Category Archives: PSP

Canadian Recalls – Tahina – Salmonella – Raw Shellfish – PSP

C

Ottawa, August 16, 2013 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public, food service establishments, and retailers, not to consume, serve, use, or sell the tahina products described in the link above because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Some of the affected product was sold in bulk and may have been repacked at retail.  Consumers who cannot determine the original product identity are advised to check with their retailer to determine if they have one of the affected products.

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

The CFIA is working with the Canadian importers to remove all affected products from the market place.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

All Tahina products, manufactured by Al Nakhil Co, of Lebanon between September 5, 2012 and April 21, 2013, are affected by this alert.

CFIA

Ottawa, August 16, 2013 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to serve or consume the raw shellfish products described in the link above because they may contain paralytic shellfish toxins that can cause illness if consumed.

These shellfish products were primarily distributed to wholesalers and institutional clients such as restaurants. However, the affected shellfish products may also have been sold in smaller quantities at some retail seafood counters. Consumers who are unsure whether they have the affected products are advised to check with their retailer or supplier.

These products have been distributed in Alberta and British Columbia.  However, they may have been distributed in other provinces and territories.

There have been no reported cases of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) associated with the consumption of these products.

Paralytic shellfish toxins are a group of natural toxins that sometimes accumulate in bivalve shellfish that include oysters, clams, scallops, mussels and cockles. Non-bivalve shellfish, such as whelks, can also accumulate PSP toxins. These toxins can cause PSP if consumed. Symptoms of PSP include tingling and numbness of the lips, tongue, hands and feet, and difficulty swallowing. In severe situations, this can proceed to difficulty walking, muscle paralysis, respiratory paralysis and death in as quickly as 12 hours.

The shellfish processors are voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

RASFF Alerts – Histamine – PSP – Listeria monocytogenes

RASFF – Histamine (530 mg/kg – ppm) in sardines from Tunisia in Italy

RASFF – Suspicion of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins (2152 µg/kg – ppb) in surf clams from the United Kingdom

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (< 100 CFU/g) in chilled raw milk brie from France in the Netherlands

RASFF Alerts – Norovirus in Raspberries – Listeria monocytogenes in Gorgonzola – PSP in Cockles

RASFF – Norovirus (GII) in frozen raspberries from Poland, via the Netherlands

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (< 10 CFU/g) in Gorgonzola cheese from Italy in France

RASFF – Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins (1234 µg/kg – ppb) in common cockles from the United Kingdom

USA – Consumers Warned About Shellfish PSP

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers not to eat recreationally harvested mussels, clams, or whole scallops from Marin County. Dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins have been found in mussels in this region. These naturally occurring toxins can cause illness or death. Cooking does not destroy this toxin.

This warning is in addition to the annual mussel quarantine that was extended on October 31, 2012 for Del Norte and Humboldt counties. That quarantine is still in effect.

PSP Factsheet

New Zealand – Paralyitic Shellfish Poisoning Alert – PSP

New Zealand HeraldMarlith

At least seven people have been poisoned by eating shellfish in the Bay of Plenty, prompting warnings from health officials.

In a 24 hour-period over the weekend, five people went to Rotorua Hospital with symptoms of toxic shellfish poisoning with a further two unrelated cases were seen at Tauranga Hospital.

All of those who had fallen ill had eaten shellfish collected from the coastline between Mount Maunganui and Papamoa. Their symptoms ranged from tingling round the mouth and face, tingling of the skin on their arms and hands, mild weakness when walking, and diarrhoea and vomiting.

For up-to-date information on health warnings in Bay of Plenty go to www.ttophs.govt.nz and click on health warnings or call (0800) 221 555 and press 6 to speak to the on-call Health Protection Officer.

Australia – PSP Botany Bay – Sydney

News Com AU

A TOXIC algal bloom which potentially poisons a range of seafood has been detected in Sydney’s Botany Bay.

The NSW Department of Primary Industries said it had detected a species of algae which produces paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins.

It said it found toxins above safe levels for human consumption in shellfish from Botany Bay during routine monitoring on Friday.

The NSW Food Authority has warned people against eating oysters, mussels, cockles, clams or the gut of rock lobster or abalone taken from the bay or the Georges River.

Australia – Tasmanian Scallops PSP and Unsafe Poultry

AFNSalmonella Campylobacter

The Food Safety Information Council has released concerning national survey data this week that shows 60% of home cooks in Australia are putting themselves at additional risk of food poisoning from chicken.

