Category Archives: Uncategorized

Research – Don’t freak out: These are the microbes living on your tongue

Science Mag

STEVEN WILBERT AND GARY BORISY/FORSYTH INSTITUTE

Microbes are everywhere in our guts—and in our mouths. Now, a new study reveals our tongue-dwelling companions aren’t all mixed together randomly; instead, they seem to prefer living close to their own kind, separating out into distinct groups based on their species.

Researchers started by scraping the tongues of 21 healthy human volunteers. Then, they used fluorescent tags to identify specific groups of bacteria, some of which produce nutrients for us, so they could see exactly where each one lived on the tongue’s surface. Without exception, the bacteria formed tight-knit, well-defined clusters of the same species, the researchers report today in Cell Reports.

The clusters (above) resemble a microbial rainbow under the microscope. For instance, Actinomyces bacteria, in red, grow close to the epithelial tissue of the tongue, shown in gray, while Rothia bacteria, in cyan, form long patches between other communities. Streptococcus, in green, form a thin crust on the edge of the tongue and slender veins in the interior. By looking at the images, the researchers could guess at how these colonies establish themselves and grow over time.

Australia -Fresh Frontier — Foodies Choice Gourmet Greek Salad with Quinoa plus Kale 320g -Salmonella

PSA

Photograph of Foodies Choice Greek Salad with Quinoa and Kale

Identifying features

Other
Batch Code 16/3/2020, 17/3/2020, 18/3/2020

What are the defects?

The recall is due to microbial (Salmonella) contamination.

What are the hazards?

Food products contaminated with Salmonella may cause illness if consumed.

What should consumers do?

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information, please contact Fresh Frontier by phone on 08 6162 9958 or via www.freshfrontier.com.au

Supplier
Traders who sold this product

IGA
Farmer Jacks
Gilberts Fresh
Rawsters
SUPA IGA

Where the product was sold
Western Australia
Dates available for sale
  • 17 March 2020 – 19 March 2020

Recall advertisements and supporting documentation

Australia – Supreme Salads — Supreme Salads Salad Mixes 150g and 250g – Salmonella

PSG

Photograph of Supreme Salads Salad Mixes

Identifying features

Other
APN/EAN numbers – 9345304000112, 9345304000020, 9345304000051, 934530400105, 9345304000037, 9345304000044

What are the defects?

The recall is due to microbial (Salmonella) contamination.

What are the hazards?

Food products contaminated with Salmonella may cause illness if consumed.

What should consumers do?

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information, please contact Supreme Salads by email at info@supremesalads.com.au or by phone on 0407 441 427.

Supplier
Traders who sold this product

IGA stores
Independent grocers in WA

Where the product was sold
Western Australia
Dates available for sale
  • 12 March 2020 – 20 March 2020

Recall advertisements and supporting documentation

Australia – Quality Produce International — Loose Leaf Lettuce – Salmomella

PSG

Photograph of loose leaf lettuce

What are the defects?

The recall is due to microbial (Salmonella) contamination.

What are the hazards?

Food products contaminated with Salmonella may cause illness if consumed.

What should consumers do?

Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact Quality Produce International on 08 9455 2777 or by mail@qualityproduce.com.au

Supplier
Quality Produce International
Traders who sold this product

Various IGA stores and independent retailers in WA

Where the product was sold
Western Australia
Dates available for sale
  • 21 March 2020 – 28 March 2020

Recall advertisements and supporting documentation

Canada – Food Recall Warning – Golden Mushroom brand Enoki Mushroom recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, March 24, 2020 – Goldenway International Trade Co. Ltd. is recalling Golden Mushroom brand Enoki Mushroom from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

Recalled product

Brand Product Size UPC Codes
Golden Mushroom Enoki Mushroom 200 g 8 809201 000039 All units sold up to and including March 24, 2020

What you should do

If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, call your doctor.

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

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This recall was triggered by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) test results. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled, the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing the recalled product from the marketplace.

