Category Archives: Pathogen

USA – Rich Products – E.coli O121 Update

Posted on April 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning Journal

Rich Products Corporation of Buffalo, New York is expanding its recall of various heat treated, not fully cooked frozen mini meals and snack items to more than 10.5 million pounds because they may be contaminated with E. coli O121, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The expanded recall covers all products produced at the company’s Waycross, Ga. plant with “Best by” dates ranging from January 1, 2013 to September 29, 2014.  Each product package above contains the establishment number “EST. 27232″ or “P-27233″ inside the USDA mark of inspection.

The products subject to recall were produced between July 1, 2011 and March 29, 2013 then distributed for retail or restaurant sale nationwide. FSIS and the establishment are concerned that some product may be present in household freezers.

FSIS was notified of a multistate investigation of E. coli O121 illnesses on March 19, 2013. Food samples were collected from an ill individual in New York as part of this investigation, and tested by the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Laboratory. At present, the outbreak includes 24 cases in 15 states that led to seven hospitalizations and one case of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure. A sample of a Farm Rich frozen chicken mini quesadilla product from a New York case tested positive for the outbreak strain of E. coli O121. Additionally, a sample of leftover Farm Rich mini pepperoni pizza slices product from a Texas case tested positive for the same strain, confirmed by FSIS lab technicians.

When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at: www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O121, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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Research – Thailand –

Posted on April 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The Poultry SiteCampylobacter

THAILAND – To reduce Campylobacter prevalence on broiler skin, on-farm biosecurity measures need to be accompanied by controls at the slaughterhouse, according to new research from Thailand.

Even though most Campylobacter-positive broiler skin samples were contaminated with only up to 230 most probable number per gram, a substantial share (13.3 per cent) showed very high Campylobacter numbers on the broiler skin samples (most probable number = infinity; lower confidence limit T0 580 per gram).

The researchers report their data suggest that intense cross-contamination during the slaughter process led to a strong increase of Campylobacter prevalence on broiler skin compared with the prevalence in broiler caeca.

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Posted in Campylobacter, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen

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USA – FDA Recall – Smoked and Pickled Herring – Clostridium botulinum

Posted on April 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

FDAFDA

Little Mermaid Smoke House is recalling Smoked Herring and Pickled Herring fish because the products were found to be uneviscerated, and have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium which can cause life-threatening illness or death. Consumers are warned not to use the product even if it does not look or smell spoiled.

Botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning, can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.

The following products are recalled:

Little Mermaid Smoked Herring fish Sold prior to 04/04/2013
Little Mermaid Pickled Herring fish Sold prior to 04/04/2013

The recalled products are manufactured by Little Mermaid Smoke House and distributed in the state of California. These products are sold as whole fish, packaged in vacuum sealed packaging, and labeled “Little Mermaid Smoke House” which varies in weight and size. There are no codes listed on the products. The recall includes products sold prior to 04/03/2013.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Toxin

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Canada – CIFA Recall – Hazelnuts – Salmonella

Posted on April 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CIFAEurofins

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Trophy Foods Inc. are warning the public not to consume Trophy brand Hazelnuts In Shell because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

This product has been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and may have been distributed to other provinces.

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

The manufacturer, Trophy Foods Inc., Calgary, Alberta is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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Canada – Expanded Recall – Salmon and Salmon Prodcuts – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on April 4, 2013 by | 1 comment

CFIACIFA

The public warning issued on March 22, 2013 has been expanded to include additional products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Previously identified products included in this recall can be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/recalls.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Central-Epicure Food Products Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the Central-Epicure brand Smoked Salmon products described below because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

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

The manufacturer, Central-Epicure Food Products Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Offal – Halva with Pistachios

Posted on April 4, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF -Salmonella Heidelberg (presence /25g) in frozen cuts and offal (Gallus gallus) from Brazil in Spain

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in halva with pistachios from Lebanon in Cyprus

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hygiene, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Salmonella

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RASFF – Alerts – Aflatoxins – Histamine – Almonds – Dried Figs – Pistachios – Tuna

Posted on April 4, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF -Aflatoxins (B1 = 15.9; Tot. = 17.8 / B1 = 4.9; Tot. = 5.8 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled almonds from the United States in Spain

