Category Archives: Uncategorized

Indonesia – Palu earthquake victims suffer food poisoning at shelter

The Jakarta Post

Dozens of people from Kabonena and Tipo subdistricts in Palu, Central Sulawesi, who were displaced by a recent earthquake, have been hospitalized for reported food poisoning after consuming donated food on Saturday.

Badrun, one of the food poisoning victims, said the food was distributed to the shelter at around 11 a.m. local time. The displaced people did not feel anything strange as they ate the food but an hour later they started to feel dizzy and nauseous, he said.

The victims – mostly children – were rushed to Anutapura Palu Hospital.

Anutapura Palu Hospital deputy director for medical services Herry Mulyadi said his office had recorded that at least 38 people had been admitted to the hospital, while others were taken to other hospitals.

USA – Legionnaires’ disease cluster reported in Brooke County, WV

Outbreak News Today legionellac

Brooke County, WV health officials report investigating a cluster of six Legionnaires’ disease cases. At this time, there is no link to any of the cases as a common source or location.

Legionellosis is a bacterial disease of the lungs caused by Legionella pneumophila. The disease can range from a mild respiratory illness to severe pneumonia and death. The most common form of legionellosis is known as “Legionnaires’ disease,” named after an outbreak in 1976 when many people who attended an American Legion conference in Philadelphia became ill.

Most people contract the disease by inhaling mist or vapour from a water source contaminated with the bacteria.   The disease is not contracted by drinking contaminated water, and person-to-person spread of legionellosis does not occur.

Canada – Red Chili Ingredient included in certain Hello Fresh brand and Chefs Plate brand Meal Kits recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA

kswfoodworld Salmonella

Image CDC

Recall details

Ottawa, January 21, 2019 – Hello Fresh Canada Inc. is recalling the red chili ingredient included in certain Hello Fresh brand and Chefs Plate brand meal kits from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination of that ingredient. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Hello Fresh Red chili 1 (included in the 902 g kit) Included in Hello Fresh brand Coconut Dal meal kit coded as
Best Before 19 JA 29
WK19041920
2P
None
Hello Fresh Red chili 1 (included in the 1804 g kit) Included in Hello Fresh brand Coconut Dal meal kit coded as
Best Before 19 JA 29
WK19041920
4P
None
Chefs Plate Red chili 1 (included in the 856 g kit) Included in Chefs Plate brand Beef Chow Mein meal kit coded as January 19, 2019 (A2) None
Chefs Plate Red chili 1 (included in the 856 g kit) Included in Chefs Plate brand Beef Chow Mein meal kit coded as January 22, 2019 (A2) None
Chefs Plate Red chili 1 (included in the 1712 g kit) Included in Chefs Plate brand Beef Chow Mein meal kit coded as January 19, 2019 (A4) None
Chefs Plate Red chili 1 (included in the 1712 g kit) Included in Chefs Plate brand Beef Chow Mein meal kit coded as January 22, 2019 (A4) None

What you should do

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

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

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections. Healthy people may experience short-term symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

Background

This recall was triggered by the company. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (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 recalled product from the marketplace.

Illnesses

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Europe – Cholera – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2017

Publication series: Annual Epidemiological Report on Communicable Diseases in Europe
Time period covered: This report is based on data for 2017 retrieved from The European Surveillance System (TESSy) on 11 September 2018.
In 2017, five EU/EEA countries reported 17 laboratory-confirmed cases of cholera, which was in the range of previous years. All cases were infected outside of Europe.

USA – Recalls of hazardous meat and poultry up 83 percent since 2013, report finds

CBS

Recalls of hazardous meat and poultry have gone up by more than 80 percent in the last six years, according to a new report out Thursday morning. One in six Americans get sick every year from eating contaminated food leading to at least 3,000 deaths per year – 450 from salmonella alone.

“Something is rotten in our slaughterhouses and our fields, and so common sense protections from farm to fork can help prevent that,” said Adam Garber, a researcher for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, the organization behind the report.

