Category Archives: Microbiology

RASFF Alerts – Bacillus Toxin in Food Supplement

RASFF -Bacillus cereus diarrheal enterotoxin (11000 CFU/g) in food supplement from the United States in  Finland

 

RASFF Alerts – E.coli – Clams – Springbok – Game Meat

RASFF -too high count of Escherichia coli (>18000 MPN/100g) in frozen clams (Venus gallina) from Turkey in Greece

RASFF -shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (presence /25g) in frozen springbok meat (Antidorcas marsupialis) from Namibia in the Netherlands

RASFF -shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (present /25g) in frozen game meat from Namibia in the Netherlands

 

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella -Turkey – Poultry

RASFF -Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in frozen boneless turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) from Brazil in Italy

RASFF-Salmonella in frozen chicken meat (Gallus gallus) from Brazil in Italy

RASFF -Salmonella (present /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF -Salmonella Agona in frozen turkey meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF -Salmonella Agona (presence /25g) in frozen turkey meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxins -Groundnuts – Dried Figs – Peanut Butter – Pistachios

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 9.6; Tot. = 26 / B1 = 9.6; Tot. = 44 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 11.5 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in France

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 6.8; Tot. = 8.8 / B1 = 6.9; Tot. = 7.9 µg/kg – ppb) in peanut buter from India in Germany

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 32; Tot. = 35 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted pistachios from Turkey in France

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 11.33; Tot. = 12.56 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio nuts with shell from Syria, via Turkey in Spain

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feeds – Salmonella in Rape Seed Meal – Aflatoxins in Birdfeed

RASFF – Salmonella (present /25g) in rape seed meal from Germany in Sweden

RASFF -Aflatoxins in nuts for birdfeed from Brazil in th UK

Canada – Recalls – Pizza and Macaroni Salad- Listeria monocytogenes

CFIAEurofins Food Testing UK

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Direct Plus Food Group, a division of Premium Brands Operating Limited Partnership, are warning the public not to consume the Grimm’s Fine Foods brand Pizza Pack described below because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

This product was sold at the following two stores:

  • Pemberton Valley Supermarket, Pemberton, British Columbia
  • Three Hills IGA, Three Hills, Alberta

There has been no reported illness associated with the consumption of this product.

The manufacturer, Freybe Gourmet Foods Ltd., Langley, BC, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Reser’s Fine Foods Inc. are warning the public not to consume certain Reser’s Fine Foods brand Cheesy Macaroni Salad, described below, because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

These products have been distributed in Walmart stores located in Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and nationally in Loblaw banner stores.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The manufacturer, Reser’s Fine Foods Inc., Beaverton, Oregon, USA, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

Europe – Reference Laboratory for Salmonella News Letter Oct 2013

EURL

The working programme of EURL-

Salmonella consists of the following activities (the duration of the activities are indicated between brackets):

1. Organisation of interlaboratory comparison studies (yearly);

2. Organisation of a workshop with the NRLs-

Salmonella (yearly);

3. Performance of supporting activities (depending on the subject: yearly or for a limited period);

4. Giving assistance to the Commission and ad hoc activities (yearly);

5. Communication (every 3 months and yearly);

6. Training (duration dependent on the subject);

7. Molecular typing of

Salmonella spp. (depending on the subject: yearly or for a limited period).

 

Research – Salmonella – Listeria Harvest Contamination

Applied and EnvironmentalSalmonella

Identification of management practices associated with preharvest pathogen contamination of produce fields is crucial to the development of effective Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). A cross-sectional study was conducted to (i) determine management  practices associated with a Salmonella or Listeria monocytogenes positive field and (ii) quantify the frequency of these pathogens in irrigation and non-irrigation water sources. Over five weeks, 21 produce farms in New York State were visited. Field-level management practices were recorded for 263 fields, and 600 environmental samples (soil, drag swab, and water) were collected and analyzed for Salmonella and L. monocytogenes. Management practices were evaluated for their association with the presence of a pathogen-positive field. Salmonella and L. monocytogenes were detected in 6.1% and 17.5% of fields (n=263), and 11% and 30% of water samples (n=74), respectively. The majority of pathogen-positive water samples were from non-irrigation surface water sources. Multivariate analysis showed that manure application        within a year increased the odds of a Salmonella-positive field (odds ratio [OR] 16.7), while presence of a buffer zone had a protective effect (OR 0.1). Irrigation (within 3 days of sample collection, OR 6.0), reported wildlife observation (within 3 days of sample collection, OR 6.1), and soil cultivation (within 7 days of sample collection, OR 2.9) all increased the likelihood of an L. monocytogenes-positive field. Our findings provide new data that will assist growers with science-based evaluation of their current GAPs and implementation of preventive controls that reduce the risk of preharvest contamination.

Canada – Recall Beef burgers – E.coli O157

CFIACIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Belmont Meats Ltd. (Est. 112) are warning the public not to consume certain Compliments brand Super 8 Beef Burgers described below because they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.

This recall is the result of an ongoing food safety investigation initiated as a result of a recent outbreak investigation. There may be recalls of additional products or best before dates as the food safety investigation at this facility continues.

This product has been distributed in Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador in Sobeys banner stores, which might include Sobeys, Foodland, FreshCo, and Price Chopper.

There have been reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

The manufacturer, Belmont Meats Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling all affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

USA – FDA – Smoked Products Recall – Clostridium botulinum Potential

FDAClost

Big Blue Fisheries is recalling ALL smoked products from all lots and codes,
various sizes, in vacuum packages because the products may not have been
properly cooked and have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium
botulinum
, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death.
Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell
spoiled. Because the products may not have been fully processed, product
contamination by spoilage organisms or pathogens could lead to illness if
consumed.