Category Archives: Uncategorized

Canada – CFIA Recall – Fruit Pouch – Mould

CFIA

Materne Canada Inc. is recalling GoGo squeeZ® brand Apple Grape and Apple Pear pouch products from the marketplace due to the presence of mold. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
GoGo squeeZ® Apple Grape 360 g
(4 x 90 g)
Best Before Dates between 2016 JN 30 and 2016 JL 26, inclusively 8 48860 00163 4
GoGo squeeZ® Apple Pear 360 g
(4 x 90 g)
Best Before Dates between 2016 JN 30 and 2016 JL 26, inclusively 8 48860 00166 5

USA – More Raw Milk Recall – E.coli O157

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Raw milk from Natural Farm Fresh Dairy of Kuna, Idaho is the suspected as the source of four Campylobacter infections and four E. coli O157:H7 infections, Idaho health officials say. They are warning consumers who have raw milk from the dairy not to drink it.

USA – More Canned Seafood – Possible Clostridium botulinum

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Another seafood company is recalling products packed by Skipanon Brand Seafood for possible botulism contamination. Dungeness Seaworks is recalling canned albacore tuna products. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with the consumption of these products.

The recalled products are all Dungeness Seaworks brand, and none have UPC numbers. They all have codes starting with “OC”. The products are all in 6 ounce net weight metal cans. They are Albacore Tuna, Albacore Tuna Garlic, Albacore Tuna Jalapeño, Albacore Tuna Olive Oil, and Albacore Tuna Hickory Smoke.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Brigham Fish Market is recalling canned salmon for possible Clostridium botulinum contamination. These products were made by Skipanon Brand Seafoods and may have been under processed, increasing the probability that the cans contain botulism toxin. No illnesses have been reported to date.

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Canned seafood processed by Skipanon Brand Seafood in the Pacific Northwest is being recalled. The original recall, on October 9, 2015, has been followed by seven secondary recalls, for a total of eight recalls so far. We are gathering all of the recalls in one place for easy reference. We will update this story if more recalls are announced.

Research – Is Ciguatera Fish Poisoning on the increase?

Food Safety Magazine Gambierdiscus_toxicus_NOAA

The most commonly reported marine toxin disease in the world is Ciguatera, associated with consumption of contaminated reef fish such as barracuda, grouper, and snapper. Under-diagnosis and under-reporting (especially in endemic areas such as the Caribbean) make it difficult to know the true worldwide incidence of the Marine Toxin Diseases. At least 50,000 people per year who live in or visit tropical and subtropical areas suffer from Ciguatera worldwide. For example, CDC and others estimate that only 2-10% of Ciguatera cases are actually reported in the United States. In the US Virgin Islands, there are an estimated 300 cases per 10,000 or 3% of the population per year; a similar rate is found in the French West Indies. In St. Thomas, a household survey estimated that 4.4% of all households suffered from Ciguatera annually (at least 2640 persons per year or an annual incidence of 600 cases per year); in Puerto Rico, 7% of the residents have experienced at least one episode of Ciguatera in their lifetime.

Ciguatera, especially in the Caribbean, suffer for weeks to months with debilitating neurologic symptoms, including profound weakness, temperature sensation changes, pain, and numbness in the extremities. The dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus produces ciguatoxin throughout tropical regions of the world.

Canada – Peanut Sauce – Possible Clostridium botulinum

CFIA closta

Saigon Soul Food Inc. is recalling Saigon Soul Food brand Saigon Peanut Sauce from the marketplace because it may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Saigon Soul Food Saigon Peanut Sauce 250 mL All units purchased up to and including October 20, 2015 8 74525 00302 6

What you should do

Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, blurred or double vision, dry mouth, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

USA – More Recalls Canned Seafood Products – Possible Clostridium botulinum

FDA

This is an update by Northwest Wild Products of Astoria, Oregon of a prior press release issued 10/19/15, relating to the recall of canned seafood products.  The purpose of this updated press release is to include three additional recalled products.  Consumers should disregard the previous press release.

