Singapore – Spize fined S$32,000 for mass food poisoning incident in 2018 – Salmonella

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Channel News Asia

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SINGAPORE: Food establishment Spize and a related company were fined S$32,000 on Thursday (Dec 3) over a mass food poisoning incident in 2018.

Sixty-three people fell ill after eating food catered by Spize for a company event, and 45 of them were hospitalised. An auxiliary police officer who also consumed the food died eight days later.

On Nov 6, 2018, 88 bento sets were prepared by Spize between 9.30am and 10.30am for an order by security firm Brink’s. The food was delivered between 11am and noon to Brink’s premises at Kaki Bukit and Tai Seng.

An invoice issued to the firm stated that the food should be consumed within an hour of delivery, court documents said.

Ninety-six people ate the food, including family members of Brink’s employees after they brought the bento sets home. A total of 63 people developed gastroenteritis symptoms and 45 were hospitalised.

Tests found that most of those who were hospitalised had consumed food contaminated with salmonella.

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USA – Colorado: Botulism cases prompt health warning on food safety

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

Several foodborne botulism cases reported in Colorado since September 2020 has prompted a health warning from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Testing from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed four of the cases, one is still under investigation and test results are pending. All five cases occurred along the Front Range. The individuals are either hospitalized or recovering.

Three of the cases appear to be unrelated as no common food item was identified. The last two confirmed cases were likely the result of an improperly canned shared food made in the same household.

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, Clostridium, Clostridium botulinum, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin

Portugal – Legionnaires’ disease update: Additional cases/death recorded

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Outbreak News Today

CDC legionella

In a follow-up on the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in northern Portugal region of Greater Porto, officials report from October 29 through November 29, 88 registered cases, including 10 deaths.

The outbreak, which has affected the cities of Matosinhos, Vila do Conde and Póvoa de Varzim, has decreased after the cooling towers of an industry in Matosinhos were disconnected where the bacteria was detected.

“Since the operation of the aforementioned cooling towers was suspended, there has been a marked decrease in the number of cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the aforementioned geographical area,” ARS / Norte said in a statement this Sunday.

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, Contaminated water, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, microbial contamination, Microbiology, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety

RASFF Alerts – Aflatoxin – Groundnuts – Dried Figs – Pistachios – Brown Basmati Rice – Hazlenut Kernels – Almonds – Chilli Powder

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = >48; Tot. = >60 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts from Nigeria in Poland

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 15.3 mg/kg – ppm) in dried figs from Turkey in Sweden

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 22.2; Tot. = 24.3 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachios from Iran, dispatched from Hong Kong in Italy

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 24; Tot. = 27 µg/kg – ppb) in brown basmati rice from India in the Netherlands

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 12.9; Tot. = 15.1 / B1 = 19.9; Tot. = 44.5 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Germany

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 7.56; Tot. = 9.59 µg/kg – ppb) in hazelnut kernels from Georgia in Bulgaria

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 5.8; Tot. = 6.5 µg/kg – ppb) in unshelled groundnuts from the United States in Germany

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 8; Tot. = 10 µg/kg – ppb) in pistachio kernels from the United States, dispatched from Turkey in Belgium

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 24 µg/kg – ppb) in almonds from Spain, via Germany in Finland

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 5.3; Tot. = 6.6 µg/kg – ppb) in groundnuts kernels from Nigeria in the UK

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 9.5; Tot. = 10.1 µg/kg – ppb) in chilli powder from India in the UK

RASFF

aflatoxins (B1 = 87.2; Tot. = 170.8 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey in Sweden

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Posted in Aflatoxin, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, RASFF

RASFF Alerts – Ochratoxin A – Pastry Flour – Dried Figs

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

ochratoxin A (5.6 µg/kg – ppb) in pastry flour from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF

ochratoxin A (19.4 µg/kg – ppb) in dried figs from Turkey, via Germany in Austria

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Posted in food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Toxin