RASFF– Aflatoxins (Tot. = 60.6 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in the Czech Republic

RASFF – Aflatoxins (B1 = 26; Tot. = 29 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran in France

RASFF – Histamine (500 mg/kg – ppm) in frozen yellowfin tuna loins (Thunnus albacares) from Indonesia in Italy

RASFF – Histamine (2690; 2740; 2481 mg/kg – ppm) in canned tuna in olive oil from France, with raw material from Côte d’Ivoire in Italy

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Posted in Aflatoxin, Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hygiene, Microbiology, Moulds, Mycotoxin, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall

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USA – FDA – Recall Pet Food – Salmonella

Posted on April 4, 2013 by | Leave a comment

FDASalm

Bravo! is voluntarily recalling three of its raw diet frozen foods for dogs and cats: 5 lb tubes of Bravo! Chicken Balance product item code 21-405 with “best used by” dates of 3_6_15 and 3_12_15; 2 lb Bravo! Chicken Blend product item code 21-102 with the “best used by” date of 3_21_15 and 5 lb. bags of Bravo! Beef Blend Burgers product item code 51-508 with the “best used by” dates of 3_21_15 and 3_22_15, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

This recall is being issued out of an abundance of caution, as while these products tested negative for pathogens by an independent third party prior to distribution, they were run on the same day or an adjacent day to a product that tested positive for pathogens. The product that tested positive has been 100 percent contained and is not subject to this recall.

The recall involves only:

  • 5 lb. Bravo! Chicken Balance frozen raw diet chubs (tubes) with “best used by” dates of 3_6_15 and 3_12_15 imprinted on the side of the plastic casing. Only 26 cases with the 3_6_15 date were distributed nationally and 36 cases with 3_12_15 date were distributed nationally.
  • 2 lb. Bravo! Chicken Blend frozen raw diet chubs (tubes) with the “best used by” date of 3_21_15 imprinted on the side of the plastic casing. Only 67 cases with 3_21_15 date were distributed nationally.
  • 5 lb. Bravo! Beef Blend Burgers bags with the “best used by” dates of 3_21_15 and 3_22_15 imprinted on the back panel of the plastic bag. Only 47 cases with the 3_21_15 date were distributed nationally and 55 cases with the 3_22_15 date were distributed nationally.

No other products or sizes are affected.

The recalled product should not be sold or fed to pets. The company has received no reports of illness in either people or animals associated with this product.

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Posted in Bacteria, FDA, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Pet Food, Recall, Salmonella

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Egypt – Cairo University 479 Students with Food Poisoning

Posted on April 3, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Food poisoning has sent at least 479 students at Cairo’s al-Azhar university to hospitals and sent hundreds of others into the streets to demand the resignation of the school’s president.

The outbreak is so politically charged that Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi took a page out of the West’s political playbook by visiting one of the hospitals where the sickened students are being treated.

Egypt’s Health Ministry said that while hundreds were ill, there have been no deaths recorded among the patients. Those suffering from food poisoning were divided among several Cairo hospitals so they could receive medical attention more promptly. The Health Ministry said all the cases were stabilized.

“Basic hygiene standards are not always observed at Egyptian universities, but this incident is one of the largest cases of food poisoning in recent years,” said BBC, reporting from Cairo.

BBC News

 

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

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USA – Walmart Recall Pizza – Possible E.coli Contamination

Posted on April 3, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Walmart is recalling Farm Rich Pizza Slices from its stores nationwide because they may be contaminated with E.coli. The frozen pepperoni pizza slices were sold in 7.2 oz cartons and 22 oz cartons with “EST. 27232″ or “P-27233″ stamped inside the USDA mark of inspection. The “best by” dates for both sizes under recall is May 15 or May 16, 2014.

The products under recall contain cheese, pepperoni, sauce and dough, according to information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which, along with Farm Rich, has posted the recall on its website. The pizza slices are among several Farm Rich items being recalled for potential E. coli contamination including: mini chicken and cheese quesadillas, mini mozzarella bites and cheesesteak sandwiches.

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Posted in E.coli, E.coli O121, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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