Month: June 2012

Profiling Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the oldest recognized sources of foodborne illness, and is the cause of what was once called “ptomaine poisoning.”

Some history

Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning has been studied since 1894. In 1914, an investigator deliberately drank milk that had been contaminated with a culture of the microbe in order to confirm its effect. Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin first was detected in food in 1930.

What is Staphylococcus aureus, and where is its natural habitat?

Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive spherical bacterium (coccus) that grows in grape-like clusters. It is a common inhabitant of the skin, the nostrils, and around the perineal area of humans and many domesticated animals.

How is Staphylococcus aureus transmitted? What is the incubation period of the illness?

Staphylococcus aureus produces a heat-stable toxin (enterotoxin) when given the opportunity to grow under certain conditions of moisture, temperature, pH, and oxygen levels. When a person eats food containing enterotoxin, he or she will develop symptoms within 1-6 hours, depending on the amount of toxin present and the susceptibility of the victim.

What are the symptoms of Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning?

Food poisoning symptoms caused by staphylococcal enterotoxin develop suddenly and typically consist of nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Diarrhea and fever can also occur, but are less common.

What is the prognosis of Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning?

Symptoms of staphylococcal food poisoning typically are self-limiting and last 24-48 hours.

What foods carry Staphylococcus aureus?

Many foods of animal origin, including dairy products, may contain low numbers of Staphylococcus aureus; however, this microbe is more often introduced into food by human carriers through lapses in hygiene. If a contaminated food is held at improper temperature, Staphylococcus aureus will multiply and may produce sufficient enterotoxin to cause symptoms.

How can people protect themselves from Staphylococcus aureus?

First, by paying attention to food recall announcements and immediately discarding any recalled food or returning it to the store. Secondly, by not allowing any food to stand for extended periods of time at room temperature. Food that is not to be eaten immediately should be refrigerated or frozen promptly. A frozen, cooked food should be thawed in the refrigerator, and not at room temperature.

For more information on Staphylococcus aureus and other food-borne pathogens, visit the CDC website or read Food Safety: Old Habits, New Perspectives.

Recalls and Alerts: June 28, 2012

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Winn-Dixie (a subsidiary of Bi-Lo Holdings) recalls Winn-Dixie Cheeseburger Skillet Dinners (5.8 oz; Sell by May 14, 2013; UPC 2114018080), because the product may contain small metal fragments. The recalled product was sold in Winn-Dixie stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
  • Food Safety Enforcement Action (Hawai’i): The Hawai’i State Department of Health has suspended the permit for Kanemitsu Bakery (Moloka’i), for producing baked goods manufactured under unsanitary conditions after receiving a complaint about insects and foreign substances in bread rolls purchased from the bakery.
  • Food Safety Alert (Vermont): The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets is investigating reports of damage to fruits and vegetables grown in compost from Green Mountain Compost that is suspected to be contaminated with herbicide.
  • Outbreak Alert: At least 107 people have been treated for gastrointestinal illness in an outbreak linked to a University of Notre Dame sports camp, according to Food Safety News. Parents of campers received a letter from the organizers alerting them to the outbreak.

Canada

  • Personal Care Product Safety Recall: Kimberly-Clark Professional Corporation recalls Kleenex-brand Luxury Foam Hand Sanitizer (1-L and 1.2-L containers; Lot #SA1229ANB; DIN 02366045), after samples of the product were found to be contaminated with bacteria from the Burkholderia cepacia group.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (Ireland): Lituanica recalls Pasaka Makeroni Vermisellai Pasta (400g; All batches up to and including best before date of 16.03.2014), because  traces of egg were detected in one batch of the pasta. The product is labeled as “egg free pasta.”
  • Allergy Alert (Finland): Pyhäntäläinen Maustaja Oy recalls Helsinki Maxi’n Ketchup (360g; Expiration Date 18/01/2013), due to a labeling error that resulted in the product containing undeclared celery.
  • Allergy Alert (Greece): Papafili Mills SA recalls All Purpose Soft Flour (1 kg; Lot 1.068.12; Expiry 08.11.2012), due to the presence of undeclared soy.
  • Food Safety Recall (Greece): Victory A.E.V.E. recalls Maxi Jack Kan Goo Pop Frutas lollipops (Product of Spain; Lot #2213), after EFET receives a complaint about a metal object in a package of the lollipops. The recalled product was sold by Metro SA.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0880): Mercury in frozen slices of shortfin mako from Singapore; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0881): Histamine in chilled tuna loins from Sri Lanka; distributed to Italy, Romania and Sri Lanka.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0882): Mercury in chilled sliced tuna from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0883): Insect larvae infestation in raisins from Iran; distributed to Poland.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0885): Undeclared soya in flour from Italy; distributed to Cyprus.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Notification (EU #2012.0886, 2012.0887 & 2012.0890): Unauthorized 1,3 dimethylamylamine (DMAA) in food supplement from the USA; distributed to Finland and Sweden.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2012.0888): Undeclared soya in flour from Greece; distributed to Cyprus.