RASFF Alerts – Listeria monocytogenes – Chilled Pate – Chilled Smoked Trout Fillet

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

Listeria monocytogenes (presence /25g) in chilled paté from Belgium in Belgium

RASFF

Listeria monocytogenes (68000 CFU/g) in chilled smoked trout fillet from Denmark in Germany

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, RASFF

RASFF Alert – E.coli – Japanese Clams

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

high count of Escherichia coli (1700 MPN/100g) in japanese clams from Portugal in Spain

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, E.coli, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiology, RASFF

RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Black Pepper – Sesame Seeds – Chicken Fillets – Dried Sausages – Betel Leaves – Chicken Drumstick Meat – Chicken Half Breasts – Chicken Meat and Offal – Chicken Elements – Chicken Cutlets

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Miami (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Oranienburg (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Minnesota (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Newport (presence /25g), Salmonella enterica ser. Rubislaw (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Saintpaul (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Pretoria (presence /25g) in organic sesame seeds from Ethiopia in Germany

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in chilled chicken fillets from Poland in Lithuania

RASFF

Salmonella (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in dried sausages from France in France

RASFF

Salmonella (in 3 out of 5 samples /25g) and high count of Escherichia coli (up to 1300 CFU/g) in betel leaves from Thailand in the UK

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken drumsticks meat from Poland in Lithuania

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Freetown (presence /25g), Salmonella enterica ser. Infantis (presence /25g), Salmonella enterica ser. Javiana (presence /25g) and Salmonella enterica ser. Saintpaul (presence /25g) in black pepper from Brazil in Germany

RASFF

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

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in chilled chicken meat and offals from chickens reared in Slovakia and slaughtered in Poland in Poland

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium (presence /25g) in chilled chicken meat from France in France

RASFF

Salmonella (presence /25g) in chicken elements from Poland in Poland

RASFF

Salmonella (presence /25g) in sesame seeds from Nigeria, dispatched from Ukraine in Lithuania

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in chilled chicken meat from Poland in Poland

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Gombe (in 1 out of 5 samples /25g) in sesame seeds from Nigeria, dispatched from Ukraine in Lithuania

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis (presence /25g) in frozen chicken cutlets from Poland in France

RASFF

Salmonella (presence /25g) in frozen boneless skinless chicken half breast from Brazil in the UK

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Pathogen, Food Poisoning, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, RASFF, Salmonella, Salmonella in Black Pepper, Salmonella in Chicken, Salmonella Sesame Seeds

RASFF Alerts – Animal Feeds – Salmonella – Organic Soya Cakes – Rapeseed Expeller – Dried Dog Food – Rapeseed Meal

Posted on December 4, 2020 by | Leave a comment

European Food Alerts

RASFF

Salmonella (presence /25g) in organic soya cakes from Belgium in Germany

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Mbandaka (presence /25g) in rapeseed expeller from Estonia in Finland

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Livingstone (presence /25g) in dried dog food from Germany in Finland

RASFF

Salmonella enterica ser. Livingstone (presence /25g) in rapeseed meal from Germany in Sweden

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Posted in Animal Feed, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiology, RASFF, Salmonella, Salmonella Dog Food

Argentina – Uptick in Salmonella infections prompts warning in Argentina

Posted on December 3, 2020 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Public health officials in an Argentinian province have warned of an increase in Salmonella infections.

The Ministry of Public Health in Salta reported that, from January to November, 407 people with Salmonella infection were laboratory confirmed in the province. There have been 545 suspected cases since the beginning of 2020.

In the first months of 2020, a greater number of patients was observed. Then, between weeks 10 and 40, mostly isolated infections occurred. Since early October, 93 suspected cases were reported, of which 57 were confirmed.

The age range that has mostly contracted salmonellosis is between 20 and 44 years old followed by 5-9 year olds. Those older than 65 are the least affected.

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Posted in Bacteria, bacterial contamination, food contamination, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Pathogen, food recall, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Salmonella