Tag Archives: transportation

RASFF – Alerts – Salmonella – Ochratoxin A

Posted on January 29, 2013 by | Leave a comment

RASFF – Salmonella in Dog Chews in Germany sourced in Argentina

RASFF – Ochratoxin A in Coffee in Belgium

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Ochratoxin, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Salmonella

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Hong Kong – Recall Australian Cheese Implicated in the Listeria Outbreak

Posted on January 22, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Center for Food SafetyFood Testing

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (January 21) urged the public not to consume certain soft cheese products, manufactured in Australia, which might have been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The trade should stop selling the concerned products.

“The CFS noticed through its routine Food Incident Surveillance System that some cheese products produced by an Australian manufacturer, Jindi Cheese Pty Ltd, were suspected to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.  The concerned company is now voluntarily recalling all soft and semi-soft cheese products it manufactured on or before January 6 this year,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

“The CFS subsequently received notification from the International Food Safety Authorities Network of the World Health Organisation / the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations that some of the affected products have been imported to Hong Kong,” he added.

According to the information provided by the Australian authorities, the CFS has contacted two chain stores which had imported the affected products, namely PARKnSHOP and Pacific Gourmet. The shops were instructed to stop selling the products concerned (see attached table). The CFS was also informed that the companies had set up hotlines to answer consumers’ enquiries about the product recall, PARKnSHOP at 2606 8658 and Pacific Gourmet at 3184 0805.

“In case any consumers have bought the affected soft cheese products, they should stop eating them, regardless of batches. To be prudent, consumers who recently bought any cut portion of gourmet soft cheese and are unsure of the product details should also stop eating it. People are advised to seek medical advice if they feel sick after consuming the products concerned. So far the CFS has not received any reports of persons feeling unwell after consumption of the affected products,” the spokesman said.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall

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UK – Norovirus Cruise Ship

Posted on December 13, 2012 by | Leave a comment

News TankORIANA

The ‘Norovirus’ winter vomiting bug has reportedly scarred the luxury cruise ship, Oriana, with at least 150 of the almost 2000 holidaymakers journeying on P&O’s Oriana falling ill because of the Norovirus. Passengers on board the luxury cruise ship have described Oriana as a ‘plague ship’ and ‘a nightmare,’ with one passenger accusing the crew members of neglecting the suffering of those passengers tormented by the Norovirus winter vomiting bug.

One passenger has penned his review of Oriana on a travel website under the user name, Gibbons, describing how corridors and lavatories on board the luxury cruise liner smelt strongly of sick. The passenger further reviewed that the Norovirus outbreak on Oriana has made him wish that he had never booked a seat in Oriana in the first place.

The media reports over the Norovirus outbreak in Oriana have suggested that there is a possibility of a riot on the luxury cruise ship because the captain and the crew of Oriana are allegedly refusing to heed the concerns of the passengers troubled by the winter vomiting bug.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Technology, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen

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Canada – More Nuts Recalled – Salmonella

Posted on December 12, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CFIA – CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume the Golden Boy brand Inshell Mixed Nuts described below because they may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The affected product, Golden Boy brand Inshell Mixed Nuts are sold in 1.36 kg (3 lb) mesh bags bearing UPC0 4684 10948 0.

This product has been distributed nationally.

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

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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Canada – Three Recall Walnuts / Hazelnuts/ Mixed Nuts – Salmonella

Posted on December 4, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CFIA CIFA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Compass Food Sales are warning the public not to consume Compass brand in-shell California Walnuts described below because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The following walnuts, product of USA, are affected by this alert:

Brand Product Size UPC Best Before
Compass California Walnuts (in-shell) 300 g 0 68297 20121 0 07MA2014

This product has been distributed nationally.

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

Food contaminated with Salmonella may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with these bacteria may cause salmonellosis, a foodborne illness. In young children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, salmonellosis may cause serious and sometimes deadly infections. In otherwise healthy people, salmonellosis may cause short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis.

The importer / packer, Compass Food Sales, Aurora, ON is voluntarily recalling the affected product from the marketplace. The CFIA is monitoring the effectiveness of the recall.

CFIA

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Loblaws 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 filberts, product of USA, were sold in 454 g bags bearing UPC 7 75636 10004 1 and in bulk bins.

