Category Archives: Illness

Further Peanut Butter Product Recalls -Salmonella

Posted on October 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Gretchen’s Shoebox is recalling products because they were made with Justin’s Nut Butter that has been recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. The Justin’s product was made with Sunland ingredients that have been recalled and linked to a Salmonella Bredeney outbreak in the United States.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Xan Confections is recalling 13 of its gourmet peanut butter chocolate products because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. The products were made with Sunland ingredients, which have been recalled and linked to a Salmonella Bredeney outbreak in the U.S.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Late July Snacks, LLC, is recalling Organic Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers becasue they were made with Sunland peanut butter, which has been recalled for possible Salmonella contamination. One of Sunland’s products, Trader Joe’s Valencia Peanut Butter, has been linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Bredeney in the United States that has sickened at least 30 people.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

Dutch US Smoked Salmon – Salmonella Hundreds Sick

Posted on October 2, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BBC

Scores of people in the Netherlands and the US have caught salmonella after eating Dutch smoked salmon, say Dutch health authorities.

About 200 people have fallen ill in the Netherlands along with about 100 people in the US, said the National Institute for Public Health (RIVM).

USA Today

Smoked salmon tainted with salmonella bacteria has sickened hundreds of people in the Netherlands and the U.S., sparking a major recall, health authorities said Tuesday.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment said the salmon has been traced to Dutch company Foppen, which sells fish to many major Dutch supermarkets and to stores around the world, including the U.S.

The institute said in a statement that around 200 people — and likely more — in the Netherlands and more than 100 people in the U.S. have been sickened

Foppen Company producing the products recall list.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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European Recalls – Salmonella, Virus Update

Posted on October 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Denmark – Salmonella in Salad with Salmon

France – The company Asselot Andouille de Vire recalls Andouilles brand Andouille Asselot – Salmonella

Germany Virus Update – Now 8,365 Cases English Translation

 

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella, Virus

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German Foodborne Virus Outbreak 6,500 Cases

Posted on October 1, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Reuters

More than 6,500 German children and teenagers have fallen ill with diarrhea and vomiting that health authorities say has likely been caused by a food-borne virus in meals delivered to schools and day care centers.

Regional health ministries and a top health research institute said youngsters from five of Germany’s 16 states had been affected by the acute gastroenteritis, with the first cases registered on Tuesday. So far, those affected had not suffered any complications.

“All the institutions which have registered cases of the illness so far are probably being provided by the same caterer,” wrote the Robert Koch Institute, which researches and advises the German health ministry on infectious diseases. “This suggests that it is an outbreak caused by food.”

The German government and affected states have established a task force charged with looking for the reason for the illness in order to prevent it spreading any further.

(Reporting By Thorsten Severin, Writing by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Myra MacDonald)

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis E, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, outbreak, Pathogen, Rotavirus

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CFIA Recall – Steaks E.coli O157

Posted on September 26, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the Kirkland brand beef steaks described below because they may be contaminated with E. coliO157:H7.

All beef steaks including the Strip Loin Grilling Steak prepared and sold in variable weight packages from Costco Wholesale store #156, located at 13650, 50th street, Edmonton, Alberta are affected by this alert. These steaks were sold during the period September 4 through 7, 2012 and bear one of the following Packed On dates:

  • 12 / SE / 04
  • 12 / SE / 05
  • 12 / SE / 06
  • 12 / SE / 07

Consumers are advised to contact the above Costco Wholesale store to determine if the beef products in your home freezer are affected.

There have been several confirmed illnesses associated with the consumption of the Kirkland brand Strip Loin Grilling Steaks purchased from the Costco Wholesale store #156 in Edmonton, Alberta.

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

Australian Report on Salmonella – Ready to Eat Nuts

Posted on September 25, 2012 by | Leave a comment

NSW Food Authority

Nuts have traditionally been considered a microbiologically safe product because of their low moisture content (low water activity). However, there have been a number of documented foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls caused by Salmonella in nuts and nut products.

This survey was conducted to gather information on the prevalence of Salmonella and E. coli in ready-to-eat (RTE) nuts and their products sold in Australia, both imported and domestically produced products.

