Category Archives: Microbiology

Research – Development and characterization of antibacterial packaging film based on poly (vinyl alcohol)/agarose enriched with cinnamon oil

Wiley Online

Abstract

The antibacterial packaging films were produced from poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), agarose, and cinnamon (Cinnamon cassia) oil (CO). The mechanical, antibacterial, water- and UV-barrier properties of the resulting films were fully characterized. Our findings revealed that increasing amount of CO slightly affected the color of resulting film, while the dispersion of CO in polymeric matrix was influenced by CO concentration. UV-barrier property of PVOH/agarose was enhanced by adding a small amount of CO. Tensile strength of the resulting films insignificantly changed (8.94–10.23 MPa) with raising CO content while the flexibility remarkably dropped from 92.63% to 75.49%. Remarkably, the PVOH/agarose containing 1.5% (v/v) CO presented strong inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus due to the presence of cinnamaldehyde in CO and this inhibitory efficiency was maintained for up to 7 days. Furthermore, the PVOH/agarose film enriched with 1% (v/v) CO was applied for enhancing the storability of bread slices during 50-day storage at room temperature.

Research – Economic Growth, Income Inequality and Food Safety Risk

MDPI

Abstract

Food safety risk, as an implicit cost of social and economic development, endangers the health of global residents, including China. To systematically understand the impact of socioeconomic development on food safety risk and to establish a sound modern governance system of food safety in China, this paper uses provincial panel data from 2011 to 2020 to explore the relationship between food safety risk and socio-economic development factors such as economic growth and income inequality by employing a two-way fixed effect model and moderating effect model. The results show that the food safety risk is a Kuznets curve, and the turning point is about RMB 58,104.59 per capita GDP (based on prices in 2011). However, under the moderating effect of income inequality, the turning point of the Kuznets curve of food safety risk will shift to the right, and the curve will be flattened. In other words, income inequality has a negative moderating effect on the “inverted U-shaped” relationship between economic growth and food safety risk. When dealing with food safety problems, the goal of stable and sustained economic growth and common prosperity should be incorporated into policy formulation to enhance the governance effectiveness of food safety risk

ECDC -Botulism – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2021

ECDC

In 2021, 82 confirmed cases of botulism were reported in the EU/EEA. Among 30 reporting countries, 19 countries notified zero cases. The overall notification rate was 0.02 cases per 100 000 population. Denmark reported the highest notification rate (0.10 cases per 100 000 population), followed by Romania (0.06 cases per 100 000 population) and Italy (0.05 cases per 100 000 population).

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Czech Republic – Warning for consumers: Salmonella in chilled chicken meat from abroad

SZPI

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) warns consumers of unsafe foodstuff TESCO CHICKEN PRSNÍ ŘÍZEK (chicken breast meat), lot: 23293102, bred and slaughtered: the Ukraine, pursuant to the veterinary identification stamp (SK 10094 ES) packaged by WE Trade s.r.o., Hlavná 1088, 92503 Horné Saliby, Slovakia. The inspectors took the sample at the premises of Tesco Stores ČR a.s., Rudolická 1706/4, 434 01 Most.

Laboratory analysis confirmed presence of bacteria of the genus Salmonella Infantis causing salmonellosis in the food lot in question.

As the product was labelled “use by: 26.07.2023”, it is no longer available on the market. However, CAFIA strongly advises all consumers who might have the product at home in a frozen state that they do not consume it. Freezing has virtually no effect on bacterial contamination.

Notification of the detection of the non-compliant food was entered into the European Rapid Alert System for Food (RASFF).

The food was sampled as a part of a planned extraordinary microbiological inspection.

CAFIA will initiate an administrative procedure with the inspected person to impose a fine.

CAFIA informed of a similar finding in its Press Release of 12 July 2023.

India – 30 Students Admitted To Hospital After Suspected Food Poisoning In Maharashtra’s Bhandara

India.com

Mumbai: Over 30 students of an ashram school in Maharahstra’s Bhandara district were admitted to hospital after suspected food poisoning.  The incident was reported at Yerali Ashram School in Tumsar town on Thursday. Talking to PTI, Bhandara district health officer Milind Somkuwar said, “Some students of the ashram school complained of vomiting, abdominal pain and fever on Thursday, after which a team of district health department examined 325 students residing in the school hostel.”

USA – Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Ground Beef is Over

CDC

Fast Facts
  • Illnesses: 18
  • Hospitalizations: 7
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 4
  • Recall: No
  • Investigation status: Closed
Outbreak Investigation Summary

Ground beef was the only common food people reported eating. Of the people who remembered the type of ground beef they ate, most reported eating 80% lean ground beef before they got sick. Traceback information did not identify a common source of ground beef

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed – Aflatoxin – Peanuts

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1 in Brazilian peanuts for birdfeed in the Netherlands

RASFF

Aflatoxin B1in Wild Life Feed Peanuts from the USA in the Netherlands

RASFF Alert- Pet Food -Enterobacteriaceae – Dog Chews

RASFF

Enterobacteriaceae in dog chews from Colombia, via Poland in Germany

RASFF Alert -Animal Feed – Salmonella – Expeller Feed

RASFF

Salmonella in expeller in feed from Germany in Switzerland

USA – FDA won’t say what brand of Pico de Gallo was source of Salmonella in outbreak

Food Safety News

The FDA is reporting that Pico de Gallo was behind a Salmonella outbreak that sickened almost 40 people.

Although investigators identified the cause of the outbreak, the Food and Drug Administration is not reporting what brand of Pico de Gallo was implicated. The agency reported that 37 people were sickened in the outbreak, but did not report where they live. The FDA first reported the outbreak on June 14.

“For the outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+ the outbreak has ended and FDA’s investigation has closed. CDC, FDA, and state and local partners conducted epidemiologic and traceback investigations and identified Pico de Gallo as the source of the outbreak,” according to an FDA report released Wednesday.

The FDA reported that its investigators took samples of the product as well as environmental samples of the production facility, but all of the samples came back negative for the outbreak strain. The agency’s statement says there is no risk to consumers.