Category Archives: Food Toxin

Sweden – Histamine poisoning in Sweden linked to tuna from Vietnam

Food Safety News

Thirty people in Sweden fell ill with scombroid poisoning after eating tuna from Vietnam earlier this month.

The histamine poisoning foodborne outbreak was linked to frozen tuna loins from Vietnam, via the Netherlands.

Local authorities were responsible for the outbreak investigation and tracing of food batches. The Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) is the national contact point for Europe’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).

Mats Lindblad, from the Swedish Food Agency, said about 30 people were sick but no deaths were reported.

“Symptoms were typical for histamine poisoning and included swelling, hives, irregular heartbeat, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting,” he told Food Safety News.

Australia – ALDI PICK’D Cloudy Apple Juice 2L – Patulin

FSANZ

ALDI Stores (a Limited Partnership) is conducting a recall of PICK’D Cloudy Apple Juice 2L. The product has been available for sale at ALDI Stores in WA, SA, VIC, ACT and certain NSW Stores (listed below).

Albion Park Rail, Ambarvale, Ashfield, Auburn, Balgowlah, Bankstown Airport, Bankstown Central, Bass Hill, Batemans Bay, Belrose, Blair Athol, Bondi Junction, Bonnyrigg, Bowral, Broadway, Brookvale, Campbelltown, Canterbury, Casula Mall, Chatswood, Chatswood Place, Chullora, Cooma, Corrimal, Dapto, Darlinghurst, Dee Why, Drummoyne, East Gardens, Eastlakes, Eastwood, Edgecliff, Edmondson Park, Emerald Hills, Engadine, Fairfield Forum, Fairfield West, Fairy Meadow, Frenchs Forest, Galston, Gladesville, Glenfield Park, Goulburn, Griffith, Guildford, Hillsdale, Horningsea Park, Hornsby, Hoxton Park, Hurstville, Kirrawee, Kogarah, Lakemba, Leeton, Leichhardt, Lidcombe, Liverpool, Liverpool Central, Macarthur Shopping Ctr, Macquarie Fields, Macquarie Park, Manly, Maroubra, Marrickville, Menai, Merrylands, Miller, Minto, Miranda,    Miranda Central, Mittagong, Mona Vale, Mosman, Moss Vale, Mt Annan, Mt Kuring gai, Narellan, North Strathfield, North Sydney, Nowra, Queanbeyan, Rhodes, Riverwood, Rockdale, Roselands, Rydalmere, Shellharbour, Tahmoor, Thornleigh, Top Ryde, Ulladulla, Villawood, Vincentia, Wagga Wagga, Warilla, Warrawong, Warriewood, Waterloo, Wentworthville, Westleigh, Wetherill Park, Wolli Creek, Wollongong, Yass , Young

Date markings

Use by Date: 22/05/2020, 29/05/2020, 17/06/2020, 7/07/2020, 15/07/2020, 27/07/2020, 30/07/2020, 7/08/2020 and 11/08/2020

All other Use by Dates available for sale are not affected

Problem

The recall is due to microbial (Mycotoxin – Patulin) contamination.

Food safety hazard

Food products containing Mycotoxin – Patulin may cause illness if consumed.

Country of origin

Australia

What to do​

Customers should not consume this product and return the recalled product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

For further information please contact:

Food Recall Hotline on 1800 709 993

Related links:

RASFF Alert- Aflatoxin – Blanched Groundnut Kernels

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 30.64; Tot. = 39.84 / B1 = 28.51; Tot. = 37.95 µg/kg – ppb) in blanched groundnut kernels from Paraguay in Poland

RASFF Alert – E.coli – Betel Leaves

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – high count of Escherichia coli (up to 400 CFU/g) in betel leaves from Sri Lanka in the UK

RASFF Alert – Animal Feed -Aflatoxin – Feed Groundnuts

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 28.1 µg/kg – ppb) in feed groundnuts from the United States in the UK

Thailand – Dumplings blamed for ‘poisoning’

Bangkok Post

CHACHOENGSAO: Public health officials and police in this eastern province on Monday launched a fact-finding investigation into a food outlet in Ban Pho district after several people fell sick and one died from what was suspected to be food poisoning.

The probe into the dumpling-making outlet in tambon Koh Rai came after a food vendor identified only as Mint reported to police at Ban Pho station and gave details about her supplier.

Local police said about 20 people were rushed to various hospitals with symptoms of food poisoning on May 8 with many of them saying they ate dumplings bought from a street vendor that day. A 66-year-old woman reportedly died due to complications.

Kenya – Kenya prepares to import maize in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic – Aflatoxin

Alliance for Science

Kenya is set to import 4 million bags of maize as the country loses its grain reserves to aflatoxin, a toxin caused by mold.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya told the Senate Committee for Agriculture that maize in the country’s Strategic Grain Reserves is unfit for human consumption as it has been contaminated by aflatoxin, which is known to cause cancer and other health problems.

The loss comes when the country is still struggling with a locust invasion and the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic, both of which have adversely affected the country’s food chain as markets are closed and movement remains restricted in some counties.

“The government is trying to ensure the basic commodities are available for everyone, and hence the need to import maize, which is a staple food in the country,” Munya said. “The maize in the government stores will not be sufficient for a longer period should the pandemic push further.”

In response, Kenya plans to import 2 million bags of white maize for human consumption and an additional 2 million bags of yellow maize for animal feed between end of June and mid-July.

USA – Whatcom County Beaches Closed Due to Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

Food Poisoning Bulletin

According to a press release from the Whatcom County Health Department, Whatcom County beaches have been closed to recreational shellfish harvest because the paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) biotoxin has reached unsafe levels in molluscan shellfish in Drayton Harbor.

USA – Ravioli with E. coli recalled

Food Poison Journal

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert because approximately 70 pounds of raw beef ravioli products, produced by P&S Ravioli Company, a Philadelphia, Pa. establishment, may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

 

Australia – Juicy Isle Pty Ltd — Organic Pure Tassie – Apple and Blackcurrant 350mL and 1.5L, Apple 350mL and 1.5L, Apple and Ginger 1.5L, Apple and Raspberry 350mL and 1.5L

FSANZ

Photograph of Organic Pure Tassie Juice Range

What are the defects?

The recall is due to microbial (mycotoxin patulin) contamination

What are the hazards?

Food products containing mycotoxin (patulin) may cause illness if consumed.

What should consumers do?

Consumers should not drink this product and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information, please contact Juicy Isle Pty Ltd by phone on 03 6274 5999 or via www.Juicyisle.com.au