Northwest Wild Products of Astoria, Oregon is voluntarily recalling ALL canned black cod, salmon, sardines, steelhead, sturgeon, tuna, and Razor clams with any codes starting with “OC” because it has 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.

All products were sold to consumers in Oregon from our retail store and through mail order.The last date of distribution of recalled products was September 2015.  Affected production codes include any codes starting with “OC”.  The code can be found on either the bottom or on top of the can.  Recalled products are packaged in metal cans with net weight 6.5 oz.

FDA

Dungeness Seaworks of Sequim, Washington is voluntarily recalling ONLY canned albacore tuna with any code starting with “OC” because it has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that 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.

There have been no reported cases of illness to date.

Products were distributed to Nash’s Farm Store, Sunny Farms, and Nourish Sequim in Sequim,
WA; Agnew Grocery and Feed in Agnew, WA; Abundantly Green in Poulsbo, WA; and sold at Farmer’s Markets in Poulsbo, WA and in Port Angeles, WA. The last date of distribution of recalled products is September 2015.

Affected production codes include any codes starting with “OC”.  The code can be found on either the bottom or on top of the can. Products are packaged in metal cans with 6 ounce net weight cans.

Canada – CFIA Recall – Finger Mint – Salmonella

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume and retailers, restaurants and institutions not to sell or use the products described below due to possible Salmonella contamination.

Only RAU RĂM (finger mint) and NGÒ GAI (culantro) imported by Canada Herb and sold from October 14, 2015 to October 20, 2015 are affected by this warning. These products may have been sold in clear plastic bags bearing the name Canada Herb or may have been repackaged or sold in bulk without a label or coding. Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased the affected products are advised to contact their retailer.

Products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
None RAU RĂM (finger mint) Variable None None
None NGÒ GAI (culantro) Variable None None

UK – FSA Recall – Soft Cheese – Salmonella

FSA

Barton Farm Dairy has been advised to recall a batch of Kentisbury Down soft cheese because of the presence of salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause food poisoning.

RiskPresence of salmonella in Kentisbury Down soft cheese. Product details

Product name: Barton Farm Dairy Kentisbury Down soft cheese‘Best before’ date: 26 November 2015Pack size: various sizes.

Action taken by the companyBarton Farm Dairy has been advised to recall the above product. The affected batch has been sold direct from the farm premises and also at farmers markets.

Advice to consumersIf you have bought any of the above product, do not consume it. Instead, contact the Barton Farm Dairy (tel: 01271 882283, email: info@bartonfarmdairy.co.uk) for further advice.

About product recalls and withdrawalsIf there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product).

The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued. This provides local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers.

USA – Shigella Outbreak

Shigella Blog shigella

According to a Public Health Warning, on Saturday afternoon, October 17, 2015, the Santa Clara County Public Health Department was notified by a local hospital of 5 patients with fever and diarrhea who had all eaten at the same restaurant. Subsequent case finding has revealed a total of over two dozen individuals with fever and diarrhea who ate at Mariscos San Juan restaurant (205 N. 4 Street) in downtown San Jose on Friday October 16 or Saturday October 17. The restaurant was closed on Sunday morning and remains closed.

Research – Millipore – Salmonella detection in the food chain: Revised EN ISO 6579-1 promises greater flexibility for testing labs

Millipore

In early 2016, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) plans to publish the EN ISO 6579-1 standard, which specifies a horizontal method for the detection of Salmonella spp. in the food production chain. Like the preceding version, EN ISO 6579:2002/Amd 1:2007, it will cover products intended for human consumption, animal feeding and environmental samples in food production and handling as well as milk and milk products (previously described in ISO 6785 I IDF 93) and samples from the primary food production stage. It will give greater flexibility for testing labs e.g. for the choice of some culture media and for the range of incubation temperature.

Company Summary:
As part of the global Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt Germany, EMD Millipore offers a broad range of innovative products, services and business relationships that enable our customers’ success in research, development and production of biotech and pharmaceutical drug therapies.