Illnesses

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

Product photos

Printer ready version of photos

  • Golden Mushroom brand Enoki Mushrooms - Champignons d'enoki, 200 g (back - verso)
  • Golden Mushroom brand Enoki Mushrooms - Champignons d'enoki, 200 g (front - recto)

Research – Human foodborne listeriosis in England and Wales, 1981 to 2015

Cambridge Press

Almost all cases of human listeriosis are foodborne, however the proportion where specific exposures are identified is small. Between 1981 and 2015, 5252 human listeriosis cases were reported in England and Wales. The purpose of this study was to summarise data where consumption of specific foods was identified with transmission and these comprised 11 sporadic cases and 17 outbreaks. There was a single outbreak in the community of 378 cases (7% of the total) which was associated with pâté consumption and 112 cases (2% of the total) attributed to specific foods in all the other incidents. The proportion of food-attributed cases increased during this study with improvements in typing methods for Listeria monocytogenes. Ten incidents (one sporadic case and nine outbreaks of 2–9 cases over 4 days to 32 months) occurred in hospitals: all were associated with the consumption of pre-prepared sandwiches. The 18 community incidents comprised eight outbreaks (seven of between 3 and 17 cases) and 10 sporadic cases: food of animal origin was implicated in 16 of the incidents (sliced or potted meats, pork pies, pâté, liver, chicken, crab-meat, butter and soft cheese) and food of non-animal origin in the remaining two (olives and vegetable rennet).

USA – New Oyster Rules Aim to Reduce Vibrio Cases

Coastal Review

Division of Marine Fisheries Director Steve Murphey implemented the new oyster harvest control measures through Proclamation SS-1-2020  and Proclamation SS-2-2020, both issued Monday.

The Division of Marine Fisheries announced that while the state’s public health record concerning shellfish-related illnesses is one of the best in the country, the number of Vibrio cases nationwide had increased in recent years. Vibrio are naturally occurring bacteria in coastal waters that can cause illness in humans if precautions are not taken during the warmer months of the year.

The new regulations also will bring the state into conformity with guidance from the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, which is the federal, state and industry cooperative program recognized by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration and the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference for the sanitary control of shellfish produced and sold for human consumption.

The changes include the following new requirements to:

  • Shade oysters harvested between May 1 and Oct. 14. This involves providing shade over harvested oysters or covering the oysters with a light-colored tarp or other nontoxic material while they are stored on the vessel, floating container when the oysters are not submerged, or a vehicle (this is already required for the harvest of clams in the summer).
  • Resubmerge oysters exposed to the air for greater than five hours between May 1 and Oct. 14 (this might occur during air-drying or de-fouling with gear such as OysterGro). The oysters must remain submerged for at least 14-days to abate Vibrio levels that may have been elevated.
  • Clarify that when working in intertidal waters the term “start of harvest” begins when the oyster is first exposed by the receding tide.
  • Clarify the tagging procedures when oysters leave the lease for tumbling or culling.
  • Resubmerge oysters moved from one growing area to another for at least 21 days prior to harvest (Certified shellfish dealers with a wet storage permit are exempt). This may prevent the closure of multiple growing areas in the event of an illness outbreak.

Previously implemented regulations pertaining to recording the start of harvest on the harvest tag and delivering the oysters to a licensed dealer within a specified time remain in effect.

For more information, contact Shannon Jenkins, chief of the division’s Shellfish Sanitatio

Research – Outbreak of Clostridium perfringens food poisoning linked to leeks in cheese sauce: an unusual source

Cambridge Uni Press

Between 11–13 December 2018, local public health authorities in the West Midlands, England were alerted to 34 reports of diarrhoea with abdominal cramps. Symptom onset was ~10 h after diners ate Christmas meals at a restaurant between 7–9 December 2018. A retrospective case-control study, environmental and microbiological investigations were undertaken to determine the source and control the outbreak. An analytical study was undertaken with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Forty persons were recruited to the analytical study (28/40 cases). Multivariable analysis found that leeks in cheese sauce was the only item associated with illness (aOR 51.1; 95% CI 4.13–2492.1). Environmental investigations identified significant lapses in food safety, including lapses in temperature control during cooking and hot holding, likely cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods and the reuse of leftover cheese sauce for the next day’s service. No food samples were taken during the exposure period. Two faecal samples were positive for Clostridium perfringens with one confirming the enterotoxigenic gene. Cheese sauce is an unusual vehicle for the organism and the first time this has been reported in England.

