Category Archives: Uncategorized

USA – Dairy recalls raw milk for E. coli; best-by dates through Dec. 23

Food Safety News

Anyone who has whole, raw milk on hand from Old Silvana Creamery should not consume it, according to the dairy owner, because samples of it have tested positive for E. coli, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal illnesses.

Jim Sinnema, owner, issued the recall today for the milk, which has best-by dates between Dec. 15 and Dec. 23. The dairy has voluntarily and temporarily ceased sales, according to state officials.

“The recall includes both of the firm’s retail raw milk brands, ‘Jim’s Jerseys’ and ‘Guernsey Goodness,’ which were bottled in half-gallon and one-gallon plastic jugs with orange or green caps. Recalled product was sold at the on-farm store, directly to private customers, and at retail stores in Western Washington,” according to the recall notice.

Hong Kong – Food Alert – *Updated on 14 Dec 2017 Suspected contamination of French infant and young children formulae with Salmonella

CFS

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Issue Date 2017-12-12
Source of Information Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission
Food Product Infant and young children formula products
Name of Importer
Product name and Description (1) Product name: Inovital Infant milk from 0 to 6 months (No. 1)
Brand: Mon petit
Manufacturer: Lactalis International
Place of origin: France
Importer: Jumbo Smart Development Limited
Net weight: 900 grams
Best before dates: March 13, 2019 and June 22, 2019

(2) Product name: Inovital Follow-on milk from 6 to 12 months (No. 2)
Brand: Mon petit
Manufacturer: Lactalis International
Place of origin: France
Manufacturer: Jumbo Smart Development Limited
Net weight: 900 grams
Best before dates: March 16, 2019 and June 27, 2019

(3) Product name: Inovital Growing-up milk from 1 to 3 years (No.3)
Brand: Mon petit
Manufacturer: Lactalis International
Place of origin: France
Importer: Jumbo Smart Development Limited
Net weight: 900 grams
Best before date: March 15, 2019

*Updated on 14 Dec 2017
(4) Product name: Inovital Infant milk from 0 to 6 months (No. 1)
Brand: Mon petit
Manufacturer: Lactalis International
Place of origin: France
Importer: Jumbo Smart Development Limited
Net weight: 900 grams
Best before date: June 19, 2019

Reason For Issuing Alert

– The French authorities about the recall of 12 batches of infant formulae by Lactalis in early December. The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) immediately contacted the sole agent of Lactalis in Hong Kong, major local importers and retailers to follow up. Preliminary investigations showed that the products concerned had not been imported or sold in Hong Kong. The CFS issued a food incident post to inform local trade of the incident on December 4.

– Following the French authorities’ announcement on December 10 that the recall of products by Lactalis has been extended to cover all products produced by one processing plant (Lactalis Craon Factory) since February 15, 2017, the CFS has been proactively following up on the incident. CFS’ investigation showed that the importer concerned had imported about 28 000 cartons of the affected products and some of them had been distributed for sale.

*Updated on 14 Dec 2017
– In view of a further notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that the recall of French infant and young children formula products suspected to be contaminated with salmonella has been expanded to more batches, CFS’ investigation found that the importer concerned has imported the affected infant formula product of one of those additional batches into Hong Kong.

Action Taken by the Centre for Food Safety

– The CFS has instructed the importer concerned to stop sale and remove from shelves the affected batches of the products, and recall the products concerned.

– The remaining stock in the importer’s warehouse has been immediately marked and sealed by the CFS. In addition, 15 000 cartons are being shipped to Hong Kong which will also be marked and sealed by the CFS on their arrival.

– The CFS has enhanced surveillance of dairy products available in local market since the incident.

– The CFS will continue to closely monitor the latest development of the incident and take appropriate follow-up action.

Advice to the Trade

– Stop selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.
Advice to Consumers
– Not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products.

– To seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the above products.

– Powdered infant formula is not a sterile product which may be contaminated with pathogens such as salmonella and Enterobacter sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization advise that powdered infant formula should be prepared with boiled water that is no cooler than 70 degree Celsius which can significantly inactivate pathogens including Salmonella. Reconstituted powdered infant formula should then be cooled to feeding temperature and consumed immediately.

– Reconstituted powdered infant formula that has not been consumed within two hours should be discarded.

– For high-risk infants, including pre-term infants, infants less than two months of age, low-birth-weight infants (< 2.5 kilograms) and immunocompromised infants etc, who are not breastfed, caregivers should use commercially sterile liquid formula whenever possible.

