Category Archives: Uncategorized

ABC News Net 

The rockmelon farm at the centre of the deadly listeria outbreak has been revealed as Rombola Family Farms, authorities have confirmed.

The NSW Food Authority said it was working closely with the farm, located in the NSW Riverina, to determine the exact cause of the outbreak.

Four people died and there have been 17 confirmed cases of listeriosis nationally, linked to the contaminated rockmelons.

The rockmelon industry had been calling for the farm behind the outbreak to be named, to protect the reputation of other growers and convince consumers that it was safe to eat the fruit.

A spokeswoman for the NSW Food Authority said, pending the results of its investigation into the incident, it may implement additional regulation to the rockmelon industry to ensure compliance with food safety.

The NSW Food Authority is working closely with Rombola Family Farms to identify the source of the outbreak.

All Africa

The Seychelles Public Health Authority has imposed a temporary ban on all ready-to-eat meat products imported from South Africa since an outbreak of listeria was declared in the African country earlier this year.

According to a communiqué from the health authority, the action follows confirmation from the Ministry of Health in South Africa that the source of listeria contamination and outbreak is in processed meat.

The ban removes all processed meat — namely polonies, hams and pre-cooked sausages — from the local market. Importers of processed meat have been formally informed of the ban.

The National

The UAE has banned the import of meat from two South African meat manufacturers in response to an announcement by South African authorities tracing the deadly listeria food poisoning outbreak to contaminated meat products.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has ordered the immediate suspension of imports and from Tiger’s Enterprise Food and RCL Foods, whose food samples tested positive for the strain of listeria that has killed 180 people so far.

“As part of the precautionary measures, the Ministry has issued a circular informing Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and municipal authorities in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras al Khaimah and Fujairah of the immediate suspension of food imports from these two manufactures, denying entry of their inbound shipments, and pulling the incriminated goods from local shelves,” said Majd Mohamed Al Herbawi, Director of the Food Safety Department at MOCCAE.

“The Ministry also directed relevant local authorities to step up screening of South African meat and its products and ensure that only safe-to-consume meat is available in the UAE market.”

The Ministry is closely following-up on the investigations being carried out by authorities in South Africa.

Retailers were receptive to the move and assured consumers of their strict food sourcing policy.

Outbreak News Today 

Image CDC

A shigella outbeak, linked to catering by Seattle-based Eric Gorbman Catering,  is being investigated by Public Health — Seattle & King County officials. To date, 17 cases have been reported.

The investigation surrounds private parties at Temple Beth Am and Temple Beth Shalom in Seattle on March 3. The parties were catered by Eric Gorbman Catering with additional food items brought potluck style by attendees. One ill attendee is hospitalized.

Health officials are asking attendees to fill out a survey to assist in the investigation.

Outbreak News Today

Earlier this week, New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today warned consumers not to consume The Maiden’s Creamery “Wild Meadow” raw goat milk cheese made by Mark Harvey, 1277 Copes Corner Road, South New Berlin, NY 13843 due to possible Listeria contamination.

Outbreak News Today

A recent Cunard Line’s Queen Victoria voyage ending Friday saw 74 passengers and crew come down with bouts of diarrhea by an unknown etiology.

The voyage that started Feb, 21, returned to Ft. Lauderdale, FL Friday where a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) environmental health officer and an epidemiologist boarded the ship to conduct an environmental health assessment and evaluate the outbreak and response activities.

Food Safety News 

An Oregon company is recalling three brands of kratom powder products because samples have tested positive for Salmonella and an illness has been reported in connection with one of the products.

PDX Aromatics of Portland, OR, sold the recalled products directly to consumers via websites between Jan. 18 and Feb. 18, according to the company’s recall notice on the Food and Drug Administration’s website.

The  company does business as three entities, which bear the same names as the three brands of product subject to recall: Kraken Kratom, Phytoextractum, and Soul Speciosa.

At least 10,000 “units” of the kratom powder products are subject to the recall. They are packaged in plastic heat sealed pouches and sold in weights of 28 grams 56 grams and 112 grams.

“Consumers who may be in possession of potentially contaminated products are advised not to consume products labeled with the above product descriptions and lot codes,” according to the recall notice.

“PDX Aromatics has identified a supplier in our supply chain as the source of Salmonella. The company has removed that supplier from our supply chain and all associated products from our facility.

“We have ceased distribution of products in order to perform a facility audit … Working in cooperation with the FDA, the company will destroy all recalled product upon return.”

The Salmonella contamination was discovered by California inspectors. The California Department of Public Health notified the Oregon company of the Salmonella contamination and the infected person, PDX Aromatics reported.

Several states are investigating illnesses among people who have ingested various brands of kratom powders. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA are also investigating the substance.

The CDC says an ongoing nationwide outbreak has sickened at least 40 people across 27 states since October 2017.

The FDA has been investigating the substance for several years and is assisting the CDC and states with the current outbreak as well as continuing its general review of the substance. The FDA has reported that it has evidence of more than 40 deaths in the United States that have been linked to kratom.

Kratom is a plant consumed for its stimulant effects and as an opioid substitute. Kratom is also known as Thang, Kakuam, Thom, Ketom, and Biak.

FSA

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have today published details of a recall of meat products by Muscle Food.

FSAI

Message:

All minced lamb, diced lamb, diced beef and diced skinned chicken supplied by Hab Foods Limited trading as Haji Baba, Ballyfermot are subject to recall.  A Closure Order, under the FSAI Act 1998, was served on the food business operator by the HSE, due to a grave and immediate danger to public health.  In addition, this business did not have the required approval to operate.  A Prohibition Order, also under the FSAI Act 1998, was issued by the HSE regarding the recall and destruction of the above described meats.

Nature Of Danger:

The unapproved establishment is unsuitable and unhygienic for the purposes of food production. There is a risk of the implicated meats being contaminated with pathogenic bacteria, which could cause illness.

Action Required:

Manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, caterers & retailers:

Food businesses currently selling the affected meats must immediately remove these products from sale and are requested to display a point-of-sale recall notice in stores.

Daily Mirror

More than 100 persons had been admitted to the Kayts Hospital in Jaffna due to a food poisoning, the Police said.

They said several devotees participated at a function held at St. Anthony’s Church at a fishery village in Malenechmunai, Jaffna fallen sick last night and this morning after taking the food given at the function.

The Police and Public Health Inspectors are investigating the incident