Monitoring of Emerging Food Safety Issues Newsletter September 2012

Microbiological Outbreaks

Listeria

Three deaths in listeria outbreak linked to cheeseA new outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes has hospitalised 18 people in 12 US states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have reported that three of those infected have died, and listeriosis has been confirmed as contributing to at least 1 death. The source of infection has been linked to ricotta cheese imported from Italy.Read More >>

Salmonella

Officials tracking outbreak of rare Salmonella strain in seven EU statesEuropean Union health officials are investigating an ongoing outbreak of Salmonella stanley that has sickened over 400 people in seven member countries. As of the 25th of September, 167 cases have been confirmed as part of the outbreak and a further 254 cases are considered probable. The highest rate of illnesses has been in children under the age of five. While officials do not know the exact source of the bacteria, they suspect that it came from somewhere in the European turkey production chain.Read More >>

Nut products suspected in multistate Salmonella outbreak in the USA recall of nut products linked to a New Mexico company has begun in the wake of a multistate Salmonella S. bredeny outbreak, after warnings from multiple state departments of health. As of the 25th of September the outbreak has caused 30 illnesses and 4 have been hospitalised.Read More >>

FDA adds mangoes tied to Salmonella outbreak to import alert listMangoes from Mexico linked to a nationwide Salmonella outbreak in the United States have been added to the federal import alert list - meaning that districts can detain them without inspection. The CDC reports at least 121 people in the United States and 21 in Canada have been infected with the outbreak strain Salmonella braenderup. Twenty-five of those sickened have required hospitalisation, but no deaths have been reported.Read More >>

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E.coli

XL Foods Inc. tied to outbreak in CanadaThere have been eight confirmed cases of E. coli O157:H7 infection being investigated in Canada that has been tied to beef products originating from XL Foods Inc. Over 890,000 pounds of beef product have been subjected to an expanding recall which now includes the United States. Beef from cattle slaughtered during the time associated with the recall was produced under insanitary conditions that resulted in a high event period. XL Foods Inc. has been unable to provide documentation showing it regularly reviewed or made necessary updates to its beef processing facility.Read More >>

Ebola

Deadly African Ebola virus linked to bushmeatTwo recent outbreaks of the deadly Ebola virus are now being linked to bushmeat. The virus, which kills up to 90% of its victims, first erupted in Uganda. By mid-August, the disease was under control - and 16 people were dead. Now, in an unrelated outbreak, at least 31 are dead from Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the epidemic is not yet under control.Read More >>

Surveillance, Monitoring & Evaluation

Chemical contaminants in imported dried spices The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has conducted a survey to assess general compliance of imported dried spices with regards to specific chemical hazards. The survey looked at hazards that have been identified as presenting a high food safety risk by Food Standards Australia New Zealand and the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Read More >>

UK Food Standards Authority research helps smoked fish producers Certain process stages and regions in smoked fish processing plants appear to be more susceptible than others to persistent colonisation by Listeria monocytogenes, the Food Safety Authority Scotland (FSAS) literature survey has found. These regions include drains, skinning machines, brine injection units and fish slicers. Read More >>

FDA analysis on arsenic in riceOn September 19th the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released preliminary data on arsenic levels in 200 samples of rice and rice products. The FDA is in the process of collecting and analysing a total of approximately 1,200 samples to examine the issue thoroughly. This data collection will be completed by the end of 2012. Based on the currently available data and scientific literature the FDA does not have an adequate scientific basis to recommend changes by consumers regarding their consumption of rice and rice products.Read More >>

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Labelling

Which? magazine welcomes the announcement by Lidl to include the traffic light labelling system on the front of food packaging In the UK, Lidl has agreed to take on the red, amber and green traffic light scheme recommended by Which? to be used alongside their existing guideline daily amounts (GDA) labelling. Executive director of Which?, Richard Lloyd, said: 'Lidl joins Tesco and Aldi as the latest supermarket to introduce traffic light labelling, a system Which? has long been calling for to allow shoppers to make informed choices about what they buy.’Read More >>

Greens to move on food pack labellingCountry of Origin labelling on food packaging would detail where the food is grown and produced, not where it is packaged, under a Greens proposal to be introduced to Parliament on the 17th of September. At present, if more than half of the packaging costs are incurred in Australia and goods have been substantially processed here, regardless of where the basic produce is from, the item can be labelled ''made in'', which includes other labels such as ''manufactured in'' or ''Australian-made''. Read More >>

Food labels may help decrease obesityRecent research has suggested that consumers who read nutritional information placed on food labels are generally thinner than those who do not.Read More >>

