Category Archives: Uncategorized

Tanzania – Rukwa Controls Cholera ‘Fully’

Posted on April 12, 2018 by | Leave a comment

All Africa Vibrio_vulnificus_01

Sumbawanga — RUKWA region has officially declared that cholera has been fully controlled and that the lives of citizens in the Lake Rukwa Basin in Sumbawanga District are safe. Latest reports had it that the deadly disease that started on November 15 , last year and lasted for 108 days killed nine people.

A total of 403 victims were diagnosed with the disease. The Sumbawanga District Medical Officer (DMO) , Dr Fani Mussa, told the “Daily News” at the weekend that the most affected wards include Mfinga, Kalumbaleza, Muze, Mwadui and Mtowisa along the Lake Rukwa Basin in Sumbawanga District.

Dr Mussa said measures taken to address the outbreak of the disease worked well and subsequently the disease has been controlled. “Efforts taken to address the outbreak of the disease included enlightening people on proper hygiene.

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Posted in Death, food death, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, outbreak, Uncategorized, Vibrio cholera

Canada – Correction – Updated Food Recall Warning – Culinary Creations Gourmet* brand & Denny’s Express* brand roast beef-containing sandwiches recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on April 12, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Advisory details

Ottawa, April 11, 2018 – The food recall warning issued on April 10, 2018 has been amended to correctly identify the affected products. The corrections for these products are marked by an asterisk (*).

R.T. Fresh Prepared Foods Inc. is recalling Culinary Creations Gourmet* brand & Denny’s Express* brand roast beef-containing sandwiches from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products were sold through retailers and automatic vending machines in Ontario.

Affected products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Culinary Creations Gourmet* Beef and Cheese on Onion Bun* 190 g Best Before
AL 16
AL 23		 6 89069 18085 6*
Culinary Creations Gourmet* Roast Beef Sandwich 155 g Best Before
AL 16
AL 23		 6 89069 18093 1
Culinary Creations Gourmet* Jumbo Beef & Swiss Submarine (halved)* 250 g Best Before
AL 16
AL 17
AL 18
AL 21
AL 23
AL 24		 6 89069 18097 9
Culinary Creations Gourmet* Jumbo Beef & Swiss Submarine* 250 g Best Before
AL 17
AL 21		 6 89069 18097 9
Denny’s Express* Beef & Swiss Submarine 250 g 0718 7 76393 40003 0

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Posted in CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

Australia – WHO Listeriosis Rockmelon (Cantaloupe Melon)

Posted on April 12, 2018 by | Leave a comment

WHO catalopue

On 2 March 2018, the Australian National Focal Point (NFP) notified WHO of an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infection (listeriosis) associated with the consumption of rockmelons (cantaloupe) from a single grower.

From 17 January 2018 through to 6 April 2018, 20 outbreak cases (19 confirmed and 1 probable) of listeriosis were reported. All of the cases were hospitalized and there have been seven deaths and one miscarriage associated with the outbreak. All of the outbreak cases have had illness onset since 17 January 2018.

Epidemiological investigations suggested that the source of the outbreak was rockmelon (cantaloupe melons) from a single grower in Australia. Epidemiological and environmental investigations were undertaken, which led to the recall of rockmelons produced by the single grower on 27 February 2018.

On 1 March 2018, the Australian NFP was notified that international distribution of the affected product had occurred. Australian authorities received information from trace forward investigations on 2 March 2018 that the rockmelons from this grower were exported to eight countries; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China), Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, and United Arab Emirates. The Australian NFP directly advised these countries on 3 March 2018 about the export of rockmelons from Australia to their country. In parallel, a notification via the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) was also sent on 3 March 2018.

Further trace forward investigations on 7 March 2018 identified that Bahrain also received an export of the rockmelons from this grower and on 8 March 2018, investigations further identified that the affected rockmelons may have been included in a consignment to the Seychelles. The Australian NFP advised the Bahrain NFP directly on 8 March 2018 and the Seychelles NFP directly on 9 March 2018. As of 8 March, trace forward activities have been concluded.

The INFOSAN emergency contact points in the importing countries were provided with specific distribution details of the rockmelons to their respective countries by the INFOSAN emergency contact point in Australia, as they became available.

