Category Archives: Toxin

RASFF Alert – Aflatoxin – Dried Figs

Posted on June 26, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 32; Tot. = 90 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Spain in Portugal

Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, RASFF, Toxin, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Dried Figs – Groundnuts -Pistachios Kernels – Chilli Powder – Organic Brown Rice –

Posted on June 19, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 19.6 / Tot. = 24.1 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.9 / Tot. = 9.2 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Argentina in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (Tot. = 4 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from Argentina in Spain

RASFF – aflatoxins (Tot. = 62 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 27.5; Tot. = 30.3 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from Iran in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 26.4 µg/kg – ppb) in chilli powder from India in Slovenia

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 20.6 µg/kg – ppb) in organic brown rice from Pakistan, packaged in Denmark in Sweden

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6.9; Tot. = 7.4 µg/kg – ppb) and ochratoxin A (82 µg/kg – ppb) in chilli powder from China in Germany

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 15.9; Tot. = 18.5 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled pistachios from Iran, dispatched from the United Arab Emirates in Italy

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Netherlands – Ciguatera poisoning from imported fish suspected in the Netherlands

Posted on June 15, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Five people in the Netherlands have been affected by ciguatera poisoning likely caused by frozen red snapper steaks from India.

Those sick had a meal together in mid-May and developed symptoms including gastroenteritis and neurological complaints within three hours. None of them needed hospital treatment.

Tjitte Mastenbroek, a press officer at the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), said probable ciguatoxin poisoning was established.

“One original sealed package of the fish was still available in the household and is currently being analyzed for neurotoxins. Outcome of this analysis of the red snapper fish is expected next week. Currently it is unknown if this case is related to a point source (e.g. a single fish) within the batch, which could have been contaminated with ciguatoxins,” he said.

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Posted in Algal Toxin, Biotoxin, Ciguatera, Ciguatera Poisoning, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Shelled Peanuts – Pistachios – Organic Peanut Kernels – Groundnuts – Whole Dried Chillies – Shelled Hazlenuts

Posted on June 12, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 69; Tot. = 76 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled peanuts from the United States in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 35.6; Tot. = 39.8 / B1 = 70.3; Tot. = 74.7 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States, dispatched from Turkey in Bulgaria

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 21; Tot. = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in organic peanut kernels from China in the Netherlands

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 88.5; Tot. = 102.5 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from Iran, dispatched from Turkey in Italy

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 6.8; Tot. = 7.5) in groundnuts in shell from China in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 9.9 µg/kg – ppb) in dried whole chillies from India in the UK

RASFF – aflatoxins (B1 = 7.9 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled hazelnuts from Georgia in Italy

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, RASFF, Toxin, Uncategorized

France – Auchan Iraty Fermier PDO raw milk cheese from Auchan brand – Responsible sector – Staphylococcal Enterotoxins.

Posted on June 11, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

Oulah

ENCOUNTERED PROBLEM

Presence of Staphylococcal Enterotoxins.

PROPOSED SOLUTION

It is recommended that people who hold products belonging to the batch described below not consume and destroy them, or bring them to the point of sale where they were purchased.
Foodborne illness caused by Staphylococcal Enterotoxins results in gastrointestinal disturbances (mainly vomiting) appearing within hours of ingestion and generally disappearing quickly.
People who have consumed the “Ossau Iraty Fermier AOP” cheese mentioned below and who show persistence of these symptoms are invited to consult their doctor, reporting this consumption, as well as the place and date of purchase.

FURTHER INFORMATION

▸ Sale
The product “Ossau Iraty Fermier AOP” was sold to the “traditional” department of your Auchan store between 20/05/2020 and 10/06/2020.

▸ Health
stamp FR 64.006.100 CE

▸ Contact
customer service SCA LES FERMIERS BASCO BEARNAIS is at the disposal of consumers to answer their questions at the following telephone number: 05-59-34-76-06.

▸ Source
https://www.auchan.fr/

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Posted in Bacterial Toxin, Enterotoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Staphylococcus aureus, Toxin, Uncategorized

New Zealand -Ciguatera cases linked to imported fish in New Zealand

Posted on June 10, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Five people from two households in New Zealand became ill with ciguatera poisoning after eating fish imported from Fiji earlier this year.

The outbreak in Christchurch affected three males of 19 to 58 years old and two females – one aged in her 40s and the other in her 50s. One person was hospitalized and diagnosed with ciguatera poisoning but has since recovered.

In late May, Krazy Price Mart Ltd recalled a batch of frozen camouflage grouper (kawakawa) due to ciguatoxin. The item was sold as an individual whole gutted fish wrapped in clear plastic but was not labelled so had no date marking. It was available between March 10 and May 21, 2020 only at Krazy Price Mart Ltd in Christchurch.

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Posted in Biotoxin, Ciguatera, Ciguatera Poisoning, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Spoilage, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

New Zealand – Shellfish biotoxin alert – Port Levy, Banks Peninsula

Posted on June 5, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

MPI

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) today issued a public health warning advising the public not to collect or consume shellfish harvested between Sumner Head and East Head at Okains Bay on Banks Peninsula, including Lyttelton Harbour.

Routine tests on shellfish samples taken from Port Levy has shown levels of Diarrhetic Shellfish Toxins above the safe limit of 0.16 mg/kg set by MPI. Anyone eating shellfish from this area is potentially at risk of illness.

See a map of the warning

Ongoing testing will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly.

Mussels, oysters, tuatua, pipi, toheroa, cockles, scallops, catseyes, kina (sea urchin) and all other bivalve shellfish should not be eaten.

Note, cooking shellfish does not remove the toxin.

Pāua, crab and crayfish may still be eaten if the gut has been completely removed prior to cooking, as toxins accumulate in the gut. If the gut is not removed its contents could contaminate the meat during the cooking process.

Symptoms typically appear within half an hour of ingestion and last for about 24 hours. Symptoms may include:

diarrhoea
vomiting
nausea
abdominal cramps.

If anyone becomes ill after eating shellfish from an area where a public health warning has been issued phone Healthline for advice on 0800 61 11 16, or seek medical attention immediately. You are also advised to contact your nearest public health unit and keep any leftover shellfish in case it can be tested.

Monitoring of toxin levels will continue and any changes will be communicated accordingly. Commercially harvested shellfish – sold in shops and supermarkets, or exported – is subject to strict water and flesh monitoring programmes by MPI to ensure they are safe to eat.

Find out more

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Posted in Biotoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, shellfish toxin, Toxin, Uncategorized

Luxembourg – SEA SNAPPER STEAKS – (LUTJANUS BOHAR) FROM THE SEAPRO BRAND – CIGUATERA POISONING

Posted on June 1, 2020 by KSW | Leave a comment

SAP

Product recalls • Alerts

Information Source: European Commission Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)

Distribution in Luxembourg: Tandoori Market

The Luxembourg food safety authorities inform about the following recall:

Danger : ciguatera poisoning

Last name	Snapper steaks (Lutjanus bohar)
Mark	Seapro
Aspect	Plastic packaging
Lot	85205-2217

Only the products listed in the table are affected.

The information provided does not exclude that part of the products have been sold to the end consumer.

Ciguatera usually involves a combination of gastrointestinal, neurological and, sometimes, cardiovascular disorders. The symptoms defined in these general categories vary depending on the geographic origin of the toxic fish and, to some extent, the species of fish. People who have consumed the products mentioned above and who present this type of symptoms are invited to consult a doctor and report this consumption.