Category Archives: Pathogen

Canada Updated Recall Hazlenuts – Salmonella

Posted on December 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

The public warning issued on December 2, 2012 has been updated to include additional bulk filberts (hazelnuts).

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the in-shell filberts (hazelnuts) described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Ennis variety filberts (hazelnuts), product of USA, was sold from bulk bins up to and including December 4, 2012.

This product was distributed through Loblaw banners as follows:

Ontario – Cash & Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Fortinos, No Frills Quebec – Loblaws, Maxi & Cie, Maxi, Provigo Newfoundland and Labrador – Dominion

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

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Uncategorized

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USA – Recall Beef and Cheese Pie Products – Listeria

Posted on December 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Journal

Cantina Foods, a Buffalo, N.Y. establishment, is recalling approximately 2,375 pounds of ready-to-eat beef and cheese pie products because they were produced without the benefit of federal inspection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall:

  • Cartons containing four clear plastic bags with six 4-oz. “Beef and Cheese Pastellios” in each bag.

There are no labels or marks of inspection on the bags or cartons. The products were produced and sold from Oct. 3, 2012 through Nov. 20, 2012 and distributed to retail establishments in the Buffalo, N.Y. region. The individual pies may have been available for sale from heat trays at convenience stores.

The company had requested to voluntarily suspend its operations in September, 2012 after a food safety assessment by FSIS identified problems with the firm’s Listeria monocytogenes control program. Through their investigation, FSIS enforcement personnel identified the products in commerce and determined that the company had produced them without the benefit of inspection.

FSIS has received no reports of illness due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a health care provider.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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USA – Recall Salsa Dill Beans – Clostridium botulinum?

Posted on December 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Botulinum Blog

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers not to eat Harry’s Berries Salsa (mild or hot flavors) or Harry’s Berries Dilled Beans, packed by Gean Farms, Inc., because they may have been improperly produced, making them susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum. No illnesses have been linked to any of the affected products at this time.

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Uncategorized

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RASFF/European Alerts – Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on December 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (presence /25g) in gorgonzola and mascarpone cheese cake from Italy.

Switzerland – Food safety and public warning: Listeria in goat cheese “The Capriglânois”

Greece – The EFET, namely the Regional Directorate of Western Greece Within the framework of implementation of official control programs for food safety and quality control on bottled water and in cooperation with the State General Laboratory, found that there unsafe product – natural mineral water – which detected the bacterium Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Pseudomonas, RASFF, Recall, Water

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Australia- Recall Favor Swallow Bean Sauce – Bacillus cereus

Posted on December 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

FSANZFSANZ

Delin (Australia) Trading Pty Ltd has recalled Favor Swallow Bean Sauce from some Asian supermarkets in Victoria due to microbial contamination (Bacillus cereus). Food products contaminated with Bacillus cereus  may cause illness if consumed. Consumers should not eat this product and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

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Posted in Bacillus cereus, Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, FSANZ, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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Canada – Three Recall Walnuts / Hazelnuts/ Mixed Nuts – Salmonella

Posted on December 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CFIA CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Compass Food Sales are warning the public not to consume Compass brand in-shell California Walnuts described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following walnuts, product of USA, are affected by this alert:

Brand Product Size UPC Best Before
Compass California Walnuts (in-shell) 300 g 0 68297 20121 0 07MA2014

This product has been distributed nationally.

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

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

The importer / packer, Compass Food Sales, Aurora, ON is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaws Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the in-shell filberts (hazelnuts) described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected filberts, product of USA, were sold in 454 g bags bearing UPC 7 75636 10004 1 and in bulk bins.

This product was distributed nationally in Loblaws banners – Real Canadian Super Store, Fortinos, Freshmart, Loblaws, No Frills, Valu-Mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs, Dominion, Red & White, Save Easy, Cash and Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, AXEP, Group Distribution, Intermarché, Maxi & Cie, Maxi, Presto, Club Entrepôt, Provigo, Extra Foods, Shop Easy, Super Valu, Westfair.

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

CFIA

The public warning issued earlier on December 2, 2012has been updated to include additional products containing filberts (hazelnuts).

