Category Archives: Norovirus

New Zealand – Te Matuku Oysters brand Premium Export Grade Pacific Oysters in Half Shell and Oyster Meat – Norovirus

Posted on August 27, 2024 by | Leave a comment

MPI

27 August 2024: The recall has been updated to include Te Makutu Oysters brand Premium Export Grade Pacific Oysters in Half Shell and Oyster Meat with a use by of 28.08.24, batch 24343 as the product may contain norovirus.

26 August 2024: Te Matuku Oysters Ltd is recalling specific batches of its Te Matuku Oysters brand Premium Export Grade Pacific Oysters in Half Shell and Oyster Meat as the products may contain norovirus.

Product type Fresh oysters and oyster meat
Name of product (size)
  • Te Matuku Oysters brand Premium Export Grade Pacific Oysters Crassostrea gigas  – Oysters in Half Shell (1 dozen)
  • Te Matuku Oysters brand Premium Export Grade Pacific Oysters Crassostrea gigas  – Oyster Meat (200g)
Batch marking 24342, 24343, 24344
Date marking Use by dates: 27.8.24, 28.8.24, and 29.8.24
Package size and description The oysters in half shell are sold in a clear plastic tray with clear plastic wrapping.

The oyster meat is sold in a 200g glass jar.
Distribution The affected products are sold at 2 selected retailers on Waiheke Island:

  • RAW at Waiheke, 4 Putiki Road, Ostend, Waiheke Island
  • Waiheke Specialty Food, 28 Belgium Street, Ostend, Waiheke Island.

The products have not been exported.

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Point of sale notice for retailers

If you are a retailer of the products in this recall, download a copy of the point of sale notice. You need to display it in your store for one month.

 Point of sale notice – Te Matuku Oysters brand Premium Export Grade Pacific Oysters and Oyster [PDF, 125 KB]

Consumer advice

Customers are asked to check the batch number and date marking on the package.

Affected products should not be consumed. There have been reports of potentially associated illness in New Zealand. If you have consumed any of this product and have any concerns about your health, seek medical advice.

Customers should return the product to their retailer for a full refund.

More information on norovirus – Health NZ 

Who to contact

If you have questions, contact Te Matuku Oysters Ltd:

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Posted in food recall, MPI, Norovirus, Norovirus Oysters, product recall, Recall

USA – Norovirus outbreak associated with Sammamish Cafe & Spirits

Posted on July 22, 2024 by | Leave a comment

King County

Public Health investigated an outbreak of norovirus associated with Sammamish Cafe & Spirits. We identified multiple sick restaurant staff who reported symptoms consistent with norovirus. Norovirus can spread through multiple contaminated food items, environmental surfaces, and from person to person.

This outbreak appears to be over.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Norovirus, outbreak

Canada – Hundreds of Norovirus cases now linked to B.C. oysters, PHAC says

Posted on July 19, 2024 by | Leave a comment

CTV News

Food Borne Illness - Norovirus -CDC Photo

The norovirus outbreak involving raw oysters harvested in B.C. has infected almost 300 people, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced Thursday.

The agency says as of Wednesday, there had been 279 cases(opens in a new tab) of norovirus linked to B.C. oysters, with the vast majority of those cases (262) found in B.C. residents. 

An additional 15 cases have been confirmed in Ontario, as well as one each in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

According to the PHAC, recalls of affected oysters were issued on Feb. 18, March 20, March 23 and March 27

 

 

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Norovirus, Norovirus Oysters, outbreak

South Korea – Popular Kimchi Dish Blamed For Norovirus Outbreak In South Korea

Posted on July 8, 2024 by | Leave a comment

NDTV

An outbreak of food poisoning linked to norovirus-contaminated kimchi has struck Namwon City, South Korea, sickening over 1,000 people, BBC reported. Local authorities reported nearly 1,000 confirmed cases by Friday, with media outlets estimating the number to be over 1,000 by Saturday afternoon.

The outbreak’s source appears to be contaminated kimchi, a staple fermented cabbage dish commonly served in South Korea. This kimchi was distributed through school meal programs, causing students and staff at 24 schools to experience symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal cramps.

Norovirus is highly contagious and can spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or infected individuals. Thankfully, most people recover within a few days without requiring hospitalization. However, some cases can become severe.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Norovirus, outbreak

Italy – Norovirus outbreak hospitalises hundreds in Italian village

Posted on July 5, 2024 by | Leave a comment

DW

A norovirus outbreak hit the picturesque village of Torri del Benaco on the shores of Lake Garda, Italy, last week.

More than 300 people have sought medical treatment for the highly contagious stomach bug. The virus is known for its sudden onset of gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps and fever.

The rapid spread of the illness led to an immediate investigation by health authorities, who confirmed the presence of the highly contagious norovirus in stool samples of affected individuals.

It’s not yet clear what caused the sudden norovirus outbreak, but local health experts suspect the local water supply. Authorities have issued warnings for people in the area not to drink the tap water.

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Posted in Contaminated water, food bourne outbreak, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Norovirus, outbreak, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

RASFF Alert- Norovirus – Oysters – Strawberries

Posted on June 28, 2024 by | Leave a comment

RASFF

Norovirus in oysters from The Netherlands in Belgium

RASFF

Norovirus in strawberries from Egypt in Slovenia

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, Norovirus Oysters, Norovirus Soft Fruits, RASFF

Belgium – Whole Raspberries from the Carrefour Bio brand – Norovirus

Posted on June 27, 2024 by | Leave a comment

AFSCA

Frambozen Carrefour

Following an inspection, in order to guarantee consumer safety, CARREFOUR is withdrawing from sale WHOLE RASPBERRIES (400 g) of the Carrefour ORGANIC brand, sold in the frozen food section of certain Carrefour stores in Belgium, and is recalling them from consumers due to of the possible presence of Norovirus.

