Tag Archives: environment

Research -Mycotoxin Producing Moulds

NeoGen BlogAspergillus

With the harvest underway, it’s important to keep a watchful eye out for mycotoxin-producing molds. These species include Aspergillus flavus, which causes Aspergillus ear rot and produces the carcinogenic toxin aflatoxin, as well as species of Fusarium molds. These toxins can lead to production losses as grain may be rejected, as well as leading to illness in humans or animals that consume the toxin in significant quantities. Here’s a quick primer on some molds of concern and the toxins they produce. For more information and regulatory thresholds for toxins, please see Neogen’s Mycotoxin Handbook.

USA – One Dead from Salmonella Outbreak in Kentucky

Food Safety NewsSalm

Salmonella outbreak in Hopkins County, Kentucky, has killed one person and caused another seven confirmed illnesses.

The cause of the outbreak is still unknown, according to county health officials. Investigators have begun interviewing victims to see where or what they might have eaten in the days leading up to their illnesses.

USA – Partnership for For Food Safety Education Website

Partnership for Food Safety Educationlogo-opt

This is website that may interest some of you;

For 5 years, we’ve been busting common food safety myths to help you protect your family from foodborne illness. From leftovers to lemon juice, you might think there’s nothing left to cover!

For National Food Safety Education Month 2013, we’re going where Home Food Safety Mythbusters has not gone before — to the kids!

Kids are more likely to get food poisoning than most adults are. Knowing fact from fiction when it comes to food safety risks could mean the difference between safe kids and sick kids.

Know what is fact and what is fiction. Check out this year’s myths and facts, and free downloads, here.

New Zealand – Fonterra Investigation

BBC News

New Zealand’s Prime Minister, John Key, has launched a ministerial-level inquiry into a botulism scare at dairy giant Fonterra.

Fonterra said last week that batches of concentrated whey product used in infant formula that were exported to China and elsewhere could contain botulism-causing bacteria.

The government inquiry will be over by the end of the year, Mr Key said.

Fonterra has announced two of its own internal investigations.

The Ministry for Primary Industries has also said it will conduct a separate inquiry.

FSA Letter on EU Discussions on Norovirus Controls in Shellfish

Dear Interested Party                                                                      30 July 2013

 

Norovirus in shellfish – an update on status of EU negotiations

 

Following my letter dated 08 May 2013 I would like to provide you with an update on the EU discussion on norovirus controls in shellfish.

The EU Commission gathered views from Member States at a Working Group meeting on 27th June 2013.  Following detailed and constructive discussions, during which many different views were expressed, it was agreed that no limits should be set at this stage due to the limitations of the current methodology and the gaps in current knowledge about norovirus. However, it was agreed that there is a need to address food safety risks associated with norovirus in raw shellfish and the Commission, together with Member States, will continue to explore risk management options, identifying areas where harmonised practices could be introduced.  There was also support for a harmonised EU baseline study, as recommended by EFSA, to help fill gaps in the data that have been identified.

The FSA is continuing to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of alternative approaches which could be applied, such as buffer zones and alert systems to facilitate active management of harvesting.  I would welcome any evidence based information and/or suggestions in the coming months to inform these considerations.

FSA – Recall – Licorice Root Capsules – Salmonella

FSASalmonella

Viridian International Ltd recalls two batches of its Licorice Root Vegetarian Capsules due to the detection of Salmonella.

As a precautionary measure, Viridian International Ltd is recalling two batch codes of the above product due to the detection of salmonella in the ingredient used to produce the capsules, which may pose a risk to health.

  • Licorice Root 30 Vegetarian Capsules and Licorice Root 90 Vegetarian Capsules
  • Pack size: Glass jars containing 30/90 capsules
  • Batch codes: 2912206 for 30 capsules and 3012206 for 90 capsules
  • ‘Best before’ date: both products 22/6/2016

Viridian International Ltd is recalling the above product. Product recall notices will be displayed in store, advising consumers of the recall and what they can do if they have purchased the affected product. A recall notice has also been displayed on the company’s website.

A copy of the Viridian International Ltd product recall information notice is attached to this notice.

No other Viridian International Ltd products are known to be affected.

Research – New Zealand Controlling Campylobacter in Poultry Flocks

Ingenta ConnectEurofins Food Testing

An analysis of the cost-effectiveness of interventions to control Campylobacter in the New Zealand poultry supply examined a series of interventions. Effectiveness was evaluated in terms of reduced health burden measured by disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Costs of implementation were estimated from the value of cost elements, determined by discussions with industry. Benefits were estimated by changing the inputs to a poultry food chain quantitative risk model. Proportional reductions in the number of predicted Campylobacter infections were converted into reductions in the burden of disease measured in DALYs. Cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated for each intervention, as cost per DALY reduction and the ratios compared. The results suggest that the most cost-effective interventions (lowest ratios) are at the primary processing stage. Potential phage-based controls in broiler houses were also highly cost-effective. This study is limited by the ability to quantify costs of implementation and assumptions required to estimate health benefits, but it supports the implementation of interventions at the primary processing stage as providing the greatest quantum of benefit and lowest cost-effectiveness ratios.

Canada – Recalls – Salmonella – Mycotoxin – Clostridium botulinum

CFIA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Wonder Berry North America are warning the public not to consume certain baby cereal products described below because they may contain mycotoxin HT-2.

There has been one reported illness associated with the consumption of these products. The affected products have been distributed in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec.

The importer, Wonder Berry North America, Toronto, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

CFIA – The public  warning issued on June 24, 2013 has been updated to include additional  product, importer, and distribution information.

The Canadian Food Inspection  Agency (CFIA) and UNFI Canada Inc. are warning the public not to consume the  Prince brand Tahini products described below because they may be contaminated  with Salmonella.

The following Prince brand  products, product of Israel, are affected by the recall. There have been no reported  illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The importer, UNFI Canada Inc.,  Concord, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the  marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the  effectiveness of the recall.

CFIA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)  and Overwaitea Food Group are warning the public not to consume the Prince  brand Tahini described below because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following Prince brand product, product of Israel, is affected by the recall. There have been no reported  illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The distributor, Overwaitea  Food Group, Langley, BC, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the  marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the  effectiveness of the recall.

The CFIA is  working with Canadian importers to have these products removed from the  marketplace

CFIA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Ratinaud French Cuisine are warning the public not to consume certain Charcuterie Ratinaud French Cuisine brand Confit Tomatoes because they may be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum. Toxins produced by these bacteria may cause botulism, a life-threatening illness.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of this product.

The manufacturer, Ratinaud French Cusine, Halifax, NS, is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

USA – More Than Just Burgers and Beer – Campylobacter

Campylobacter BlogCampylobacter

Bacterial contamination was being blamed Monday for an outbreak of foodborne illness following the popular Burger & Beer Bash in Westchester County earlier this month.

The county Health Department said Monday that the campylobacter bacterium was to blame for the outbreak at the June 6 outdoor food festival at the Kenisco Dam in Valhalla.

The bacterium was identified through tests on samples from several people who got sick at the event. The department did not specify exactly how many people were sickened.

But health officials have not determined the source of the bacteria, since most attendees ate food from many of the 30 different vendors at the event, the department said. The department has launched an investigation and has been interviewing people in an effort to trace the source.

 

Canada – Updated Alfalfa Sprouts May Contain Salmonella bacteria

CFIAEurofins

The public warning issued on June 12, 2013 has been updated to include additional distribution information.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Sunsprout Natural Foods are warning the public not to consume the Sunsprout and SproutsAlive brand alfalfa sprouts described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

The manufacturer, Sunsprout Natural Foods, Brantford, Ontario, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.