Category Archives: Salmonella

Research – A risk assessment model for Salmonella spp. in swine carcasses

EFSA

Salmonellosis is one of the most important food‐borne outbreaks that occurs in the EU/EEA. From the first production stages at slaughter, meat is susceptible to spoilage and can be a substrate for the pathogenic microorganisms growth. Among the pathogens, the presence of Salmonella is mainly due to mishandling during the evisceration stage. For the year 2019, according to the collected data from MSs, on the 17.9% of all food‐borne outbursts, the presence Salmonella was confirmed. Pork meat is considered as one of the four most commonly reported foods in cases of salmonellosis. For the training purposes of this project, Salmonella isolation and identification along with RA for carcass contamination, was performed. Pig carcasses were sampled using the non‐destructive technique. The sampling took place post dressing and before the stage of chilling. For the Salmonella detection, a three phases process was performed (pre‐enrichment, enrichment, isolation). A total of 757 samples were collected, 19 were found to be positive for Salmonella. The most common was found to be Salmonella Derby, which was identified eight times. The main objective of the project was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in swine carcasses. Moreover, certain parameters were evaluated in terms of their influence on the prevalence of Salmonella. A stochastic simulation model was developed in Microsoft Office Excel 2019 by using the add‐in @Risk v.8.1. The prevalence was estimated to be 2.6%. For the pigs sampled, the average value of the distance from farm to slaughterhouse was 200.92 km. Additionally, the average weight of the carcasses was 127.97 kg. The prevalence of Salmonella between the samples that came from farms with a distance above the average, was higher by 1.7 units, while the prevalence for the samples with weight above the average was higher by 0.2 units. According to the stochastic model, it is specified that the prevalence is higher with greater distance, and there is an 8.1% probability the prevalence will exceed the legislation’s – hygiene criteria. In addition, the prevalence of Salmonella was shown to increase, as well in the case of samples from weightier animals, but to a lesser extent.

USA – Bix Produce Company Recalls “Egg and Cheese Curds Power Box” Because of Possible Health Risk – Salmonella

FDA

Summary

Company Announcement Date:
FDA Publish Date:
Product Type:
Food & Beverages
Peanut Butter
Foodborne Illness
Reason for Announcement:
Salmonella
Company Name:
Bix Produce Company
Brand Name:
Jack & Olive and Created Fresh!
Product Description:
Egg and Cheese Curds snack and power boxes

Company Announcement

Bix Produce Company of Little Canada, MN, is recalling its 5 ounce packages of “Egg and Cheese Curds Power Box” and “Egg and Cheese Curds snack box” because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
The recalled products have a 7-days shelf life and were distributed regionally in retail settings.

Brand

Product

Pack Size

UPC

Use By Dates Range

Included States

Jack&Olive Egg and Cheese Curds Power Box 5 oz. 8 46709 00570 6 04/18/2022-05/31/2022 MN, WI, IA, SD, ND
Created Fresh! Egg and Cheese Curds Snack Box 5 oz. 8 46709 00570 6 04/18/2022-05/31/2022 MN, WI, IA, SD, ND

The product comes in a 5 ounce, clear plastic package marked with a “Sell By” date ranging from 04/18/22 to 05/31/2022 printed on the bottom of the individual packages.

Bix Produce Company initiated this recall because it contains the Jif Creamy Peanut Butter To Go 1.5 oz. cup that has been recalled by JM Smucker Co.

Consumers who have purchased 5 ounce packages of either item are urged to not consume and immediately discard them or return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-651-478-8000.


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
 1-651-478-8000

Product Photos

USA – Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella: Peanut Butter (May 2022) – Update

FDA

The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Senftenberg infections linked to certain Jif brand peanut butter products produced at the J.M. Smucker Company facility in Lexington, Kentucky.

J.M. Smucker Company has voluntarily recalled certain Jif brand peanut butter products that have the lot codes described below. Photo examples are included below.

FDA has posted a list of additional recalls being conducted by companies that have used the recalled Jif peanut butter as an ingredient in the manufacturing of a new product (e.g., chocolate products) or in repackaging the product (e.g., snack cups). This list will be updated as the agency receives notification of new recalls.