Description of products:

– Product name: WHOLE FROZEN RASPBERRIES 400 G
– Brand: Carrefour BIO
– EAN code: 3560071331771
– Minimum durability date (MBD): 04/03/2026
– Batch numbers: 50616301

All products are withdrawn from marketing. However, some of these products were marketed before the withdrawal measure.

People who still have these products are asked not to consume them, and to return them to the point of sale where they were purchased for a refund. As a precaution, people who have consumed these raw or undercooked raspberries and who present symptoms corresponding to acute gastroenteritis (namely vomiting, nausea, diarrhea isolated or accompanied by headaches, abdominal cramps, malaise, anorexia, fever, chills, and aches) are invited to consult their doctor, informing them of this consumption as well as the place and date of purchase.

For any further information , you can contact Carrefour Belgium customer service by dialing the free number 0800.9.10.11, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience caused.

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Posted in afsca, food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Quality, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Norovirus, Norovirus Soft Fruits

France – WHOLE FROZEN RASPBERRIES – Norovirus

Posted on June 27, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Gov France

Product category
Food
Product subcategory
Fruits and vegetables
Product brand name
CARREFOUR ORGANIC
Model names or references
FROZEN WHOLE RASPBERRIES ORGANIC CARREFOUR BRAND 400G BAG
Product identification
GTIN Batch Date
3560071331771 50616301 Minimum durability date 04/03/2026
Packaging
400g bag
Start/end date of marketing
From 04/03/2024 to 06/25/2024
Storage temperature
Product to keep in the freezer
Further information
SUPPLIER: RED FRUITS OF AISNE
Geographical sales area
Whole France
Distributors
Crossroads

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Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Safety Management, Food Safety Regulations, Food Testing, Norovirus, Norovirus Soft Fruits

Research – Salmonella climbs to leading cause of outbreaks in Denmark

Posted on June 25, 2024 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

kswfoodworld salmonella

Salmonella infections overtook norovirus to become Denmark’s top cause of outbreaks in 2023.

Data from the National Food Institute at the Technical University of Denmark, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, and Statens Serum Institut shows Salmonella outbreaks increased from 11 2022 to 18 in 2023. Norovirus caused 13 outbreaks compared to 14 in 2022.

Campylobacter continues to be the most common bacterial foodborne illness, with 5,186 cases in 2023. Salmonella cases increased for the fourth year in a row, to 1,207 from 899 in 2022. For both pathogens, the numbers moved towards levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Posted in Campylobacter, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, Norovirus, outbreak, Salmonella

USA – FDA Advises Restaurants and Retailers Not to Serve or Sell and Consumers Not to Eat Certain IQF Oysters from Republic of Korea Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus

Posted on June 24, 2024 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Audience

  • Restaurants and food retailers in Hawaii (HI) and California (CA) that have recently purchased individually quick frozen (IQF) oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, Republic of Korea (ROK) (KR 6 SP), harvested on 2/28/2023, from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C-20230228.
  • Consumers in HI and CA who have recently purchased IQF oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, ROK (KR 6 SP), harvested on 2/28/2023, from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C-20230228.

Product

The implicated products include certain IQF oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, ROK (KR 6 SP), harvested on 2/28/2023 from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C-20230228. The oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in HI and CA. The oysters may have been distributed to other states as well.

The photos below are included as an example of product labeling from IQF oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, ROK (KR 6 SP), harvested on 2/28/2023, from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C-20230228:

On 6/13/2024, the Hawaii Department of Health advised the FDA of an outbreak of norovirus illnesses associated with the consumption of certain IQF oysters from Central Fisheries Co., LTD (KR-6-SP), ROK, harvested on 2/28/2023 from Designated Area No. 2, with use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C-20230228.

On 6/19/2024, the ROK advised the FDA that Central Fisheries Co., LTD is voluntarily recallingExternal Link Disclaimer certain oysters due to possible norovirus contamination. The recall includes IQF oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, ROK (KR-6-SP), harvested on 2/28/2023 from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025, and Lot Code # C-20230228.

The Central Fisheries Co., LTD oysters were distributed to restaurants and retailers in HI and CA. The oysters may have been distributed to other states as well.

Sample Product Image - Alert on Certain IQF Oysters from Republic of Korea Designated Area No. 2 Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus
Sample Product Image - Alert on Certain IQF Oysters from Republic of Korea Designated Area No. 2 Potentially Contaminated with Norovirus

Purpose

The FDA is advising restaurants and food retailers not to serve or sell and to dispose of, and consumers not to consume IQF oysters, product of Central Fisheries Co., LTD, ROK (KR 6 SP), harvested on 2/28/2023 from Designated Area No. 2, with a use by date of 2/28/2025 and Lot Code # C- 20230228, and shipped to distributors in HI and CA because they may be contaminated with norovirus.

Oysters contaminated with norovirus can cause illness if eaten, and potentially severe illness in people with compromised immune systems. Food containing norovirus may look, smell, and taste normal. Consumers of these products who are experiencing symptoms of illness should contact their healthcare provider and report their symptoms to their local Health Department. Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever may be associated with gastroenteritis infections caused by this organism.

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Posted in FDA, food recall, Norovirus, Norovirus Oysters, product recall, Recall