Brand : Antoniotti Michela
Name : Maccagno
Reason for reporting : Recall due to microbiological risk
Publication date : 9 September 2022
KSWFoodWorld
Italy – Maccagno – STEC E.coli
Research – Underreported Human Exposure to Mycotoxins: The Case of South Africa
South Africa (SA) is a leading exporter of maize in Africa. The commercial maize farming sector contributes to about 85% of the overall maize produced. More than 33% of South Africa’s population live in rural settlements, and their livelihoods depend entirely on subsistence farming. The subsistence farming system promotes fungal growth and mycotoxin production. This review aims to investigate the exposure levels of the rural population of South Africa to dietary mycotoxins contrary to several reports issued concerning the safety of South African maize. A systematic search was conducted using Google Scholar. Maize is a staple food in South Africa and consumption rates in rural and urban communities are different, for instance, intake may be 1–2 kg/person/day and 400 g/person/day, respectively. Commercial and subsistence maize farming techniques are different. There exist differences influencing the composition of mycotoxins in food commodities from both sectors. Depending on the levels of contamination, dietary exposure of South Africans to mycotoxins is evident in the high levels of fumonisins (FBs) that have been detected in SA home-grown maize. Other potential sources of exposure to mycotoxins, such as carryover effects from animal products and processed foods, were reviewed. The combined effects between FBs and aflatoxins (AFs) have been reported in humans/animals and should not be ignored, as sporadic breakouts of aflatoxicosis have been reported in South Africa. These reports are not a true representation of the entire country as reports from the subsistence-farming rural communities show high incidence of maize contaminated with both AFs and FBs. While commercial farmers and exporters have all the resources needed to perform laboratory analyses of maize products, the greater challenge in combatting mycotoxin exposure is encountered in rural communities with predominantly subsistence farming systems, where conventional food surveillance is lacking.
Posted in Aflatoxin, Aflatoxin B1, Animal Feed Mould Toxin, Animal Feed Testing, Aspergillus Toxin, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Toxin, Fusarium Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Ochratoxin, Ochratoxin A, Toxin
Research – Aflatoxins Contamination in Raw and Roasted Cashew nuts in Mtwara, Tanzania
The aim of this work was to determine the contamination levels of raw and roasted cashew nuts sold in Masasi and Newala districts of Mtwara region in Tanzania. A total of 60 samples including 40 roasted (24 samples from Newala and 16 from Masasi) and 20 raw samples (12 from Newala and 8 from Masasi) were collected. Determination of total aflatoxins levels in raw and roasted cashew nuts samples was carried out by immune affinity high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The levels of contamination ranged from not detected (less than Limit of Quantification) to 3.29 µg/kg for both aflatoxin B1 and total aflatoxin in the cashew nuts samples. None of the samples had total aflatoxins contamination greater than the recommended maximum residues of 4 µg/kg set by European Commission (2010) or 10 µg/kg set by FAO and WHO (1995). About a quarter (38%) of the samples had total aflatoxins less than limit of quantification. All roasted cashew nut samples were found to have total aflatoxins less than 3 µg/kg while about 86% of raw cashew nut samples had total aflatoxins less than 3 µg/kg.
Posted in Aflatoxin, Aflatoxin B1, Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Toxin, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Mold Toxin, Mould Toxin, Mycotoxin, Research
Research – Examining the Effect of Organic Acids on Inactivation of Hepatitis E Virus
Infection with hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV-3) is an emerging cause of illness in developed countries. In North America and Europe, HEV-3 has been increasingly detected in swine, and exposure to pigs and pork products is considered the primary source of infection. We have previously demonstrated the prevalence of the HEV-3 genome in commercial pork products in Canada. In this study, we investigated the application of citric acid and acetic acid to inactivate HEV-3 on food and on food-contact surfaces. For this purpose, plastic, stainless steel and pork pâté surfaces were inoculated with HEV-3 and were treated with acetic acid or citric acid at 1%, 3%, or 5%. The infectivity of post treatment viral particles was determined by cell culture. A greater than 2-log reduction in viral infectivity was observed on plastic and stainless steel treated with the organic acids, but the treatment was much less effective on HEV infectivity on pork pâté (average reductions of 0.47 log citric acid, and 0.63 log acetic acid). Therefore, we conclude that citric acid and acetic acid have potential application to control HEV-3 on food contact surfaces, but are not suitable for food.
Posted in Decontamination Microbial, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Virus, Hepatitis E, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Research, Virus
Research Paper Sunlight Parameters Influence the Survival and Decline of Salmonella and Escherichia coli in Water
The effect of variations in temperature, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and sunlight intensity on generic Escherichia coli , E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella Newport and antibiotic resistant (ABR) variants of E. coli O157:H7 and S . Newport exposed to sunlight was evaluated. Bacterial strains suspended in sterile deionized water at a concentration of 8 log CFU/ml were exposed to sunlight on three different days for 180 min; control treatments were stored in the dark. The mean temperature of 30.08 and 26.57℃ on day 1 and 3 were significantly different (p<0.05). The UV intensity was significantly different on all three days and sunlight intensity significantly differed on day 3 (p<0.05). Bacterial population decline positively correlated with temperature, sunlight and UV intensity. Differences in bacterial population declines differed among specie, antibiotic resistance (ABR) profile and day of exposure. (p<0.05). On days 1 and 2, the populations of generic E. coli dropped below the limit of detection (1 log CFU/ml) while the % of live cells was 67% and 6.6% respectively. The artificial neural network model developed to predict bacterial survival under different environmental conditions suggested that Salmonella cells were more resistant than E. coli . The ABR strains had significantly higher viable cells after sunlight exposure (p<0.05). Sunlight exposed cells resuscitated in TSB varied in maximum population density and maximum growth rate based on bacterial species and presence of antibiotic resistance. Morphological changes such as viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state transition and filament formation was detected in sub-populations of sunlight exposed bacteria. Daily fluctuations in UV and sunlight intensity can result in significant variations in bacterial decline and recovery.
