Category Archives: Uncategorized

FDA

FDA Announcement

Dole Diversified North America, Inc. is recalling a limited number of cases of Dole™ Fresh Blueberries packaged in a variety of clamshell sizes for potential Cyclospora contamination.

This voluntary recall is due to possible Cyclospora contamination on Dole™ Fresh Blueberries. Dole Diversified North America, Inc. is coordinating closely with regulatory officials. No illnesses have been reported to date in association with the recall.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal infection caused by the Cyclospora parasite. A person may become infected after ingesting contaminated food or water. Common symptoms include severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, body aches and fatigue. The infection is treated with antibiotics and most people respond quickly to treatment.

The product lot code is located on the top label of the clamshell and is a series of numbers printed by inkjet in black. Dependent upon where the numbers are printed, they may go across the wording on the label. The impacted products were distributed in four US states (IL, ME, NY, and WI), and two Canadian provinces (Alberta and British Columbia). Consumers are advised to check any product they have in their homes and discard any product matching the production description, UPC codes, and product lot codes listed above.

No other Dole products are included in the recall. Only Dole™ Fresh Blueberries with the exact UPC and lot code combinations identified above are included in the recall. Consumers who have any of the recalled product should not consume it, but rather discard it immediately. Retailers and consumers with questions may call the Dole Consumer Center at 1-800-356-3111, which is open 24 hours a day.

Food Safety News

A dairy linked to an E. coli outbreak in 2019 in England has been prosecuted for food safety and hygiene offences.

NP and DJ Darwin Ltd, trading as Darwin’s Dairy, pleaded guilty at a virtual magistrate’s court hearing this past week and was sentenced to a £6,000 fine ($8,300), £170 ($235) victim surcharge, and Barnsley Council was awarded £1,000 ($1,400) toward costs.

The company, based in the English town of Barnsley, was charged with failing to implement and maintain procedures based on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, which help to manage food-related hazards.

RASFF

Salmonella in rapeseed cake from the Czech Republic in Germany and Austria

ACSA

Given the large number of foodborne illnesses reported each year, the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed a manual to help countries measure the burden of foodborne illness and identify the needs of the food security system and data gaps so that they can strengthen national infrastructure and better protect people’s health.

This new manual provides detailed guidance on assessing the burden of disease caused by microbiological agents commonly transmitted through food. It is specially designed for national use and provides a complete picture of the requirements, the enabling factors, the challenges and opportunities involved, and the process steps. It also aims to promote the harmonization of methodologies for estimating the burden of foodborne diseases between countries.

Link to WHO book.

FDA