European Parliament vote on fish labellingThe European Parliament has voted to create more transparency for consumers with a new fish labelling proposal which will require the country of origin, fishing method and specific fish stock to be listed. Other proposals have been rejected which would require fish to be labelled with information about when the fish was caught rather than when the fishing vessel returned to land, whether the fish were fresh or defrosted, and the exact place of origin of canned fish.Read More >>

Would consumers benefit from changes to the way HFCS is labelled?Advocacy group Citizens for Health has entered the fray with a citizen’s petition calling for the FDA to change the way high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is labelled.Read More >>

Exploration of food labelling issues in the United StatesThis article explores issues surrounding food labelling in the United States. It examines confounding descriptions of basic ingredients, misleading health claims, lack of transparency and excessive use of health buzz words.Read More >>

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Emerging Science

Monsanto GM study fallout: Experts react as France calls for banResearch has suggested that long term exposure to even relatively low levels of Monsanto’s herbicide Roundup and a genetically modified resistant crop strain could result in increased risk for tumours and premature death, according to new findings in rats. Friends of the Earth and the French Government have called for ‘immediate action’ against genetically modified crops as finer details of the widely reported Monsanto GM study are scrutinized among experts. Read More >>

"Secret" yeast additive gets GRAS approvalCanadian based company Functional Technologies Corp obtained GRAS approval for its acrylamide-preventing yeast strains. Acrylamide is a known lethal neurotoxin that sometimes occurs in cooked starchy foods, which causes some concerns about carcinogenicity of those foods.Read More >>

Residual antibiotics disrupt meat fermentation and increase risk of infectionResearchers from the University of Copenhagen and the University College of Cork have published research which may shed light on why fermented sausages can occasionally cause serious bacterial infection. Residual antibiotics at current standards levels have been shown to kill lactic acid fermenting bacteria, enhancing the survival of potentially sickening bacteria.Read More >>

Mixed results for health and nutritional benefits of organic food in recent reviewIn a meta-analysis including 237 studies examining the nutritional and health benefits of organic foods researchers have found a lack of strong evidence that organic foods provide significantly more nutritional benefit than standard foods. Researchers did note that consumption of organic foods could reduce the risk of exposure to pesticide residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.Read More >>

Bisphenol A (BPA) linked to reproductive risks in rhesus monkeysA US study has demonstrated a possible link between BPA and sex cell formation in rhesus monkeys. The study has prompted calls for additional research. Meanwhile, Health Canada has announced a reaffirmation of the safety of BPA in updating its 2008 assessment of BPA dietary exposure.Read More >>

Size matters: Researchers warn nano-polyphenols may have reversed effectsThe beneficial effects attributed to antioxidants such as polyphenols could be reversed when they are used in nano-forms, according to new research.Read More >>

New Publications

FSA Scotland report identifies gaps in E.coli knowledgeThe Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Scotland has published a report identifying knowledge gaps and future research areas on a group of E.coli.Read More >>

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Further studies on Toxoplasma neededA risk profile on Toxoplasma in the food chain by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) has recommended that further studies are needed to establish the importance of foodborne routes of infection and identify the highest risks. The suggested studies include work to assess the prevalence of Toxoplasma in UK livestock and in food.Read More >>

Scottish food surveillance report 2011 publishedThe report has shown that 80% of samples collected in 2011 by local authorities in Scotland and submitted to the UK Food Surveillance System (UKFSS) were satisfactory, a rise of 3% on 2010. Read More >>

Report shows reductions in low, no and reduced sodium productsNew findings from Mintel have shown that there has been a global decline in low, no and reduced sodium products being marketed over the 2010-2011 period. Globally, launches of foods with these claims declined 5%, appearing on just 2% of total food launches in 2011. New Zealand were shown to have 3% of all new food products in 2011 labelled as low, no and reduced sodium, while Australia had 2%.Read More >>

Australian & New Zealand Issues

FSANZ calls for submissions on ListeriaFood Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has called for submissions on plans to review existing limits for Listeria monocytogenes in ready to eat foods.Read More >>

FSANZ opens review of infant formula regulationsFSANZ is reviewing its infant formula regulations, covering a range of issues including composition, labelling and advertising.Read More>>

FSANZ invites submissions on package sizes for phytosterol-enriched cheeseKraft Foods Australia has applied to remove restrictions on package sizing on phytosterol-enriched cheeses. An assessment by FSANZ suggests that the size restriction is not a necessary risk management measure and that it may be appropriate to remove the restriction.Read More >>

New South Wales Food Authority microbiological quality survey of nuts and nut productsNuts have traditionally been considered a microbiologically safe product because of their low moisture content (low water activity). However, there have been a number of documented foodborne illness outbreaks and recalls caused by Salmonella in nuts and nut products. This survey was conducted to gather information on the prevalence of Salmonella and E. coli in ready-to-eat (RTE) nuts and their products sold in Australia, both imported and domestically produced products.Read More >>