Posted in antimicrobial resistance, Antimicrobials, Contaminated water, Decontamination Microbial, E.coli, E.coli O157, E.coli O157:H7, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, Research, Salmonella, UV Microbiology, Water, water microbiology, Water Safety
USA – Illinois county reports outbreak of infections from Campylobacter
The McHenry County Department of Health in Illinois is reporting a significant increase in infections from Campylobacter.
Health officials have identified eight cases of campylobacteriosis with illness onsets between Aug. 17 and Aug. 30. That is four times more cases compared to the previous two weeks and 3.33 times more cases in August compared to July.
“No common source of infection has been identified at this time,” according to the health department.
Campylobacter bacteria is the most common cause of bacterial diarrhea in the United States, according to the county health officials. People can become ill with campylobacteriosis by eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water or having contact with infected animals.
Posted in Campylobacter, campylobacter coli, Campylobacter jejuni, food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Testing, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak
UK – Reading Festival: Investigation into food poisoning outbreak
An outbreak of food poisoning, after a number of festival-goers fell ill at Reading Festival, is being scrutinized.
Reading Borough Council said it was investigating following reports “relating to suspected food poisoning” at the festival.
Posting on the Reading Festival Community Facebook group, several festival-goers said they were suddenly struck down over the weekend with symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach aches and a fever.
Some said they were forced to leave the festival as they were so unwell.
Posted in food bourne outbreak, Food Illness, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Microbiology Blog, Food Microbiology Research, Food Microbiology Testing, Food Poisoning, Foodborne Illness, foodborne outbreak, foodbourne outbreak, Illness, microbial contamination, Microbiological Risk Assessment, Microbiology, Microbiology Investigations, Microbiology Risk, outbreak, Poisoning
Czech Republic – BREAD DUMPLING – Mold/Mould
Place of inspection:
ID: 46014713
Invalid parameter:
fungi visible to the eye
There were visible mold colonies on the surface of the food.
The food had an expired use-by date.
| Expiration date: | 07/04/2022 |
| Packaging: | transparent film with a PAP label |
| Quantity of the product in the package: | 0.8 kg |
| Date of sample collection: | 7/14/2022 |
| Reference number: | 22-000363-SZPI-CZ |
The sample was detected by the official control of the State Agricultural and Food Inspection.
Germany – “Mackerel fillet naturally smoked over beech wood”, 150 g – Listeria monocytogenes
Alert type: Food
Date of first publication: 09.09.2022
Product name:
“Mackerel fillet naturally smoked over beech wood”, 150 g
Product images:
Ostsee Fisch GmbH & Co. Production and Sales KG, Hansestrasse 12 in 18182 Bentwisch
Reason for warning:
As part of the self-monitoring, Listeria monocytogenes was detected in the affected food. Listeria disease can trigger severe gastrointestinal diseases and flu-like symptoms. Serious disease progressions can occur, particularly in pregnant women, the elderly and people with a weakened immune system. The consumption of this product is therefore strongly discouraged.
Packaging Unit: 150g
Durability: 09/18/2022 at +2°C to +7°C
Production date: 08/18/2022
Lot identification: L220818
Further information:
Reference is made to the attached customer information.
Posted in food contamination, food handler, Food Hazard, 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 Safety Management, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes
Ireland – Four Enforcement Orders served on food businesses in August
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reported that three Closure Orders and one Prohibition Order were served on food businesses during the month of August for breaches of food safety legislation, pursuant to the European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 and the FSAI Act, 1998. The Enforcement Orders were issued by environmental health officers (EHOs) in the Health Service Executive (HSE) and sea-fisheries protection officers in the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA).
Three Closure Orders were served under European Union (Official Controls in Relation to Food Legislation) Regulations, 2020 on:
- Zing by Chaska (restaurant/café), 90-91 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1
- Fredis Pizzeria, Market Square, Bailieborough, Cavan
- New Victoria (take away), 51 Dorset Street Upper, Dublin 1
One Prohibition Order, which is under appeal, was served under the FSAI Act 1998 on:
- MFV Nausicaa DA63 (under appeal) (fishing vessel), County Dublin
Some of the reasons for the Closure Orders in August include: frozen chicken was defrosted unsafely with the surface of the chicken warming to 12 degrees Celsius while the core of the chicken remained frozen; safe procedures for cooling hot food were not followed; temperature-sensitive ready-to-eat foods were consistently kept at temperatures likely to result in a risk to health e.g. pasta salad stored in chilled food display unit in the buffet had a temperature of 14.3 degrees Celsius; adequate procedures were not in place to control pests; a lack of evidence of proper hand-washing procedures; a broken water heater left the proprietor unable to adequately clean or disinfect working utensils and equipment; despite the presence of a copy of the FSAI’s Safe Catering Pack, there was no evidence to prove that procedures detailed within had been fully implemented and maintained.