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Posted in Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, listeriosis, outbreak, Uncategorized

USA – Maeng Da Red Powder and Capsules by Club 13: Recall – Possible Contamination With Salmonella

Posted on April 11, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FDA Salm2

ISSUE: Club 13 is recalling

  • 15-gram, 30-gram, 90-gram, 150-gram, and 454-gram pouches, and all bulk orders of “Maeng Da Red” kratom powder, lot # MRMD012618
  • 5-count, 25-count, 50-count, 100-count, 120-count capsule, and all bulk capsule orders of “Maeng Da Red” kratom bottles, marked with the following lot numbers on the bottom left side: MRMD013018, MRMD013118, MRMD020118, MRMD020518, MRMD022318, MRMD022718, MRMD030118, MRMD030218, and MRMD030618.
  • 5-count, 20-count, 25-count, 40-count, 50-count capsule “Maeng Da Red XS” kratom bottles, marked with the following lots numbers on the bottom left side: KRXS020718, KRXS030618, KRXS102417, KRXS110617, and KRXS120117

These products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The recalled pouches and bottles of Kratom Maeng Da Red were distributed nationwide in retail stores and through mail orders. The potential for contamination was noted after testing by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture. The department detected the presence of Salmonella in a 30g and 90g package of “Maeng Da Red”.

RECOMMENDATION: Consumers who have purchased the aforementioned Maeng Da Red products are urged to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-877-922-5783, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:15 AM to 5:30 PM Eastern Standard Time.

 

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Posted in FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Salmonella, Uncategorized

USA – Nine Whole Foods Market Stores Issue Voluntary Recall for Explorateur French Triple Creme Cheese Due to Possible Health Risk – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on April 11, 2018 by | Leave a comment

FDA 

 

Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Explorateur French Triple Crème cheese from nine stores located in New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, Connecticut and New Jersey out of an abundance of caution. The cheese has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The recall includes Explorateur French Triple Crème cheese (under the names Explorateur, Explorateur French Triple Crème Cheese and Explorateur Triple Crème French Cheese) which were both cut and packaged in clear plastic wrap, as well as sold in branded 8 oz. packages. All cheese had “sell by” dates from 02/15/2018 through 04/03/2018. The issue was discovered when Whole Foods Market was notified by a distributor of a positive test result for Listeria monocytogenes.

The products sold as Explorateur French Triple Crème at the following Whole Foods Market stores with scale labels beginning with PLU code 0294317:

  • 90 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT
  • 222 Main Street, Madison, NJ
  • 701 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ

The products sold as Explorateur Triple Crème French Cheese at the following Whole Foods Market stores with scale labels beginning with PLU code 203971:

  • 7245 Lake Street, River Forest, IL
  • 760 Waukegan Road, Deerfield, IL

The products sold as Explorateur at the following Whole Foods Market stores with scale labels beginning with PLU code 293693:

  • 753 Cerillos Road, Santa Fe, NM
  • 100 Pitt Street, El Paso, TX

The products sold as Explorateur in 8 oz. branded packages at the following Whole Foods Market stores with UPC codes 339001000408 and lot codes H10, H010, H11 or H011:

  • 753 Cerillos Road, Santa Fe, NM
  • 100 Pitt Street, El Paso, TX
  • 7245 Lake Street, River Forest, IL
  • 760 Waukegan Road, Deerfield, IL
  • 501 Bowman Road, Little Rock, AR
  • 11920 Domain Drive, Austin, TX

Customers who purchased these products at Whole Foods Market can bring a valid receipt into stores for a full refund. Consumers with additional questions can call 1-844- 936-8255 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday, or 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. CST Saturday through Sunday.

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Posted in FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Uncategorized

USA – Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood, first baseman Cody Bellinger stricken by food poisoning

Posted on April 11, 2018 by | Leave a comment

Baltimore Sun

y process of elimination, Cody Bellinger was close to figuring out what caused his food poisoning on Saturday. He thought it was either a dinner of sushi or an order from room service. A clue emerged when another teammate came down with a similar condition: Alex Wood, who accompanied Bellinger to get sushi, spent Saturday at the team hotel nursing his own stomach.

Bellinger said he could not remember the name of the restaurant. It was a shame, he explained.

 “The food was great there, though,” Bellinger said. “And I ate there before, and I was fine. But I was throwing up so bad yesterday.”

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Posted in Uncategorized

USA – Investigation Notice: Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections

Posted on April 11, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CDC 

 

CDC, several states, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service are investigating a multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 infections. This investigation includes E. coli O157:H7 infections recently reported by the New Jersey Department of Health.