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Review of the poultry National Microbiological Database (NMD) programme's E. coli testing and Campylobacter Performance Target (CPT) limits NZ MPI is consulting on the consolidation of NMD Notices and also on proposed changes to NMD for Poultry. Submission will be accepted by post, email or fax before the closing date of the 19th of October.Read More >>

Voluntary folic acid fortification praised by industryThe New Zealand minister for Food Safety Kate Wilkinson has announced that folic acid fortification of bread flour will remain voluntary. Industry officials have praised the move as common sense, allowing consumers to make their own choice. The minister has said that they will work with the industry to achieve a target of 50% of packaged bread to be fortified with folic acid.Read More >>

Coles and Woolworths brands less likely to include Australian sourcesA recent report by Choice shows that in store Coles and Woolworths branded products use less home grown ingredients than other competing brands. Of the products surveyed, 55% of Coles’ home-brand products and 38% of Woolworths’ home-brand products were locally made or grown, compared with 92% per cent for market leader grocery items.Read More >>

Experts respond to GM wheat fears in AustraliaTwo scientists, working in conjunction with the Safe Food Foundation in Australia, claim CSIRO-developed genetically modified wheat may have unintended effects on humans. However other experts disagree with their assessment of the risks associated with the modified crop.Read More >>

Fenthion restrictions following reportThe Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is proposing to suspend a number of uses of fenthion, a chemical used to control fruit fly and other insects, following release of a new report showing there is potential for short-term dietary exposure of young children to be at levels above the relevant public health standard.Read More >>

Progress on health claims standards in Australia not without criticsThere has long been contention regarding the regulation of health claims that are applied to food, but the proposed introduction of a Health Claims standard into the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code has also raised concerns by consumer advocates and others.Read More >>

Food Recalls

USA – Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Mangoes recalled due to links with Salmonella outbreakThe FDA has announced recalls of various products made with mangoes from Mexican based company Agricola Daniella. These mangoes are the suspected source of the Salmonella braenderup bacteria currently causing a nationwide outbreak. Currently, at least 19 US companies are undergoing recalls for products which may contain contaminated mangoes.Read More >>

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Forever Cheese Inc. recalls products due to possible Listeria contaminationThe FDA has announced recalls of multiple ricotta products produced by Forever Cheese Inc. in the wake of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to their products.Read More >>

Soybean sprouts and tofu recalled for listeriaNewark, NJ-based Manna Organics, Inc. on Sunday recalled various soybean sprouts and tofu products listed because they have the potential to be contaminated with potentially deadly Listeria monocytogenes.Read More >>

Hanover Pike Enterprises issues allergy alert on undeclared margarine containing milk and soy in jams and jelliesHanover Pike Enterprises has announced that some of their Jam products may contain undeclared milk and soy. These products are currently being recalled. People who have allergies to dairy products may run the risk of allergic reactions if they consume these products.Read More >>

Multiple recalls of nut butter containing products due to possible health riskThe FDA has announced that food companies nationwide have begun a recall on nut butter containing products after the voluntary recalls on a variety of products by Sunland Inc. due to possible contamination with Salmonella.Read More >>

Publix Supermarkets recalls romaine hearts Plastic bags of chopped hearts of romaine supplied to Publix Supermarkets by Ready Pac and sold in the Southern United States are being recalled for possible Listeria contamination. A sample of the product tested by the FDA was positive for Listeria.Read More >>

Dale and Thomas recall popcorn products due to possible Listeria contaminationDale and Thomas Popcorn are voluntarily recalling a limited number of ready-to-eat bags of select flavors of Popcorn because of possible contamination by Listeria monocytogenes.Read More>>

Fresh Express recalls expired hearts of romaine saladFresh Express Incorporated is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of hearts of romaine salad with expired use-by date. The precautionary recall notification for the now-expired salad was issued due to an isolated incident in which a sample yielded a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes as part of the FDA’s random sample testing program.Read More >>

USA – Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS)

Serenade Foods, Inc. chicken strips recalledApproximately 2,250 pounds of crunchy chicken strip products have been recalled as they may contain fragments of plastic.Read More >>

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XL Foods Inc. beef products found to contain E. coli bacteriaRaw boneless beef trim products imported from Canada by XL Foods, Inc. may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, prompting a nationwide recall. XL Foods Inc. has been working with FSIS to issue a public health alert that all steaks, roasts, and ground beef are considered adulterated. Read More >>

Not listing milk as allergen brings bratwurst sausage recallMakowski's Real Sausage Co. in Chicago recalled some 1,305 pounds due to an undeclared milk allergen on their label. The problem was discovered by the FSIS during a routine label review and may have occurred due to a misprinting of the product's label. Read More >>

