Category Archives: Pathogen

RASFF Alert – Histamine – Sardines

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RASFF -histamine (417; 243; 177; 173 mg/kg – ppm) in frozen sardines from France

RASFF Alerts – Listeria monocytogenes – Salmon – Raw Milk Cheese

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RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (110 mg/kg – ppm) in hot-smoked salmon(Salo salar) with pepper from Poland in Germany

RASFF -Listeria monocytogenes (14000 CFU/g) in salmon salad from Belgium

RASFF -Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk sheep’s cheese from France in Germany

RASFF -Listeria monocytogenes (170 CFU/g) in chilled smoked salmon from Ireland

RASFF -Listeria monocytogenes (presence /25g) in smoked salmon from Ireland

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Infant Food – Groundnuts – Dried Figs – Pistachio – Chilli – Pepper

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RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 0.38 µg/kg – ppb) in ready to eat infant food from Spain in the Netherlands

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 4.77; Tot. = 5.3 µg/kg – ppb) in runner groundnut kernels from Brazil in Poland

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 164.3 µg/kg – ppb) and ochratoxin A (27.2 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Spain in Switzerland

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 30; Tot. = 56 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio in shell from Turkey in Belgium

RASFF -aflatoxins (B1 = 15.4; Tot. = 30.6 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Spain in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 11.1 µg/kg – ppb) in crushed chilli from India in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 26 µg/kg – ppb) in Jamaican ground pepper from Mauritius in Luxembourg

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RASFF Alerts – Animal Feed Salmonella – Cat Food – Sunflower Meal – Soyben Meal

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RASFF -Salmonella Newport (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g), Salmonella paratyphi b (in 2 out of 5 samples /25g) and Salmonella typhimurium (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in frozen cat food from the Netherlands in Belgium

RASFF -Salmonella Livingstone (presence /25g) in sunflower meal from Bulgaria in Austria

RASFF -Salmonella Orion (presence /25g) in soybean meal from Italy in Austria

USA – FDA Recall – Hummus – Listeria monocytogenes

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December 20, 2013 -Spokane Produce, Inc., of Spokane Washington is recalling approximately 59 lbs of Victor’s Sesame Hummus due to concerns about possible 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.

The following product is subject to the voluntary recall:

  • 11oz labeled “Victor™ – Toasted Sesame Hummus” with UPC 6 09722 76501 5, best by 12/29/13.

The hummus was distributed to retail locations (Rosauers, Brewster Market, SuperOne) in Washington and Montana.

No illnesses have been reported in association with this recall.

Listeria Species were discovered during routine testing of the newly released product. The listeria test utilized is an indicator of several species of listeria and does not specifically indicate listeria monocytogenes.

Consumers who have purchased Victor™ – Toasted Sesame Hummus are urged not to eat it and to dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Ireland – FSAI Recall – E.coli VTEC in Raw Milk Cheese

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Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) has been detected in several batches of gouda cheese produced by Kilshanny Farmhouse Cheese using raw milk.  The company has been ordered by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to withhold placing any further batches on the market. Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated cheese.

Ireland – FSAI – Recall – Smoked Salmon – Listeria monocytogenes

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As a precautionary measure, Clarke’s Fish Exports Ltd. is recalling batches of the above farmed oak smoked salmon due to the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in some batches.  The affected smoked salmon was supplied to distributors, on-line customers and retail shops.  Clarke’s Organic Farmed Smoked Salmon is not affected by this recall.

 

USA – USDA Recall – Staphylococcus Enterotoxin – Pork Sausages

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Lee Bros. Foodservice Inc., a San Jose, Calif., establishment, is recalling 740 pounds of sausage products that may be contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The following products are subject to recall: [View Label]

  • 16 oz packages of Lee’s Sandwiches brand Pork Sausages produced on 2/11/13 with an identifying code “042P” printed on the back of the package
  • 16 oz packages of Lee’s Sandwiches brand Pork and Chicken Sausages produced on 2/12/13 with an identifying code of “043PC” printed on the back of the package

Each package bears the establishment number “Est. 11041” inside the USDA Mark of Inspection. The products were sold at the wholesale and retail level in Arizona, California, Oklahoma, Nevada, Texas and online.

The problem was discovered by FSIS personnel during a food safety assessment. The inspector was reviewing processing records and found that the water level in the product may have been high enough to allow for the production of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin. FSIS has received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact a physician.

USA – Foster Farms Sickens 416 to Date

Food Poisoning BulletinSalmonella

Salmonella on Foster Farms chicken has sickened at least 416 people in 23 states, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The outbreak strains of Salmonella Heidelberg are resistant to several commonly prescribed antibiotics which may be a factor in the 40 percent  hospitalization rate for this outbreak, which is about twice the average.

The company has not issued a recall for the chicken and despite its plans to improve in October conditions at three plants associated with the outbreak, reports of illness continued through the end of November and perhaps beyond, according to the CDC.

Research – Retail Packed Chicken and Microorganisms

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It won’t all harm you, but some of it might. That’s the caveat in the latest Consumer Reports analysis of tests on raw chicken breasts purchased at retailers nationwide. The analysis found that 97 percent of tested chicken breast samples “harbored bacteria that could make you sick.”

While it is true that the detected bacteria could cause infections if improperly handled, a smaller proportion has the potential to cause foodborne illness in the classic sense.