Category Archives: Food Toxin

USA – Chipotle hit with $25 Million Food Safety Fine for Norovirus, Clostridium Perfringens Outbreaks

Posted on April 23, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Poison Journal

“Although there is no intentional criminal behavior like there was in the Peanut Corporation of America case that sickened several hundred, killing nine, this hefty food safety fine for negligence, should clearly send a message to the restaurant industry,” said Marler Clark attorney, William Marler.

According to a US Attorney press release today, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. will pay $25 million to resolve criminal charges related to the company’s involvement in foodborne illness outbreaks that sickened more than 1,100 people between 2015 and 2018.

The $25 million criminal fine, the largest ever in a food safety case.

Chipotle was implicated in at least five foodborne illness outbreaks between 2015 and 2018 connected to restaurants in the Los Angeles area, Boston, Virginia, and Ohio.  These incidents primarily stemmed from store-level employees’ failure to follow company food safety protocols at company-owned restaurants, including a Chipotle policy requiring the exclusion of employees who were sick or recently had been sick.

Leave a comment

Posted in Clostridium perfringens, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Poisoning Death, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Norovirus, outbreak, Research, Uncategorized

Singapore – Fruit juice product from Australia recalled due to exceeded level of a mycotoxin

Posted on April 23, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Straits Times

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has recalled a fruit juice product originating from Australia after the level of patulin, a mycotoxin, had exceeded the maximum limit in fruit juice.

The affected product, Pure Tassie Organic Apple and Blackcurrant Juice, is imported by Cold Storage Singapore, which has been told to recall the product.

This is a result of the patulin levels exceeding the action level as detected by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and was subsequently recalled in Hong Kong.

The detected patulin in the juice was at 260 parts per billion (ppb), which exceeded the maximum limit of 50 ppb for fruit juice as stated by SFA.

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Patulin, Uncategorized

Research – CLIMATE CHANGE: UNPACKING THE BURDEN ON FOOD SAFETY

Posted on April 23, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Click to access CA8185EN.pdf

While the impacts of climate change on global food production and food security
are well known, the effects of climate change on food safety are much less so.
Since, the relationship between climate change and food safety hazards is not always
easy to see, this publication, Climate change: Unpacking the burden on food safety,
attempts to provide some clarity. Changes in global food systems and the increased
globalization of the food supply means that populations worldwide are at risk of
exposure to various food safety hazards. This can affect public health, food security,
national economies and international trade. In this already complicated scenario,
the challenges posed by climate change have additional implications that need to be
understood and addressed. This publication is aimed at a broad audience and it is
hoped that everyone who reads this comes away with a realization of the complexity
of the issues at stake and an appreciation of the work that lay in front of us.

Leave a comment

Posted in Food Chemistry, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Poisoning Death, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Research, Uncategorized

USA -What Is Happening to FDA and USDA Food Recalls?

Posted on April 21, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

If you have been a longtime reader of Food Poisoning Bulletin, you may have noticed that food recalls have decreased substantially in the past few months. The USDA has issued three recalls since January 24, 2020: One was issued on February 8, 2020, and two were issued on April 10, 2020. The FDA has had more recalls, with seven in the month of April 2020(including three recalls for enoki mushrooms as part of a Listeria monocytogenes outbreak), but that is far below normal. What is happening to FDA and USDA food recalls?

Interestingly RASFF  Alerts in Europe are also down?

 

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Recall, Uncategorized

Hong Kong – Not to consume a kind of bottled fruit juice drink contaminated with patulin

Posted on April 21, 2020 by | Leave a comment

CFS

Food Product A sample of a bottled fruit juice drink imported from Australia
Product Name and Description Product name: Organic Apple & Blackcurrant Juice
Brand: Pure Tassie
Country of origin: Australia
Importer/Distributor: PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Volume: 1.5 litre per bottle
Best-before date: October 6, 2020
Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The test result showed that the sample contained patulin at a level of 260 parts per billion (ppb), exceeding the action level of 50 ppb adopted by the CFS.
  • Patulin mostly occurs in rotten apple and its products. Animal studies showed that ingesting high doses of patulin can induce liver, spleen and kidney damage, as well as toxicity to the immune system. For humans, nausea, gastrointestinal disturbances and vomiting have been reported.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • The CFS has informed the importer/distributor concerned of the irregularity. The importer/distributor has stopped sale and removed from shelves all batches of the affected product and initiated a recall according to the CFS’ instructions.
  • Prosecution will be instituted should there be sufficient evidence.
  •  The CFS will alert the trade, continue to follow up on the case and take appropriate action to safeguard food safety and public health.
Advice to the Trade
  • Stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess them.
Advice to Consumers
  • Not to consume the affected products.
Further Information The CFS press release

Members of the public may call the importer/distributor’s hotline at 2606 8658 for enquiries about the recall during office hours.

