Category Archives: Microbiology

USA – Midwestern Pet Foods Voluntarily Expands Recall of Pet Food for Aflatoxin Health Risk

FDA

Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc., of Evansville, IN is expanding its December 30, 2020 voluntary recall of certain dog and cat food products produced in our Chickasha Operations Facility to include all dog and cat pet food products made with corn products because those products may contain aflatoxin levels which exceed acceptable limits. Products were distributed nationally to online distributors and retail stores nationwide. Midwestern Pet Foods is expanding its voluntary recall out of an abundance of caution to help protect the health and safety of pets. The products recalled cover all that expire on or before July 9, 2022, depicted as “07/09/22” in the date code on the product, as discussed below. Products with expiration dates after 07/09/22 are not included in the recall.

Aflatoxin is a toxin produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, aflatoxin can cause illness and death in pets.

There have been reports of illnesses and deaths in dogs associated with certain lots of products. No human illnesses have been reported. Out of an abundance of caution, we have expanded this recall to cover all corn products containing pet foods with expiration dates prior to 07/09/22.

If your pet shows signs of aflatoxin poisoning including sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes, gums, or skin due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea, contact a veterinarian immediately. Provide a full diet history to your veterinarian. It may be helpful to take a picture of the pet food label, including the lot number and best buy date.

Lot code information may be found on the back of bag and will appear in a three‐line code, with the top line in format “EXP 03/03/22/05/L#/B###/HH:MM”.

As explained above, this recall covers ONLY product manufactured at Midwestern Pet Food’s Chickasha, Oklahoma facility. Note that the unique Chickasha Facility identifier is located in the date code as a
“05” and “REG. OK‐PFO‐0005” at the end of the date code.

In addition, the only Midwestern Pet Foods facility that produces product bearing a three‐line date code is our Chickasha Facility (See first image below).

Retailers and distributors should immediately pull recalled lots from their inventory and shelves. Do not sell or donate the recalled products. Retailers are encouraged to contact consumers who have purchased the recalled products, if you have the means to do so (frequent buyer cards, etc.).

Pet parents: do not feed the recalled products to your pets or any other animals. Destroy the food in a way that children, pets and wildlife cannot access them. Wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers. Always ensure you wash and sanitize hands after handling recalled food or any utensils which have contacted recalled food. Contact Midwestern Pet Foods Consumer Affairs at 800‐474‐4163, ext. 455 from 7AM to 4PM Central Time, Monday through Friday, or by email at info@midwesternpetfoods.com for additional information.

This voluntary recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. All other Midwestern Pet Foods products are unaffected by this recall action.

Recalled products are as follows, with lot codes found in Expanded Recall Lot Numbers:

  • Pro Pac Adult Mini Chunk
  • Pro Pac Performance Puppy
  • Splash Fat Cat 32%
  • Nunn Better Maintenance
  • Sportstrail 50
  • Sportmix Original Cat 15
  • Sportmix Original Cat 31
  • Sportmix Maintenance 44
  • Sportmix Maintenance 50
  • Sportmix High Protein 50
  • Sportmix Energy Plus 44
  • Sportmix Energy Plus 50
  • Sportmix Stamina 44
  • Sportmix Stamina 50
  • Sportmix Bite Size 40
  • Sportmix Bite Size 44
  • Sportmix High Energy 44
  • Sportmix High Energy 50
  • Sportmix Premium Puppy 16.5
  • Sportmix Premium Puppy 33

Original Press Release


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Midwestern Pet Foods Consumer Affairs
 800‐474‐4163, ext. 455
 info@midwesternpetfoods.com

Australia – Bellarine Smokehouse — Smoked Barramundi Pâté 150g and Smoked Salmon Pâté 150g – Listeria monocytogenes

Product Safety Australia

Photograph of Ballarine Smokehouse Pate

What are the defects?

The recall is due to microbial (Listeria monocytogenes) contamination.

What are the hazards?

Listeria may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems.

What should consumers do?

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For more information, consumers can contact Bellarine Smokehouse on 0434 229 680.

Traders who sold this product

Independent food retailers including IGAs and direct to consumers from Bellarine Smokehouse

Where the product was sold
Victoria
Dates available for sale
  • 11 January 2021 – 12 January 2021

Recall advertisements and supporting documentation

Coordinating agency

Food Standards Australia New Zealand is the coordinating agency for this recall.

