Tag Archives: food

Canada Updated Recall Hazlenuts – Salmonella

CFIA

The public warning issued on December 2, 2012 has been updated to include additional bulk filberts (hazelnuts).

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaw Companies Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the in-shell filberts (hazelnuts) described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Ennis variety filberts (hazelnuts), product of USA, was sold from bulk bins up to and including December 4, 2012.

This product was distributed through Loblaw banners as follows:

Ontario – Cash & Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Fortinos, No Frills Quebec – Loblaws, Maxi & Cie, Maxi, Provigo Newfoundland and Labrador – Dominion

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

USA – Recall Salsa Dill Beans – Clostridium botulinum?

Botulinum Blog

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning consumers not to eat Harry’s Berries Salsa (mild or hot flavors) or Harry’s Berries Dilled Beans, packed by Gean Farms, Inc., because they may have been improperly produced, making them susceptible to contamination with Clostridium botulinum. No illnesses have been linked to any of the affected products at this time.

RASFF/European Alerts – Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes (presence /25g) in gorgonzola and mascarpone cheese cake from Italy.

Switzerland – Food safety and public warning: Listeria in goat cheese “The Capriglânois”

Greece – The EFET, namely the Regional Directorate of Western Greece Within the framework of implementation of official control programs for food safety and quality control on bottled water and in cooperation with the State General Laboratory, found that there unsafe product – natural mineral water – which detected the bacterium Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

 

Australia- Recall Favor Swallow Bean Sauce – Bacillus cereus

FSANZFSANZ

Delin (Australia) Trading Pty Ltd has recalled Favor Swallow Bean Sauce from some Asian supermarkets in Victoria due to microbial contamination (Bacillus cereus). Food products contaminated with Bacillus cereus  may cause illness if consumed. Consumers should not eat this product and should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

UK – FSA – Sainsbury’s recalls own-brand Red Tree Iced Rich Fruit Cake – Mould Spoilage

FSA

Sainsbury’s has recalled all packs of its own-brand Red Tree Iced Rich Fruit Cake because some products have developed signs of mould spoilage. The Agency has issued a Product Recall Information Notice

European Alerts – Listeria, Salmonella, Hepatitis A, Bacillus cereus

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes in Pate from Belgium

RASFF – Salmonella in Chilled Sausage in UK sourced in Italy

Denmark  – Suspected Hepatitis A in Strawberry Yoghurt in Germany

RASFF – Listeria monocytogenes in Raw Milk Cheese in Belgium sourced in France.

Greece – Organic Radish Seeds Bacillus cereus

European Alerts – Salmonella, Listeria, E.coli and Lactic Acid Bacteria

RASFF – Salmonella in Duck Breasts in Sweden sourced in France

RASFF – Salmonella in Chicken Breast in Italy sourced in Romania

RASFF – E.coli in Mussels in Italy sourced in Spain

RASFF – Lactic Acid Bacteria in Whiskey Sauce in Denmark

Belgium – Blood Sausage with Listeria monocyotgenes

Norway – Salmonella Outbreak

Canada – Recall – Ham Sausages – Listeria monocytogenes

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Capital Packers Inc. (EST 231) are warning the public not to consume Capital brand and Compliments brand Ham Sausages described below because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The following products are affected by this alert:

Brand Product Size UPC Code
Capital Ham Sausage 300 g 0 64946 51100 6 2012 DE 26
Compliments Ham Sausage 375 g 0 68820 10061 4 2012 DE 26

The CFIA has suspended the licence to operate at Establishment 231, Capital Packers Inc. effective today. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation and the public warning may be updated if additional food products are identified which are deemed to be a health risk.

These products may have been distributed nationally.

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

Research – Inhibition of Clostridium and Detection of Enterotoxigenic Staph.