The data showed that 60 per cent were at risk from washing whole poultry before it was cooked, which can spread bacteria around the kitchen. A further 16% of those surveyed incorrectly tasted chicken to see if it was cooked properly rather than using a safe meat thermometer.

The focus on cross-contamination of meats by the Food Safety Information Council (FSIC) comes as yesterday marked the start of Australian Food Safety Week. The FSIC week is specifically focusing on chicken and those most affected by food poisoning with the theme “vulnerable populations.”

Food Safety Information Council Chairman, Dr Michael Eyles said that chicken, as Australia’s most popular meat, was consumed by 8 in every ten home cooks.

”Home cooks are probably following what their parents or grandparents did in the past by washing poultry, not to mention probably patting it dry with a tea towel. Washing poultry splashes these bacteria around the kitchen cross contaminating sinks, taps, your hands, utensils, chopping boards and foods that aren’t going to be cooked like salads or desserts,” Dr Eyles said.

“Chicken is a healthy, convenient meal [but] other poultry is also becoming popular with just under half of those surveyed cooking whole turkey and 37% whole duck but these, too, are being washed before cooking, with 68% washing turkey and 74% duck,” he added.

According to a Food Standards Australia New Zealand survey referenced by the Food Safety Information Council, 84 per cent of raw chicken carcasses tested positive to the food poisoning bacteria Campylobacter and 22 per cent to Salmonella.

News Com Au

SCALLOPS from the east coast of Tasmania have joined the area’s mussels in being banned following a toxic algal bloom.

A scallop fishery in the White Rock area has been closed after the same paralytic shellfish toxin (PST) found in Spring Bay Seafood’s mussels was detected in samples taken on November 2.

“PST levels in tested scallops are currently either close to or slightly over the permitted level, but it’s possible the level will increase before it goes back down again,” a health department warning said.

The affected shellfish don’t look or taste different and the toxin is not destroyed by cooking or freezing, but there have been no reports of illness.

USA – Updated Warning About Shellfish – PSP

Food Poisoning Bulletin

The California Department of Public Healthis adding sport-harvested clams and whole scallops to the list of Del Norte County bivalve shellfish that consumers should avoid. This warning is in addition to the annual mussel quarantine that was extended on October 31, 2012 to include Del Norte and Humboldt counties. The shellfish contain dangerous levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins (PSP).

The warning does not apply to commercially sold clams, mussels, scallops, or oysters from approved sources. These shellfish are subject to frequent mandatory testing by the state government.

PSP toxins affect the central nervous system, producing a tingling around the mouth and fingertips. Then, symptoms include a loss of balance, loss of muscular coordination, slurred speech, and difficulty swallowing. These symptoms can appear within a few minutes to a few hours after eating the toxic shellfish. In some cases, complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation can occur. Cooking does not destroy the toxin. For more information, see the CDPH Marine Biotoxins Frequently Asked Questions page

Australia/NZ – Warning Shellfish Biotoxin – PSP

FSANZ – Full information at this linkPSP

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) today urged consumers to check their fridges for recalled mussels that may be contaminated with a naturally occurring marine biotoxin (paralytic shellfish toxin).

The presence of a paralytic shellfish toxin arising from a naturally-occurring algal bloom in Tasmania has forced the closure of Spring Bay Seafood’s shellfish farm and the business has initiated a recall of its mussels from the market.

The products recalled are branded Spring Bay live blue mussels (with use by dates of between 22 October 2012 – 10 November 2012) and Coles Cooked Tasmanian mussels (use by date 12 November 2012) have been supplied by Spring Bay Seafoods Tasmania and have been distributed to TAS, VIC, NSW, ACT, SA, QLD and some Asian countries.

The affected mussels were supplied in shell and supplied in the quantities of 500g and 1kg vacuumed packed bags (Spring bay seafood), 500g (Coles branded – cream white wine sauce) and 1kg and 2kg net bags (Spring Bay seafood). They may also be supplied loose in shell/ per kg.

RASFF – PSP, Listeria,Salmonella, Histamine

RASFF – PSP Mussels from France

RASFF – STEC E.coli Roqufort Cheese France

RASFF – Salmonella Pasteurised Eggs in Denmark sourced in Poland

RASFF – Listeria in Chilled Smoked Salmon in Italy sourced in Spain

RASFF – Salmonella Frozen Chicken Thighs in France sourced in the Netherlands

RASFF – Salmonella Frozen Turkey Meat in Italy

Danish Alert – Histamine in Fresh Tuna