Category Archives: Uncategorized

RASFF Alert – Histamine – Tuna

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RASFF-histamine (312 mg/kg – ppm) in chilled sliced tune (Thunnus albacares) from the Maldives in Italy

RASFF Alerts – Bacillus – Bacillus licheniformis – Onion Powder – Bacillus subtilis – Garlic Powder

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RASFF-Bacillus licheniformis (290000 CFU/g) in onion powder from the United Kingdom in Ireland

RASFF-Bacillus subtilis (240000 CFU/g) in garlic powder from the United Kingdom in Ireland

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Sausages – Minced Meat – Truffled Omlette Powder – Paan Leaves – Betel Leaves -Poultry Meat

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RASFF-Salmonella typhimurium (presence /10g) in merguez – sausages from France in France

RASFF-Salmonella Rissen (presence /10g) in frozen minced meat from Italy in France

RASFF-Salmonella (present /25g) in powder omelette truffled from France in France

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in paan leaves from India in the UK

RASFF-Salmonella (in 2 out of 5 samples) in betel leaves from India in the UK

RASFF-Salmonella (present /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Thailand in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (present /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Thailand in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in paan leaves from India in the UK

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts – Peanut Powder – Peanuts – Chilli – Spice Red Pepper Powder – Psitachio Nuts

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RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 6.9; Tot. = 7.3 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts in shell from Egypt in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 9.9; Tot. = 24.9 / B1 = 13.1; Tot. = 28.8 µg/kg – ppb) in peanut powder from China in France

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 8.1; Tot. = 8.6 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled peanuts from the United States in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 16.1; Tot. = 17.2 µg/kg – ppb) in whole stemless chilli from India in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 16.4; Tot. = 46.7 µg/kg – ppb) and ochratoxin A (92.5 µg/kg – ppb) in spiced red pepper powder from Ethiopia in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 22.03; Tot. = 44.45 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted red inside pistachio nuts from Turkey in Romania

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 7.8; Tot. = 8.5 µg/kg – ppb) in peanuts in shell from China in Portugal

Sweden – Salmonella – Spice

The Local

A seasoning mix has been withdrawn from Swedish supermarkets after it was linked to one of the biggest salmonella outbreaks in the country in recent years.

In the latest incident, at least 80 people picked up salmonella at a restaurant on the Swedish island of Öland last week, with Sweden’s Public Health Authority connecting the outbreak to the savoury spice mix, known as Allkrydda, which is sold in supermarkets across the nation.

It said the mix was already suspected of making dozens of other people ill, with a total of 143 salmonella cases reported in 17 out of Sweden’s 21 regions since December 2014.
Sevan has recalled all of its all spice mixes sold since October 2014 today (see below) after health officials in Sweden’s Public Health Agency suggested that the product may be linked to the outbreak, according to the Folkhälsomyndigheten – Public Health Agency of Sweden today (computer translated). It must be pointed out that health authorities had yet to definitively prove a link.

USA – STEC E.coli Outbreak

North Dakota Department of Health

The North Dakota Department of Health is investigating a possible cluster of shiga toxin – producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) (STEC) infections in eastern North Dakota. Three cases have been reported and all are less than 18 years of age and reported attending the Red River Valley Fair in West Fargo. The fair was held July 7 through 12. One of the cases has been diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe complication of STEC infections.

Australia – High Tea – Salmonella

News.com.au

OPULENT high tea at a luxury Melbourne hotel has sent 44 people to hospital with salmonella poisoning.
Health authorities say it could take weeks to trace the cause of the outbreak, but suspect egg or chicken products may be the most likely culprit.

Those who fell sick account for more than half of 77 people identified by the Health Department as having eaten high tea at the Langham Hotel on July 11 and 12.

Herald Sun

A MOTHER almost lost her baby after becoming seriously ill with salmonella poisoning after a luxury high tea baby shower at a top city hotel.

A day after her July 12 baby shower at the Langham Hotel, the 29-year-old had to be taken to hospital.

UK – UK Retailer Sets Aggressive Targets for Campylobacter Reduction in Chicken

Food Safety News imagesCAYZ5I84

Tesco has made some of the strongest progress among U.K. retailers with regard to reducing Campylobacter levels in store-bought chicken — currently a major problem in the country, where 73 percent of chicken sold in stores is contaminated with the bacteria.

Despite its progress, the company is making continued pledges to reduce Campylobacter rates and is now setting new targets for its suppliers to reduce contamination rates even further.

By 2017, Tesco aims for its poultry suppliers to reduce the rates of chicken contaminated with high levels of Campylobacter to below five percent.

USA – FDA – Recalls – Frozen Tuna – Salmonella – Dog Treats – Salmonella

FDA

Osamu Corporation of Gardena, CA is recalling Frozen Yellow Fin Tuna Chunk Meat (Lot #68568) sold to AFC Corporation of Rancho Dominquez, CA sourced from one processing plant in Indonesia because the Minnesota Department of Health Investigators found samples of this product from one retail location in Minnesota 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.

There have been two reports of illness to date associated with exposure to AFC sushi in Minnesota.

FDA

Osamu Corporation of Gardena, CA is recalling all of its frozen tuna (loin, saku, chunk, slice, and ground market forms) sourced from one processing plant in Indonesia because the Minnesota Department of Health Investigators found samples of this product from one retail location in Minnesota 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.Persons developing these symptoms should seek medical attention. There have been two reports of illness associated with a single distributor in Minnesota

The frozen tuna was sold in bulk packaging to distributors who further sold it to sushi restaurants, and grocery stores who packaged sushi rolls made available for consumers to purchase and take home, throughout the U.S. from 05/09/14 to 07/09/15 containing all sequential four digit Purchase Order Numbers (PO#) of 8563 through 8599.

The bulk frozen tuna products can be identified from the Purchase Order Number (PO#) printed on each product carton box end panel; see example below.

FDA

The Natural Dog Company, Inc. of Windsor, CO, is recalling its 12oz bags of 12″ Tremenda Sticks pet chews because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The recalled 12″ Tremenda Sticks were distributed to retail stores in CA, CO, FL, IL, MO MT, NC, OH UT and WA.

The recalled product comes in a 12oz bag without a lot number or expiration date with UPC number: 851265004957. Products with new packaging, which includes both a lot number and expiration date but the same UPC are not affected by this recall.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.

USA – Green Beans – Listeria monocytogenes

Food Poisoning Bulletin

Wegmans is recalling one lot code of green beans for possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. there is no word on whether or not any illnesses have been reported to date.

The recalled product is River Valley Gold Italian Green Bans in 16 ounce packages. The UPC number is 7898211445 and the lot code is 29520-4J11B3N. They were sold in Wegmans stores.

If you purchased this product, do not eat it. Discard in a sealed container or return to the place of purchase for a refund. Then wash out your refrigerator with a mild bleach solution, since Listeria monocytogenes bacteria can grow at refrigerator temperatures