UK – UK Food Standards Agency (FSA)

Off odour in Britvic Ireland waterThe Food Standard Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and UK FSA have both announced Britvic Ireland has voluntarily withdrawn from sale 250 ml, 750 ml and 1 litre bottles of water due to an off odour. A Britvic Ireland spokesman has said that the water was safe to drink , but these recalls were precautionary.Read More >>

Musgrave retail partners withdraws Centra Chocolate Butter Biscuits due to incomplete allergen labellingThe above product contains gluten, wheat, milk & soya which, although they are listed in the ingredients list, are not mentioned in the allergy information box warning of possible allergen cross contamination risks, resulting in incomplete allergen labelling.Read More >>

Sainsbury’s Supermarket Ltd. recalls its own brand Biere des Moulins Lager and St Cervois Premium LagerBatches of the above products have been found to possibly be contaminated with small pieces of glass due to a manufacturing fault. Read More >>

Morrison Supermarkets recalls dried goji berriesThe above product contains sulphur dioxide, which is not declared on the label, resulting in incorrect labelling. This makes the product a potential health risk for people who are sensitive to sulphites.Read More >>

Canada – Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Certain Ready Pac brand fresh cut fruit blends containing Daniella Brand Mangoes may contain Salmonella braenderup bacteriaCanada Safeway Ltd. is warning the public not to consume Ready Pac brand fresh cut Fruit Blends described below. These fruit products contain pieces of Daniella brand mangoes which have been recalled by the US supplier Splendid Products due to potential contamination with Salmonella braenderup.Read More >>

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Certain Trader Joe's brand nut butters recalled due to Salmonella bacteriaCFIA and Transilvania Trading are warning the public not to consume Trader Joe's brand nut butters because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.Read More >>

All-Natural Energy Nuggets may contain Salmonella bacteriaCFIA is warning the public not to consume the Energy Nuggets sold throughout Canada because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella and are currently being recalled.Read More >>

Valley Flax Flour recalled due to undeclared glutenWheat Free Pancake Mix has been withdrawn due to the presence of gluten which is not declared on the label.Read More >>

Undeclared milk in Compliments brand Sensations Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn Super Pufft are warning people with allergies to milk not to consume the Compliments brand Sensations Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn . The affected product contains milk which is not declared on the label.Read More >>

Undeclared Peanuts in Kydon brand tahiniParthenon Food Importers Ltd. is warning people with allergies to peanuts not to consume the Kydon brand Tahini. The affected product may contain peanuts which are not declared on the label.Read More >>

E. coli bacteria contaminated beef prompts large scale recallsBeef containing products distributed by XL Foods Inc. in Canada are currently being subject to a recall. Glatt’s brand ground beef and veal, and Kirkland brand beef steaks sold at Costco Wholesale Store are also subject to recalls. The CFIA is warning the public, distributors and food service establishments not to consume, sell, or serve specified labeled and unlabeled ground beef products because the products may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.Read More >>

Mushrooms possibly contaminated with ListeriaPonderosa Mushrooms & Specialty Foods are warning the public not to consume sliced lobster mushrooms because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Champ’s Mushroom’s brand has also begun a recall on their sliced crimini mushrooms due to possible contamination.

Undeclared sesame in certain El Camino Real Bakery brand First Grain BarsCostco Wholesale Canada Inc. are warning people with allergies to sesame not to consume certain El Camino Real Bakery brand First Grain Bars. The affected product contains sesame which is not declared on the label.Read More >>

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Australia – Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ)

Australian vintage limitedMcGuigan Black Label 20th Anniversary Reserve 2011 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon has been recalled due to undeclared sulphur dioxide 220. Read More >>

Cerebos (Australia) Ltd A range of Foster Clark’s dairy desserts have been recalled from supermarkets nationally due to the possible presence of small pieces of plastic, posing a potential choking hazard, especially to young children.Read More >>

New Zealand – Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)

Blue River Sheep's Milk Ice-creamBlue River Dairy is initiating a recall of their Milk Maid’s Vanilla Sheep Milk Ice-cream after discovering that the product had been incorrectly labelled. The label states that the product is Allergy Tolerant, Lactose & Dairy Friendly. This could be interpreted as meaning the product is lactose and dairy free which it is not. Read More >>

FSANZ makes the material in this newsletter available on the understanding that users exercise their own skill, care and judgement with respect to its use. Before relying on the material, users should carefully evaluate the accuracy, completeness and relevance of the information for their purposes, and should obtain appropriate expert advice relevant to their particular circumstances.Links to external web sites are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute endorsement of any information, product or services at those sites. FSANZ makes no representations or warranties regarding, the source, quality, accuracy or completeness of the materials on any website to which a hyperlink is provided above.

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