Category Archives: microbial contamination

Singapore – NEA suspends TungLok Catering at Singapore Expo indefinitely after 190 people fell ill eating catered bento boxes

Mothership

The catering arm of restaurant group TungLok had its licence at the Max Atria at Singapore Expo suspended on Friday, Nov. 23.

This was after hundreds of cases of gastroenteritis has been traced to the consumption of food from TungLok Catering at 1 Expo Drive.

Investigation underway

The National Environment Agency (NEA) is working with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to investigate the cases.

NEA said the suspension of TungLok Catering’s licence will be until further notice.

A total of 190 people had reported symptoms of gastroenteritis as of Friday. None has been hospitalised.

Gastroenteritis is an intestinal condition. Symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea.

It can be caused by a virus or a bacterial infection.

Research – Prevalence, genotyping, serotyping, and antibiotic resistance of isolated Salmonella strains from industrial and local eggs in Iran

Wiley Online Library

Abstract

This present study aimed to evaluate prevalence and characterization of serotypes, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and genotypic profiles of Salmonella isolates in industrial and local eggs from Zanjan province of Iran. A total of 120 egg samples were collected and processed according to bacteriological analytical manual to isolate Salmonella strains from both eggs surface and contents. PCR method and genotyping were used to verify, identification and classification of isolates by screening invA genes and 16 s‐rRNA gene sequencing. Salmonella contamination rate in eggshell and contents of industrial and local eggs were 0% and 1.66%, respectively. High degree of AMR was observed to nalidixic acid and erythromycin. Gene sequencing for each isolates showed more similarity with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium strains.

Practical applications

Salmonella contamination in eggs and the role of healthy chickens as reservoir and distributer of Salmonella in poultry farms can be a common food safety concern for public health. Therefore, Continuous monitoring of presence Salmonella and their antimicrobial resistance is of critical importance. Present study gives an insight of the current statues of egg’s contamination with Salmonella isolates, their antimicrobial resistance, genotupic profile, and epidemiological relationship in Iran.

USA – Norovirus outbreak reported on Holland America’s ‘Volendam’ by News Desk

Outbreak News Today Norovirus Food Safety kswfoodworld

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a norovirus outbreak onboard a recent voyage of Holland America’s cruise ship, Volendam.

According to officials, 77 passenger and crew were sicked during the November 3-18 voyage.

Specimens have been collected, tested onboard, and found to be positive for norovirus. The specimens will be sent to CDC for genome sequencing.

Holland America Group and the crew aboard the ship took the following actions to limit the outbreak to include increased cleaning and disinfection, making announcements to notify onboard passengers and crew of the outbreak, encourage case reporting, and encourage good hand hygiene and sending a team to assist the onboard management with infection control response plans.

The vessel arrived in Ft Lauderdale on Nov. 18.

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Enterobacteriaceae – Raw Pet Food – Frozen Raw Pet Food

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RASFF-too high count of Enterobacteriaceae (>15000 CFU/100g) in raw pet food (chicken) from the Netherlands in Belgium

RASFF-too high count of Enterobacteriaceae (5300 CFU/g) in frozen raw petfood from the Netherlands in Belgium

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Meat Meal – Soybean Meal – Extruded Rapeseed Meal – Dog Chews (Lambs Ears)

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RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in mixed meat meal for petfood from Ireland in Italy

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in soybean meal from Italy in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Montevideo (present /25g) in extruded rapeseed meal from the Czech Republic in the Czech Republic

RASFF-Salmonella ( c = 1, O:3,10,15) in dog chew (lamb ears) from Turkey in Germany

UK – England – The Raw Factory recalls various raw pet food products containing tripe and/or pork as they contain Salmonella

FSA kswfoodworld salmonella

The Raw Factory Ltd is recalling various raw pet food products containing tripe and/or pork because they contain salmonella. See the full list at the link above.

Risk statement

The presence of salmonella in the products listed. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause food poisoning in humans and animals. The product could therefore carry a potential risk, either through direct handling of the pet food, or indirectly for example from food bowls or utensils or contact with the faeces of infected animals. In humans, symptoms caused by salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

Action taken by the company

The Raw Factory Ltd is recalling the above products. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the products. Please see the attached notice.

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Dog Chews – Ground Chicken Carcase – Frozen Dog Food

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RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Derby (present /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium monophasic (1 ,4, [5], 12:i:-) (present /25g) in dog chews from Poland in Austria

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (present /25g) in frozen ground chicken carcasses from the Netherlands in Belgium

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Indiana (in 2 out of 5 samples /25g) and high count of Enterobacteriaceae (up to 70 CFU/g) in frozen dog food from the Netherlands in Belgium

 

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Enterobacteriaceae – Cat and Dog Snacks – Mixed Meat Petfood

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RASFF-too high count of Enterobacteriaceae (up to 8000 CFU/g) in cat and dog snacks from China in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) and too high count of Enterobacteriaceae (4 out of 5 samples between 10 and 110 CFU/g) in mixed meat meal for petfood from Ireland in Italy

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Salmonella – Mixed Meat Petfood – Fish Meal – Liquid Egg

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RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) and too high count of Enterobacteriaceae (4 out of 5 samples between 10 and 110 CFU/g) in mixed meat meal for petfood from Ireland in Italy

RASFF -Salmonella (presence /25g) in fish meal from the United States in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in fish meal from Ecuador in Germnany

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis in liquid egg for pet food from the United Kingdom in the UK

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed -Salmonella – Soy Oilcake – Organic Rape Expeller – Rapeseed Meal – Fish Meal

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RASFF-Salmonella (present /25g) in soy oilcake from Italy in Italy

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. anatum (presence /25g) in organic rape cake expeller from France in Finland

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Tennessee (present /25g) in rapeseed meal from Germany in Finland

RASFF-Salmonella (group C, 0:8 /25g) in fish meal from Mauritania in Germany