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Category Archives: microbial contamination
India – Delhi govt”s food safety dept to start campaign to check buckwheat flour stocks ahead of Navratri – Aflatoxin
New Delhi, Sep 25 (PTI) Delhi government”s Food Safety department will run a campaign ahead of Navrati festival next month to check the stocks of buckwheat flour in the national capital, officials said on Saturday.
Buckwheat flour, popularly known as ”kuttu atta”, if infected with fungus can cause food poisoning owing to development of aflatoxin in it.
Last April, cases of illness due to consumption of spoiled ”kuttu atta” were reported from Delhi”s Kalyanpuri, Trilokpuri and Mehrauli areas, officials said.
“People who consume spoiled ”kuttu atta” may fall ill. So, they should prefer to use packed ”kuttu” four to avoid chances of any fungal infection.,” said Neha Bansal, food safety commissioner of Delhi government.
The loose quantities of these buckwheat flour, if stored in unhygienic condition for long, may develop fungal growth and also get infested with insects. The fungus produces aflatoxin which is harmful for health, she said.
“In view of use of ”kuttu” flour on a large-scale during Navratri. the Food Safety department will conduct special inspection drive ahead of the festival to ensure shopkeepers do not have ”kuttu atta” unfit for consumption,” Bansal said.
The food safety officers in the districts have been asked to visit marketplaces and check samples of buckwheat flour to ensure it is not spoiled. The drive will start soon, said another officer of the department.
”Kuttu” flour is used to cook food by people holding fast on the nine days of Navratri festival. The festival this year will beginning from October 7.
Nearly 500 residents of Kalyanpuri and Trilokpuri in east Delhi had to be admitted to different hospitals in April this year. They had consumed food cooked with ”kuttu” flour after which they had complained of stomachache, vomiting and headache and were treated in hospitals.
Local police had registered a case against a shopkeeper and also arrested him for selling rotten buckwheat flour to the locals in the area.
USA – Georgetown – Testing shows dozens of illnesses at university likely caused by Norovirus.
Laboratory testing has shown that norovirus is behind dozens of illnesses among students and staff at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.
University officials have been working with public health officials since Sept. 21 when about a dozen students reported symptoms consistent with foodborne illnesses, specifically norovirus.
“On Friday evening, our facilities team began deep cleaning and sanitizing of rooms of affected individuals and all common or shared spaces in our campus residential facilities. They have completed 46 student rooms and will be continuing cleaning throughout the day on Saturday (Sept. 25),” according to a statement from university officials.
Pakistan – Hafeez pulls out of National T20 Cup Rawalpindi matches due to food poisoning
Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has pulled out of the Rawalpindi matches of the National T20 Cup due to food poisoning.
“Hafeez will have his blood tests taken today,” said a source. “He will join Punjab Central for the matches in Lahore.”
Punjab Central said that the all-rounder is feeling better already and has been advised to rest by doctors.
A few days ago, the former Pakistan captain had met Prime Minister Imran Khan with PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja and other members of the T20 World Cup squad at the Prime Minister Office.
Hafeez had said it was always “inspirational” to meet his “hero” Prime Minister Imran as the team heads to the T20 World Cup next month.
USA – Salmonella outbreak grows rapidly over past few weeks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an additional 152 Salmonella Oranienburg infections in the multistate outbreak that was first reported earlier this month.
The outbreak, which totals 279 cases to date, has expanded to 29 states. 26 people required hospitalization for their illness, an increase of 8 over the past week.
Texas has reported the most cases with 81, followed by 40 in Oklahoma, 23 in Illinois and 22 in Virginia.
A specific food item has not yet been identified as the source of this outbreak. CDC and public health and regulatory officials in several states are collecting different types of data.
Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, outbreak, Salmonella
USA – Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak in New Jersey ongoing, Additional cases reported
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) reported this week four cases of Legionnaires’ disease in Hamilton Township, Mercer County between May-August 2021, along with an additional reported case from November 2020.
State and local health officials continue to work closely to investigate these cases as part of a larger investigation, which was initiated in August 2020 following a reported cluster of four cases.
Hamilton Township reported two deaths in August 2020 and an additional death was reported late last month in an elderly township resident among the nine reported cases.