Norway – The Norwegian Food Safety Authority with an inspection campaign on Listeria measures in salmon slaughterhouses

Mattilsynet

In 2021, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will carry out an inspection campaign in all salmon slaughterhouses where we will investigate measures and routines to prevent the fish from becoming contaminated with the listeria bacterium.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis. Most of us do not get sick from the bacterium, but pregnant women, children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are vulnerable. Listeria multiplies at cooling temperature, survives freezing, salting and smoking, but is killed by adequate heat treatment.

– Since salmon and aura are largely eaten without heat treatment and used for ready-to-eat products such as sushi, sashimi, smoked and digged fish, it is important that producers have effective measures against Listeria, says Elisabeth Wilmann, director of fish and seafood at the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Several listeriosis outbreaks in EU countries a few years ago

In 2018 and 2019, there were serious outbreaks of listeriosis in several EU countries related to the consumption of smoked, grated and marinated fish products. The raw materials were Norwegian salmon and aura. The product was traced back to processing plants in Poland and Estonia, but one could not rule out that the raw materials from Norway were contaminated.

– The fact that Norwegian salmon and aura have been linked to serious disease outbreaks is one of the reasons why the Norwegian Food Safety Authority is carrying out the inspection campaign. Another reason is that more and more countries are making demands with regard to Listeria in Norwegian fish, Wilmann says.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s experience is that Norwegian salmon slaughterhouses generally have good knowledge of microbiological hazards in fish, and that targeted work has been done on measures against Listeria.

– At the same time, we know that Listeria is regularly detected in the production environment in Norwegian slaughterhouses, says Wilmann.

The Norwegian Food Safety Authority will guide, clarify responsibilities and get an overview

In the campaign, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will examine the slaughterhouse’s measures, sampling and routines for non-conformance treatment.

– We emphasize guidance. In addition, we will clarify the regulations and the responsibility of the slaughterhouse to prevent unsafe products from entering the market, says Wilmann.

The aim is to control all salmon slaughterhouses and vessels that slaughter salmonids. The campaign period is 15 January to 1 September, and the final report will be published towards the end of 2021. It may be relevant to carry out some of the inspections digitally due to coronary restrictions.

In 2020-2021, the Norwegian Food Safety Authority will also implement a monitoring and mapping program to map the status of Listeria.

– By obtaining a better overview of the status of Listeria in salmonids, we will be in a better position to contribute to the clarification of any future disease outbreaks, Wilmann concludes.

Read more on the website for the supervision campaign

USA – Precision Dose, Inc. Issues Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Paroex Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse USP, 0.12%, 15mL Due to Microbial Contamination – Burkholderia lata.

FDA

Precision Dose, Inc. is voluntarily recalling all lots of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse USP, 0.12%, 15mL Unit Dose Cups bearing an expiration date from 1/31/2021 – 02/28/2022 (see specific lots below) to the consumer level. Precision Dose, Inc. was notified by the manufacturer of the product, Sunstar Americas, Inc., that this product may be contaminated with the bacteria Burkholderia lata.

From information provided by the manufacturer, Sunstar Americas, Inc., use of the defective product in the immunocompetent host may result in oral and, potentially, systemic infections requiring antibacterial therapy. In the most at-risk populations, the use of the defective product may result in life-threatening infections, such pneumonia and bacteremia. To date, no adverse events have been reported to Precision Dose, Inc. related to this recall.

The prescription oral rinse product, available through healthcare professionals only, is indicated for use as part of a professional program for the treatment of gingivitis and the product impacted is:

  • Distributed in cases each containing 3 shrink-wrapped plastic trays each with 10 unit dose cups, 30-pack. NDC 68094-028-62
  • Distributed in cases each containing 10 shrink-wrapped plastic trays each with 10 unit dose cups, 100-pack. NDC 68094-028-61

Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse was distributed nationwide in the USA to pharmaceutical wholesalers.

Precision Dose, Inc. is notifying its consignees directly and is arranging for return of all recalled product. Patients, pharmacies, and healthcare facilities in possession of these products should stop using and dispensing immediately.

Consumers with questions regarding this recall can contact Precision Dose, Inc. at 1 (800) 397-9228 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time) or by email to customercare@precisiondose.com. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have experienced problems that may be related to using this drug product.