USA -IcelandicPlus LLC Voluntarily Recalls Whole Capelin Fish Pet Treats Because Product Exceeds FDA Size Restrictions – Botulism

FDA Label Front:  ICELANDIC+ CAPELINE WHOLE FISH FOR CATS, 1.5 oz. Bag

Out of an abundance of caution IcelandicPlus LLC of Ft. Washington, PA, is recalling its Capelin Pet Treats because some of the fish have exceeded the FDA compliance guideline for fish larger than 5 inches. The FDA has determined that salt-cured, dried, or fermented un-eviscerated fish larger than 5 inches have been linked to outbreaks of botulism poisoning in humans between 1981 and 1987 and again in 1991. Since some IcelandicPlus Capelins are larger than 5 inches there is a possible health risk. To date there have been no reported illnesses of dogs, cats, or persons in connection with Capelin. Nor has there been any positive test results for Clostridium botulinum from any IcelandicPlus Capelin, but because of the potential risk, and despite no known illnesses in connection with our products, we have decided in co-operation with the FDA, to announce this product recall.

Clostridium botulinum toxin can cause severe clinical signs including death in both animals consuming the pet treat and people handling the pet treat or coming in contact with contact areas that have been exposed to the product. Common symptoms may include dizziness, blurred or double vision, trouble with speaking or swallowing, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, abdominal distension, and constipation. Consider that several of the listed symptoms, such as double vision, cannot be easily assessed in animals or conveyed by an animal. Pets or persons experiencing these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

The Capelin product was shipped to distributors in the United States with the intent to be sold to Retailers who in turn sell to Consumers. This product would be found in Independent Pet Specialty Stores within all States in the United States.

The product comes in a clear plastic package or tube, and marked Icelandic+ Capelin WHOLE FISH, PURE FISH TREATS FOR DOGS, or PURE FISH TREATS FOR CATS UPC CODES, 8 5485400775 9; 8 5485400711 7; and 8 5485400757 5 are packaged in a 2.5 ounce tube or a 1.5 or 2.5 ounce bag (lot numbers 02/2020 to 02/2022)

IcelandicPlus is family owned and run by pet parents who take the safety and wellbeing of its consumers and clients with the utmost importance, as such we are conducting this voluntarily recall to further protect our customers. Additionally, we are changing our Capelin supplier to ensure that the fish in our product are consistently less than 5 inches, or if larger, they will be completely eviscerated.

Distributors, Retailers and Consumers who have purchased IcelandicPlus’s Capelin can return it to the location where it was purchased for a refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1857-246-9559. Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm EST.

 

Australia – The Loose Leaf Lettuce Company — Asian Salad Mix 120g and 200g, and Special Salad Mix 30g, 60g and 200g – Salmonella

PSA

Photograph of Asian Salad Mix 200g and Special Salad Mix 200g

Identifying features

SKU
9350201000271, 9350201000004, 9350201000042

What are the defects?

The recall is due to microbial (Salmonella) contamination.

What are the hazards?

Food products contaminated with Salmonella may cause illness if consumed.

What should consumers do?

Consumers should not eat this product and should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.

For further information please contact The Loose Leaf Lettuce Company on 08 9575 2086 or via their web site www.looseleaf.com.au

Traders who sold this product

Distributors and through Metcash/IGA

Where the product was sold
Western Australia
Dates available for sale
  • 11 March 2020 – 23 March 2020

Recall advertisements and supporting documentation