This product was distributed nationally in Loblaws banners – Real Canadian Super Store, Fortinos, Freshmart, Loblaws, No Frills, Valu-Mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs, Dominion, Red & White, Save Easy, Cash and Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, AXEP, Group Distribution, Intermarché, Maxi & Cie, Maxi, Presto, Club Entrepôt, Provigo, Extra Foods, Shop Easy, Super Valu, Westfair.

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

CFIA

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

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

The following mixed nuts, products of USA, are affected by this alert:

Product Size UPC
Mixed Nuts 454 g 6 28721 20678 7
Mixed Nuts 1.36 kg 0 33383 70401 2

These products were distributed nationally in Loblaw banners – Real Canadian Super Store, Fortinos, Freshmart, Loblaws, No Frills, Valu-Mart, Your Independent Grocer, Zehrs, Dominion, Red & White, Save Easy, Cash and Carry, Real Canadian Wholesale Club, Maxi & Cie, Maxi, Presto, Club Entrepôt, Provigo, Extra Foods, Shop Easy, Super Valu, Westfair, Affiliated Independents, Quick Mart.

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

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Posted in Bacteria, CFIA, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, Salmonella

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

Posted on November 29, 2012 by | Leave a comment

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

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Posted in Food Safety, Food Spoilage, Food Standards Agency, Moulds, Recall

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USA – Illinois MacDonalds Closed Salmonella Investigation

Posted on November 28, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Food Safety News

Owners of a Bloomington, Illinois McDonalds voluntarily shut the establishment down last week after it was linked to a series of Salmonella infections.

Bob and Julie Dobski, who own 9 McDonalds franchises in the Bloomington-Normal area, were informed by health officials Wednesday night that the South Main Street location had been connected to a cluster of Salmonella illnesses. The owners chose to shut down the restaurant before Thanksgiving the following day.

Less than 10 Salmonella cases have been reported, according to Keri Simon, communications director for the McClean County Health Department, as reported by Pantagraph. People affected by the bacteria report eating at the restaurant between October 18 and November 11, according to the county health department, which is conducting the investigation along with the Illinois Department of Public Health.

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Posted in Bacteria, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Pathogen, Salmonella

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UK – Another Crusie Ship Virus Outbreak

Posted on November 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

BBC News

A cruise ship delayed its departure from Southampton after a suspected outbreak of norovirus on board. Celebrity Cruises’ vessel Constellation arrived in the city’s port at 06:00 GMT at the end of a 12-night cruise. Southampton’s Port Health Authority said about 350 passengers had fallen ill with the vomiting and diarrhoea bug. Its departure was delayed until 20:00 while deep cleaning took place.

The authority’s Rosie Zambra confirmed it was informed of “concerns over an increased levels of what appeared to be norovirus” several days before the ship’s arrival.

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Posted in Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Foodborne Illness, Hand Washing, Hygiene, Illness, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, Virus

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Research – E.coli Outbreak 2011 in Germany

Posted on October 31, 2012 by | Leave a comment

HACCPEUROPA – Full Article

A novel strain of E. coli bacteria caused a serious outbreak of foodborne illness focused in Germany in 2011. In all, 3,950 people were affected and 53 died, including 51 in Germany. Authorities have identified vegetable sprouts as the source.

The recent outbreaks of food poisoning due to contamination of vegetables by dangerous strains of E. coli raised the concerns and questions about E. coli transmission strategies.

E. coli is most at home in the warm, moist, nutrient-rich environment found in the gastrointestinal tract of warm-blooded animals. But to disperse from one host to another these bacteria must get out into the world. There is evidence that some E. coli can survive for several weeks outside the host, and even grow in water or soil. But it is on plant matter that E. coli colonisation has become a concern, as although most types of E. coli are harmless, the presence of pathogenic strains on fruit and vegetables presents a food safety risk.

E. coli strains have adopted slightly different transmission strategies, with some being better adapted to live on plants than others.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O104, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Research

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Japan – Ecoli O157 in Pickled Cabbage Outbreak – Six Dead

Posted on August 18, 2012 by | 1 comment

EcoliBlog

Sapporo, Japan news services report that four people, including a 4-year-old girl, have been confirmed dead of food poisoning from pickled Chinese cabbage produced by a Sapporo food company. Another two are suspected to have died due to the cabbage.

According to the city health care center, four people have died because of the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria after eating pickled Chinese cabbage produced in late July by Iwai Shokuhin. Three of the four victims were women in their 80s and 100s living in elderly care facilities in the city.

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Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, EHEC, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Illness, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen

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