It found recalls of produce and processed food by the FDA increased about two percent from 2013 to 2018 and the most hazardous meat and poultry recalls by the USDA increased by 83 percent.

The report recommends the FDA require testing “water used for irrigation or watering of produce for hazardous pathogens” like E. coli and for meat and poultry products, declare when “antibiotic resistant strains of salmonella as an adulterant” are found.

UK – Zoonoses Report UK 2017

Gov UK

This annual report on zoonoses in the United Kingdom (UK) includes cases of zoonotic
infection in humans and animals reported during 2017. The data has been compiled
from statutory notifiable or reportable disease reports, national scanning surveillance
systems, national laboratory reporting, control programmes and research activities.
Some of the data has been submitted to the European Commission via the Trends and
Sources Report under the Zoonoses Directive 2003/99, by agencies contributing to the
report.

Canada – Canada Herb brand Red Chili recalled due to Salmonella

CFIA CIFA

Recall details

Ottawa, January 20, 2019 – Canada Herb is recalling Canada Herb brand Red Chili from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Canada Herb Red Chili Variable weight None – all packages sold up to and including January 20, 2019 None

Information – Machines are difficult to clean yet poop emoji soft-serve is all the rage in Tokyo

Barf Blog

Free Soft Ice Cream to Pregnant Mothers – Is that Wise? – Poop Shaped !

Canada – Certain Salmon Village brand Hot Smoked Atlantic Salmon Nuggets recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, January 17, 2019 – Delta Pacific Seafoods is recalling certain Salmon Village brand Hot Smoked Atlantic Salmon Nuggets from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled product described below.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Salmon Village Hot Smoked Atlantic Salmon Nuggets – Maple 150 g 1227.18 F26.18 and all Best Before codes 8 28684 00108 9

Hong Kong – (Updated on 18 January 2019) Not to consume a batch of imported prepackaged smoked salmon suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes

CFS logo

Issue Date 17.1.2019
Source of Information Notification from the New Zealand concerned authorities through the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN)
Food Product A batch of imported prepackaged smoked salmon
Product Name and Description Product name: Beech Wood Smoked Slices
Brand: Regal New Zealand King Salmon
Place of origin: New Zealand
Manufacturer: The New Zealand King Salmon Co. Ltd
Importer: PARKnSHOP(HK) Limited
Net weight: 100 grams per pack
Batch code: M362D
Expiry date: January 28, 2019

Product name: Beech Wood Smoked Slices
Brand: Regal New Zealand King Salmon
Place of origin: New Zealand
Manufacturer: The New Zealand King Salmon Co Ltd
Importer: PARKnSHOP (HK) Limited
Net weight: 100 grams per pack
Batch code: M362D
Expiry date: February 1, 2019

Reason For Issuing Alert
  • The CFS received a notification that the abovementioned product might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and is being recalled. According to the information provided by INFOSAN, a local importer, PARKnSHOP(HK) Limited has imported the affected product into Hong Kong.
  • The CFS immediately contacted the importer concerned for follow-up. Preliminary investigation showed that the importer had imported 60 packs of the above-mentioned batch of product and some of it was sold. The CFS has instructed the importer to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batch of product and initiate a recall.
  • The CFS’ follow-up investigation found that the importer concerned had also imported 240 packs of the same kind of affected product but with a different expiry date and some of it was sold. The CFS has instructed the importer to also stop sale of the above-mentioned product and remove it from shelves, and initiated a recall.
Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety
  • The CFS has alerted the trade to the incident and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action.
Advice to the Trade
  • Stop using or selling the product concerned immediately if they possess them.
Advice to Consumers
  • Not to consume the affected products if they have bought any.
Further Information The CFS press release (18.1.2019)

The CFS press release (17.1.2019)

Members of the public can call the importer’s hotline at 2606 8658 during office hours to enquire about the recall.