Centre for Food Safety

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, mold, Mould Toxin, Moulds, Mycotoxin, Patulin, Uncategorized

New Zealand – Shellfish biotoxin alert – Croisilles Harbour in the Marlborough Sounds

Posted on April 20, 2020 by | Leave a comment

MPI

he Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) today issued a public health warning advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish harvested in Croisilles Harbour in the Marlborough Sounds.

Routine tests on shellfish samples taken from this region have shown levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins above the safe limit of 0.8 mg/kg set by MPI. Anyone eating shellfish from this area is potentially at risk of illness.

Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

Symptoms typically appear between 10 minutes and 3 hours after ingestion and may include:

  • numbness and a tingling (prickly feeling) around the mouth, face, and extremities (hands and feet)
  • difficulty swallowing or breathing
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  • paralysis and respiratory failure and in severe cases, death.

If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued, phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately. You are also advised to contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.

Monitoring of toxin levels will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly. Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets, or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by MPI to ensure they are safe to eat.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in Algal Toxin, Biotoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, PSP, shellfish toxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Dried Figs – Groundnut Kernels -Roasted Pistachios

Posted on April 17, 2020 by | Leave a comment

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 10.6; Tot. = 20.6 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in France

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 27; Tot. = 32 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from India in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 37; Tot. = 38 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted pistachios from Turkey in Belgium

Leave a comment

Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alert- STEC E.coli – E.coli O157 = Sliced Pepperoni

Posted on April 17, 2020 by | Leave a comment

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (O157) in sliced pepperoni from Germany, packaged in the United Kingdom in the UK

Leave a comment

Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, RASFF, STEC E.coli, Uncategorized

Ireland – Recall of a Batch of Co-op Sliced Pepperoni Due to Presence of E.coli O157

Posted on April 16, 2020 by | Leave a comment

FSAI

Summary
Category 1: For Action
Alert Notification: 2020.20
Product: Co-op Sliced Pepperoni, pack size: 70g, approval number: DE NW 20158 EG
Batch Code: Use by date: 19.05.2020
Country Of Origin: uk

Message:

Co-op is recalling the above batch of its Sliced Pepperoni due to the detection of E.coli O157.  Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores supplied with the implicated batch.

Nature Of Danger:

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), also known as Verocytotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC), are a specific group of E. coli.  While most E. coli are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans, STEC produce a powerful toxin which can cause severe illness. Symptoms include abdominal cramps and diarrhoea which is sometimes bloody. Usually there is little or no fever, and patients recover within 5 to 10 days.  In some people however, particularly children under 5 years of age and the elderly, the infection can cause a complication called haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), in which the red blood cells are destroyed and the kidneys can stop working properly.

Action Required:

Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers:

Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and to display a point-of-sale recall notice in stores where the affected batch was sold.

Consumers:

Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.

Leave a comment

Posted in E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, FSAI, STEC E.coli, Uncategorized

USA – Light start for foodborne illness outbreaks in 2020

Posted on April 16, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Almost one-third of the year is in the rearview mirror at the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta and only two new multistate outbreaks of foodborne illnesses are on the books.

A dangerous outbreak of Listeriosis bubbled up out of Michigan late February involving Enoki mushrooms grown in South Korea. In its latest report on April 8, the CDC reported 36 confirmed cases in 17 states that involve 30 hospitalizations and four deaths.

As of March 19, the second outbreak involving the rare E.coli O103 had sickened 39 people in six states with two hospitalizations and no deaths. Clover sprouts are blamed for the second active outbreak of 2020.

The two foodborne illnesses outbreaks are small potatoes when compared to the COVID-19 outbreak that by April 15 infected 641,315, resulting in 28,386 deaths. By this point in a more typical year, CDC usually is working on a half dozen or more multistate foodborne outbreaks.

Leave a comment

Posted in E.coli, E.coli O103, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, Uncategorized