Category Archives: Food Toxin

Kenya – Kebs withdraws 17 maize flour brands over high Aflatoxin

Posted on February 3, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Daily Nation

The Kenya Bureau of Standards has suspended 17 maize flour brands, saying they contain high levels of aflatoxin.

In a statement dated January 29, Kebs said the withdrawal of the products from the market followed surveillance and tests.

Among the affected brands are Dola (Eldoret Grain Millers), African King (African Kings Maize Millers), Unique (Ndosha Limited), ML0 (Bidii), City Corn (Central Afya Bora Millers), Sarafina (Century Millers) and Tosha (Godmesa Foods and Allied Limited).

Also withdrawn from the market are Shiba (Grango Suba Millers), Hakika Best (Halisi Maize Mills), Budget (Karibu Four Mills), Wema (Luma Millers Limited) and Jomba (Machakos Millers).

The rest are Adardere Mupa (Mbaitu Maize Million), Afya (Meru Multipurpose Cooperative Society), Uzima (Sigose Unga Millers), Sungura (Eldoret Grain Millers) and Tetema (Eldoret Grains Limited).

While warning of legal action, Market Surveillance Director Peter Kaigwara asked the manufacturers to ensure their products are removed from supermarkets.

Unga wa Dola has not been withdrawn from the market, the manufacturer Kitui Flour Mills has said.

Leave a comment

Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, 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, Uncategorized

UK – Sixteen people food poisoned after eating ‘runny’ uncooked pate at Essex golf club

Posted on February 3, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Essex Live

Sixteen guests were food poisoned and had “cramps and diarrhoea” after eating “runny” uncooked chicken liver pate at an Essex golf club.

The club’s then-operating company Crown Golf Operators Ltd, have now been fined £60,000, after the guests fell ill after eating at Stapleford Abbots Golf Club in Romford on June 17, 2017.

After playing golf that day around 24-25 guests sat down for a three-course meal, which included the pate as a starter and a carvery for mains from a set menu.

Within a day after this meal, 16 of the guests reported being ill. Some of them were ill for up to two weeks and some had to be hospitalised.

On January 29, Crown Golf Operators Ltd, were sentenced at Basildon Crown Court after pleading guilty to placing food on the market at the Romford club that was unsafe and unfit for human consumption.

The head chef at the club, Chris James, who was a co-defendent and had cooked the chicken liver pate, entered a not-guilty plea. At his trial last year, he was offered a formal caution, which he accepted.

Stapleford Abbots Golf Club is currently under new ownership after it was sold and taken over in February 2019.

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Temperature Abuse, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

Canada-Bottled clams from Cielo Glamping Maritime recalled due to potential presence of dangerous bacteria -Clostridium botulinum

Posted on February 3, 2020 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

CDC Clost Spore

Image CDC

Recall details

Ottawa, February 1, 2020 – Cielo Glamping Maritime is recalling bottled clams from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled products

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
None Bottled clams (no label) 500 ml None None – Sold from Cielo Glamping Maritime, 232 Chemin des Huîtres, Haut-Shippigan NB
None Bottled clams (no label) 1 L None None – Sold from Cielo Glamping Maritime, 232 Chemin des Huîtres, Haut-Shippigan NB

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, 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 the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) inspection activities. 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

  • Bottled clams (no label)
  • Bottled clams (no label) - Lid

 

Leave a comment

Posted in CFIA, Clostridium botulinum, 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, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Pistachios – Dried Figs – Hazelnut Kernels

Posted on January 31, 2020 by | Leave a comment

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 8.0; Tot. = 10 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled pistachios from Iran in Greece

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 16.7 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from Iran in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 21.3 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from Iran in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 11.3 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in France

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 17; Tot. = 20.3 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 17; Tot. = 19 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from the United States, dispatched from Turkey

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 8.9 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in France

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6; Tot. = 10 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in France

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, Toxin, Uncategorized

RASFF Alert – Ochratoxin A – Fig Bread with Almonds

Posted on January 31, 2020 by | Leave a comment

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – ochratoxin A (114 µg/kg – ppb) in fig bread with almonds from Spain in Cyprus

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, Ochratoxin, RASFF, Uncategorized

RASFF Alert – Animal Feed – Aflatoxin – Shelled Peanuts

Posted on January 31, 2020 by | Leave a comment

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 25.2 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled peanuts from the United States in the UK

Leave a comment

Posted in Aflatoxin, Animal Feed, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, RASFF, Toxin, Uncategorized

India – 200 Children Fall Ill After Eating Sweets ‘Infected With Fungus’ Distributed During School Celebration

Posted on January 29, 2020 by | Leave a comment

IBTimes

At least 200 students fell ill after eating contaminated sweets distributed during the Republic Day celebrations at a school in the southern Indian state of Telangana on Sunday,

According to local reports, several students complained of vomiting and uneasiness after consuming sweets distributed by the school authorities during the celebration. The students were immediately rushed to local hospitals for treatments.

Confirming the incident, the school authorities said, “We immediately shifted 140 students to government hospital in Makthal for treatment as they had complained of vomiting and stomach ache. While about 40 students are being treated at local primary healthcare in Karni village, others are given first aid and were sent home.”

Speaking to local media, an unidentified student said the sweets were contaminated.

“The sweets distributed were of poor quality and were infected with fungus because of which many students had fallen ill,” the student said.

Leave a comment

Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, 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, Uncategorized

Kenya – Police arrest Embu man over Aflatoxin-laced flour

Posted on January 29, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Daily Nation

  • Acting on a tip-off, the officers raided the trader’s factory at Kianjokoma market and arrested him.
  • Officers also confiscated some flour which will be tested by the Government Chemist in Nairobi.

Leave a comment

Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, food handler, 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, Uncategorized

Argentina/ Iceland -Botulism suspected in Argentina, confirmed in Iceland

Posted on January 29, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Authorities in Argentina are investigating two suspected cases of foodborne botulism linked to a brand of pickled wild boar.

The National Administration of Drugs, Foods and Medical Devices (ANMAT) reported those ill are associated with eating “Escabeche de jabalí” 400-gram of the “Fatto in casa” brand with a date of July 1, 2020, produced by Norma Coatti.

A 27-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man are affected and both needed hospital treatment.

Meanwhile, a case of botulism has been confirmed in Iceland for the first time since 1983.

The Public Health Institute of Iceland (Landlaeknir) revealed an adult began experiencing symptoms on 12 January with poisoning confirmed a week later.

Local health authorities, the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authrority (Matvælastofnun) and Matis, a government owned, non-profit, research company, are trying to find the source of the poisoning with no evidence as yet pointing toward food available on the market.

Leave a comment

Posted in Clostridium botulinum, food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, 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, Uncategorized

USA -New York company recalls cheese in five states after tests find E. coli

Posted on January 27, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Random testing by state officials has found E. coli contamination in cotija cheese, spurring a recall in five states.

The New York company Quesos La Ricura Ltd. is recalling an undisclosed number of packages of the cheese because they may be contaminated with Shiga toxin producing E. coli bacteria, according to test results from Florida inspectors.

Quesos La Ricura Ltd. reported distributing the cheese to retail stores in New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Florida, according to the company’s recall notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The notice did not include any product photographs.

The cheese is packaged on yellow foam trays wrapped in plastic with labels with the following information: “Quesos La Ricura Queso Cotija, Cotija Cheese aged over 60 days” UPC: 7 69087 00933 6 and a weight of 12 oz. “Sell By” date May 20, 2020-3/ May 20, 2020-4.

No illnesses had been confirmed in relation to consumption of this cheese as of the posting of the recall notice.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in E.coli, 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, Uncategorized