Category Archives: Food Toxin

USA-Northern Fisheries LTD. Voluntary Expanded Tuna Recall Press Release

FDA

Northern Fisheries LTD of Little Compton, RI, has expanded their voluntary recall of frozen, wild-caught yellowfin Tuna Medallions (product of Vietnam) to include product sold directly to consumers. This recall is due to potentially elevated levels of histamine. Elevated levels of histamines can produce an allergic reaction called scombroid fish poisoning that may result in symptoms that can generally appear within minutes to several hours after eating the affected fish.

The most common symptoms of histamine or scombroid fish poisoning are tingling or burning sensation in the mouth, facial swelling, rash, hives and itchy skin, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; these symptoms usually resolve within several hours without medical intervention. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. If symptoms are severe an individual should seek immediate medical attention for treatment.

These tuna products were sold to customers in: CT, MI, MN, RI and WI.

ALL LOTS WITH PRODUCTION DATE: 06/13/2019 UPC Code: 815838020638

Production date and UPC Code can be found on back of the Tuna King Brand rider card.

BRAND DESCRIPTION PRODUCTION DATE: NORTHERN
LOT #
UPC CODE
Tuna King Tuna Medallions 2-3oz 10x1lb 06/13/2019 0058797 815838020638

Customers who received products with the listed Production Date of: 06/13/2019 should not consume them and should discard them immediately.

Customers with questions or concerns may contact Northern Fisheries LTD by calling (401) 592-0600, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern Time or email.

northfish@northfishltd.com

India -High Aflatoxin level in milk

All About Feed

After a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) report revealed a cancer-causing substance Aflatoxin M1 in milk samples, the government in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu decided to form a high-level committee that will look into this.

The committee comprising officials from the state food safety, health, and animal husbandry departments, Tamil Nadu Co-operative Milk Producers’ Federation Limited, Tamil Nadu Veterinary, and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) and some research agencies will study the report and will also take samples to find out the reasons and how the toxin managed to enter in the animal food chain.

Canada – Canada reports US Romaine Lettuce may have sickened at least one Citizen – E.coli O157

Food Poison Journal Eurofins Food Testing UK

Although an outbreak is not occurring in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has identified one Canadian illness with a similar genetic fingerprint to illnesses reported in the U.S. investigation.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed that romaine lettuce from the affected areas reported in the U.S. investigation is imported to Canada at this time of year. The CFIA has taken measures to protect consumers and is implementing new actions at the border to ensure that any affected romaine lettuce products are no longer being imported into Canada.

As a result of the U.S. outbreak investigation and its link to product on the Canadian market, the Public Health Agency of Canada is advising Canadians to follow the U.S. CDC’s public health advice, which advises consumers to not eat, and retailers and food service establishments to not sell or serve, any romaine lettuce harvested from the Salinas, California growing region in the U.S. Romaine lettuce harvested in Canada is not affected by this advice.

Hong Kong -Not to consume romaine lettuce produced in Salinas, California, US – E.coli O157

CFS

Issue Date 23.11.2019
Source of Information US authorities
Food Product Romaine lettuce produced in the US
Product Name and Description Product name: baby spring mix
Brand: organicgirl
Place of origin: Salinas, California, US
Net weight: 5 ounces /142 grams
Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notice from the US Food and Drug Administration about the investigation of an outbreak of E. coli infections that was likely linked to the consumption of romaine lettuce produced in Salinas, California, which was suspected to be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
  • For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately suspended the import into and sale within Hong Kong of romaine lettuce produced in the area concerned.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • CFS has informed the US authorities concerned of the import suspension and alerted the trade to the incident.
  • The Centre will continue to follow up on the incident and take appropriate action.
Advice to the Trade
  • Stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately if they possess them.
Advice to Consumers
  • Not to consume the affected batches of the products if they have purchased any.
Further Information The CFS press release

Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer at 2299 1133 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

USA – E. coli O103 illnesses in Tennessee prompt Ground Beef Recall

Food Poison Journal

K2D Foods, doing business as (DBA) Colorado Premium Foods, a Carrolton, Ga. establishment, is recalling approximately 113,424 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O103, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The raw ground beef items were produced on March 26, March 29, April 2, April 5, April 10, and April 12, 2019.  The following products are subject to recall:

  • Two 24-lb. vacuum-packed packages in cardboard boxes containing raw “GROUND BEEF PUCK” with “Use Thru” dates of 4/14/19, 4/17/19, 4/20/19, 4/23/19, 4/28/19, and 4/30/19.