Affected products and lot numbers follow below:

AFFECTED LOTS-Chlorhexidine Gluconate Oral Rinse USP, 0.12%

LOT NUMBER EXPIRATION DATE NDC NUMBER
502037 01/31/2021 68094-028-61
68094-028-62
502040 01/31/2021 68094-028-61
68094-028-62
502043 01/31/2021 68094-028-61
68094-028-62
502494 08/31/2021 68094-028-61
68094-028-62
502757 08/31/2021 68094-028-61
502677 09/30/2021 68094-028-61
502693 10/31/2021 68094-028-61
502728 10/31/2021 68094-028-61
502759 10/31/2021 68094-028-62
502771 11/30/2021 68094-028-61
68094-028-62
502784 11/30/2021 68094-028-61
502824 12/31/2021 68094-028-61
502925 02/28/2022 68094-028-61

Patients should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have additional questions or concerns. Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.

  • Complete and submit the report Online
  • Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1- 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

This recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

About Precision Dose, Inc.

Precision Dose, Inc. is an American company headquartered in the Midwest specializing in the commercial repackaging of unit dose products.

For more information:

Contact Us:

Phone: 1 (800) 397-9228
Email: customercare@precisiondose.com

Visit Us:
www.precisiondose.comExternal Link Disclaimer

Company Contact:
Mark Franzen
1 (800) 397-9228 x226
mfranzen@precisiondose.com


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
Precision Dose, Inc.
 1-800-397-9228
 customercare@precisiondose.com

Product Photos

USA – FDA Alert: Certain Lots of Sportmix Pet Food Recalled for Potentially Fatal Levels of Aflatoxin – 70 Dog Deaths

FDA

As of January 11, FDA has been made aware of more than 70 dogs that have died and more than 80 that are sick after eating Sportmix pet food. Not all of these cases have been officially confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning through laboratory testing or veterinary record review. 

Fast Facts

  • FDA is alerting pet owners and veterinary professionals about certain Sportmix pet food products (see list below) manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. in their Oklahoma plant that may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins. 
  • As of January 11, 2021, FDA is aware of more than 70 pets that have died and more than 80 pets that are sick after eating Sportmix pet food. Not all of these cases have been officially confirmed as aflatoxin poisoning through laboratory testing or veterinary record review. This count is approximate and may not reflect the total number of pets affected.
  • This is an ongoing investigation. Case counts and the scope of this recall may expand as new information becomes available.
  • Aflatoxins are toxins produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus, which can grow on corn and other grains used as ingredients in pet food. At high levels, aflatoxins can cause illness and death in pets.
  • Pets experiencing aflatoxin poisoning may have symptoms such as sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice (yellowish tint to the eyes or gums due to liver damage), and/or diarrhea. In severe cases, this toxicity can be fatal. In some cases, pets may suffer liver damage but not show any symptoms.
  • Pet owners should stop feeding their pets the recalled products listed below and consult their veterinarian, especially if the pet is showing signs of illness.  The pet owner should remove the food and make sure no other animals have access to the recalled product.
  • FDA is asking veterinarians who suspect aflatoxin poisoning in their patients to report the cases through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. Pet owners can also report suspected cases to the FDA.

What is the Problem?

On December 30, 2020, Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc. announced a recall of certain lots of Sportmix pet food products after FDA was alerted about reports of at least 28 dogs that died and eight that were ill after consuming the recalled Sportmix pet food. Multiple product samples were tested by the Missouri Department of Agriculture and found to contain very high levels of aflatoxins. Aflatoxins are toxins produced by the mold Aspergillus flavus and, at high levels, can cause illness and death in pets. The toxins can be present even if there is no visible mold.

Australia – Bellarine Smokehouse Pâtés 150g – Listeria monocytogenes

FSANZ

​Date published: 12 January 2021

Product information

Bellarine Smokehouse is conducting a recall of their Smoked Barramundi Pâté 150g and Smoked Salmon Pâté 150g. The product has been available for sale at independent food retailers including IGA and direct to consumers from Bellarine Smokehouse in Vic.

Date markings

Use By 050221 & 060221

Bellarine Smokehouse Smoked Barramundi and Smoked Salmon Pates 150g

Problem

The recall is due to microbial (Listeria monocytogenes) contamination.

Food safety hazard

Listeria may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems.

Country of origin

Australia

What to do​

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact:

Bellarine Smokehouse
0434 229 680
https://www.bellarinesmokehouse.com/

Related links:

Australia – Woolworths Coleslaw 110g, 250g, 400g and 800g -Salmonella

FSANZ

Product information

Woolworths is conducting a recall of Woolworths Coleslaw 110g, 250g, 400g & 800g. The products have been available for sale at Woolworths Supermarkets and Metro in NSW & ACT and some Woolworths Supermarkets in regional Vic*.