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that people can get after breathing in aerosolized water (small droplets of water in the air) containing Legionella bacteria. Symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease include cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle aches, and headaches which are similar to symptoms caused by other respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
Posted in Contaminated water, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Legionella, Legionnaires’ disease, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, outbreak, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
Norway – Analyzes of nutrients, heavy metals and mycotoxins in cereal products 2021
The Institute of Marine Research (HI) has, on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, performed analyzes of nutrients, heavy metals and mycotoxins in grain products. The purpose of the project “Analyzes of nutrients, heavy metals and mycotoxins in grain products” is to obtain nutrient values for the Food Table and control the products for foreign substances.
| What we investigated: |
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| Period: | The analyzes were performed in the period November-December 2019 (sample 1), and in August-September 2020 (sample 2) and five grain products in February 2021 (sample 3). |
| What we were looking for: | The project has provided analysis data for the content of nutrients and foreign substances in grain products from the grocery trade.
The project has provided analytical values for ash, protein, fat, fatty acids, sugars, starch, dietary fiber, β -carotene, thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), pyridoxine (B6), folate, vitamin C , vitamin E, vitamin K1, vitamin K2, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, selenium, iodine, arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, and the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone, T2 HT2 and enniatin for 40 grain products. The grain products in sample 3 (5 products) were only analyzed for fat, protein, ash, starch and dietary fiber. |
| What we found: | The results show that the levels of the heavy metals in the cereal products analyzed are below the limit values that apply to arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury and mycotoxins.
The results show a higher content of dietary fiber in Norwegian grain products than before. This can be explained by the use of an analysis method (AOAC 2009.1) that includes several dietary fiber compounds. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will inform affected companies about the analysis project. |
| Who performed the assignment? | Institute of Marine Research |
Posted in deoxynivalenol, DON, Enniatin, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, T2 HT2, Zearalenone
Research – Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Effect of ε-Polylysine against Salmonella Enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli in Tryptic Soy Broth and Chicken Juice
ε-Polylysine (ε-PL) is a safe food additive that is used in the food industry globally. This study evaluated the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of antibacterial peptides (ε-PL) against food poisoning pathogens detected in chicken (Salmonella Enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli). The results showed that minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged between 0.031–1.0 mg/mL, although most bacterial groups (75%) showed MICs of 1.0 mg/mL. The reduction in the cell viability of pathogens due to ε-PL depended on the time and concentration, and 1/2 × MIC of ε-PL killed 99.99% of pathogens after 10 h of incubation. To confirm biofilm inhibition and degradation effects, crystal violet assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used. The biofilm formation rates of four bacterial groups (Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and multi-species bacteria) were 10.36%, 9.10%, 17.44%, and 21.37% at 1/2 × MIC of ε-PL, respectively. Additionally, when observed under a CLSM, ε-PL was found to induce biofilm destruction and bacterial cytotoxicity. These results demonstrated that ε-PL has the potential to be used as an antibiotic and antibiofilm material for chicken meat processing. View Full-Text
USA – Green Field Farms Dairy Issues Voluntary Recall of Whole Chocolate Milk
Summary
- Company Announcement Date:
- FDA Publish Date:
- Product Type:
- Food & Beverages
- Reason for Announcement:
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Product was not effectively pasteurized.
- Company Name:
- Green Field Farms Dairy
- Brand Name:
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Green Field Farms
- Product Description:
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Whole chocolate milk
Company Announcement
Green Field Farms Dairy of Fredericksburg, Ohio announces a voluntary recall of its Whole Chocolate Milk product, with a code date of 9/29/21, due to a laboratory analysis that indicated this product was not effectively pasteurized.
1,242 units of the affected product were distributed in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware and Washington DC from September 7 through September 16, 2021. This quality issue is isolated to Whole Chocolate Milk with an expiration date of September 29, 2021.
The issue was discovered during routine product testing conducted by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. There have been no reports of illness involving products addressed in this recall, however, individuals exhibiting signs or symptoms of foodborne illness after consuming Green Field Farms Whole Chocolate Milk with an expiration date of September 29th should contact a physician immediately.
If you have purchased this product, please return to the place of purchase to receive a refund. Consumers with questions may call 330-263-0248.
Company Contact Information
- Consumers:
- 330-263-0248
RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed -Salmonella – Fish Meal- Soya Bean Meal – Rapeseed Meal
Salmonella spp. in fish meal from USA in Denmark
Salmonella in salmon-feed from the UK in Denmark and Norway
Salmonella spp. in fishmeal from USA in Denmark
Salmonella Mbandaka in soybean meal, used in feed for poultry from Belgium in France and the Netherlands
Salmonella in soybean meal from Brazil in Poland
Salmonella spp. in rapeseed meal from Germany in Austria, France, Germany and Switzerland
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