Between January and June 2011, a total of 915 samples were collected from retailers, manufacturers and growers in New South Wales (NSW), the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), Queensland (QLD), Tasmania (TAS), and Western Australia (WA).

Products sampled included pre-packaged and unpackaged, plain and salted nuts and nut products such as flavoured nuts, bars, spreads and sauces.

Excluded were items where nuts were not the major component such as breakfast cereals, dairy products, chocolate covered nuts, fruit and nut mix, and seeds and seed products such as pine nuts.

Nut types included almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, mixed nuts, peanuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts.

Survey Results

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

On-going Problem Salmonella and Small Pet Turtles

Posted on September 21, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CDC

A total of 196 persons infected with outbreak strains of Salmonella Sandiego, Salmonella Pomona, and Salmonella Poona have been reported from 31 states.

  • 36 ill persons have been hospitalised, and no deaths have been reported.
  • 63% of ill persons are children 10 years of age or younger, and 29% of ill persons are children 1 year of age or younger.
  • 55% of ill persons are of Hispanic ethnicity. Information about the association between reptiles and Salmonella is now available in Spanish.

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Posted in Bacteria, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Salmonella

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FSA Scotland Food Survey Report

Posted on September 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSAS

The results from the analysis of food samples collected from Scottish businesses in 2011 have shown a slight increase in the levels of satisfactory samples in comparison with the previous year.

The report has shown that 80% of samples collected in 2011 by local authorities in Scotland and submitted to the UK Food Surveillance System (UKFSS) were satisfactory, a rise of 3% on 2010. Areas where improvements could be made in relation to food handling practices in retail and catering businesses were also identified in the report (see attached).

During 2011, almost 9,200 food samples were collected from Scottish businesses and analysed by the Public Analyst Laboratories in Scotland. More than 5,000 samples were examined microbiologically and a further 4,188 underwent chemical analysis, including tests for contaminants, additives and labelling inaccuracies.

As in previous years, the results of sampling in 2011 show that there were very few issues relating to foodborne pathogens (illness causing organisms). The majority of failures in microbiological testing (83%) were due to the elevated levels of hygiene indicators (bacteria that can be used as indicators of general hygiene practices in food premises) and total bacterial counts (total number of bacteria on a food sample). These are not inherently a hazard but can indicate poor hygiene practices during food preparation and handling.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Spoilage, Food Standards Agency, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Research

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FDA – Cheese Recall – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on September 18, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Peterson Company is recalling Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand cheese that came from its supplier Forever Cheese of Long Island City, NY. Forever Cheese recalled this cheese product due to possible Listeria monocytogenescontamination, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The cheese was sold to distributors, retailers and restaurants in Washington and Oregon states between July 17 and September 10, 2012.

The cheese is Ricotta Salata Frescolina brand, cut into 7 ounce pieces, with manufacturer codes 7022, 7212, 7272 and 7432. There is a total of 390 pounds in distribution.

The potential for contamination was noted after an illness was reported in connection with eating the cheese. Each and every distributor, retailer and restaurant has been contacted in an effort to recall any and all remaining product in the marketplace.

If you believe that you have purchased any of this cheese please contact your distributor or retailer for a full refund. If you have any questions please call Peterson Company 253-249-2453, contact Scott Williams or Kelly Beale Monday through Friday 9 am – 5pm PST and mention Recall, or email Recall@petersoncheese.com.

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

UK – E.coli O157 Cases Confirmed -Not Food Based

Posted on September 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BBC News

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is investigating a string of E. coli cases among visitors to a West Midlands park.

Seven people have been infected by the 0157 strain of E. coli at Sutton Park in Sutton Coldfield over July and August.

Five of the cases involved children under eight years old, the HPA said. All patients have since recovered.

Posters and leaflets have been issued, but the HPA said parents may want to use other parks for the time being.

Dr Roger Gajraj, a consultant with the HPA’s West Midlands East Health Protection Unit (HPU) said: “E. coli O157 can be very serious in young children and can in some instances cause kidney failure.”

The HPA said E. coli O157 was often associated with contact with animals and rural areas that may have been contaminated by animal faeces.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, HPA, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen