Category Archives: Food Toxin

USA – Gramco, Inc. Recalls Hog Grower Pellets because of Elevated Vomitoxin Levels

Posted on September 25, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Company Announcement

Gramco, Inc. of Springville, New York is recalling bags of Hog Grower Pellets because it contains levels of vomitoxin (a mycotoxin) that could be harmful to swine growth and potentially fatal to young swine.

This product has a lot number of 47284 and it was produced on July 8, 2019. The FDA tested a product sample and has determined that the levels of vomitoxin in this lot exceeds its guidelines for swine feed. The FDA notified us of the results and that they were considered too high for swine feed and we took action as soon we learned of it. This product was sold to a retailer in the Bradford, Pa. area and other than that, it was sold to end-users who either had it delivered to their farms for use or picked it up at the plant for use at home. At this point, we have not had any complaints of animal refusal for intake, nor have we had any complaints of animal health issues or worse.

The product in question all went into 50 pound bags that would have the Gramco, Inc. logo on them.

Vomitoxin (Deoxynivalenol) is known to cause vomiting (emesis), ulcer in the mouth, feed refusal, and decreased body weight gain in swine of all age classes. Swine exposure to elevated levels of vomitoxin in feed for extended period may lead to intestinal and liver damages, kidney failure, immune system failure, and eventually death.

Working with the FDA, we are instituting a revised testing program to help prevent this in the future. We look forward to working with you and we apologize for any inconveniences brought on by this incident.

If you have any of these bags left please do not feed them and please contact John Wallace at 716-592-2845 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday thru Friday.

Here is a copy of the tag that would be on the bags with a rubber date stamp of July 8th, 2019 near the top.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:
John Wallace
 716-592-2845

Product Photos

  • Gramco Brand Hog Grower Pellet, Net Wt, 50 lbs

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Posted in Animal Feed, FDA, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Mycotoxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

Hong Kong – Not to consume prepackaged flour batch with possible E. coli O26 contamination

Posted on September 23, 2019 by | Leave a comment

CFS

Issue Date 20.9.2019
Source of Information Food Incident Surveillance System
Food Product A batch of prepackaged flour imported from the United States (US)
Product Name and Description Product name: Unbleached All Purpose Flour

Brand: Gold Medal

Place of origin: US

Net weight: Five pounds per pack

Best-before Date: September 6, 2020
Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The Centre for Food Safety (CFS), through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted a notice by the US Food and Drug Administration that the above-mentioned batch of the product was under recall by the manufacturer as the product concerned might have been contaminated with E. coli O26.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • Upon learning of the incident, the CFS immediately contacted local major importers and retailers for follow-up.
  • Preliminary investigation found that a local importer, the Dairy Farm Company, Limited, had imported about 220 packs of the affected batch of the product. All had been sold out at its outlets. The importer concerned has initiated a recall according to CFS instructions.
  •  The CFS will alert the trade to the incident, continue to follow up and take appropriate action. An investigation is ongoing.
Advice to the Trade
  • Stop using or selling the affected batch of the product concerned immediately if they possess it.
Advice to Consumers
  • Not to consume the affected batch of the product if they have bought it.
Further Information The CFS press release 

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

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O26, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, STEC E.coli, Uncategorized

Research – Soy Nut Butter E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak Studied in Journal of Pediatrics

Posted on September 22, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The Journal of Pediatrics has published a study on the 2017 soy nut butter E. coli O157:H7 outbreak that sickened 32 people, mostly children, in 12 states. That outbreak was linked to I.M. Healthy SoyNut Butter, which is used as a substitute for peanut butter in many daycare settings and schools around the country.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

USA – State Fairs – E.coli O157 Outbreaks are common

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

With the announcement yesterday of the MN State Fair E. coli outbreak that has sickened 11 people and hospitalized six, we were wondering how many other state and county fairs have had these serious outbreaks. Are these E. coli. outbreaks common at local, county, and state fairs?

  • In 2012, a huge E. coli outbreak linked to the Cleveland County Fair in North Carolina sickened 106 people, including 65 children. Thirteen people were hospitalized in that outbreak, and one child died. Fair organizers banned petting zoos at the event after this outbreak.
  • In 2014, another E. coli outbreak in Minnesota was linked to Zerebko Zoo Tran, a traveling petting zoo that goes from fair to fair during the summer months. At least 13 people were sickened in that outbreak.
  • In 2015, an E. coli outbreak associated with the Oxford County Fair in Maine sickened two children; one child died.
  • Also in 2015, an E. coli outbreak at the Red River Valley Fair in West Fargo, North Dakota sickened three children; one child developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure.
  • In 2016, an E. coli outbreak associated with the Washington County Fair in Oregon sickened at least two people.
  • In 2017, an E. coli outbreak at the Mesa County Fair in Grand Junction, Colorado sickened at least eight people.
  • Earlier this year, an E. coli outbreak at the San Diego County Fair sickened 10 people. Three people were hospitalized and one child died.

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Posted in E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, food contamination, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – STEC E.coli – Frozen Beef

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Last two weeks catch up

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (stx1+ /25g) in frozen boneless beef topside from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF – shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli ( stx2+ eae-; stx2+ eae+ present /25g) in frozen beef from Uruguay in Finland

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Posted in eae, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, RASFF, STEC, STX 1, STX 2, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Raisins – Chilli Powder

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Last two weeks catch up

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – ochratoxin A (31.7 µg/kg – ppb) in organic raisins from Lithuania in Denmark

RASFF – ochratoxin A (30 µg/kg – ppb) in raisins from Turkey in France

RASFF – ochratoxin A (23 µg/kg – ppb) in organic raisins from Turkey in France

RASFF – ochratoxin A (30.6 µg/kg – ppb) in organic chilli powder from the United Kingdom in the Netherlands

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

RASFF Alerts – Histamine – Chilled Smoked Tuna – VP Marinated Tuna Loins

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Last two weeks catch up

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – histamine (7122 mg/kg – ppm) in chilled smoked tuna (Thunnus Albacares) from Spain in Italy

RASFF – histamine (1086 mg/kg – ppm) in frozen vacuum-packed marinated tuna loins (Thunnus albacares) from Vietnam in Switzerland

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

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Melon Seeds Powder – Crushed Chilli – Banku Mix – Nutmeg – Groundnuts – Dried Figs – Peanuts – Hazlenuts – Chilli Peppers

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Last two weeks catch up.

RASFF-Logo

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 9.6; Tot. = 12.2 µg/kg – ppb) in melon seeds powder from Togo in Switzerland

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 10.2; Tot. = 10.5 µg/kg – ppb) in crushed chilli from India in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 11.4; Tot. = 13.2 / B1 = 10.1; Tot. = 11.3 µg/kg – ppb) in banku mix from Ghana, via the Netherlands in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 17; Tot. = 21 µg/kg – ppb) in nutmeg from Lebanon in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 58.7; Tot. = 62.8 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Nicaragua in Lithuania

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 13.8; Tot. = 17.1 µg/kg – ppb) in organic whole nutmegs from Indonesia in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 10.9 µg/kg – ppb) and ochratoxin A (38 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Finland

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 4.2; Tot. = 5 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts in shell from China in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 4.1; Tot. = 18.9 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from China in Spain

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 5.1 µg/kg – ppb) in peanuts from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 78; Tot. = 88 / B1 = 38; Tot. = 44 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Egypt in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (Tot. = 17.9 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Azerbaijan in Bulgaria

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 52.6; Tot. = 55.3 µg/kg – ppb) in organic chilli peppers from the United Kingdom in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.4; Tot. = 10.9 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted chopped hazelnut kernels from Azerbaijan, dispatched from Georgia in Bulgaria

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 12 µg/kg – ppb) in organic chilli peppers from India, via the United Kingdom in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6; Tot. = 6.59 µg/kg – ppb) in organic chilli pepper from the United Kingdom in the Netherlands

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

USA -General Mills Recalls Five Pound Bags of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour – E.coli O26

Posted on September 20, 2019 by | Leave a comment

FDA

General Mills announced today a voluntary national recall of five-pound bags of its Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour with a better if used by date of September 6, 2020. The recall is being issued for the potential presence of E. coli O26 which was discovered during sampling of the five-pound bag product. This recall is being issued out of an abundance of care as General Mills has not received any direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product.

This recall only affects this one date code of Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour five-pound bags. All other types of Gold Medal Flour are not affected by this recall.

Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the product affected by this recall. Consumers who have had to discard products covered by this recall may contact General Mills Consumer Relations at 1-800-230-8103 or visit www.generalmills.com/flourExternal Link Disclaimer.

Guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to warn that consumers should refrain from consuming any raw products made with flour. E. coli O26 is killed by heat through baking, frying, sautéing or boiling products made with flour. All surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough.

This voluntary recall includes the following code date currently in stores or consumers’ pantries:

Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose 5LB Flour
Package UPC 016000 196100
Recalled Better if Used by Date 06SEP2020KC

Although most strains of E. coli are harmless, others can make you sick. E. coli O26 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea and dehydration. Seniors, the very young, and persons with compromised immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician. Anyone diagnosed by a physician as having an illness related to E. coli O26 is also urged to contact state and local public health authorities.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O26, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Uncategorized

Research – H test for exclusion: A guide to an intervention approach to lessen the risk of aflatoxin‐contaminated foods in sorely contaminated regions

Posted on September 13, 2019 by | Leave a comment

Wiley Online

Abstract

This research was done on the assumption that the risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development that attributed to the consumption of highly contaminated food (HCF) with aflatoxin, may have a major contribution to the total of expected risk. If this hypothesis is true, it is easy to apply an effective and low‐cost intervention approach by excluding HCF and then subjecting it to treatments before use. To examine this hypothesized, H test for exclusion (Hx) model was developed as a computer program, in order to estimates the daily intake, the margin of exposure, and HCC cases per 105individuals for selected groups of contaminated food samples. To show how this model works, the model was demonstrated in a real example. The obtained results showed that the actual application of excluding HCF would result in a reduction of the expected cancer cases by 58%. Further, this model illustrates comparisons between permitted and nonpermitted samples with regards to international legislation. The model is particularly suitable for regions where contaminated crops and foods are prevalent. It is also convenient for addressing chronic exposure of commonly consumed food commodities to lower contamination levels.

Practical applications

For aflatoxin in contaminated crops, the Hx program can be used in order to estimates the daily intake, the margin of exposure (MOE), and the expected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases per 105. Furthermore, it provides a smooth rapprochement between non‐permitted and permitted samples in accordance with international legislation. In fact, the actual application of the model in regions where contaminated crops and foods are predominant can lead to efficient treatments with limited economic losses by excluding HCF.

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Mycotoxin, Toxin, Uncategorized