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the in-shell Mixed Nuts described below because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following mixed nuts, products of USA, are affected by this alert:

Product Size UPC
Mixed Nuts 454 g 6 28721 20678 7
Mixed Nuts 1.36 kg 0 33383 70401 2

These products were distributed nationally in Loblaw banners – Real Canadian Super Store, Fortinos, Freshmart, Loblaws, No Frills, Valu-Mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs, Dominion, Red & White, Save Easy, Cash and Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Maxi & Cie, Maxi, Presto, Club Entrepôt, Provigo, Extra Foods, Shop Easy, Super Valu, Westfair, Affiliated Independents, Quick Mart.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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USA – Recall Updates – Butter Chicken / Meatless Burger – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on December 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

USDA –

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is alerting the public of a recall being conducted by the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Canadian Establishment 720, Aliya’s Foods Limited, for approximately 4,865 pounds of frozen butter chicken and rice products imported from Canada that may be contaminated with Listeria
monocytogenes.

FDA –

VEGGIE PATCH® is voluntarily recalling two products –The Ultimate Meatless Burger and Falafel– due to a risk of contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.  Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Although healthy persons may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headaches, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.

The Ultimate Meatless Burger and Falafel, from VEGGIE PATCH, with the specific use-by dates and UPC codes listed below were distributed to a select number of retailers and distributors.

  • 9-ounce trays of refrigerated, fully cooked, VEGGIE PATCH, The Ultimate Meatless Burger with a Use-By date, Jan/12/2013; UPC code 6-10129-00211-5 (which can be found on back of package)
  • 9-ounce trays of refrigerated, fully cooked, VEGGIE PATCH, Falafel with a Use-By date, Jan/15/2013; UPC code 6-10129-06619-3 (which can be found on back of package)

The Ultimate Meatless Burger potentially affected was available for sale as of November 21, 2012, in the following states; NY, CT, PA, FL, IL, MD, IN, WI, VA, NJ and DE.  Falafel potentially affected, was available for sale as of November 21, 2012, nationwide. No illnesses have been reported to date.  VEGGIE PATCH discovered this issue as part of its routine testing of its products.

Consumers who purchased any product with the specific use-by dates and UPC codes listed above are asked to dispose of the product. They should email contactus@veggiepatch.com to arrange for a full refund.  The recall affects only these two items. Products that do not contain the specific use-by dates and UPC codes listed are not affected by the recall.  No other VEGGIE PATCH products or other use-by dates of The Ultimate Meatless Burger or Falafel are affected by this recall.  Frozen Veggie Patch products are not affected by this recall.

Consumers with questions can contact VEGGIE PATCH at 888-807-0765, 8am- 5pm EST, seven days a week, or at contactus@veggiepatch.com

More information is available on the VEGGIE PATCH website at http://www.veggiepatch.com

About VEGGIE PATCH

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Eurofins Laboratories, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, USDA

Research – Safer Spinach Combined Microbiological Control

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Science Direct

University of Illinois scientists have found a way to boost current industry capabilities when it comes to reducing the number of E. coli 0157:H7 cells that may live undetected on spinach leaves.

“By combining continuous ultrasound treatment with chlorine washing, we can reduce the total number of foodborne pathogenic bacteria by over 99.99 percent,” said Hao Feng, a U of I professor of food science and human nutrition.

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Posted in E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Testing, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research

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USA Research -CDC – Report on Levels of Yersinia in Pork

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

In a new study of raw pork chops and ground pork, Consumer Reports found 69 percent of samples were contaminated with Yersinia enterocolitica, according to a report published by the group today.

A lesser-known foodborne pathogen, Yersinia enterocolitica can cause fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea, lasting one to three weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is approximately one confirmed infection per 100,000 people reported each year, but since these cases are severely under-reported, CDC estimates there are actually around 100,000 infections in the United States annually.

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Posted in Bacteria, CDC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, Yersinia

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USA – Illinois MacDonalds Closed Salmonella Investigation

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Owners of a Bloomington, Illinois McDonalds voluntarily shut the establishment down last week after it was linked to a series of Salmonella infections.

Bob and Julie Dobski, who own 9 McDonalds franchises in the Bloomington-Normal area, were informed by health officials Wednesday night that the South Main Street location had been connected to a cluster of Salmonella illnesses. The owners chose to shut down the restaurant before Thanksgiving the following day.

Less than 10 Salmonella cases have been reported, according to Keri Simon, communications director for the McClean County Health Department, as reported by Pantagraph. People affected by the bacteria report eating at the restaurant between October 18 and November 11, according to the county health department, which is conducting the investigation along with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

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