Category Archives: Uncategorized

Food Quality News

Forty per cent of fresh pork sampled was found to contain livestock associated-MRSA (LA-MRSA), according to a Danish study.

Journal of Food Protection

A significant data gap exists with respect to the levels of pathogens in foods implicated in foodborne outbreaks. These data are essential for the quantification of pathogen exposure via the ingestion of contaminated food. Here we report the levels of the foodborne pathogen Salmonella in comminuted raw chicken products that had been breaded and then frozen. The products investigated were collected during four food safety investigations of foodborne outbreaks that occurred in Canada from 2014 to 2016. Most-probable-number (MPN) distribution analysis of the food samples revealed Salmonella levels of 0.0018 to 3 MPN/g, which is equivalent to 1 MPN per 0.33 to 556 g of product. These data suggest low levels of Salmonella may be associated with foodborne outbreaks.

HPS – Scotland

Vol: 51 No: 13 Year: 2017 Type: Current Note

Food Standards Scotland

Heads of Environmental Health Services will wish to be aware of this update to Food Alert for Action (FAFA) 02-2016 update 3 issued on 9 November 2016 concerning the recall of all products produced by Errington Cheese Ltd (ECL).

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) understands that cheese products covered by the FAFA issued in September 2016, and revised in November 2016 have either been destroyed or seized to protect public health. However, FSS is unable to verify this and as a result products produced by ECL and marketed prior to 15^th September 2016 remain subject to the FAFA issued on 9 November 2016.  For the avoidance of doubt, any product produced by ECL after 15^th September 2016 is not subject to the FAFA.

South Lanarkshire Council (SLC), as the competent authority for ECL has provided assurances to FSS that ECL has now revised its food safety management systems (FSMS) with regard to the production and sale of new cheese products. SLC has confirmed that it is satisfied with ECL’s revised FSMS and has given approval to ECL to produce and sell new cheese products.

The new season Lanark Blue cheese being placed on the market has been produced under this revised FSMS and will have an earliest use by date of 16^th May 2017.   FSS also understands that ECL intends to market Sir Lancelot cheese from week commencing 27/03/2017.  FSS has no information about any other types of cheese produced under the revised FSMS or when they may be placed on the market.

Heads of Environmental Health Services will wish to be aware of this update to Food Alert for Action (FAFA) 02-2016 update 3 issued on 9 November 2016 concerning the recall of all products produced by Errington Cheese Ltd (ECL).

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) understands that cheese products covered by the FAFA issued in September 2016, and revised in November 2016 have either been destroyed or seized to protect public health. However, FSS is unable to verify this and as a result products produced by ECL and marketed prior to 15^th September 2016 remain subject to the FAFA issued on 9 November 2016.  For the avoidance of doubt, any product produced by ECL after 15^th September 2016 is not subject to the FAFA.

South Lanarkshire Council (SLC), as the competent authority for ECL has provided assurances to FSS that ECL has now revised its food safety management systems (FSMS) with regard to the production and sale of new cheese products. SLC has confirmed that it is satisfied with ECL’s revised FSMS and has given approval to ECL to produce and sell new cheese products.

The new season Lanark Blue cheese being placed on the market has been produced under this revised FSMS and will have an earliest use by date of 16^th May 2017.   FSS also understands that ECL intends to market Sir Lancelot cheese from week commencing 27/03/2017.  FSS has no information about any other types of cheese produced under the revised FSMS or when they may be placed on the market.

Outbreak News Today

The salmonella outbreak that sickened and hospitalized 12 people who ate pork and Ascot pies from The Pork Pie Shop in Victor Harbor, South Australia has been linked to the raw egg wash which was applied to the pies after they had been cooked, according to SA Health officials today.

Saigon GP Daily

Tens of workers in the central province of Nghe An were hospitalized because of food poisoning.

The hospital 115 in Nghe An Province yesterday said that some of hospitalized workers were discharged as their health is stable.

KWWL

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — Macedonian health officials say 223 factory workers in an industrial zone near the western town of Gostivar were hospitalized for food poisoning.

The symptoms emerged early Friday after the night shift ate meals of pasta and meat. Sufferers were taken to hospitals in Gostivar and nearby Tetovo.

Florin Besimi, the manager of Tetovo’s hospital where 183 workers were treated, said only one required further medical monitoring. The others were released.

Police said sanitary and health inspectors took the samples of food for analysis.

IB Times

A probe has been initiated after at least 400 personnel belonging to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) fell ill at a camp in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, that they are attached to. The police suspected it to be a case of food poisoning, though have not ruled out other possibilities.

FDA

Conagra Brands, Inc., announced today it is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of Hunt’s Chili Kits due to the potential presence of Salmonella in the chili seasoning packet contained in the kit. The chili seasoning used in the packet originated from a supplier who informed the company of the potential presence of Salmonella in a raw material used in the chili seasoning. Although no Salmonella was found in the finished product supplied to Conagra Brands, the company has decided out of an abundance of caution to recall the product.

There have been no reports of adverse reactions or injuries due to consumption of this product to date.

FDA

Sigma Alimentos Congelados, which produces burritos under the Menu Del Sol brand name, is voluntarily recalling 201 cases of frozen beans and cheese burritos because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. The recalled product was distributed in and sold via retail outlets in California and Nevada.

Only the following product is included in this recall:

Recalled product can be specifically identified by locating the black printed code on red background on the front of the package, toward the top, next to the Menu Del Sol logo. This information includes the corresponding lot number (“LOT C3018”) and a best by date of March 1, 2018 (“BEST BY MAR01 18”) as follows:

No illnesses have been reported to date.