Do not use, sell, serve or distribute the affected products.
Central Dairies brand and S’Milk brand 2% Partly Skimmed Milk recalled due to spoilage.
James Hall & Co Ltd is recalling SPAR Corned Beef because Listeria monocytogenes has been found in the product. This recall only affects SPAR stores in the Northwest of England.
| Pack size | 120g |
|---|---|
| Use by | 20 September 2024 |
The presence of Listeria monocytogenes in the product above.
Symptoms caused by this organism can be similar to flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.
Some people are more vulnerable to listeria infections, including those over 65 years of age, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than one month old and people with weakened immune systems.
Posted in food recall, fsa, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, product recall, Recall
Product Category
Food
Product subcategory
Fishery and aquaculture products
Product brand name
Unbranded
Model names or references
Mackerel fillet
Product identification
GTIN Batch Date
0208158000000 Packaged between 04/09 and 07/09 Expiry date between 04/09/2024 and 07/09/2024
Packaging
Assisted sale, self-service sales pouch, shrink-wrapped
Start/End of marketing date
From 04/09/2024 to 07/09/2024
Storage temperature
Product to be kept in the refrigerator
Geographic area of sale
E.Leclerc of Viry-Chatillon
Distributors
E.Leclerc of Viry-Chatillon
Posted in food recall, Histamine, product recall, Recall
Listeria monocytogenes is an emerging pathogen responsible for the serious foodborne disease, listeriosis. The commensal gut microbiota is the first line of defense against pathogen internalization. The gut microbiome can be modified by prebiotic substrates, which are frequently added to food products and dietary supplements. Prebiotics should selectively support the growth of beneficial microbes and thus improve host health. Nevertheless, little is known about their effect on the growth of L. monocytogenes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the growth ability of four L. monocytogenes strains, representing the most common serotypes, on prebiotic oligosaccharides (beta-(1,3)-D-glucan, inulin, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides, lactulose, raffinose, stachyose and 2′-fucosyllactose and a mixture of human milk oligosaccharides) as a sole carbon source. The results showed that only beta-(1,3)-D-glucan was metabolized by L. monocytogenes. These cell culture data suggest that beta-(1,3)-D-glucan may not be selectively utilized by healthy commensal bacteria, and its role in intestinal pathogen growth warrants further exploration in vivo.
Food poisoning, also known as foodborne illness, is a significant public health issue in the United States. Every year, millions of people suffer from foodborne illnesses, ranging from mild discomfort to life-threatening conditions. These illnesses arise from consuming contaminated food, which may harbor harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Beyond the personal toll on those affected, food poisoning has far-reaching economic implications, from medical costs to lost productivity. Various health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local health departments, work tirelessly to mitigate the impact of foodborne illnesses. This article will provide an in-depth examination of the annual cases of food poisoning in the U.S., the associated economic costs, and the roles of these agencies in safeguarding public health.
Microwaves have become an essential part of the modern kitchen, but their potential as a reservoir for bacterial colonization and the microbial composition within them remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated the bacterial communities in microwave ovens and compared the microbial composition of domestic microwaves, microwaves used in shared large spaces, and laboratory microwaves, using next-generation sequencing and culturing techniques. The microwave oven bacterial population was dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, similar to the bacterial composition of human skin. Comparison with other environments revealed that the bacterial composition of domestic microwaves was similar to that of kitchen surfaces, whereas laboratory microwaves had a higher abundance of taxa known for their ability to withstand microwave radiation, high temperatures and desiccation. These results suggest that different selective pressures, such as human contact, nutrient availability and radiation levels, may explain the differences observed between domestic and laboratory microwaves. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into microwave ovens bacterial communities and their potential biotechnological applications.
This innovative technology, developed by Canadian biotechnology company Innodal, uses antimicrobial peptides to eliminate the harmful pathogen. With its entry into the U.S. market, Innodal is set to launch industrial-scale projects with U.S. processing companies.
Listeria monocytogenes is feared by public health because it potentially has a high mortality rate. In a 2008 Canadian outbreak, that rate approached 40 percent.
INNEO is Innodal’s flagship product. It has been successfully commercialized in Canada for four years and will now be available in the U.S. market. Designed to target Listeria monocytogenes — a severe foodborne pathogen responsible for listeriosis — INNEO has proven significantly more effective than traditional chemical treatments in industry trials, particularly against strains that have led to major recalls in North America.
Scientists have revealed that lettuce contaminated by animal waste during flooding was the likely vehicle of infection in an E. coli outbreak in 2022.
In September 2022, a large outbreak of STEC O157:H7 was identified in the United Kingdom. It was one of the biggest E. coli outbreaks since the early 1980s.