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • OTC Pharmaceutical Product Recall (Hong Kong):  Hengan Pharmacare Co. Ltd. recalls Bandi Enema (Product of Taiwan; Registration #HK-48262; All batches) after a sample of the OTC product was found to contain higher than registered levels of glycerin and sodium chloride.
  • Food Safety Alert (Philippines): Republic of Philippines FDA (PFDA) advises the public that China’s product quality watchdog found unusual levels of mercury in several batches of Yili baby formula (Quan You baby formula). This product is NOT registered with PFDA and there is no record of it having been imported into the Philippines. Nevertheless, the public is advised to be on the alert for this product.

Australia and New Zealand

  • Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Tai-Pan Trading Ltd. (Wellington, NZ) recalls Extra Joss Active Powdered Drink with Free Sports Bottle (2-pack special offer only), because the product contains undeclared Royal Jelly. The recalled product is sold in Countdown, New World and Pak n Save stores throughout New Zealand.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (New Zealand): Sanofi-Aventis recalls Tuberculosis BCG vaccine (available in New Zealand since November 2011), because checks of the air quality in the manufacturing facility found a problem, and the company cannot be completely confident that the vaccine is sterile. This same vaccine also was recalled recently in Canada and Australia.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.

Recalls and Alerts: June 27, 2012

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

United States

  • Food Safety Recall: Banner Mountain Sprouts, Inc. (Sacramento, CA) recalls Organic Alfalfa Sprouts (1 & 2-lb bags and 4-oz plastic container; Sell by dates 6/17/12 to 7/6/12), Organic Clover Sprouts (1-lb plastic bag and 4-oz plastic container; Sell by 6/17/12 to 7/6/12), Zesty Greens (4-oz plastic container; Sell by 6/17/12 to 7/6/12), Sprout Salad (5-oz plastic container; Sell by 6/17/12 to 7/6/12) and Alfalfa-Broccoli Sprouts (4-oz plastic container; Sell by 6/17/12 to 7/6/12), due to possible Salmonella contamination. The recalled sprouts were distributed to wholesale and retail accounts in California.
  • Food Safety Recall: Topco Associates recalls Spartan Bacon Ranch Salad Mix (7.5 oz; Sell by 5/17/13cb85 and 5/17/13ca85), Spartan Creamy Italian Salad Mix (8.3 oz; Sell by 5/18/13ca85), Spartan Creamy Parmesan Salad Mix (8.2 oz; Sell by 5/13/13cb85), Spartan Double Cheeseburger Skillet (6.0 oz; Sell by 05/21/13cb85, 04/26/13ca83, and 04/25/13cb83), and Spartan Cheeseburger Skillet (6.0 oz; Sell by 05/21/13cb85), because of the potential for small metal fragments in the product.

Canada

  • Food Safety Recall: Phoenicia Group Inc. (St-Laurent, QC) recalls Alkanater brand Tahina (454g; UPC 6 92551 00002 0; Lot code TT3N-280312; Expiry 28/03/2014), because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled product was distributed in Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick, including in Whole Foods Markets, and may have been distributed nationally.
  • Food Safety Recall: Treasure Mills Inc. recalls Treasure Mills Brownie Bars (800g; Code 125 121; Best before 31MA12; UPC 8 05658 45080 7), due to contamination with unspecified harmful extraneous material. The recalled product was sold in Ontario.
  • Food Safety Alert: The Windsor Essex County Health Unit has decided to ban restaurants from serving Kibbeh, the Lebanese dish made from finely ground raw beef, according to a CBC report.

Europe

  • Allergy Alert (UK): Frozen Value withdraws Hawai Gourmand Vanilla Chocolate Cone (pack of 8 cones/960 ml), Hawai Gourmand Vanilla Cone with Sugared Hazelnuts (pack of 8 cones/960 ml and pack of 6 cones / 720 ml), Hawai Gourmand 4 Vanilla Chocolate and 4 Chocolate Pistachio (pack of 8 cones/960 ml), Super Duo Chocolate tub White and Milk Chocolate Dairy Ice Cream (875 ml plastic tub), and Albert Heijn Walnut Ice Cream Tub (875 ml plastic tub), because the products contain undeclared nuts, peanuts or sulphites.
  • Food Safety Recall (France): Auchan and Simply Market recall Pouce brand Canned Sardines in Tomato (120g can; UPC 3596710741274; Expiration date 20/01/2015, 21/01/2015 et 26/01/2015), because the product may contain histamine.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Sweden): The National Food Administration warns that certain food supplements contain the substance DMAA (1.3-dimetylamylamin), which can be harmful to health. Affected products include Jack3D, Spriodex, Napalm, and Lipo-y Black.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0873): Insect larvae infestation in fresh red chili from Thailand; distributed to Denmark.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0874): Salmonella spp. in chilled mixed minced meat from Sweden; distributed to Germany, Poland and Sweden.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0876): Salmonella Schwarzengrund in frozen hamburgers from Spain; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2012.0877): Bacillus cereus in organic radish sprouts from Germany; distributed to Germany.

Some supermarket chains post recall notices on their web sites for the convenience of customers. To see whether a recalled food was carried by your favorite supermarket, follow the live link to the supermarket’s recall web site.

*The Kroger umbrella encompasses numerous supermarket, marketplace and convenience store chains, listed on the Kroger corporate home page.
**Includes Safeway, Vons, Pavilions, Dominick’s, Genuardi’s, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Carrs and Pak N’ Save.