Category Archives: Food Toxin

Russia – Six botulism deaths in Volgograd in first half of 2020

Outbreak News Today

Officials in the Volgograd region in Southern Russia have reported 60 botulism cases in the first half of 2020.

Of the sixty cases, six fatalities were reported.

About 200 people suffer from this severe disease affecting the central nervous system in the region every year. Now the inhabitants of the region are actively engaged in the preparation of homemade canned food for the winter.

This has prompted the Office of Rospotrebnadzor in the Volgograd region to put some restrictions.

Experts advise against buying pickles on the street and homemade smoked meats. Housewives should not reduce the amount of salt and vinegar or shorten cooking time during home preservation.

Canada – Érablière Godbout brand “Sauce spaghetti” recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria – Clostridium botulinum

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, September 27, 2020 – Érablière Godbout is recalling Érablière Godbout brand “Sauce spaghetti” from the marketplace because it may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Érablière Godbout Sauce spaghetti 500 mL None All units where the label does not mention “Keep Refrigerated”
Érablière Godbout Sauce spaghetti 1 L None All units where the label does not mention “Keep Refrigerated”

What you should do

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

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

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 recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

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

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Érablière Godbout – "Sauce spaghetti" (label)
  • Érablière Godbout – "Sauce spaghetti" (ingredients)

Canada – Provigo brand ground beef products recalled due to E. coli O157

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, September 27, 2020 – JBS Food Canada is recalling Provigo brand ground beef products from the marketplace due to possible E. coli O157 contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold at Provigo Hull, 1 du Plateau, Gatineau, Quebec.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Provigo Medium ground beef club pack Variable Starts with 0 213026 All packages bearing Best Before 16.SE2020 or 17.SE2020 or 18.SE2020
Provigo Lean ground beef fresh club pack Variable Starts with 0 217334 All packages bearing Best Before 16.SE2020 or 17.SE2020 or 18.SE2020

What you should do

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

Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with E. coli O157 may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, mild to severe abdominal cramps and watery to bloody diarrhea. In severe cases of illness, some people may have seizures or strokes, need blood transfusions and kidney dialysis or live with permanent kidney damage. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This recall was triggered by the company. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled products from the marketplace.

Illnesses

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

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Provigo – Lean ground beef fresh club pack
  • Provigo – Medium ground beef club pack

Research – Association between Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 stx Gene Subtype and Disease Severity, England, 2009–2019

CDC

Abstract

Signs and symptoms of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroup O157:H7 infection range from mild gastrointestinal to bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). We assessed the association between Shiga toxin gene (stx) subtype and disease severity for »3,000 patients with STEC O157:H7 in England during 2009–2019. Odds of bloody diarrhea, HUS, or both, were significantly higher for patients infected with STEC O157:H7 possessing stx2a only or stx2a combined with other stx subtypes. Odds of severe signs/symptoms were significantly higher for isolates encoding stx2a only and belonging to sublineage Ic and lineage I/II than for those encoding stx2a only and belonging to sublineage IIb, indicating that stx2a is not the only driver causing HUS. Strains of STEC O157:H7 that had stx1a were also significantly more associated with severe disease than strains with stx2c only. This finding confounds public health risk assessment algorithms based on detection of stx2 as a predictor of severe disease.

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Watermelon Seeds – Shelled Pistachios – Fish Massala Spice Mix – Groundnuts – Hazlenut Meal

European Food Alerts

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 3.3. µg/kg – ppb) in watermelon seeds from Turkey in Germany

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 23; Tot. = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled pistachios from Iran in France

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 13.8; Tot. = 15.1 µg/kg – ppb) in fish massala spice mix from Pakistan in Greece

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 5.6; Tot. = 5.6 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts in shell from China in Spain

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 27.2; Tot. = 58.8 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut meal from Georgia in Bulgaria

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 66.7; Tot. = 110 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Togo in Belgium

