Category Archives: Uncategorized

Poultrymed 

Campylobacter was detected in 26 of the 40 products (65%), all purchased from supermarkets in New Zealand. Campylobacter is the leading cause of notified gastrointestinal infections in New Zealand with rates peaking over summer. Last year, 6218 cases were notified. Last year, rates in New Zealand were 135.3 per 100,000, down from 150.4 in 2014. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has set a target of reducing campylobacter cases by 10% by 2020.

CDC 

FoodNet Fast is CDC’s interactive online program for getting information on cases of illness reported to the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet)(https://www.cdc.gov/foodnet/index.html). FoodNet Fast makes it easy for users to see how rates of illness have changed over the past 20 years for nine pathogens transmitted commonly through food: Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Listeria, Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 and non-O157, Shigella, Vibrio, and Yersinia.

Start exploring FoodNet Fast now — or read on for more information to help get you started: Background Information, Using FoodNet Fast, Tips and Tricks.

Journal of Food Protection 

During September to October, 2006, state and local health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated a large, multistate outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections. Case patients were interviewed regarding specific foods consumed and other possible exposures. E. coli O157:H7 strains isolated from human and food specimens were subtyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analyses (MLVA). Two hundred twenty-five cases (191 confirmed and 34 probable) were identified in 27 states; 116 (56%) case patients were hospitalized, 39 (19%) developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, and 5 (2%) died. Among 176 case patients from whom E. coli O157:H7 with the outbreak genotype (MLVA outbreak strain) was isolated and who provided details regarding spinach exposure, 161 (91%) reported fresh spinach consumption during the 10 days before illness began. Among 116 patients who provided spinach brand information, 106 (91%) consumed bagged brand A. E. coli O157:H7 strains were isolated from 13 bags of brand A spinach collected from patients’ homes; isolates from 12 bags had the same MLVA pattern. Comprehensive epidemiologic and laboratory investigations associated this large multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections with consumption of fresh bagged spinach. MLVA, as a supplement to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis genotyping of case patient isolates, was important to discern outbreak-related cases. This outbreak resulted in enhanced federal and industry guidance to improve the safety of leafy green vegetables and launched an independent collaborative approach to produce safety research in 2007.

Food Standards Scotland

Eat & Go Foods Co. Ltd have instigated a recall as they have been producing and selling products with a shelf life which has been extended beyond the validated shelf life.

Risk: The shelf-life has been extended beyond the validated shelf-life which could pose a risk to human health.

Product details

Brand Name:  SoloSnack

Products: Various items, including Scotch pies, curry pies, steak pies, sausage rolls, steak bridies, mince bridies, mixed vegetable pies, Cornish pasties; various sandwiches, with fillings including chicken mayo, egg mayonnaise, tuna mayonnaise, ham & cheese; broccoli & lentil slice, chilli bean slice, tuna pasta salad, pasta bake and cheese burger.

There may be  other similar types of product similar to the items listed above.

Pack size: All  pack sizes

Brand Name:  Eat & Go

Products: chicken curry & rice and vegetarian Scotch eggs.

Pack size: All pack sizes

“Use By Dates”:  For both Product Detail as above – Up to and including 18/12/2016.

*** Please Note – today (10/12/2016) new product has been distributed which has a suitable shelf life.  Additional day dot labelling has been attached to identify this product and an example is shown in Appendix 2.  ***

Action taken by the company:

Eat & Go Foods Co. Ltd. have recalled all affected batches and are contacting their immediate customers.

Advice to consumers:

FSS is aware at this stage that initial distribution is limited to 3 areas of Scotland, however, this product may have onward distribution to other parts of the UK. If you have bought any of these products, do not eat them. Instead, return the product to the store from where it was purchased.

Food Safety News

Ready-to-eat chicken from National Steak and Poultry that was recalled for undercooking is being used in products produced by other companies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) disclosed late Friday.

In a statement, FSIS said it does not have confidence in the safety of any subsequently produced products that have used or incorporated the chicken products that were recalled by National Steak and Poultry on Nov. 23, with an expanded recall occurring on Dec. 4.

It is now believed the recalled undercooked chicken may be found in these products:

• Ajinomoto brand “Yakitori Chicken with Japanese-Style Fried Rice”
• Archer Farms brand pizza products containing chicken
• Ferratto’s brand chicken pizza
• Best Choice brand chicken pizza
• Nuevo Grille brand chicken quesadillas
• Schwan’s brand chicken quesadillas

FSIS has issued a public health alert involving these establishment numbers:  P-18356, P-2539B, P-1682A and P-17417all found  inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to warehouses, distributors and retail locations nationwide.

A complete list of these products can be viewed here.  And product labels can be viewed here.

FDA 

Blue Ridge Beef is voluntarily recalling two (2) of its frozen products due to their potential to be contaminated with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes. Salmonella and Listeria can affect animals eating the product. There is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surface exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella and/or Listeria monocytogenes should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.

The affected products are sold in 2 lb chubs and can be identified with the following manufacturing codes:

The affected products were distributed to retail stores in the following states:

• NC
• SC
• GA
• FL
• AZ
• TX

This recall was initiated after the FDA received two complaints associated with these products, including one complaint of two kitten illnesses and one complaint of a puppy death. Subsequent testing by the FDA of a 2 lb chub of beef for dogs and kitten grind collected at a veterinary office revealed the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. There is no direct evidence linking these unfortunate instances to contaminated product.

FSA

FSA

RASFF – Salmonella typhimurium monophasic (1 ,4, [5], 12:i:-) (presence /25g) in chilled chicken meat from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /250g) in frozen salted chicken breasts from Thailand in Ireland

RASFF – Salmonella enteritidis (in 2 out of 5 samples /25g) in chilled chicken breast filets from Poland in Denmark

RASFF – Salmonella infantis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken breast fillets from Poland in Croatia

RASFF – Salmonella Derby (presence /25g) in chilled beef from Lithuania, via Norway in Sweden

RASFF – Salmonella infantis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken thighs from Hungary in Italy

RASFF – Salmonella enteritidis (presence /25g) in chilled chicken breast fillets from Slovakia in the Czech Republic

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

RASFF – Salmonella Derby (presence /10g) in chilled minced pork from Poland in Slovakia

RASFF – Salmonella enteritidis (presence /25g) in chicken eggs from Poland in Hungary

RASFF – Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen salted chicken fillets from Thailand in Germany

RASFF – foodborne outbreak suspected (Salmonella enteritidis) to be caused by chicken eggs from Poland in Hungary