Category Archives: Microbiological Risk Assessment

 USA – FDA – Nature’s Promise Organic Raspberries – Moulds

Posted on April 20, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Enforcement Report

Event ID: 92011

Voluntary / Mandated:

Voluntary: Firm initiated

Product Type: Food

Distribution Pattern:

ME, CA, MA, CA

Recalling Firm:

B.C. Frozen Foods
33920 Lougheed Hwy
Mission
Canada

Press Release URL(s):

Recall Initiation Date:

3/31/2023

Center Classification Date:

4/13/2023

1. Nature’s Promise Organic Raspberries 10oz; Stand up plastic more…

F-0715-2023

 Class II

1. UPC: 068826753504; Expiration: 03-06-2024; Lot 361-22 2. UPC: 07417502347; Expiration: 02-08-2024; Lot 334-22 3. UPC: 688267006043 (Pouch) and UPC 0068826784629 (Case); Expiration: 03-26-2024, 04-04-2024, 04-25-2024; Lot: 016-23, 025-23, 046-23 4. UPC: 009848795288; Expiration: 04-06-2024; Lot: 028-23

14,748 lbs.

Product contains high levels of mold.

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Posted in FDA, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, mold, Mould/Mold

Research – Nestlé strikes settlement deal over France E. coli scandal

Posted on April 20, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Just Food

Nestlé has agreed to a settlement with victims of a fatal E. coli outbreak last year.

Dozens of children fell sick after eating contaminated food – and two died. In April last year, the Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into alleged involuntary manslaughter. Health officials ordered production at the Caudry factory to cease five days later.

The company told Just Food today (18 April) it had settled with “the vast majority of claimants”, who are represented by lawyer Pierre Debuisson

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Posted in Death, E.coli, food bourne outbreak, food death, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning Death, Foodborne Illness, Foodborne Illness Death, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, STEC, STEC E.coli

USA- FDA Core Outbreak Table Update – Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

Posted on April 20, 2023 by | Leave a comment

FDA

What’s New

  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Infantis (ref #1141), an onsite inspection and sample collection and analysis has been initiated.
  • For the outbreak of Salmonella Hartford (ref #1144), the case count has increased from 53 to 54 cases. This outbreak has ended and the investigation has closed, with no vehicle identified.
  • For the outbreak of hepatitis A virus (ref #1143), an onsite inspection has been initiated.
Date
Posted		 Ref Pathogen
or
Cause of
Illness		 Product(s)
Linked to
Illnesses
(if any)		 Total
Case
Count
Status
3/29/2023 1141 Salmonella Infantis Raw Flour See
CDC
Investigation
Notice		 Active
3/1/2023 1143 Hepatitis A Virus Frozen Organic
Strawberries		 See
Outbreak
Advisory		 Active
2/15/2023 1123 Listeria
monocytogenes		 Not Yet
Identified		 See
CDC
Investigation
Notice		 Active

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Posted in FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Hepatitis A, Illness, Listeria monocytogenes, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella

USA – FDA begins onsite inspection of unnamed location in relation to flour outbreak – Salmonella

Posted on April 20, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

The Food and Drug Administration has expanded its investigation into an outbreak of infections caused by Salmonella Infantis that has been linked to flour.

As of the most recent update, on March 30, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak has sickened at least a dozen people across 11 states. Three of the patients have required hospitalization. No deaths have been reported.

Although a specific brand of flour has not been revealed by federal officials, the FDA reports that it has begun onsite inspection of an unnamed location and sample collection.

Illnesses started on dates ranging from Dec. 6, 2022, to Feb. 13, 2023, but there are likely more sick people who have not yet been confirmed because of the time it takes for testing and reporting.

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Posted in FDA, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Salmonella

Quebec – Absence of information necessary for the safe consumption of Stimpson’s surf clams and plain whelks sold by Marché de Poisson Lemieux – Possibility of Bacterial Growth

Posted on April 20, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Quebec

QUEBEC CITY , April 19, 2023 /CNW/ – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with Lemieux Fish Market , located at 1560, rue du Phare, in Rimouski , warns the public not to consume the products listed in the table below if they have not been kept refrigerated at all times since the time of purchase. In fact, product labels do not include the information necessary for their safe consumption, namely the statement “Keep refrigerated” which is required.

Product name

Format

Affected batch

“MARCTE STIMPSON”

1 litre

Units sold until April 19, 2023

“NATURE BOURGOTS”

1KL, 2KL

Units sold until April 19, 2023

The products that are the subject of this warning were offered for sale until April 19, 2023 inclusive, only at the establishment designated above. They were packed in glass jars and sold chilled. The label of the products included, in addition to their name, the mention “PLACE LEMIEUX 1560 ROUTE DU PHARE”.

