Category Archives: Pathogen

Research – China’s Foodborne Illness Statistics

Science Direct

Abstract

To understand the general trends and status of China’s food safety, we analyzed 2387 individual incidents of acute foodborne illnesses that had been reported by medical professionals in published journal papers during the last decade. As a result, 99,487 illnesses and 380 deaths were found in these 2387 incidents. In our analysis, we tried to understand the risks of acute foodborne illnesses and deaths corresponding to food pathogens, food location and settings, implicated food vehicles, sources of contamination and human causes. Based on our analysis, we made recommendations for risk communication, risk management and future research in regard to foodborne illnesses in China.

Highlights

► We analyze China’s food safety problem in the case of acute foodborne illness. ► Data were extracted from detailed reports on 2387 incidents of foodborne illness. ► Risk factors are discussed from multiple perspectives. ► Recommendation for policies and strategies towards food safety are provided. ► This is so far the most comprehensive analysis of acute foodborne illness in China.

UK – East Midlands Free Listeria Seminar for SME’s

ReadyMealsInfo

East Midlands food businesses that make, distribute and sell chilled, ready-to-eat products are to be given help and advice to help them keep their products safe from Listeria.

According to data from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) serious cases of laboratory-confirmed Listeria infection in the UK almost doubled between 2000 and 2009. In 2010 numbers decreased but were still higher than during the 1990s.
The Food and Drink iNet, which is run by trade organisation The Food and Drink Forum, is funding a six-month collaborative research and development project at The University of Nottingham working with the food hygiene specialists Diversey, to turn the spotlight on the issue.

As part of the project, a seminar is being run to give small and medium-sized businesses in the chilled food sector, guidance and advice about how to manage the risk of Listeria.  The seminar will be held in the Plant Sciences Building at the University’s Sutton Bonington campus between 4 pm and 6.45 pm on Wednesday February 13.

The Food and Drink iNet, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is managed by a consortium, led by the Food and Drink Forum and including Nottingham Trent University, the University of Lincoln, and The University of Nottingham. It is based at Southglade Food Park, Nottingham, with advisors covering the East Midlands region to offer a range of support to small and medium-sized enterprises that work in the sector.

To book places at the seminar email iNet advisor Jo Murphy at jo.murphy@foodanddrink-inet.org.uk and for more information visit www.foodanddrink-inet.org.uk

 

 

RASFF Alerts – Histamine – E.coli

RASFF – E.coli in Rope Mussels in France via Irland

RASFF – Histamine in Tuna Chunks in Denmark sourced in Thailand

Denmark – Histamine in Tuna in Denmark

USA – Further Crab Recalls-Listeria monocytogenes

Shoprite

GoldCoast Salad Spread

Recall Type: Class I –HEALTH HAZARD

Products: GoldCoast Blue Crab Spread (8 oz.) UPC 83355500325

GoldCoast Lobster Shrimp Spread (8 oz.) UPC 83355500005 GoldCoast Maine Lobster Spread (8 oz.) UPC 83355500324 GoldCoast Blue Crab Spread (16 oz.) UPC 83355500125 GoldCoast Maine Lobster Spread (16 oz.) UPC 83355500124

Purchased: December 1, 2012 thru January 31, 2013

Reason: GoldCoast Salads has voluntarily recalled these products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes which can cause food borne illness. Populations most at risk are pregnant women, newborns and adults with weakened immune systems.

Walmart

ebruary 01, 2013 – GoldCoast Salads, a Naples Florida firm, is voluntarily recalling it’s Blue Crab Spread that may be contaminated with Listeria.

The product being recalled is coded EXP 1-31-13.

The following products are being recalled: Blue Crab Spread, in containers with a weight of 1 pound and containers with a weight of 8 ounces.

The product was produced December 3, 2012 and distributed to stores in the North East and South East United States.

Because of the potential for food borne illness, we urge consumers who have purchased the suspect products not to eat them, but to return them to the point of purchase.

Consumers who may have questions or concerns should contact GoldCoast Salads by calling:

(239) 513-0430

For Additional Information, please contact:

Peter Radno GoldCoast Salads Naples, Florida 34117 (239) 513-0430

UK -FSA – Results of Industry Testing

FSAfood_standards_agency_logo

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has agreed with the food industry to publish the results of industry testing of meat products, to provide a clearer picture of standards in the food chain. The results will also be made publicly available.

The decision was taken at a meeting to address how testing can maintain consumer confidence in the accuracy of food labelling, attended by Food and Farming Minister David Heath, representatives of the FSA, and major food businesses and suppliers.

Catherine Brown, Chief Executive of the FSA, said: ‘I am pleased that we have been able to agree a way forward to maintain consumer confidence in the food that people eat. We need to move swiftly to get this work under way to reassure consumers.’

Research – Super Feezing Campylobacter to Death !

news.scotsman.comCampylobacter

FOOD safety experts plan to “superfreeze” chickens to halt the rise of campylobacter  food poisoning. The Food Standards Agency is currently looking into a procedure which involves exposing the surface of slaughtered chickens to extreme cold, known as rapid surface chilling.

The radical process is currently being considered to help curb the rampant levels of  the food poisoning bacteria commonly found in uncooked poultry products.

Around two-thirds of fresh, raw chicken sold by retailers is believed to be contaminated with campylobacter, which can cause sever stomach upsets.

