Category Archives: Uncategorized

FDA 

Maya Overseas Foods Inc. of Maspeth, NY, is recalling approximately 8000 lbs. of Cashew Split because it has 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 Cashew Split was distributed between February 18, 2015 and March 20, 2015 to retailers and restaurants located in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Florida by direct trucking and delivery.

Maya brand Cashew Split was sold uncoded in 7 oz. (UPC 020843230389), 14 oz. (UPC 020843230716), 28 oz. (UPC 020843230327) and 5 lbs. (UPC 020843230303) clear plastic pouches. The Cashew Split was also sold in bulk 50 lbs. tins.

No illnesses have been reported to date.

FDA

Carnivore Meat Company, LLC is recalling select products and lots of Carnivore Vital Essentials pet foods because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Healthy cats and dogs rarely become sick from Listeria monocytogenes. In humans, however, Listeria is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

If an animal becomes ill with Listeria, it will display symptoms similar to the ones listed above for humans. People with concerns about whether their pet has Listeria should contact their veterinarian.

The lots involved in this voluntary recall are:
Vital Essentials Frozen Beef Tripe Patties, UPC 33211 00809, Lot # 10930, Best by date 20160210
Vital Essentials Frozen Beef Tripe Nibblets, UPC 33211 00904, Lot # 10719, Best by date 12022015

FDA

CFIA 

The food recall warning issued on July 4, 2015 has been updated to include additional product information. The additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

HQ Fine Foods is recalling Gloria’s, Oven Pride Kitchen, Quality Fast Foods brands and Lunch Box sandwich products from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Environmental Health News

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) wants to balance consumer choice with public protection with its ‘risky foods framework’ policy for local authorities. John Bassett, food safety consultant, argues that this approach has implications for enforcers, industry and above all consumers.

Although the FSA went public on their risky foods framework at the end of last year, they haven’t been shouting about it too loudly. Steve Wearne, the FSA’s director of policy, emphasised that consumer choice was at the heart of everything they do and outlined the approach at the recent CIEH Food Safety Conference.

FSAI 

Sous vide, which is French for ‘under vacuum’, is a method of cooking where food is vacuum-packed in a plastic pouch and heated in a temperature controlled bath for a defined length of time. This cooking method can present some food safety risks which should be identified and controlled. These include the potential for survival and growth of bacteria that can grow under the anaerobic (absence of oxygen) conditions created by the vacuum packaging, e.g. Clostridium botulinum.

Due to the rise in the use of the sous vide cooking in restaurants and catering establishments, the FSAI has prepared a factsheet which highlights the risks associated with this method of cooking. It provides guidance on managing these risks, in particular guidance on cooking temperatures and times. It also makes recommendations for cooling, storing and reheating food that has been cooked by sous vide.

The factsheet is available on our website at: www.fsai.ie/publications_sous_vide

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 82.8; Tot. = 89 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 12.2; Tot. = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnut kernels from China in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 13.4; Tot. = 16.6 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States  in France

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 20 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from China in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 30; Tot. = 33 µg/kg – ppb) in nutmeg from Indonesia in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 26; Tot. = 30 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from the United States, processed in Germany in Belgium

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 26.9 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from Iran in Italy

RASFF-too high count of Escherichia coli (330 MPN/100g) in sea clams (Venus gallina or Chamelea gallina) from Italy in Italy

RASFF-shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (presence /25g) in sausage intended to be eaten raw from Austria in Austria

RASFF-high counts of coliforms (160000 CFU/g) and of Enterobacteriaceae (170000 CFU/g) in pinenut kernels from Turkey in Italy

RASFF -Peanuts in shell from China infested with moulds and with mites in Slovakia

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in hulled sesame seeds from India in Poland

RASFF-Salmonella enteritidis phagetype 1 (presence /25g) in frozen chicken legs quarter from Poland in Poland

RASFF-Salmonella enteritidis (presence) in spice mix with dried vegetables from Serbia in Sweden

RASFF-Salmonella (present /25g) in betel leaves from India in the UK

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in frozen salted chicken from Thailand in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella spp. (presence /25g) in frozen salted chicken preparation from Thailand in the Netherlands

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

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