The operator is voluntarily recalling the products in question. It has agreed with MAPAQ to issue this warning as a precautionary measure. People who have any of these products in their possession and have not kept them refrigerated at all times from the time of purchase are advised not to consume them. They must return it to the establishment where they bought it or throw it away. Even if the affected products show no signs of tampering or suspicious odors, their consumption may represent a health risk.

It should be noted that no case of illness associated with the consumption of these foods has been reported to MAPAQ to date.

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

India – Indore: 20 students fall ill due to food poisoning, many hospitalised

Posted on April 19, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Hindustan Times

At least 20 female students staying in a hostel of a private university in Madhya Pradesh‘s Indore district fell ill due to alleged food poisoning, an official said on Monday. The students complained of vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain late Sunday night, SAGE University registrar Manish Chowdhary told PTI.

The university management, however, has denied that the food prepared in the hostel’s canteen was contaminated. “Many students of our hostel had gone to the city during the day and might have returned after consuming food from outside. We have also found out that some students had non-vegetarian food cooked outside the hostel premises on Sunday,” Chaudhary said.

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Posted in Decontamination Microbial, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk

Research – Rapid salmonella test poised to accelerate food safety in poultry

Posted on April 19, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Ingredients First

Researchers at McMaster University, Canada, have developed a test for Salmonella contamination that “provides accurate results in an hour or less.” The inexpensive test could improve food safety and mitigate broad recalls of contaminated food.

Salmonella is one of the primary contamination risks for poultry processors, with major chicken producers having to perform “tens of thousands” of lab tests each year to prevent the infection, which causes 155,000 deaths each year globally, according to the report.

The report notes that: “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an estimated 450 deaths, 23,000 hospitalizations and US$365 million in direct medical costs are caused by Salmonella infection alone in the US each year.”

Reducing or eliminating the need for overnight Salmonella testing and replacing it with a rapid, easily-used test will save time and money, notes study co-author Yingfu Li, a Biochemistry and Chemical Biology professor and leader of McMaster’s Functional Nucleic Acids Research Group.

“Anyone can use it right in the setting where food is being prepared, processed or sold,” he says.

“There’s a balance between cost, convenience and need. If it’s cheap, reliable and easy, why not use it?”

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Research, Salmonella

Kenya – Mukumu girls deaths linked to E.coli, Salmonella from contaminated water

Posted on April 18, 2023 by | Leave a comment

KBC

Three students and a teacher at Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls in Kakamega died as a result of contaminated water.

The Ministry of Health Friday said preliminary findings had revealed E. coli and Salmonella typhi, a bacterium that is responsible for typhoid fever as the causes of the illness initially suspected to be cholera.

“The Ministry wishes to inform the general public that this disease is likely to be a mixture of E. coli and Salmonella typhi which usually occurs if water sources are contaminated with these micro-organisms” Ag. Director General for Health Dr. Patrick Amoth said.

A comprehensive investigation is however underway even as the top health official ruled out aflatoxin.

Several learning institutions including, Mukumu Girls and Butere Boys in Kamamega and the latest being Mukuuni Boys High School in Chuka, Tharaka Nithi County have been closed after students were taken ill.

“The Ministry of Health has taken several water, food, and human tissue samples, from which preliminary laboratory investigations undertaken have revealed Enterotoxigenic E. coli and Salmonella typhi as the causes of the illness,” he said

“Further laboratory investigations carried out on the grains and pulses for aflatoxin have turned negative for aflatoxicosis- a dangerous fungal infection from poorly stored cereal grains” he added.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Death, Decontamination Microbial, E.coli, food death, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning Death, Foodborne Illness Death, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Salmonella, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Nigeria – 79 died from 1,336 cases of cholera: NCDC

Posted on April 18, 2023 by | Leave a comment

GAZETTENGR

The Nigeria Centre for Disease and Prevention Control (NCDC) has registered 79 deaths and a total of 1,336 suspected cases of cholera in the country so far in 2023.

The NCDC, via its official website, said this in its latest cholera situation epidemiological report.

Cholera is an acute diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with Vibrio cholera bacteria.

People can get sick when they swallow food or water contaminated with cholera bacteria. The infection is often mild or without symptoms but can sometimes be severe and life-threatening.

The agency said 12 states across 43 local government areas reported the suspected cases, with a case fatality ratio of 5.9 per cent.

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Posted in Contaminated water, Decontamination Microbial, food bourne outbreak, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Vibrio, Vibrio cholera, vibrio cholerae, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

Research – Montana Raw Water Campylobacter Outbreak Linked to Bird’s Nest

Posted on April 18, 2023 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Bulletin

A Montana raw water Campylobacter outbreak in 2022 has been linked to a bird’s nest in a concrete cache from Kennedy Creek, according to ARS Technica. Nineteen people were sickened in that outbreak, and one person was hospitalized.

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Posted in Campylobacter, Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, microbial contamination, Microbial growth, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety