Category Archives: Mycotoxin

RASFF Alert – Aflatoxin -Blanched Groundnut Kernels

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6 µg/kg – ppb) in blanched groundnut kernels from India in the Netherlands

 

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Dried Figs

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RASFF – ochratoxin A (25 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in the Netherlands

RASFF – ochratoxin A (26 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in the Netherlands

Australia – Aldi Stores (a Limited Partnership) — PICK’D Cloudy Apple Juice 2L – Patulin

PSA

Photograph of Cloudy Apple Juice

What are the defects?

The recall is due to microbial (mycotoxin patulin) contamination

What are the hazards?

Food products containing mycotoxin (patulin) may cause illness if consumed.

What should consumers do?

Consumers should not drink this product and should return the recalled product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

For further information, please visit https://www.aldi.com.au/en/about-aldi/product-recalls/ or contact the Aldi Food Recall Hotline on 1800 709 993.

Traders who sold this product

Aldi Stores in WA, SA, Vic, ACT and certain NSW stores
For NSW stores, see https://www.aldi.com.au/en/about-aldi/product-recalls/

Where the product was sold
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
South Australia
Victoria
Western Australia
Dates available for sale
  • 16 January 2020 – 15 May 2020

Recall advertisements and supporting documentation

Research – Fusarium: How to assess and manage the risk in cereals

FWI

Protecting crops against the damaging effects of fusarium ear blight is essential in any year, but it could be even more so this season, given the reduced wheat area and strong premiums for milling wheat.

Fusarium and its associated mycotoxins are not just a concern for milling wheat growers, though, as the different forms of the disease can affect yield and quality in all the main cereals: wheat, barley and oats.

As there are legal mycotoxin limits on grain for human consumption, and guidance limits on crops intended for animal feed, it is vital to protect all crops.

Australia – ALDI PICK’D Cloudy Apple Juice 2L – Patulin

FSANZ

ALDI Stores (a Limited Partnership) is conducting a recall of PICK’D Cloudy Apple Juice 2L. The product has been available for sale at ALDI Stores in WA, SA, VIC, ACT and certain NSW Stores (listed below).

Albion Park Rail, Ambarvale, Ashfield, Auburn, Balgowlah, Bankstown Airport, Bankstown Central, Bass Hill, Batemans Bay, Belrose, Blair Athol, Bondi Junction, Bonnyrigg, Bowral, Broadway, Brookvale, Campbelltown, Canterbury, Casula Mall, Chatswood, Chatswood Place, Chullora, Cooma, Corrimal, Dapto, Darlinghurst, Dee Why, Drummoyne, East Gardens, Eastlakes, Eastwood, Edgecliff, Edmondson Park, Emerald Hills, Engadine, Fairfield Forum, Fairfield West, Fairy Meadow, Frenchs Forest, Galston, Gladesville, Glenfield Park, Goulburn, Griffith, Guildford, Hillsdale, Horningsea Park, Hornsby, Hoxton Park, Hurstville, Kirrawee, Kogarah, Lakemba, Leeton, Leichhardt, Lidcombe, Liverpool, Liverpool Central, Macarthur Shopping Ctr, Macquarie Fields, Macquarie Park, Manly, Maroubra, Marrickville, Menai, Merrylands, Miller, Minto, Miranda,    Miranda Central, Mittagong, Mona Vale, Mosman, Moss Vale, Mt Annan, Mt Kuring gai, Narellan, North Strathfield, North Sydney, Nowra, Queanbeyan, Rhodes, Riverwood, Rockdale, Roselands, Rydalmere, Shellharbour, Tahmoor, Thornleigh, Top Ryde, Ulladulla, Villawood, Vincentia, Wagga Wagga, Warilla, Warrawong, Warriewood, Waterloo, Wentworthville, Westleigh, Wetherill Park, Wolli Creek, Wollongong, Yass , Young

Date markings

Use by Date: 22/05/2020, 29/05/2020, 17/06/2020, 7/07/2020, 15/07/2020, 27/07/2020, 30/07/2020, 7/08/2020 and 11/08/2020

All other Use by Dates available for sale are not affected

Problem

The recall is due to microbial (Mycotoxin – Patulin) contamination.

Food safety hazard

Food products containing Mycotoxin – Patulin may cause illness if consumed.

Country of origin

Australia

What to do​

Customers should not consume this product and return the recalled product to the place of purchase for a full refund. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

For further information please contact:

Food Recall Hotline on 1800 709 993

Related links:

RASFF Alert – Animal Feed -Aflatoxin – Feed Groundnuts

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 28.1 µg/kg – ppb) in feed groundnuts from the United States in the UK

Kenya – Kenya prepares to import maize in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic – Aflatoxin

Alliance for Science

Kenya is set to import 4 million bags of maize as the country loses its grain reserves to aflatoxin, a toxin caused by mold.