Further Information The CFS press release (12 Dec 2017)
The CFS press release (14 Dec 2017)

*Updated on 14 Dec 2017
The Centre has immediately instructed the importer to stop sale, remove from shelves and recall the affected batch of product. The Centre has also marked and sealed the remaining stock in the importer’s warehouse. Furthermore, the CFS found that the importer had imported another batch of product which was produced by the processing plant concerned (Lactalis Craon Factory) after February 15, 2017. Although this batch is not on the recall list, for the sake of prudence, the importer has voluntarily recalled this batch of the product according to CFS’ advice. Product details are as follows:

Product name: Inovital Growing-up milk from 1 to 3 years (No.3)
Brand: Mon petit
Manufacturer: Lactalis International
Place of origin: France
Importer: Jumbo Smart Development Limited
Net weight: 900 grams
Best before date: June 21, 2019

– Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer at 2272 1128 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

USA – Montana reports increase in Norovirus outbreaks

Outbreak News Today Norovirus Food Safety

The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services say health officials across the state are seeing an increase in outbreaks of gastrointestinal illnesses- investigating eight norovirus outbreaks in the last six weeks. Outbreaks of norovirus often increase in winter months and this year’s activity is similar to outbreaks seen in 2016. This year’s outbreaks have occurred in the counties of Cascade, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Meagher, Missoula, Silver Bow and Yellowstone.

Norovirus, a very contagious virus that can affect anyone, is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in Montana and the US. In fact, the average American gets infected with this virus five times in their lifetime.

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts – Hazlenuts -Fig Paste – Bitter Almond – Pistachios – Walnut

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 12; Tot. = 14 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled groundnuts from China in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 5; Tot. = 10 µg/kg – ppb) in roasted hazelnuts from Turkey in the Netherlands

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 8.4; Tot. = 27.4 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey in France

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 17.33; Tot. = 19.35 / B1 = 6.93; Tot. = 6.96 µg/kg – ppb) in fig paste with hazelnuts from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 18.7; Tot. = 23.8 µg/kg – ppb) in bitter almond kernels from Uzbekistan, via Turkey in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 32.4; Tot. = 49.5 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled hazelnuts from Georgia in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 75.14; Tot. = 144.89 µg/kg – ppb) in whole hazelnuts from Turkey in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 60.1; Tot. = 67.1 µg/kg – ppb) in shelled hazelnuts from Azerbaijan, via Georgia in Italy

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 22.64; Tot. = 25.41 / B1 = 19.89; Tot. = 22.37 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Turkey in Slovakia

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 15.7; Tot. = 18 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios in shell from Iran in Germany

RASFF-aflatoxins (B1 = 6.28; Tot. = 8.85 / B1 = 6.06; Tot. = 8.55 µg/kg – ppb) in walnut kernels from Serbia in Croatia

RASFF Alert – Listeria monocytogenes – Bacon Cubes and Strips

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-Listeria monocytogenes (920; 280 CFU/g) in bacon cubes and strips from Germany in the Netherlands

RASFF Alert – ASP – Live Scallops

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) toxins – domoic acid (31.1 mg/kg – ppm) in live scallops (Pecten jacobaeus) from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF Alert – Sulphite Reducing Clostridia – Mushrooms in Brine

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-Clostridium sulphite reducer (>15000 CFU/g) in mushrooms in brine from China in Italy

RASFF Alert – Norovirus – Oysters

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-norovirus (present) in live oysters from France in Italy

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Chicken Half Breasts – Chicken MSM – Pandang Leaf – Chicken Parts – Minced Beef – Sesame Seeds – Chicken Preparations – White Chocolate with Bluberries – Raw Salted Ham

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

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

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in frozen chicken MSM from France in France

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Chester (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Rubislaw (presence /25g) in pandang leaf from Thailand in Finland

RASFF-Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (present /25g) in chilled chicken parts from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in minced beef from Poland, processed in the Netherlands in Sweden

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen chicken half breasts with broth from Brazil in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Sudan in Greece

RASFF-Salmonella in frozen chicken meat preparation from Brazil in the Netherlands

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /10g) in chilled minced beef meat from Croatia, with raw material from Poland In Hungary

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

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

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /250g) in white chocolate with blueberries from Poland in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in chilled vaccum-packed salted raw ham in France

RASFF Alerts -Animal Feed – Salmonella – Complete Feed Laying Hens – Lamb Tripe

kswfoodworld food safety poisoning

RASFF-Salmonella (present /25g) in complete feed for laying hens from Germany in Germany

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g), Salmonella enterica ser. Saintpaul (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. San Diego (presence /25g) in lamb tripes from Turkey in Germany