Wiley Online

Abstract:  Inhibition of Clostridium perfringens spore germination and outgrowth in reduced sodium roast beef by a blend of buffered lemon juice concentrate and vinegar (MoStatin LV1) during abusive exponential cooling was evaluated. Roast beef containing salt (NaCl; 1%, 1.5%, or 2%, w/w), blend of sodium pyro- and poly-phosphates (0.3%), and MoStatin LV1 (0%, 2%, or 2.5%) was inoculated with a 3-strain C. perfringens spore cocktail to achieve final spore population of 2.5 to 3.0 log CFU/g. The inoculated products were heat treated and cooled exponentially from 54.4 to 4.4 °C within 6.5, 9, 12, 15, 18, or 21 h. Cooling of roast beef (2.0% NaCl) within 6.5 and 9 h resulted in <1.0 log CFU/g increase in C. perfringens spore germination and outgrowth, whereas reducing the salt concentration to 1.5% and 1.0% resulted in >1.0 log CFU/g increase for cooling times longer than 9 h (1.1 and 2.2 log CFU/g, respectively). Incorporation of MoStatin LV1 into the roast beef formulation minimized the C. perfringens spore germination and outgrowth to <1.0 log CFU/g, regardless of the salt concentration and the cooling time.

Practical Application:  Cooked, ready-to-eat meat products should be cooled rapidly to reduce the risk of Clostridium perfringens spore germination and outgrowth. Meat processors are reducing the sodium chloride content of the processed meats as a consequence of the dietary recommendations. Sodium chloride reduces the risk of C. perfringens spore germination and outgrowth in meat products. Antimicrobials that contribute minimally to the sodium content of the product should be incorporated into processed meats to assure food safety. Buffered lemon juice and vinegar can be incorporated into meat product formulations to reduce the risk of C. perfringens spore germination and outgrowth during abusive cooling.

Wiley Online

Abstract:  The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus in 122 samples, including 60 raw milk, 32 white cheese, 10 kashar cheese, 10 butter, and 10 ice cream samples obtained from Samsun province, Turkey. In this study, S. aureus was detected in 64 samples, including raw milk (45/60; 75%), white cheese (12/32; 37.5%), kashar cheese (3/10; 30%), butter (3/10; 30%), and ice cream (1/10; 10%) samples. A total of 81 isolates were identified as S. aureus by PCR with the presence of 16S rRNA and nuc genes. The presence of genes encoding the staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) SEA, SEB, SEC, and SED was detected by multiplex PCR. According to the analysis, seven isolates from the raw milk samples (7/51; 13.7%) were enterotoxigenic; five of them produced SEA (5/7; 71.4%), one produced SEB (1/7; 14.2%), and one produced SEA+SEB (1/7; 14.2%). Four isolates from the white cheese samples (4/21; 19%) produced the SEA (1/4; 25%), SEC (1/4; 25%), SED (1/4; 25%), and SEA+SED (1/4; 25%) toxins. Two isolates from the kashar cheese samples (2/4; 50%) were found to be enterotoxigenic; one produced SEA (1/2; 50%) and the other produced SED (1/2; 50%). One isolate from the butter samples (1/4; 25%) showed enterotoxigenic character (SEB, 1/1; 100%). The products were found to be potentially hazardous to public health because of the fact that levels of contamination were higher than 105–106 cfu/g ml in 39% (25/64, 17 raw milk, 7 white cheese, and 1 butter) of the analyzed samples.

Canada and USA – Cherry Tomato Recalls – Salmonella

CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the cherry tomatoes and store-made party trays containing cherry tomatoes described below because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following products are affected by this alert:

Brand Product Size UPC Dates sold
Krown Cherry tomatoes 551 ml 0 33383 65520 8 November 13 to 21, 2012, inclusive
None – Sold at Safeway stores Various store-made party trays containing cherry tomatoes Various Various November 14 to 21, 2012, inclusive

These products have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, North West Territories and Yukon and may have been distributed nationally.

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

FDA

Rio Queen Citrus, Inc. of Mission, TX is recalling 840 cartons of 12/1 Dry Pints of Mexican cherry tomatoes in “Karol” brand boxes, because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonellacan result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The “Karol” cherry tomatoes were distributed through retail stores in the states of Texas & South Carolina.

The product was originally distributed in a bulk container of 12/1 Dry Pints in boxes labeled “Karol” with the Lot No. “01W45” stamped in the upper, right-hand corner on the face of the box. The box states “Distributed by Interstate Fruit & Vegetable”, which is an affiliated business of Rio Queen Citrus, Inc. These packages were distributed at the retail level between November 10th & November 19th, 2012. At the retail level, the tomatoes may have been packaged in an alternative container depending on the area and retailer.

No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.