Tag Archives: science

USA – FDA – Recall – Cilantro – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on August 18, 2013 by | Leave a comment

FDA

Willard, OH – Buurma Farms, Inc. is voluntarily recalling 465 boxes of Cilantro Lot #02D312A4. Buurma Farms recalled this product due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.  Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Buurma Farms, Inc. has not received any case of reported illness related to this product to date.

The Cilantro was sold to distributors in Michigan on August 3, 2013. The product was also shipped to retail stores in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The Cilantro, which was distributed through Meijer and Ben B Schwartz and Sons in Michigan the week of August 5-9, could be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The Cilantro has a Buurma Farms twist-tie on it.

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Posted in Bacteria, FDA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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USA – Raw Milk Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on August 14, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Poisoning BulletinimagesCAZ9J1WP

Raw milk from Green Acres Jersey Farm, 725 Prescott Road, Lebanon, Pennsylvania may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and should be discarded, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture officials warn. The potentially contaminated milk was sold with the Green Acres Jersey Farm label in plastic gallon and half gallon containers labeled “raw milk” directly to consumers and in an on-farm retail store.

The problem was discovered during required routine testing  The farm’s owner, Jonathan Smoker, has been  ordered to stop all raw milk sales until further notice. Followup testing is required. Before sales can resume, two samples, taken at least 24 hours apart, must test negative

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Laboratory, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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New Zealand – Fonterra Investigation

Posted on August 13, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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.

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Posted in Clostridium botulinum, Food Inspections, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Pathogen

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RASFF Alerts – Salmonella – Cotton Seeds – Paan Leaves – Chicken – Smoked Mackerel – Lamb Stomach

Posted on August 13, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF -Salmonella (presence /25g) in cotton seeds from Ghana in Italy

RASFF– Salmonella spp. (2 out of 5 samples /25g) in paan leaves (betel/pan) from India in the UK

RASFF-Salmonella anatum (present /25g) in frozen salted chicken pieces from Argentina, via the Netherlands in Denmark

RASFF-Salmonella group D (presence /25g) in smoked mackerel from Poland

RASFF-Salmonella (presence /25g) in cotton seeds from Ghana in Italy

RASFF -Salmonella typhimurium (presence /25g) in lamb stomach – single feed from the Netherlands in Germany

 

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Laboratory, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

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Canada – Recall Salmonella – Coconut

Posted on August 13, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CFIASalmonella

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Diwa Products Ltd. are warning the public not to consume Diwa brand Grated Coconut described below because it may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The  Diwa brand coconut, sold frozen, product of Philippines, is affected by this alert and is shown through the link above.

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

The importer, Diwa Products Ltd., Toronto, ON is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

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Posted in CFIA, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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USA- Chai Tea Recalled Possible Botulism

Posted on August 9, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Botulism BlogClost

A Washington state company is recalling its chai tea because the beverage was improperly processed and therefore has the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum bacteria.

Harmony Chai of Eastsound, WA issued a voluntary recall of its concentrated black spiced and decaffeinated roobius chai teas Friday after testing by the Washington State Department of Agriculture revealed the product had not been processed in a way that prevents Clostridium botulinum contamination.

No illnesses have been linked to consumption of the product to date, according to the company

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Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Food Hygiene, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall

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Canada – Oysters and Clams – Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Posted on August 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CFIAVibrio

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the oysters and clams described below because they may be contaminated with Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

Consumers who are unsure if they have purchased affected oysters or clams should contact their retailer.

The Canadian importers are voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recalls.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announced a recall of oysters and clams from certain harvest areas, reporting that they were implicated in a number of illnesses in the US.  There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these oysters and clams in Canada.  More information on the US recall is available at http://www.ct.gov/doag/cwp/view.asp?Q=529440&A=1401.

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Hygiene, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Vibrio, Vibrio parahaemolyticus

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USA – Norovirus Restaurant Outbreak ?

Posted on August 7, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Grant County Health Department officials are waiting on state lab test results to determine whether norovirus was behind the outbreak of more than two dozen people who were sickened in John Day, OR, this past week.

According to an Aug. 5 story in the Blue Mountain Eagle, health officials suspected that the illness could have been transmitted between July 27 and Aug. 3 at the Snaffle Bit Restaurant. The owner of the restaurant was reportedly cooperating with the county and taking steps to prevent any other illness outbreaks.

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Posted in Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, outbreak, Pathogen

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FSA Letter on EU Discussions on Norovirus Controls in Shellfish

Posted on August 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

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.

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Posted in Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Standards Agency, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Virus, Laboratory, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Research

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Canada – Gorgonzola Cheese Recall – Listeria monocytogenes

Posted on August 5, 2013 by | Leave a comment

CFIAEurofins Food Testing UK

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Jan K Overweel Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the Ballarini brand Gorgonzola cheese products described in the link above because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Also affected by this alert are the below products which may have been sold in smaller packages, cut and wrapped by some retailers. Consumers are advised to contact the retailer to determine if they have the affected products.

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

The importer, Jan K Overweel Ltd., Woodbridge, ON, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace.  The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Micro Blog, Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Pathogen, Recall

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