* White Box Rise SM, Lavington SM, Bright, Albury Central, Benalla, Wodonga SM, Mooroopna, Epsom, Golden Square, Yarrawonga Central, Bendigo Market Place, Kerang, Cobram, Thurgoona, Swan Hill, Lansell Plaza SM, Shepparton, Kyabram, Echuca, Kennington, Shepparton East, Corowa, Wangaratta, Moama, Seymour, Airport West and Northland SM.

Date markings

All Use By dates from 12 Jan up to and including 21 Jan.

Woolworths Coleslaw 110g, 250g, 400g & 800g

Problem

The recall is due to potential microbial (Salmonella) contamination.

Food safety hazard

Food products with potential microbial contamination may cause illness if consumed.

Country of origin

Australia

What to do​

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact:

Woolworths
1800 103 515
https://www.woolworths.com.au/

Related links:

Research – Text Mining Approaches for Postmarket Food Safety Surveillance Using Online Media

Wiley Online

Food contamination and food poisoning pose enormous risks to consumers across the world. As discussions of consumer experiences have spread through online media, we propose the use of text mining to rapidly screen online media for mentions of food safety hazards. We compile a large data set of labeled consumer posts spanning two major websites. Utilizing text mining and supervised machine learning, we identify unique words and phrases in online posts that identify consumers’ interactions with hazardous food products. We compare our methods to traditional sentiment‐based text mining. We assess performance in a high‐volume setting, utilizing a data set of over 4 million online reviews. Our methods were 77–90% accurate in top‐ranking reviews, while sentiment analysis was just 11–26% accurate. Moreover, we aggregate review‐level results to make product‐level risk assessments. A panel of 21 food safety experts assessed our model’s hazard‐flagged products to exhibit substantially higher risk than baseline products. We suggest the use of these tools to profile food items and assess risk, building a postmarket decision support system to identify hazardous food products. Our research contributes to the literature and practice by providing practical and inexpensive means for rapidly monitoring food safety in real time.

Switzerland – Public warning: Listeria in corn kernels in salad products, sold at Denner

BLV

Bern, January 7th, 2021 – Listeria were detected on corn kernels as part of internal controls. These corn kernels were used in various Denner salad products. A health hazard cannot be ruled out. Denner immediately removed the affected products from the sale and started a recall.

What is the risk of the products?

An infection with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is usually mild or even without symptoms in people with an intact immune system. In immunocompromised people, a number of severe symptoms can develop with, under certain circumstances, fatal outcome. During pregnancy, Listeria infection can lead to a miscarriage or the child can be born with blood poisoning or meningitis.

Which products are affected?

Mixed salad 220 g

To be used until: 08.01.2021 and 09.01.2021

Mixed salad with chicken 220 g

To be consumed until 08.01.2021 and 09.01.2021

Rustico salad 200 g

To be consumed until 08.01.2021 and 09.01.2021

What should affected consumers do?

The FSVO recommends not to consume and dispose of the affected products.


Address for queries

Consumers:
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (
FSVO ) Infodesk
Tel. 058 463 30 33
info@blv.admin.ch

Journalists:
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO)
Media Office
Tel. 058 463 78 98
media@blv.admin .ch


Switzerland – Listeria in corn kernels in salad products, sold at ALDI SUISSE AG

BLV

Bern, January 7th, 2021 – Listeria were detected on corn kernels as part of internal controls. These corn kernels were used in various salad products from ALDI SUISSE AG. A health hazard cannot be ruled out. ALDI SUISSE AG immediately withdrew the affected products from the sale and started a recall.

What is the risk of the products?

An infection with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes is usually mild or even without symptoms in people with an intact immune system. In immunocompromised people, a number of severe symptoms can develop with, under certain circumstances, fatal outcome. During pregnancy, Listeria infection can lead to a miscarriage or the child can be born with blood poisoning or meningitis.

Which products are affected?

Mixed salad 320 g

To be used until: 07.01.2021, 09.01.2021 and 10.01.21

Salad Cup Nature 250 g

To be consumed until 08.01.2021 and 09.01.21

ULTRAFRESH SALADS Type: Sausage Cheese 300 g

· To be consumed until 07.01.2021

 What should affected consumers do?

The FSVO recommends not to consume and dispose of the affected products.


Address for queries

Consumers:
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (
FSVO ) Infodesk
Tel. 058 463 30 33
info@blv.admin.ch

Journalists:
Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO)
Media Office
Tel. 058 463 78 98
media@blv.admin .ch