Public health investigators are using the PulseNet(https://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/index.html) system to identify illnesses that may be part of this outbreak. PulseNet is the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by CDC. DNA fingerprinting is performed on E. coli bacteria isolated from ill people using techniques called pulsed-field gel electrophoresis(https://www.cdc.gov/pulsenet/pathogens/pfge.html) (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing(https://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dfwed/keyprograms/tracking-foodborne-illness-wgs.html) (WGS). CDC PulseNet manages a national database of these DNA fingerprints to identify possible outbreaks. WGS gives a more detailed DNA fingerprint than PFGE.

Illnesses reported by investigators in New Jersey also included ill people who had a diagnostic test(https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/challenges/cidt.html) showing they were infected with E. coli bacteria. Laboratory testing is ongoing to link their illnesses to the outbreak using DNA fingerprinting. Some people may not be included in CDC’s case count because no bacterial isolates are available for the DNA fingerprinting needed to link them to the outbreak.

As of April 9, 2018, 17 people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 have been reported from 7 states. A list of the states and the number of cases in each can be found on the Case Count Map page(https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/map.html). Illnesses started on dates ranging from March 22, 2018 to March 31, 2018(https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2018/o157h7-04-18/epi.html). Ill people range in age from 12 to 84 years, with a median age of 41. Among ill people, 65% are female. Six ill people have been hospitalized, including one person who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported.

The investigation is still ongoing and a specific food item, grocery store, or restaurant chain has not been identified as the source of infections.  State and local public health officials are interviewing ill people to determine what they ate and other exposures in the week before their illness started.

CDC will provide more information as it becomes available.

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Posted in E.coli O157, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, outbreak, Uncategorized

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Fresh 2 Go brand Roast Beef Paninis recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on April 11, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, April 10, 2018 – The food recall warning issued on April 9, 2018 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Metro Ontario Inc. is recalling Fresh 2 Go brand Roast Beef Paninis from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products were sold from Metro locations in Ontario.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Fresh 2 Go (F2GO) Roast Beef Panini 2-pack All units sold up to and including April 10, 2018 Starts with 0219274
Fresh 2 Go (F2GO) Roast Beef Panini 4-pack All units sold up to and including April 10, 2018 Starts with 0219149

 

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Posted in CFIA, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Recall, Uncategorized

Canada – Updated Food Recall Warning – Culinary Creations brand & Denny’s brand roast beef-containing sandwiches recalled due to Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on April 11, 2018 by | Leave a comment

CFIA

Recall details

Ottawa, April 10, 2018 – The food recall warning issued on April 9, 2018 has been updated to include additional product information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

R.T. Fresh Prepared Foods Inc. is recalling Culinary Creations brand & Denny’s brand roast beef-containing sandwiches from the marketplace due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products were sold through retailers and automatic vending machines in Ontario.

Recalled products

Brand Name Common Name Size Code(s) on Product UPC
Culinary Creations Beef & Cheddar Onion Bun 190 g Best Before
April 16, 2018
April 23, 2018		 689069180656
Culinary Creations Roast Beef Sandwich 155 g Best Before
April 16, 2018
April 23, 2018		 689069180931
Culinary Creations Beef & Swiss Submarine ½ 250 g Best Before
April 16, 2018
April 17, 2018
April 18, 2018
April 21, 2018
April 23, 2018
April 24, 2018		 689069180979
Culinary Creations Beef & Swiss Submarine Long 250 g Best Before
April 17, 2018
April 21, 2018		 689069180979
Denny’s Beef & Swiss Submarine 250 g Julian date 0718 776393400030

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Posted in CFIA, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Recall, Uncategorized

India – Check on lamp ghee after suspected food poisoning

Posted on April 10, 2018 by | Leave a comment

The Hindu

It was alleged that lamp ghee was used for preparing prasadam at a temple

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is conducting checks across Coimbatore district on the label used for ‘lamp ghee’, a low quality ghee used for lighting lamps, following the death of two women near Mettupalayam, who allegedly died of food poisoning caused by temple prasadam made with the product.

B. Vijayalalithambigai, designated officer of FSSAI, said that lamp ghee sold in shops are checked to verify whether the labelling mentions that the product should only be used for lighting lamps and not of edible quality.

“Labels of lamp ghees checked during the inspections by the officials had labels mentioning that they are made for the use of lighting lamps. Ghee made for such non-edible purpose must bear the label, warning the buyers,”

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Posted in Uncategorized