Category Archives: Food Testing

RASFF Alert – STEC E.coli – Lamb Carcasses

European Food Alerts

RASFF

shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx+;eae+) in lamb carcasses from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF Alert – Mycotoxin -DON – Wheat

European Food Alerts

RASFF

deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat from the Czech Republic in Germany

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Frozen Minced Chicken – Chicken Broiler Fillets – Black Pepper – Venison Trimmings – Pine Nuts – Broiler Livers – Eggs – Chicken Meat – Chicken Half Breasts

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in frozen minced chicken from Lithuania in Lithuania

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken broiler fillets from Poland in Lithuania

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Poona (present /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Rubislaw (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany 

RASFF

Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen venison trimmings from Spain, via Estonia in Estonia

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Newport (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Javiana (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Schwarzengrund (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF

Salmonella (presence /25g) in pine nuts from Turkey in Italy

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (detected) in environment of egg laying facility from Poland in Poland

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken broiler livers from Poland in Lithuania

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in eggs intended to be processed from Poland in Italy

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in frozen chicken half breasts from Brazil in Spain

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken meat from Hungary, via Slovenia in Italy

Canada – Food Safety Warning – Bottled beef and Bottled chicken made by Robert Waite, sold with no labels, may be unsafe due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria – Clostridium botulinum

CFIA

Advisory details

Ottawa, November 26, 2020 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the Bottled Beef and Bottled Chicken made by Robert Waite (Tignish, PEI), sold with no labels, described below because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum.

Products

Brand Common Name Size UPC Codes on Product Additional Info
None – made by Robert Waite,
Tignish, PEI
Bottled Beef
(no label)
500 mL
(sold in Mason Jars)
None All units sold up to and including November 26, 2020 Sold through classified ads in Prince Edward Island newspapers
None – made by Robert Waite,
Tignish, PEI
Bottled Chicken
(no label)
500 mL
(sold in Mason Jars)
None All units sold up to and including November 26, 2020 Sold through classified ads in Prince Edward Island newspapers

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a food product, call your doctor.

Check to see if you have the affected products in your home. If the products are in your home, do not consume them.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick.

Symptoms in adults can include facial paralysis or loss of facial expression, unreactive or fixed pupils, difficulty swallowing, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking or including slurred speech, and a change in sound of voice, including hoarseness.

Symptoms of foodborne botulism in children can include difficulty swallowing, slurred speech, generalized weakness and paralysis. In all cases, botulism does not cause a fever. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This warning was triggered by CFIA test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of these or other products. If products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through a Food Recall Warning.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Bottled Beef (no label) - 500 mL (sold in Mason Jars)
  •  

  • Bottled Chicken (no label) - 500 mL (sold in Mason Jars)

Public enquiries and media

Public enquiries
Toll-free: 1-800-442-2342 (Canada and U.S.)
Telephone: 1-613-773-2342 (local or international)
Email: cfia.enquiries-demandederenseignements.acia@canada.ca
Media relations
Telephone: 613-773-6600
Email: cfia.media.acia@canada.ca

USA – Hy-Vee Voluntarily Recalls Two Short Cuts Vegetable Mix Products Because of Possible Health Risk – Listeria monocytogenes

FDA

Hy-Vee, Inc., based in West Des Moines, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling two of its Hy-Vee Short Cuts vegetable mix products across its eight-state region (IL, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, SD, and WI) due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes. The potential for contamination was discovered during routine safety sampling at Hy-Vee’s Short Cuts production facility. To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with these products.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria monocytogenes infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

Out of an abundance of caution, Hy-Vee is recalling the following products from all of its stores:

  • Hy-Vee Short Cuts Pot Roast Mix – UPC Code 0272083305352
  • Hy-Vee Short Cuts Grill/Oven Ready Veggie Mix – UPC Code 0272104105992

All affected products have a “Best if Used By” date of Dec. 3, 2020. Photos of the affected product labels are attached. No other Hy-Vee Short Cuts products or products used in Hy-Vee stores are affected by this recall.

Customers who purchased any of these products with these dates should not consume them. Customers are being asked to discard these items or return them to their local Hy-Vee store for a full refund.

Consumers with questions may contact Hy-Vee Customer Care representatives 24 hours a day, seven days a week at (800) 772-4098.

Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 275 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $11 billion annually. The supermarket chain is synonymous with quality, variety, convenience, healthy lifestyles, culinary expertise and superior customer service. Hy-Vee ranks in the Top 10 Most Trusted Brands and has been named one of America’s Top 5 favorite grocery stores. The company’s more than 85,000 employees provide “A Helpful Smile in Every Aisle” to customers every day. For additional information, visit www.hy-vee.com.External Link Disclaimer


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Hy-Vee Customer Care
 (800) 772-4098
Media:
Dawn Buzynski
 (515) 695-3090
 dbuzynski@hy-vee.com

Product Photos

USA – Shenandoah Growers Inc Issues a Limited, Voluntary Recall of Certain Imported Organic Basil Because of Potential Health Risk – Cyclospora

FDA

Shenandoah Growers, Inc (Harrisonburg, VA) out of an abundance of caution, has issued a limited, voluntary recall of approximately 15,000 units in select packages, due to a possible health risk from Cyclospora.

These were packed under branded and private label fresh cut organic certified basil clamshells at its Jefferson, GA facility and Harrisonburg, VA facility with the following lot codes, all with the country of origin of Colombia. Recalled products were distributed to select retail stores between 10/20/2020 and 10/30/2020 in various states including Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Washington DC.

Affected lot codes:

LOT Number:

Brand:

Size:

UPC:

PV14334C296 The Fresh Market 0.5oz 7-37094-23027-2
PV64308E304 Good & Gather 0.5oz 0-85239-12215-0
PV64308C296 Naturally Better 0.5oz 6-07880-20230-4
PV64308A300 Naturally Better 0.5oz 6-07880-20230-4
PV64308D300 Naturally Better 0.5oz 6-07880-20230-4
PV14334E297 Nature’s Promise 4.0oz 6-88267-16220-6
PV14334E297 Nature’s Promise 2.5 oz 6-88267-54893-2
PV14334E297 Nature’s Promise 0.5oz 6-88267-19910-3
PV14334B296 Nature’s Promise 0.5oz 6-88267-19910-3
PV14334C297 O Organics 0.66oz 0-79893-98072-0
PV 14334E297 O Organics 4.0oz 0-79893-98081-2
PV64308B294 Simple Truth 3.0oz 0-11110-00876-3
PV64308D297 Simple Truth 3.0oz 0-11110-00876-3
PV64308E295 That’s Tasty 3.0oz 7-68573-53001-9
PV64308E296 That’s Tasty 2.0oz 7-68573-51510-8
PV64308A298 That’s Tasty 3.0oz 7-68573-53001-9
PV14334C296 Wild Harvest 0.25oz 7-11535-50450-4
PV14334C296 Wild Harvest 4.0oz 7-11535-50323-1
PV14334C296 Wild Harvest 2.0oz 7-11535-50762-8

The Shenandoah Growers recall includes only those clamshells of certified organic basil clearly marked with the affected lot codes listed above. The lot code can be found printed on each clamshell.

This precautionary recall notification is being issued due to an isolated instance in which a package pulled by the Florida Department of Agriculture on 11/2/2020 from a retail store in Florida indicated the potential presence of Cyclospora.

Affected Shenandoah Growers customers have been notified of the recall and instructed to immediately remove and discard recalled products from all store shelves, distribution and other inventories to ensure they are no longer available for sale or consumption.

These products were harvested and packed nearly 4 weeks ago and should no longer be in commerce.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the Cyclospora parasite. A person may become infected after ingesting contaminated food or water. Common symptoms include severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, body aches and fatigue. The infection is treated with antibiotics and most people respond quickly to treatment.

No other Shenandoah Growers products are subject to recall, and the company has no knowledge of any illness reported or related to this product.

Consumers who may have a recalled basil product should discard it immediately and not eat it. Consumers with questions, or to obtain refunds, may contact the Shenandoah Growers Consumer Response Center at 844-896-6939 Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm Eastern time.

Shenandoah Growers takes food safety matters very seriously, and stringently follows all mandated regulations and implements preventive measures designed to minimize potential risks. Shenandoah Growers is working in close coordination with regulatory officials, including the FDA, on this matter.


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Shenandoah Growers Consumer Response Center
 844-896-6939
Media:
Don Helms
 dhelms@thatstasty.com

Product Photos

Norway – Microbiological control of pasteurised and unpasteurised dairy products, 2018

Mattilsynet

The microbiological quality was generally good for the 189 dairy products on the Norwegian market that the Norwegian Food Safety Authority examined in 2018. Nevertheless, we see that there are microbiological challenges in connection with unpasteurised dairy products.

What did we investigate? 189 samples of unpasteurised and pasteurised cheeses and other dairy products produced in Norway and in the EU.
Period: 2018
What were we looking for?

The four categories have been analysed for various disease-causing bacteria (pathogens). These choices are made in order to get the most information for each category.

The different categories are:

PN = pasteurised milk product produced in Norway.

P EU = pasteurised milk product produced outside Norway.

UN = unpasteurised milk product produced in Norway.

U EU = unpasteurised milk product produced outside Norway.
 

The various disease-causing infectious agents we analysed for:

Listeria monocytogenes (pathogen): PN, P EU, UN, U EU, number 189 pcs.

Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) (pathogen): UN, U EU, number 96 pcs.

E. coli (hygiene parameter): PN, UN, U EU, 169 st.

S. aureus (hygiene parameter): UN, number 71 st.

Toxins (enterotoxin) from S. aureus (pathogen): UN, U EU, number 96 pcs.

Salmonella (pathogen): U EU, number 25 st.

What did we find?

Listeria monocytogenes : No detection in 189 samples of dairy product.

Shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC):
One finding in French red cow cheese of cow’s milk ( E. coli O-, stx2 and eae ). A total of 25 unpasteurised milk products produced outside Norway were examined. No findings in 71 unpasteurised milk products from Norway.

Escherichia coli (hygiene parameter):
In 73 pasteurised milk products from Norway, there was a detection and this was above the lower limit value (100 cfu / g) but below the upper limit value (1,000 cfu / g). No E. coli was detected above the detection limit of 10 colony forming units / g sample (cfu / g) in the other samples.

In 61 of the 71 unpasteurised milk products produced in Norway, E. coli was not detected above the detection limit of 10 colony-forming units / g sample (cfu / g). 3 st. (4.2%) was above 100 cfu / g.

In unpasteurised dairy products from the EU (25), 5 (20%) of the products had more than 100 cfu/ g E. coli. There is no microbiological criterion for E. coli in the regulations for unpasteurised cheeses.

Staphylococcus aureus:
Of 71 samples, none exceeded the regulatory limit of 10,000 cfu/ g.

Of the 96 unpasteurised dairy products examined, the enterotoxins AE Toxins (enterotoxins), which some S. aureus can produce , were not detected .

Salmonella was not detected in the 25 samples of unpasteurised milk products produced outside Norway.

Report Link

Kyrgyzstan – reports 28 botulism cases in first 10 months of 2020

Outbreak News Today

kswfoodworld

Image CDC

Health officials in Kyrgyzstan are reporting 28 foodborne botulism cases through Oct. 2020, prompting a warning for the public.

Of the 28 cases, 19 were reported in the Osh region.

In most cases, botulism begins acutely. It can manifest itself in people who ate canned salads or cucumbers, mushrooms, eggplants, other vegetables and meat products the day before.

USA/Canada – Cyclospora sucks: 1060 North Americans sickened in summer Fresh Express outbreak

220px-Cyclospora_cayetanensis_stained

Barf Blog

The parasite, Cyclospora, continues to provide illness and intrigue.

Florida-based Southeastern Grocers has issued a voluntary recall for its “SE Grocers Naturally Better Organic Fresh Cut Basil” following the detection of Cyclospora.

The company says the product was delivered through all of its distribution centers and sold in all its stores, including Winn-Dixie, BI-LO, Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarkets. The basil comes in a 0.5-ounce container with UPC code 6-07880-20230-4.

The latest recall follows a summer outbreak of Cyclospora in the U.S. linked to Fresh Express and private label brand salad products produced at its Streamwood, IL facility that contain iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, and/or carrots.

690 people with laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora infections and who reported eating bagged salad mix before getting sick weren reported from 13 states (Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Wisconsin).

Illnesses started on dates ranging from May 11, 2020 to July 20, 2020.

37 people were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

Canadians in several provinces were also sickened.

Research – Anti‐adhesive effects of sialic acid and Lactobacillus plantarum on Staphylococcus aureus in vitro

Journal of Food Safety

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common food‐borne pathogen that causes severe diseases after adhesion to epithelial cells. Lactobacillus inhibits pathogenic bacterial adhesion and infection. In addition, sialic acid (SA) is widely known for its beneficial biological functions. A new way of reducing the occurrence of diseases and curbing the overuse of antibiotics is ingesting prebiotics and probiotics that regulate the intestinal flora. In this study, we first evaluated the anti‐adhesive effects of several strains of Lactobacillus on S. aureus. The study revealed that the S. aureus adhesion was inhibited by all the strains of Lactobacillus. Besides, the rate of inhibition by L. plantarum Z‐4 was significantly higher than other Lactobacillus species. We then investigated the effects of different SA concentrations (40, 100, 150, 200, and 260 μg/ml) on the growth and adhesion characteristics of L. plantarum and S. aureus. The results showed that SA influences bacterial adhesion by regulating the bacteria’s growth characteristics. Finally, the effects of SA combined with Lactobacillus on the adhesion of S. aureus were assessed by competition, exclusion and displacement methods. SA with a concentration of 260 μg/mL combined with L. plantarum had the highest inhibition effect on the competition assays. In addition, the expression of S. aureus adhesion‐related genes was reduced. This provides a new perspective on the application of SA and/or L. plantarum and its potential to resist adhesion of S. aureus.