As of May 25, 2022, CDC reports that of the 10 people interviewed, 10 (100%) reported eating peanut butter prior to becoming ill. Nine people reported brand information, and all nine (100%) reported eating different varieties of Jif brand peanut butter.

FDA’s investigation is ongoing and more information will be provided as it becomes available.

Recommendation

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve any recalled Jif brand peanut butter, including recalled products that contain the recalled Jif peanut butter. Consumers should also avoid feeding recalled peanut butter to pets or other animals, including wild birds.

For Consumers

Follow these steps:

  1. Check if you have Jif peanut butter in your home.
  2. Locate the lot code on the back of the jar, under the Best If Used By Date (the lot code may be next to the Best If Used By Date for cups or squeeze pouches).
  3. In the lot code, if the first four digits are between 1274 and 2140, and if the next three numbers after that are ‘425’, this product has been recalled and you should not consume this product. An example is below.

If you are unsure what to do with your recalled product, you can call or email J.M. Smucker Company for more information:

The J.M. Smucker Co. Hotline: 800-828-9980
Website: jif.com/contact-usExternal Link Disclaimer

FDA recommends that if you have used the recalled Jif brand peanut butter that have lot code numbers 1274425 through 2140425 and the first seven digits end with 425, you should wash and sanitize surfaces and utensils that could have touched the peanut butter. If you or someone in your household ate this peanut butter and have symptoms of salmonellosis, please contact your healthcare provider.

For Retailers, Re-packers, and Manufacturers

In addition to the steps above, FDA recommends referring to the firm’s recall press for the UPC codes and other retailer information. Do not sell or serve recalled peanut butter or products containing recalled peanut butter.

Product Images

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella in Peanut Butter (May 2022) - Sample Recalled Product Label
Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella in Peanut Butter (May 2022) - Sample Label

Case Count Map Provided by CDC

Outbreak Investigation of Salmonella in Peanut Butter (May 2022) - CDC Case Count Map as of May 25, 2022

Case Counts

Total Illnesses: 16
Hospitalizations: 2
Deaths: 0
Last Illness Onset: May 2, 2022
States with Cases: AR (1), GA (2), IL (1), MA (1), MO (2), OH (1), NC (2), NY (1), SC (1), TX (2), VA (1), WA (1)
Product Distribution: Nationwide and International (see below)

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Dried Fenugreek Leaves- Gelatine Sheets – Mexican Pimento

RASFF

Salmonella in dried fenugreek leaves from Pakistan in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia, Slovakia and UK

RASFF

Presence of Salmonella in gelatine sheets from Germany in Spain

There is also the following recall but the RASFF link does not work so there is no further information.

Salmonella spp. in mexican pimento packed in Poland with raw material from Mexico

RASFF Animal Feed – Salmonella – Barley – Barley Feed

RASFF

Salmonella in barley from Germany in Finland

RASFF

Salmonella in barley feed from UK in Finland

Canada – Certain Sweet Spot Chocolate Shop brand peanut butter-containing chocolates recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

Product
Certain peanut butter-containing chocolates
Issue
Food – Microbial Contamination – Salmonella
What to do

Do not consume the recalled products

Sweet Spot Chocolate Shop – Assorted Chocolates (white box)

Sweet Spot Chocolate Shop – Assorted chocolates (clear top)

Sweet Spot Chocolate Shop – Peanut butter-containing chocolates

Affected products

Issue

Sweet Spot Chocolate Shop is recalling certain Sweet Spot Chocolate Shop brand peanut butter-containing chocolates from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination.

The recalled products have been sold in Nova Scotia and online.

What you should do

  • If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor
  • Check to see if you have the recalled products in your home
  • Do not consume the recalled products
  • Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

UK – JDM Distributors recalls Jif Peanut Butter products because of the possible presence of Salmonella

FSA

JDM Distributors is taking the precautionary action of recalling Jif Creamy Peanut Butter and Jif Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter because they might be contaminated with Salmonella.

Product details

Jif Creamy Peanut Butter
Pack size 453g
Batch code 1343006
Best before 09 December 2023
Jif Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter
Pack size 453g
Batch code 1296425
Best before 23 October 2023

Risk statement

The possible presence of Salmonella in the products listed above.

Symptoms caused by Salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.

Action taken by the company

JDM Distributors is recalling the above products. Point of sale notices will be displayed in retail stores that are selling these products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the products. Please see the attached notices.

Our advice to consumers

If you have bought the above products do not eat them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund. For further details, contact the business on 01296 596050 or email info@jdmdistributors.co.uk

Finland – Large Salmonella outbreak dominates Finnish figures

Food Safety News

A Salmonella outbreak affected more than 700 people in Finland in 2021, according to new information from the Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto).

The implicated food was a salad with iceberg lettuce, cucumber and peas served in several kindergartens. It was previously known that almost 450 people, mostly children, had been ill.

Officials in the city of Jyväskylä investigated the incident with the help of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).

Overall, 46 foodborne outbreaks were recorded in Finland this past year affecting almost 1,400 people. In 2020, 34 outbreaks were reported involving 543 people.

Seven Salmonella outbreaks sickened 824 people compared to three outbreaks with 21 sick in 2020.

The most common pathogen was norovirus with nine outbreaks and 260 cases. One of the main factors that contributed to foodborne norovirus incidents was an infected kitchen worker.

Read More at the link above.

Research – Temperature, Time, and Type, Oh My! Key Environmental Factors Impacting the Recovery of Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Tulane Virus from Surfaces 

Journal of Food Protection

Environmental monitoring (EM) programs are designed to detect the presence of pathogens in food manufacturing environments with the goal of preventing microbial contamination of food. Nevertheless, limited knowledge exists regarding the influence of environmental conditions on microbial recovery during EM. This study utilizes a commercially-available polyurethane foam (PUF) EM tool to determine the influence of environmental factors on the recovery of foodborne pathogens. The specific objectives of this study were to determine if environmental conditions and surface composition impact the recovery of sought-after microorganisms found in food processing environments. These data are compared across 1) microorganism type, 2) surface type, 3) environmental temperature and relative humidity, and 4) exposure time. Two bacteria ( Listeria monocytogenes , Salmonella Typhimurium) and one human norovirus surrogate (Tulane virus [TV]) were inoculated onto three non-porous surfaces (polypropylene, stainless steel, neoprene). Surfaces were held in an environmental chamber for 24 or 72 h at 30°C/30%, 6°C/85%, and 30°C/85% relative humidity (RH). Data indicate that microbial recovery from environmental surfaces significantly (p ≤ 0.05) varies by microorganism type, environmental conditions, and exposure time. For instance, all microorganisms were significantly different from each other, with the greatest mean log reduction being TV and the lesser reduction being L. monocytogenes at 4.94 ± 1.75 log 10 PFU/surface and 2.54 ± 0.91 log 10 CFU/surface, respectively. Overall, these data can be used to improve the effectiveness of EM programs and underscores the need to better comprehend how EM test results are impacted by food manufacturing environmental conditions.

USA – Wawa Removes Two Products Containing Jif® Peanut Butter Due to Voluntary Recall by the J.M. Smucker Co. of Select Jif Products Sold in the U.S. -Salmonella

FDA

Company Announcement Date:
FDA Publish Date:
Product Type:
Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:
Salmonella
Company Name:
Wawa
Brand Name:
Wawa
Product Description:
Apple & Peanut Butter Dipper

Company Announcement

Effective today, Wawa has removed two products containing Jif Peanut Butter from all stores throughout our operating area. The product was removed following a voluntary recall by the J.M. Smucker Co. of select products sold in the U.S. due to the potential food safety concern.

Of the products covered in the J.M. Smucker Co. recall, Wawa stores carried only two (2) items as follows:

  • Wawa Apple & Peanut Butter Dipper 4.9 oz (all codes) – All Wawa Stores
  • JIF Creamy Peanut Butter 16 Oz | UPC: 00051500255162 | Lot codes: 1274425 thru 2140425

The press release from J.M. Smucker Co. with specific with more details on the full recall can be found hereExternal Link Disclaimer.

If consumers have products matching the above description in their possession, they should dispose of it immediately. Consumers who have questions or would like to report adverse reactions should visit www.jif.com/contact-usExternal Link Disclaimer or call 800-828-9980 Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM ET.


Company Contact Information

Consumers:
 800-828-9980