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USA – FSIS Releases Annual Plans on Microbiological and Chemical Residue Sampling Programs

Posted on December 4, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FSIS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released today the Annual Sampling Program Plan and Residue Sampling Plans for fiscal year 2019 and its first 2018 Annual Catalog of FSIS Sampling Projects.

“The agency’s modernization and customer service efforts extend to all facets of our work, including an easy-to-use online catalog of sampling projects,” said Carmen Rottenberg, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety. “FSIS is continuing to post an unprecedented amount of food safety data and related plans, which are important for our customer experience.”

The Annual Sampling Program Plan identifies changes planned for FY 2019 to FSIS’ various sampling programs and describes the agency’s overall strategy for directing its sampling resources. FSIS also published the FY 2019 Residue Sampling Plans, which provide information on the process of sampling meat, poultry and egg products for chemical compounds of public concern and data collection.

FSIS first released its “Food Safety and Inspection Service Microbiological and Residue Sampling Programs” report in December 2011, which identified all of FSIS’ sampling programs and discussed the statistical and policy basis for the programs. FSIS has released a new sampling plan for each subsequent fiscal year.

FSIS is also launching a new online Annual Catalog of FSIS Sampling Projects — a searchable list of sampling projects for meat, poultry and egg products. The catalog, which will include project names and codes, will inform the public of what type of sampling data are available through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). With this catalog, FSIS seeks to enhance the customer experience by strengthening the FOIA process related to these data.

The catalog, which will be updated annually, and the FY 2019 Annual Sampling Program Plan are available at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/data-collection-and-reports/fsis-data-analysis-and-reporting/data-reporting/fsis-data-analysis-and-reporting#samplingprograms and the 2019 Residue Sampling Plans at https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/data-collection-and-reports/chemistry/blue-books/ct_index.

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Uncategorized

USA – Michigan Cracker Barrel Shuttered due to Salmonella

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Food Poison Journal

The Cracker Barrel restaurant near I-94 and S. 9th St. is voluntarily closing its’ doors for good following a salmonella outbreak investigation.The Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department (HCS), along with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) began investigating the location in June 2018 for health code violations and reports of food borne illnesses. HCS officials said the establishment voluntarily closed in June to begin facility renovations and worked with them to ensure all Michigan Food Law requirements were met to reopen.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – Campylobacter in puppies: Petland store faces 3rd lawsuit this year alleging it knowingly sold sick puppies

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BarfBlog

 

A Petland store in Michigan is facing its third lawsuit this year after a man said he was hospitalized after buying a puppy later found to be sick from the store.

Doug Rose said he became infected with Campylobacter — a multi-drug resistant infection — after he and his wife Dawn purchased Thor, a beagle-pug mix puppy that the couple said was infected with parasites, suffered from coccidia and giardia, and had an upper respiratory infection, The Oakland Press reported.

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Posted in Campylobacter, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Pet Food, Uncategorized

Singapore – Over 400 ill from food poisoning in November alone

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TNP SG

In the second half of the year alone, Singapore has seen a series of food poisonings, with threethis month.

In July, about 200 students of CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh) had symptoms of food poisoning, including diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

None of the affected students was hospitalised and most returned to school soon after, said the school’s principal Karen Tay.

Last month, days before the A-level examinations, about 200 Raffles Institution students showed symptoms of food poisoning after a buffet prepared by an external caterer.

Most of the affected students were in Year 6 and had symptoms such as diarrhoea and stomachache. One student was hospitalised.

In the past three weeks, over 400 people fell ill after consuming catered food.

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Posted in food contamination, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Uncategorized

USA – JBS Raw Beef Salmonella Recall now 12,093,271 Pounds = 6,047 Tons

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Food Poison Journal

JBS Tolleson, Inc., a Tolleson, Ariz. establishment, is recalling approximately 12,093,271 pounds of non-intact raw beef products that may be contaminated with Salmonella Newport, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.

The raw, non-intact beef items, including ground beef, were packaged on various dates from July 26, 2018 to Sept. 7, 2018. The following products are subject to recall:  [Products List (PDF) | Product Labels (PDF only)|

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Posted in food contamination, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Information – Lactalis says no Salmonella in baby milk at second production line

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Channel News Asia

PARIS: Lactalis, the world’s largest dairy group, on Friday (Nov 30) rejected media reports that salmonella had been detected in baby milk from a second production line at a French factory where contaminated milk led to dozens of babies falling ill last year.

The salmonella outbreak at the Craon plant in northwest France led Lactalis to recall millions of tins of baby milk in France and around the world, and drew criticism from politicians and consumer groups about a lack of transparency at the company, which is privately held by the Besnier family.

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Posted in Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Microbiology, Salmonella, Uncategorized

Iceland – Icelandic oysters cause food poisoning at top notch restaurant – Norovirus

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Iceland Monitor

 

Infected Icelandic oysters caused food poisoning for 48 individuals at Skelfisksmarkaðurinn, a relatively new restaurant owned by succcessful tv chef and restaurant owner Hrefna Sætran. Icelandic oysters are a novelty in Iceland as all oysters on menus until now have been imported from Ireland or other countries.

The oysters were imported as youngsters and raised in Skjálfandaflói bay by company Víkurskel. This is the first time that the noro virus is confirmed in oysters in Iceland.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Norovirus, Uncategorized, Virus

India – 3 dead, 253 ill in Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar due to food poisoning

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Hindustan Times

At least three people including two children are dead and over 250 taken ill due to alleged food poisoning in Uttarakhand’s Bageshwar district.

According to Kumaon Commissioner Rajeev Rautela, those dead include two children aged 10 and five years old and a woman.

At a wedding ceremony on November 29 night, many guests consumed food and subsequently fell sick including the bride and groom. All have been admitted to different hospitals in Berinag, Kapkot, Bageshwar, Almora and Haldwani.

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Posted in food contamination, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Foodborne Illness, Uncategorized

Singapore – 131 fall ill in third mass food-poisoning case this month

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Yahoo News

In the third case of mass food poisoning this month, 131 people – including kindergarten pupils and teachers – fell ill on Monday (26 November) after consuming food from a caterer while attending a learning camp.

In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the National Environment Agency (NEA), Ministry of Health (MOH) and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said they are investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis – inflammation of the stomach and intestines which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

The outbreak was traced to the consumption of food prepared by FoodTalks Caterer & Manufacturer, located at Shimei East Kitchen along Bedok North Street 5. The three authorities carried out a joint inspection of the premises on Tuesday, with food and environmental samples taken for testing and food handlers being sent for stool screening.

According to Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, the food poisoning victims had attended a learning camp organised by Busy Bees Asia. Organisers said that the camp was stopped immediately upon the outbreak of food poisoning.

As of Tuesday, 131 cases of gastroenteritis had been reported. None of the victims have been hospitalised.

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Posted in food bourne outbreak, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, foodborne disease, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, Uncategorized

Malta – Salmonella Egg – warning withdrawn

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Times of Malta

 

The health authorities have withdrawn a salmonella warning in eggs produced by two Maltese farms.

Last July, the authorities had urged the public to refrain from buying eggs produced by St Joseph Farm-M. Xerri and a farm in Triq Santa Domenika, Rabat, Gozo.

In a statement on Saturday, the health authorities said the two farms had now conformed.

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Pathogen, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Salmonella, Uncategorized