus detected render the product a potential health risk.

Identification of the affected products:

1) Koon Yick Wah Kee – Rose Bean Curd (Tofu) 454g. Best Before Date 30.12.14 Lot number 023424

2) Koon Yick Wah Kee – Chilli Bean Curd (Tofu) 454g. Best Before Date 30.12.14 Lot Number 023421

Actions to be taken by local authorities.

Local authorities are requested to identify and make contact with relevant retailers in their area who may sell the implicated product. If implicated products are found during the course of their investigations, enforcement officers should ensure that the specific lot code and ‘best before’ date are withdrawn from sale and destroyed, if necessary, using powers under the Food Safety Act 1990.

Local authorities should report any finding of the implicated product by emailing the FSA’s dedicated Food Incidents mailbox: foodincidents@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk

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Posted in Bacillus cereus, Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Microbiology, Moulds, Pathogen, Recall

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HPA – Scotland Cryptosporidum Increase 2012

Posted on December 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

HPA Scotland763px-Cryptosporidium_parvum_01

By the end of the first 50 weeks of 2012, 684 cases of cryptosporidiosis had been reported to Health Protection Scotland. This was an increase of 256 (60%) over the same period in 2011.

In weeks 41-44 of 2012, 128 cases were reported. This was an increase of 84 (191%) over the same period in 2011. In weeks 45-48 of 2012, 74 cases were reported, an increase of 38 (106%) over the same period in 2011. However, in the first two weeks of the current period (weeks 49-52) of 2012, only 17 cases have been reported. In weeks 49-52 of 2011, a total of 39 cases were reported so the figure for weeks 49-52 of 2012, thus far, is unremarkable.

 

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Posted in Cryptosporidium, Food Standards Agency, HPA, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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HPA- Norovirus Update

Posted on December 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

HPANorovirus

Figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that there were 337 confirmed laboratory reports of norovirus in the week ending December 9 2012 and 236 for the week ending 2 December 2012. The latest weekly report is now published.

In this season to date there have been 3,046 confirmed laboratory reports of norovirus. This is 83 per cent higher than the same period in the last season when there were 1,669 cases reported.

The figures for the number of hospital outbreaks show that there were 61 hospital outbreaks during the last two weeks up to December 16 2012. In the same fortnight in the previous year there were 35 outbreaks reported by the same time.

The data show that the increase in norovirus laboratory reports is earlier this season than in previous years; however, there are no indications as to why this is the case.

BBC – Schools Norovirus

BBC – Hospital Norovirus

BBC – Hospital Norovirus

Guardian – Norovirus

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hepatitis A, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, outbreak, Pathogen, Virus

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UK – FSA – Recall Harrods Date and Tea Cake – Moulds

Posted on December 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA

Harrods Ltd recalls specific codes of its own-brand Date and Tea Fruit Cake due to mould spoilage.

FSA

Harrods has recalled some packs of its own-brand Date and Tea Fruit Cake as some products have developed signs of mould spoilage. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Spoilage, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Microbiology, Moulds, Recall

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UK – FSA – Christmas Food Safety Information

Posted on December 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSAfood_standards_agency_logo

The Food Standards Agency has traditionally used the festive season to remind consumers about food safety. This year, we are planning a twist on this tradition. During the run up to Christmas, we will be tweeting daily tips, hosting an online advent calendar and a festive infographic with all the tips you need to make sure your Christmas meal is fit for kings.

As we get closer to the big day itself, we will be encouraging you to share your Christmas food pictures, stories and questions regarding cooking at Christmas across our social networks including Facebook and Pinterest. We’re also teaming up with NHS Choices to host a series of tweet chats on 19, 20 and 21 December.

Join in the conversation this Christmas and follow us on Twitter @foodgov.

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Posted in Food Standards Agency, Research

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UK – FSA – Sainsbury’s recalls own-brand Red Tree Iced Rich Fruit Cake – Mould Spoilage

Posted on November 29, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA

Sainsbury’s has recalled all packs of its own-brand Red Tree Iced Rich Fruit Cake because some products have developed signs of mould spoilage. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice

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Posted in Food Safety, Food Spoilage, Food Standards Agency, Moulds, Recall

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UK – FSA – The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) 2011 Annual Report.

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA 

The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) has published its 2011 annual report.

It covers the work of the committee for the calendar year 2011. The committee advises the Food Standards Agency on the microbiological safety of food

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Research

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UK – FSA – Sunland and USA Peanut Butter Outbreak Hits UK

Posted on November 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning consumers not to eat certain peanut butter and peanut-based products which have been imported from the US because of possible contamination with salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium that causes food poisoning. The Agency has issued a Food Alert for Action.

An outbreak of a strain of salmonella called Salmonella Bredeney in the US has been linked to peanut butter produced by a company called Sunland Inc. As a result, the manufacturer is recalling a wide range of peanut butter and peanut-based products. Other products containing nuts and seeds are also being recalled.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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FSA – Food Handlers with Food Poisoning

Posted on October 23, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSA

The Food Standards Agency is reminding those who work with food and are suffering from symptoms of food poisoning, or those in close contact with someone who is, to stay away from work and see their GP. This is in light of the current outbreak of E.coli O157 in Northern Ireland.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Hygiene

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BBC – School in Leeds Hit by Shigella

Posted on October 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BBC

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) said pupils and staff at Cross Lane Primary School in Elland had been affected by the Shigella bacteria, which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

The HPA said that nine cases had been confirmed and more than 50 people had displayed symptoms over the last three weeks.

The school will reopen on 15 October.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, HPA, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Shigella

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