RASFF Alert – STEC E.coli – Chilled Steak Sausage

European Food Alerts

RASFF

shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx1, stx2, eae, v. 14 /25g) in chilled steak sausage from the Netherlands in the Netherlands

RASFF Alert – E.coli – Live Clams

European Food Alerts

RASFF

too high count of Escherichia coli (up to 1300 MPN/100g) in live clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) from Greece in Italy

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Certain Manila clams may be unsafe due to a marine biotoxin which causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, September 24, 2020 – The food recall warning issued on September 22, 2020 has been updated to include additional distribution information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Evergreen International Foodstuffs Ltd. is recalling certain Manila clams from the marketplace due to a marine biotoxin which causes PSP. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

These Manila clams may also have been sold in bulk or in smaller packages with or without a label and may not bear the same brand, product name, or code as described below.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size Code
Evergreen Int’l Foodstuffs Ltd. Manila clams 25 lb. Harvest Date: Sep 16, 2020
Processing Date: Sep 17, 2020
Harvest Location: B.C. 17-20
Lot# 21057

What you should do

Check to see if you have the recalled product in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased. If you are unsure of the source of the clams, check with your place of purchase.

Paralytic shellfish toxins are a group of natural toxins that sometimes accumulate in bivalve shellfish that include oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and cockles. Non-bivalve shellfish, such as whelks, can also accumulate PSP toxins. These toxins can cause PSP if consumed. Symptoms of PSP include tingling and numbness of the lips, tongue, hands and feet, and difficulty swallowing with an onset of a few minutes and up to 10 hours after consumption. In severe situations, this can proceed to difficulty walking, muscle paralysis, respiratory paralysis and death.

Background

This recall was triggered by CFIA test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled product from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Public enquiries and media

Company information
Evergreen International Foodstuffs Ltd.: 604-253-8835
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

India – 32 people including a child hospitalised in Aizawl due to food poisoning

Nenow

At least 32 people, including a 10- year-old boy, from the eastern part of Aizawl, have been admitted to hospitals, including a makeshift centre, due to food poisoning.

The people suffered from food poisoning after consuming fermented soybean, a health official said on Wednesday.

At least 53 people have been affected by food poisoning due to consumption of fermented soybean sold by a woman in the neighbourhood, he said.

Of the 53 people, 3 have been admitted at nearby Greenwood hospital, Aizawl civil hospital and 28 people were admitted in a makeshift hospital arranged by the government at a Presbyterian church hall at Chite Veng on the behest of the local MLA and minister Robert Romawia Royte since Tuesday night, Lalzawmliana said.

Canada – Certain Manila clams may be unsafe due to a marine biotoxin which causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, September 22, 2020 – Evergreen International Foodstuffs Ltd. is recalling certain Manila clams from the marketplace due to a marine biotoxin which causes Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

These Manila clams may also have been sold in bulk or in smaller packages with or without a label and may not bear the same brand, product name, or code as described below.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size Code
Evergreen Int’l Foodstuffs Ltd. Manila clams 25 lb. Harvest Date: Sep 16, 2020
Processing Date: Sep 17, 2020
Harvest Location: B.C. 17-20
Lot# 21057

What you should do

Check to see if you have the recalled product in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased. If you are unsure of the source of the clams, check with your place of purchase.

Paralytic shellfish toxins are a group of natural toxins that sometimes accumulate in bivalve shellfish that include oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and cockles. Non-bivalve shellfish, such as whelks, can also accumulate Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins. These toxins can cause Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) if consumed. Symptoms of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) include tingling and numbness of the lips, tongue, hands and feet, and difficulty swallowing with an onset of a few minutes and up to 10 hours after consumption. In severe situations, this can proceed to difficulty walking, muscle paralysis, respiratory paralysis and death.

Background

This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled product from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Evergreen Int'l Foodstuffs Ltd. - Manila clams

Public enquiries and media

Company information
Evergreen International Foodstuffs Ltd.: (604) 253-8835
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