In late August and early September, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit (GBRU) reported a substantial increase in submitting certain fecal samples and isolates that were presumptive for STEC.
Moldy food usually has to be thrown away, but sometimes the mold can be cut off. It depends on the nature of the food, ie density and water content. In moist and airy foods, mold can grow much longer and the threads are not visible to the naked eye.
Some molds can cause allergic reactions and breathing problems, others can contain mycotoxins, which are cancer-causing substances. If mold toxins are present, they do not disappear when cooking food. But when is it safe to cut off mold and when to throw away the food:
Moldy bread should always be thrown away, as mold may be present without being visible.
Moldy watery fruits (eg plums, oranges, melons) and watery vegetables (eg cucumbers, tomatoes) should always be thrown away. It is very important to use only undamaged berries and fruits when making jam and juice.
In denser and less watery vegetables such as carrots and cabbage, mold spots can be cut off.
If there is a white membrane on the root of mushrooms, it is not mold but their own mycelium. The white membrane can simply be cut off along with particles of soil.
If mold spots are visible in the jam, it should always be thrown away, the fungicide may have spread throughout the jam in the jar.
Always throw away moldy nuts. You have to check especially if Brazil nuts are moldy in the middle.
All dairy products such as cream, sour cream or soft cheeses (eg brie) should be discarded if any mold is present (other than mold that is a normal part of the cheese). Mold spots on hard cheeses can be cut off, plus 1 cm of the cheese itself around the mold spot.
Moldy meat should always be thrown away if mold is detected. It is not enough to remove visible mold spots, the same applies to liver pate and other meat toppings.
Posted in Uncategorized
In 2018, food-borne disease (FBD) was estimated to be responsible for 2.4 million cases of illness and more than 16,000 hospitalisations per year in the United Kingdom (UK) [1], with revised estimates indicating ca 180 deaths annually in the UK arising from exposure to 11 key pathogens [2]. The estimated annual cost from these illnesses is EUR 10.5 billion (GBP 9 billion) [3], with far-reaching impacts on health providers, industry and individuals.
Food for human consumption can become contaminated at any stage of food production, delivery, storage or preparation, and can involve contamination from environmental, human or animal sources [4–6], making identification of sources and pathways of pathogens responsible for FBD outbreaks a complex process. Furthermore, there is currently no fully integrated framework in the UK for the monitoring and surveillance of FBD, causing difficulty in the prediction and delay in the mitigation of outbreaks.
In 2022, a series of programmes was launched under HM Treasury Shared Outcomes Fund, one of which, Pathogen Surveillance in Agriculture, Food and Environment (PATH-SAFE) [7], aimed to pilot a better national surveillance programme for FBD and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Pilot studies carried out under PATH-SAFE focused on norovirus, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp., identified by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) as being among the top five priority pathogens of concern with respect to FBD outbreaks [8], along with Escherichia coli, used as an indicator organism for faecal contamination.
To present the findings and discuss the challenges, needs and opportunities for implementing a successful national biosurveillance programme, the Centre for Environment, Food and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and Bangor University hosted a workshop at the Royal Institution, London, on 31 January 2024. Stakeholders with a range of interests in pathogens implicated in FBD and AMR were invited to contribute their views and recommendations on how best to achieve the desired outcomes for an effective national surveillance framework. Participants from diverse roles (scientists, decisionmakers, public health analysts, policy advisors) across government, academia and charities attended the event.
The first part of the workshop was devoted to presentations of work carried out under the pilot studies, including a combined poster and networking session. For the second part of the workshop, participants were guided into breakout groups to participate in discussions on “Surveillance and management of microbiological risks: gaps & limitations, knowledge & perceptions, approaches & opportunities”.
This workshop was a collaboration across disciplines with participants from multiple organisations: Declan Power (Animal & Plant Health Agency); Jaime Martinez-Urtaza (Universitat Autonòma de Barcelona); Davey Jones, Kata Farkas, Reshma Silvester (Bangor University); Andrew Weightman (Cardiff University); Craig Baker-Austin, David Haverson, David Walker, Richard Heal (Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science); Steve Morris (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs); Edward Haynes (Fera Science Ltd); Anthony J. Wilson (Food Standards Agency); K. Marie McIntyre (Newcastle University); Mandy Wootton (NHS Wales); Ellie Brown (Ribble Rivers Trust); Oliver Pybus (Royal Veterinary College); Rob Collins (The Rivers Trust); Andrew Singer (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology); Matthew Wade (UK Health Security Agency); Edel Light (Veterinary Medicines Directorate).
