Category Archives: Uncategorized

Research – Online Dairy Herd Salmonella Risk Assessment

Dairy Herd Network19243

Salmonellosis  is a pervasive disease that is hard to keep out of a dairy operation.  With help from a new online tool from Pfizer Animal Health, dairy  producers can assess their risk of a Salmonella outbreak. The short self-assessment — found at www.SalmonellaRisk.com/Assessment — helps producers find proactive measures to help lessen the risk of a disastrous outbreak.

“Salmonella is on the rise and is a risk to every dairy operation,” says Dr. Gary  Neubauer, senior manager, Dairy  Technical Services, Pfizer Animal Health. “Dairies are operating at a  faster pace than ever before with cattle, feed and people going on and  off the farm every day. It’s important for producers to consider how  much risk they are willing to take on.”

While taking the assessment, producers answer questions about on-farm hygiene, accessibility and animal health practices.  Once completed, the tool provides a personalized Salmonella reduction plan that can be printed or emailed to the herd veterinarian.  Together, producers and veterinarians can use this plan to review  current protocols and management practices, and establish  ways to help reduce risk and build immunity to Salm

UK – HPA Update Norovirus 2012

HPANorovirus

Latest figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show there have been 3,538 laboratory confirmed cases of norovirus this season (from week 27 to week 50 2012), up from 3,046 cases last week. The latest figures are 83 percent higher than the number of cases reported at this point last year (the same increase as was reported last week), when there were 1,934 cases.

During the two weeks up to 23 December there were 70 hospital outbreaks reported, compared to 61 in the previous fortnight, bringing the total of outbreaks for the season to 538.

UK – FSA – Update on Tofu Recall – Bacillus cereus

FSABacillus_cereus_01

Heads of Environmental Health and Directors of Trading Standards will wish to be aware of this update to Food Alert for Action 07/2012 issued on 20 December 2012 concerning the recall associated with rose bean curd tofu and chilli bean curd tofu originating from China via The Netherlands. The Agency has now received further information confirming that other lots of tofu from the same Chinese producer are contaminated with high levels of Bacillus cereus. Based on the findings, the Dutch importer Liroy B.V. is recalling all the tofu products they have imported this year from the Chinese producer.

The affected products have been distributed widely throughout the UK.

The Dutch importer will contact all their customers regarding withdrawing all other rose bean curd tofu and chilli bean curd tofu as a precaution.

Identification of the affected products:

1. Koon Yick Wah Kee – Rose Bean Curd (Tofu) 454g Best Before Date 30.06.14 Lot number 023424

2. Koon Yick Wah Kee – Chilli Bean Curd (Tofu) 454g Best Before Date 30.06.14 Lot Number 023421

(Photo Courtesy of the CDC via Wiki)

UK – FSA – Recall Smoked Prawns – Processing Error

FSAfood_standards_agency_logo

Argyll Smokery recalls a single batch of smoked prawns due to a processing error resulting in inadequate controlling factors to prevent growth of Clostridium botulinum.

Canada Salmonella –

Le Journal de Montreal

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ) has warned the public not to consume ardelenesc sausage ready to eat, as it may contain Salmonella.

This notice is issued in conjunction with the Charcuterie Transilvania, located boulevard Curé-Labelle, Laval, which makes this product. The affected lots are for all ardelenesc sausages sold from December 12 at the hotel. The product was sold only Charcuterie Transilvania, and the company is voluntarily recalling its sausages.

No illnesses associated with the consumption of this food has not been reported so far MAPAQ.

Research – Bacillus cereus Enterotoxin Testing

Liebert Open Acesss

Currently, three commercial kits for Bacillus cereus enterotoxins Nhe and/or Hbl detection are available, namely, the Bacillus diarrheal enterotoxin visual immunoassay (BDE VIA™) kit (3M Tecra), B. cereus enterotoxin reversed passive latex agglutination (BCET-RPLA) kit (Oxoid), and the Duopath® Cereus Enterotoxins (Merck). The performance of the kits and their applicability to gastrointestinal simulation samples were evaluated. Then, the stability and production of enterotoxins Hbl and Nhe under gastrointestinal conditions were investigated. Enterotoxin production was absent or impaired at acidic pH, i.e., in gastric medium with pH 5.0 and lasagne verde with pH 5.5. B. cereus did produce enterotoxins Nhe and Hbl during anaerobic growth in intestinal medium at pH 7.0, but the toxins were instantly degraded by the enzymes in the host’s digestive secretions. Preformed enterotoxins did not withstand gastrointestinal passage under the simulated conditions, which suggests that preformed enterotoxins in food do not contribute to the diarrheal food poisoning syndrome. In conclusion, diarrhea is probably caused by de novo enterotoxin production by B. cereus cells located closely to the host’s intestinal epithelium.

USA – Recall Sliced Apples – Possible Listeria monocytogenes

FDA

Freshway Foods is voluntarily recalling 6,671 pounds of sliced apples that were packaged on November 12 using the same packaging machine, which may have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. A table of recalled consumer pack products, their respective use-by-dates and the states to which the company shipped them is provided below. No illnesses have been linked to this recall.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. 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.

 

Canada Updated Recall Hazlenuts – Salmonella

CFIA

The public warning issued on December 2, 2012 has been updated to include additional bulk filberts (hazelnuts).

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the in-shell filberts (hazelnuts) described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Ennis variety filberts (hazelnuts), product of USA, was sold from bulk bins up to and including December 4, 2012.

This product was distributed through Loblaw banners as follows:

Ontario – Cash & Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Fortinos, No Frills Quebec – Loblaws, Maxi & Cie, Maxi, Provigo Newfoundland and Labrador – Dominion

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

USA – Recall Salsa Dill Beans – Clostridium botulinum?

Botulinum Blog

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers not to eat Harry’s Berries Salsa (mild or hot flavors) or Harry’s Berries Dilled Beans, packed by Gean Farms, Inc., because they may have been improperly produced, making them susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum. No illnesses have been linked to any of the affected products at this time.

European Alerts – Salmonella, E.coli, Aflatoxin, Mould, Histamine

RASFF – E.coli in Mussles in Italy sourced in Spain.

RASFF – Salmonella in Frozen Snails in France sourced in Greece

RASFF – Aflatoxin in Maize in Italy sourced in Spain

RASFF – Mould in Hazlenuts in UK from Turkey

RASFF – Histamine in Tuna in Ireland sourced in Thailand