CFIA  

Ottawa, January 26, 2018 – The food recall warning issued on January 25, 2018 has been updated to include additional distribution information. This additional information was identified during the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) food safety investigation.

Iqbal Halal Foods is recalling IHF brand sesame seeds from the marketplace due to possible Salmonella contamination. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

Consumers who are unsure if they have affected product are advised to check with their retailer.

The Daily Meal

EFSA 

Image CDC

Food safety criteria for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat (RTE) foods have been applied from 2006 onwards (Commission Regulation (EC) 2073/2005). Still, human invasive listeriosis was reported to increase over the period 2009–2013 in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA). Time series analysis for the 2008–2015 period in the EU/EEA indicated an increasing trend of the monthly notified incidence rate of confirmed human invasive listeriosis of the over 75 age groups and female age group between 25 and 44 years old (probably related to pregnancies). A conceptual model was used to identify factors in the food chain as potential drivers for L. monocytogenes contamination of RTE foods and listeriosis. Factors were related to the host (i. population size of the elderly and/or susceptible people; ii. underlying condition rate), the food (iii. L. monocytogenes prevalence in RTE food at retail; iv. L. monocytogenes concentration in RTE food at retail; v. storage conditions after retail; vi. consumption), the national surveillance systems (vii. improved surveillance), and/or the bacterium (viii. virulence). Factors considered likely to be responsible for the increasing trend in cases are the increased population size of the elderly and susceptible population except for the 25–44 female age group. For the increased incidence rates and cases, the likely factor is the increased proportion of susceptible persons in the age groups over 45 years old for both genders. Quantitative modelling suggests that more than 90% of invasive listeriosis is caused by ingestion of RTE food containing > 2,000 colony forming units (CFU)/g, and that one-third of cases are due to growth in the consumer phase. Awareness should be increased among stakeholders, especially in relation to susceptible risk groups. Innovative methodologies including whole genome sequencing (WGS) for strain identification and monitoring of trends are recommended.

Wiley Online Laboratory

Abstract

SCA

The Standing Committee of Analysts

Microbiology of Recreational and Environmental Waters

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 45.3; Tot. = 51.3 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from the United States in Lithuania.

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 4.1 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted and salted watermelon seeds from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 34.3; Tot. = 36.5 µg/kg – ppb) in curry powder from Sri Lanka in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 5.6; Tot. = 6.2 µg/kg – ppb) in watermelon seeds from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 163; Tot. = 177 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Togo in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 21.4; Tot. = 23.6 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey in the UK

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 3.1 / B1 = 5.7; Tot. = 6.7 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled groundnuts from China in Spain

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 16.3 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled hazelnuts from Azerbaijan, via Georgia in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 14; Tot. = 19 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted diced hazelnuts from Turkey in Denmark

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 9; Tot. = 11.4 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (Tot. = 28.4 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in France

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in chilled chicken burgers from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Agona (presence /25g) in hulled sesame seeds from India in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen salted chicken breast from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen sheftalia from Cyprus in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Reading (presence in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat from Poland in Poland

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen poultry meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen chicken fillets with added water from Thailand in the UK.

RASFF-norovirus (Genogroup GII /25g) in frozen wild blueberries from France in Italy

RASFF-ochratoxin A (107 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-too high count of Escherichia coli (930 MPN/100g) in mussels from France in France