Call for tender: Usefulness of Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae as process hygiene criteria in poultry (CFT/EFSA/BIOHAZ/2012/03)
KSWFoodWorld
Category Archives: Microbiology
EFSA – Call fo Tender Ecoli/Entero as Process Hygiene Criteria
Posted in Bacillus, Microbiology, Research
FDA – Univiscerated Fish – Clostridium botulinum
Euphoria Fancy Food Inc. at 149-151 2nd Ave. Brooklyn NY 11215 is recalling DRIED BREAM discovered by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors during a routine inspection and subsequent analysis of product by Food Laboratory personnel confirming that the fish was not properly eviscerated prior to processing.
This product may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum spores, which can cause Botulism, a serious and potentially fatal food-borne illness.
The sale of this type of fish is prohibited under New York State Agriculture and Markets regulations because Clostridium botulinum spores are more likely to be concentrated in the viscera than any other portion of the fish. Uneviscerated fish has been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning. Symptoms of botulism include blurred or double vision, general weakness, poor reflexes, difficulty in swallowing and respiratory paralysis.
The recalled DRIED BREAM comes in an un-coded, 7.5 ounce vacuum packed plastic bag and was sold nationwide. The UPC number is 7 930042 250954. It is a product of Russia.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. Consumers who have DRIED BREAM are advised not to eat it, but should return it to the place of purchase. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 718-768-3400.
FSA – Recall – Salmonella Mixed Organic Nuts
Sainsbury’s has recalled all packs of its own-brand So Organic Fruit and Nut Mix, as salmonella has been detected in one pack. If you’ve bought the product don’t eat it. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice.
Salmonella is a common cause of food poisoning. It has been found in food products including unpasteurised milk, eggs, meat, poultry, and fresh produce.
Product
The product being recalled is:
- Sainsbury’s So Organic Fruit and Nut Mix, 300g
- All date codes
Sainsbury’s has recalled the affected product as a precaution, and customer notices have been displayed in stores explaining why the product has been recalled. If you have bought the product, don’t eat it. You can return it to the store for a full refund.
No other Sainsbury’s products are known to be affected
Research – British Food Journal – Deliberate Food Safety Violations in the Food Chain
Abstract :
Purpose – Business malpractice in supply chains raises food safety risks for downstream buyers including consumers. This paper analyses the multiplicity of behavioural factors influencing producers’ motivation to intentionally violate food safety norms.
Design/methodology/approach – We review existing disciplinary approaches for the analysis of behavioural risks. Based on this review, an analytical framework is developed which provides a base for an interdisciplinary institutional analysis of behavioural risks in food chains.
Findings – The reviewed approaches on behavioural risk share the view that deviance is the result of multi-goal and (potentially) opportunistic decision-making of bounded rational individuals. The analytical framework presented in this paper integrates these approaches.
Research limitations/implications – The analytical framework provides a rough categorization of behavioural drivers. It neither details the context-dependent subcomponents which determine the utility outcome within each category nor the methods that should be used to analyse them.
Originality/value – A behavioural economic analysis based on the framework means opening up the black box of the regulatees’ action situation by incorporating the subjectively perceived material incentives in addition to immaterial motivations such as reputation effects, social norms and community pressure into the analysis. Based on an understanding of producers’ motivation, proper institutional solutions can be implemented to enhance producers’ compliance with food safety norms.
Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Microbiology, Research, Technology
Spain – Salmonella Outbreak from Mining Bar
There has been a trickle of cases throughout the week, although it was only last Friday when health officials confirmed that this was an outbreak of Salmonellosis.
About 30 patients who had moderate gastroenteritis being treated by emergency centres in La Union and Cartagena, had a common feature in addition to their condition: they had been guests at the popular bar Mining Union.
World Alerts – Listeria, Ecoli, STEC
RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes in Organic Camembert from Denmark
China Post – E.coli in beverages and frozen foods in Taipei
Hong Kong – STEC case in hospital source unknown.
Free webcast with 3M and Professor Stephen Forsythe on the rapid detection of foodborne pathogens
3M’s Food Safety business has launched a fast, accurate and easy-to-use pathogen detection system.
The new 3M™ Molecular Detection System, based on an innovative combination of two technologies – isothermal DNA amplification and ATP bioluminescence detection – delivers highly sensitive results in real-time with positive results in as early as 15 minutes and negative results in 75 minutes.
With ready-made reagents and only one test protocol for all target pathogens, the system is easy to use, allows for multiple pathogen detection during each run and reduces the chance for human error or contamination. Individual assays for Salmonella, E. coli O157 (including H7) and Listeria spp are currently available.
2nd Link
http://view6.workcast.net/register?pak=4909146311582106&referrer=KW
Posted in ATP, Bacteria, DNA, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research
Tagged atp bioluminescence, climate, nottingham trent university, research, science
Cryptosporidium Cases – USA
The Oneida County Department of Health has announced that there have been six confirmed cases of Cryptosporidium and that the Oneida County Health Department is currently investigating the origin of the outbreak.
Officials are looking into the possibility of the outbreak stemming from the recent Farmfest event, but caution that no direct causal link has yet been determined.
Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes the intestinal illness and that it is usually a self-limiting illness with watery diarrhoea as the most common symptom. Average incubation is one to 12 days.
US- Norovirus Outbreak
County environmental health officials have ordered the closing of a popular Walnut Creek pizza restaurant after test results confirmed that customers and restaurant staff have norovirus.
Contra Costa County Environmental Health Director Marilyn Underwood said the county ordered California Pizza Kitchen at Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek, closed at 5 p.m. Thursday after receiving lab resulting confirming norovirus.
Norovirus is a contagious virus that you can get from an infected person, contaminated food or by touching contaminated surfaces. Each year, norovirus causes about 21 million gastrointestinal illnesses, and contributes to about 70,000 hospitalisations and 800 deaths, according to the website of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
County officials have linked the norovirus to a food-borne illness outbreak connected with salad served Thursday, June 7, at the California Pizza Kitchen at Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek.
County officials went to the restaurant Thursday evening and posted a notice closing the restaurant under the authority of state law. They asked the staff to close the restaurant. The staff quietly asked customers to leave, Underwood said.
The first batch of samples came back Thursday. Of five employees tested, three positive for norovirus, Underwood said. Of two customers tested, both were positive for norovirus.
Hong Kong – Shigella Alert
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 14) cautioned members of the public against bacillary dysentery infection.
The CHP received an increased number of bacillary dysentery notifications recently, with the number of cases reaching six in June so far, compared to monthly notifications ranging from one to five cases between January and May 2012.
A CHP spokesman said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that five of the recent six patients were caused by Shigella sonnei, and they all lived in Tuen Mun.”
“These five cases were two males and three females, aged between six and 14. They presented with fever, diarrhoea and vomiting from June 3 to June 6. All of them had sought medical consultation. Three of them required hospital admission. They are all in stable condition.”
“Investigation is underway to ascertain or exclude a common source of infection,” the spokesman said.
Bacillary dysentery is an intestinal infection caused by a group of Shigella bacteria which can be found in human gut. It is transmitted directly by faecal material of a patient/carrier or indirectly through contaminated food and water. It occurs more commonly amongst young children. In Hong Kong, more cases were recorded in summer months.
The spokesman advised members of the public to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene to avoid infection. They should:
* wash hands properly with soap and water before eating or handling food, and after toilet or changing diapers;
* purchase fresh food from reliable sources, do not patronize illegal hawkers; and
* seek medical attention when they have symptoms of fever and diarrhea, especially bloody diarrhea.
