Category Archives: Microbiology

RASFF Alerts – Histamine, Listeria monocytogenes

RASFF – Histamine in Tuna Loin in France sourced in Spain

RASFF –  Listeria monocyotgenes in Chilled Pork in France

FDA Recall Involving Dole Fresh – Listeria monocytogenes

FDA

Dole Fresh Vegetables is voluntarily recalling 1,039 cases of bagged salad. The product being recalled is 10 oz. Dole Italian Blend coded 0049N2202008, with a Use-By date of August 20 and UPC 7143000819 due to a possible health risk from Listeria monocytogenes. Dole Fresh Vegetables is coordinating closely with regulatory officials. No illnesses have been reported in association with the recall.

For those of you who read this Blog regularly on both sides of the Atlantic it would be interesting to get your views on the US policy of zero tolerance on Listeria monocytogenes and the Europe numerical limit. The US zero tolerance causes far more recalls as we can, see but does it make food safer?

Listex 100 – Listeria Killing Phage – Approved in Australia and New Zealand

Food Production Daily

Listeria-killing Listex P100 has been approved for use in Australia and New Zealand, making it the first bacteriophage product for food safety to be permitted for use in Australasia.

Listex 100

LISTEX™ P100 is a culture of safe micro-organisms (bacteriophage preparation) in use as a processing-aid, characterized by its broad spectrum toward Listeria monocytogenesstrains.

The use of LISTEX™ P100, and its application, can be easily integrated within the daily routine of the normal production process. The application of LISTEX™ P100 does not affect any of the properties of the food product, be it chemical, physical, or organoleptic (i.e. taste and flavor).

 

Canadian Recalls – Listeria, E.coli O157:H7, Salmonella

CFIA

The public warning issued on August 20, 2012has been expanded to include additional product.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Champ’s Mushrooms are warning the public not to consume the Sliced White Mushrooms described below because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The affected product, Champ’s Mushrooms brand Sliced White Mushrooms, Product of Canada, is sold in 227 g (8 oz.) packages. The package bears the UPC 0 33383 67600 5 and the “packed on” date written as, “PO 10AUG2012″ or PO 11AUG2012.

This product is known to be distributed in British Columbia and Alberta, but may have been distributed in other provinces.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

CFIA

Reference Number: 7391
Recalling Firm: ALPHA MEAT PACKERS LTD.
Date of Recall: 8/1/2012
Recall Classification: 1
Distribution : Quebec
Extent of the Product Distribution : Hotel/Restaurant/Institutional

Product List

Brand Name Common Name Size Codes(s) on Product UPC Reason for Recall:
ALPHA MEAT PACKERS LTD. VEAL CUTLETS TENDERIZED Various kg 177363 None / Aucun Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7
ALPHA MEAT PACKERS LTD. VEAL FOR SCALOPINI Various kg 177425 None / Aucun Microbiological – E. coli O157:H7

CFIA

Reference Number: 7351
Recalling Firm: SAKELLIS FOODS
Date of Recall: 8/8/2012
Recall Classification: 2
Distribution : Ontario
Extent of the Product Distribution : Hotel/Restaurant/Institutional

Product List

Brand Name Common Name Size Codes(s) on Product UPC Reason for Recall:
SAKELLIS FOODS BASIL LEAVES 2 lb Product sold on or after July 25, 2012 None / Aucun Microbiological – Salmonella

Commonwealth Games Venue – Norovirus?

ScotsmanNorovirus

A SPORTS event due to be held at a major Commonwealth Games venue has been cancelled due to fears participants might contract the norovirus bug.

 The Great Scottish Swim at Strathclyde Country Park in Motherwell was set to take place this weekend, but it has been called off over fears the rising water level would push the bug numbers above the safe mark.

The swimming element of a triathlon planned to be held in Strathclyde Loch on Saturday has been removed due to safety concerns over the sickness bug.

In June, the same loch was closed for water sports use for two months after a swimmer contracted the norovirus.

The levels of the potentially harmful toxic blue-green algae in the loch were found to be twice the recommended “safe” limit by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency ahead of the event.

FDA Recall – Tinned Smoked Salmon – Listeria monocytogenes

FDA

Spence & Co Ltd, Brockton MA, a smoked salmon company is recalling Wellsley Farms brand 16oz Nova Lot: 6704701 and Spence & Co brand 8oz Smoked Trim Lot: 6704701 due to an abundance of caution because of possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant woman.

No illnesses have been reported. The bacterium was discovered during routine sampling.

US- Chicks and Ducklings Salmonella Cases Increase

Food Safety News

The number of people sickened by Salmonella traced to chicks and ducklings from an Ohio mail order hatchery has risen from 123 to 163, according to a report released Monday by the U.S.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.   

The illnesses – linked to contact with live baby poultry sold by Mt. Hatchery of Cincinnati, OH – began in March of this year. Three strains of Salmonella – Salmonella Infantis, Salmonella Lille and Salmonella Newport – have been associated with animals from the hatchery.

 
The 20 new cases reported since CDC’s last update on July 12 occurred in 10 states, including Illinois (2), Massachusetts (1), Maryland (2), New York (5), North Carolina (1), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (2), South Carolina (1), Vermont (1) and West Virginia (3).

UK – Hospital Sandwiches Report – Listeria

The Sun

“HOSPITAL sandwiches were yesterday revealed to have KILLED eight patients.”

The victims died from the listeria bug — which thrives when grub is not chilled properly.

Watchdogs yesterday demanded a crackdown on shoddy handling of food after the grim toll over the past ten years was disclosed by the Health Protection Agency.

Twenty others were also poisoned by listeria but survived.

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin, Salmonella

RASFF – Aflatoxin in Peanut Butter in Belgium sourced in Senegal

RASFF – Salmonella in Dried Organic Sage in Denamrk sourced from Turkey via the Netherlands.

RASFF – Ochratoxin A – Liquorice Root

RASFF – Ochratoxin A in Liquorice Root in Poland