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 51308” inside the USDA mark of inspection on the boxes. These items were shipped to distributors in Port Orange, Fla. and Norcross, Ga. for further distribution to restaurants.

USA -E. coli HUS Outbreak: Forty Sick, CDC Says Avoid All Romaine From Salinas, CA

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The CDC just posted a food safety alert, telling consumers that in the wake of the newest E. coli HUS outbreak, they should avoid buying or eating all romaine lettuce from the Salinas, California growing region until more information is available. This is an echo of the same advice from the CDC last April, when another, deadly E. coli O157:H7 outbreak was linked to romaine. The advice in 2018 was to avoid all romaine lettuce until officials found the source.

This newest outbreak is growing by leaps and bounds. Now 40 people in 16 states are sick. That’s an increase of 23 more patients and 8 more states in just the last two days. Twenty-eight people have been hospitalized, which is a very high percentage of cases. Five people have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is a type of kidney failure.

Forty Sick in E. coli HUS Outbreak: CDC Says Avoid All Romaine From Salinas, CA

Canada -Bonduelle brand salad products may be unsafe due to E. coli O157:H7

CFIA

Ottawa, November 22, 2019 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the products described below due to E. coli O157:H7.

The following products have been sold in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick and may have been distributed in other provinces or territories.

Products

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Bonduelle Caesar Salad with Chicken and Bacon 174 g 0 77745 27111 8 Use by:
10/29/2019
Bonduelle Chef Inspired Salad with Turkey & Ham 220 g 0 77745 27113 2 Use by:
10/31/2019
Bonduelle Cobb Salad with Turkey & Bacon 206 g 0 77745 27112 5 Use by:
10/31/2019
Bonduelle Santa Fe Style Salad with Chicken 177 g 0 77745 27114 9 Use by:
10/31/2019

Background

This warning was triggered by a recall in another country. 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 in Canada. However, the Public Health Agency of Canada has issued guidance to Canadians with regard to all types of romaine lettuce from Salinas, California, please refer to the Public Health Notice for additional information.

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Bonduelle Caesar Salad with Chicken and Bacon
  • Bonduelle Chef Inspired Salad with Turkey & Ham
  • Bonduelle Cobb Salad with Turkey & Bacon
  • Bonduelle Santa Fe Style Salad with Chicken

USA -Missa Bay, LLC Recalls Salad Products Due to Possible E. coli O157:H7 Contamination

FSIS USDA

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2019 – Missa Bay, LLC, a Swedesboro, N.J. establishment, is recalling approximately 75,233  pounds of salad products that contain meat or poultry because the lettuce ingredient may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The salad products items were produced from October 14, 2019 through October 16, 2019. The products subject to the recall can be found on the following spreadsheet. [View Labels (PDF only)]

The products subject to recall bear establishment number “EST. 18502B” inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to distribution locations in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin.

As part of a foodborne illness outbreak investigation, the Maryland Department of Health collected an unopened package of Ready Pac Bistro Chicken Raised Without Antibiotics Caesar Salad with FSIS EST number 18502B on the label. The state collected and tested individual ingredients in the salad and the lettuce tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. All products from the same lot of lettuce are included in the recall.

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin -Dried Figs – Shelled Peanuts – Roasted and Salted Pistachios – Groundnut Kernels – Corn – Chia Seeds

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 57; Tot. = 195 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Spain, via the Netherlands in Belgium

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 19.27; Tot. = 43.1 / B1 = 61.58; Tot. = 68.92 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 10.7; Tot. = 21.3 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Poland

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 12.2; Tot. = 16.0 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 3.9 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled peanuts from the United States in Spain

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 12.6 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted and salted pistachios in shell from Turkey in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins in dried figs from Turkey in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 3.9 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from China in Greece

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 26.3; Tot. = 67.8 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 11; Tot. = 12 µg/kg – ppb) in corn from Serbia in Slovenia

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.3; Tot. = 9.2 µg/kg – ppb) in chia seeds from Paraguay in the Netherlands

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Dried Grapes – Dried Figs – Dried Raisins – Childrens Organic Fruit and Oat

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – ochratoxin A (17 µg/kg – ppb) in dried grapes from Turkey in France

RASFF – ochratoxin A (156.9 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF – ochratoxin A (16 µg/kg – ppb) in dried raisins from Uzbekistan in Latvia

RASFF – ochratoxin A (17 µg/kg – ppb) in dried raisins from Turkey, via Italy in Slovenia

RASFF – ochratoxin A (up to 1.5 µg/kg – ppb) in children’s organic fruit and oat from the United Kingdom in Finland