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya told the Senate Committee for Agriculture that maize in the country’s Strategic Grain Reserves is unfit for human consumption as it has been contaminated by aflatoxin, which is known to cause cancer and other health problems.

The loss comes when the country is still struggling with a locust invasion and the effects of the novel coronavirus pandemic, both of which have adversely affected the country’s food chain as markets are closed and movement remains restricted in some counties.

“The government is trying to ensure the basic commodities are available for everyone, and hence the need to import maize, which is a staple food in the country,” Munya said. “The maize in the government stores will not be sufficient for a longer period should the pandemic push further.”

In response, Kenya plans to import 2 million bags of white maize for human consumption and an additional 2 million bags of yellow maize for animal feed between end of June and mid-July.

Australia – Juicy Isle Pty Ltd — Organic Pure Tassie – Apple and Blackcurrant 350mL and 1.5L, Apple 350mL and 1.5L, Apple and Ginger 1.5L, Apple and Raspberry 350mL and 1.5L

FSANZ

Photograph of Organic Pure Tassie Juice Range

What are the defects?

The recall is due to microbial (mycotoxin patulin) contamination

What are the hazards?

Food products containing mycotoxin (patulin) may cause illness if consumed.

What should consumers do?

Consumers should not drink this product and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information, please contact Juicy Isle Pty Ltd by phone on 03 6274 5999 or via www.Juicyisle.com.au

Research – Effectiveness of Nitrogen Dioxide Fumigation for Microbial Control on Stored Almonds

Journal of Food Protection

ABSTRACT

Quality of stored almonds is compromised by insect infestations and microbial contamination. Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent fumigant for postharvest pest control on fresh and stored products. NO fumigation must be conducted under ultralow oxygen conditions, and it always produces nitrogen dioxide (NO2), depending on the O2 level in the fumigation chamber. NO and NO2 have proven antimicrobial effects but have not been tested for efficacy against microbes in almonds. We evaluated, in this study, fumigation of unpasteurized almonds with NO2 at different levels for inhibition of bacteria and fungi. Almonds were fumigated with 0.1, 0.3, or 1.0% NO under ambient O2 to generate 0.1, 0.3, or 1.0% NO2 conditions; the fumigation treatments lasted 1 or 3 days at 25°C. GreenLight rapid enumeration tests on diluted wash-off almond samples from NO2 fumigation treatments showed either greatly reduced microbial loads or complete control of microorganisms, depending on NO2 concentration and treatment duration. NO2 fumigation was more effective against fungi than against bacteria. These results suggest that postharvest NO fumigation with proper levels of NO and NO2 can be used for insect and microorganism control on stored almonds.

HIGHLIGHTS
  • NO2 fumigation was effective in controlling both bacteria and fungi on almonds.
  • Complete control of bacteria and fungi was achieved in 1-day fumigation with 1.0% NO2.
  • Postharvest NO+NO2 fumigation has potential to control insects and microorganisms on almonds.

Research – Evaluation of eight essential oils for postharvest control of Aspergillus carbonarius in grapes

Journal of Food Protection

A wide range of fungal species is associated with post-harvest spoilage of grapes. However, Aspergillus carbonarius is the primary fungus responsible for the contamination of grapes with ochratoxin A, a mycotoxin causing several confirmed health effects to humans and animals. Aiming to find a method, safe for the consumers, to prevent post-harvest decay and ochratoxin A contamination of grapes, the potential use of essential oils as preservatives was investigated. Essential oils of Origanum dictamnus (dittany) , Origanum onites (oregano) , Origanum microphyllum (marjoram) , Thymbra capitata (thyme) , Satureja thymbra (savory) , Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) , Laurus nobilis (laurel) and Salvia officinalis (sage) were tested. The essential oil components were identified by GC/MS analysis. A first evaluation of the effectiveness of essential oils was performed in vitro , at a range of concentrations up to 300 μL L -1 . Based on the results of the in vitro tests, the four most effective essential oils ( O. dictamnus , O. onites , T. capitata and S. thymbra ) were tested on Sultana grapes, during post-harvest storage. The four essential oils tested, having the carvacrol and/or thymol as a common component, at a high concentration, significantly reduced, or even completely inhibited the growth of the fungus, in all treatments. As revealed from the results, the essential oils of O. dictamnus , O. onites and S. thymbra were the most effective, causing total inhibition on the growth of the fungus with a minimum concentration of 100 μL L -1 , followed by the essential oil of T. capitata , total effective with a minimum concentration of 200 μL L -1 . Essential oils of O. microphyllum , L. nobilis , S. officinalis and R. officinalis , although they had a significant effect on the growth of A. carbonarius , failed to inhibit its growth completely at any of the concentrations tested.