The FSA aims to reduce the proportion of birds in the highest category of contamination at UK poultry houses from 27 per cent to 10 per cent by 2015.

Dr Jacqui McElhiney, policy adviser on food-borne disease at the FSA in Scotland, said: “This process acts to temporarily cool only the very outer surface of the chicken carcass without freezing the meat itself. It involves exposing the surface of poultry carcasses to very low temperatures for a very short time, which reduces the numbers of campylobacter bacteria on the surface, as they are sensitive to an extreme cold shock treatment of this type.”

European RASFF Alerts – Norovirus – Moulds – E.coli – Ochratoxin – Histamine

RASFF – Norovirus in Oysters in Italy sourced in France

RASFF – Moulds in Chocolate and Ornage Spread in France sourced in Denmark

RASSF – Histamine in Tuna in France sourced in Vietnam

RASFF – Histamine in Tune in Italy sourced in Spain

RASFF – E.coli in Clams in Italy sourced in Spain via France

RASFF – Ochratoxin in Figs in Germany source in Turkey

Greece – Bacillus cereus in Soy Cheese Cubes

Australia – Third Cheese Recall of Cheese for Listeria monocyotgenes in Cheese 2013

FSANZFSANZ

Calendar Cheese has recalled MAURI BONTA’ZOLA GORGONZOLA DOP (Blue Cheese) from Thomas Dux Grocer, David Jones and Coles Supermarkets in NSW, VIC, WA, QLD, SA and TAS due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.  Listeria monocytogenes may cause illness in pregnant women and their unborn babies, the elderly and people with low immune systems. Consumers should not eat this product. Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

Calendar Cheese Company

03 8645 4666

USA – The Listeria monocytogenes Issues keep Coming – Crab – Sea Salmon – Sprouted Seedss

PR Newswire

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC, following a recall by GoldCoast Salads, announced it removed from sale Gold Coast Fresh Crab Spread due to possible contamination by listeria monocytogenes.

The following product is included in this recall:

  • Gold Coast Fresh Crab Spread, UPC 83355500325, 8 oz., expiration date of 1/31/2013

To date, Stop & Shop has received no reports of illness. Customers who have purchased the product should discard any unused portions and bring their purchase receipt to Stop & Shop for a full refund.

Listeria is a common organism found in nature.  Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis.  However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

FDA

Whole Foods Market is recalling four items made with Circle Sea Salmon Lox Trim sold in Oregon and Washington state store seafood departments due to possible Listeria Monocytogenes contamination. Listeria is an organism which can cause a sometimes fatal infection in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer short term symptoms, such as high fever, severe headaches, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled products were sold before Jan. 29, 2013 in all Whole Foods Market stores in Oregon and Washington. No illnesses have been reported related to the recalled products.

The salmon lox trim products (cold smoked salmon lox trim — PLU 97629, Bagel Half with Lox Cream Cheese w/Capers – PLU 92811, Whole Bagel with Lox Cream Cheese with Capers – PLU 98437, Gravlox Cream Cheese Spread – PLU 95307) were sold in clear plastic containers or plastic wrapped with the label “Whole Foods Market.” The recall includes all of these products sold before Jan. 29, 2013.

Signage is posted in Whole Foods Market stores to notify customers of this recall. Consumers who have purchased these products in these two states should discard them, and may bring their receipt to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact 206-854-9880 Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm PST.

FDA – This recall extends to Canada and CFIA also has a recall out

Sprouters Northwest of Kent, Washington is voluntarily recalling all varieties of sprouts products, wheatgrass and pea shoots due to the potential contamination with 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 high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

All varieties of sprouts products including 3-Bean Munchie, Alfalfa, Bean, Broccoli, Brocco Sandwich sprouts, Clover, Deli, Spicy; Wheatgrass and/or Pea Shoots were distributed through 1/30/2013 in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and British Columbia, Canada through retail stores and food service distribution chain.

The affected products are sold under the Sprouters Northwest and LifeForce brand names and are packaged in plastic clamshell containers, plastic cups, plastic trays in 3 oz., 4 oz., 5 oz., and in plastic 1 lb. 2lb, or 5lb. bags. The Best by Dates are including all and up to 2/17/2013.

The problem was identified through surveillance finished products samples collected at retail locations and at the firm by the Washington State Department of Agriculture.

Sprouters Northwest is working with WSDA and the Food & Drug Administration on this recall.

Consumers should not consume the recalled sprouts product, wheatgrass, pea shoots and are advised to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-253-872-0577 from 7AM to 2PM PST.

 

 

CDC – Hedgehogs and Salmonella

CDChttp://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:Olaf1541

A total of 20 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Typhimurium have been reported from 8 states.

  • The number of ill persons identified in each state is as follows: Alabama (1), Illinois (1), Indiana (1), Michigan (3), Minnesota (3), Ohio (3), Oregon (1), and Washington (7).
  • 31% of ill persons have been hospitalized. One death associated with Salmonella infection has been reported in Washington.
  • 45% of ill persons are children 10 years of age or younger.
  • Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback findings have linked this outbreak of human Salmonella infections to contact with pet hedgehogs purchased from multiple hedgehog breeders in different states.
  • It is very important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water right after touching hedgehogs or anything in the area where they live and roam. Adults should supervise hand washing for young children.