Category: outbreaks and alerts

3 Deaths in UK Listeria outbreak linked to sandwiches

Three people are dead and three others infected with Listeria monocytogenes in a hospital-based outbreak linked to pre-packaged sandwiches in England, according to Public Health England.

All six outbreak victims were seriously ill hospital patients in England. So far, no cases have been reported from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

The Good Food Chain, supplier of the implicated sandwiches, has withdrawn sandwiches and salads linked to the illnesses, and has voluntarily suspended production at its Stone, Staffordshire facility pending completion of the investigation.

The outbreak strain was detected in a sample of meat from North Country Cooked Meats, a supplier to The Good Food Chain. The supplier and its distributor, North Country Quality Foods, have voluntarily ceased production.

Most infections with Listeria monocytogenes develop as a result of eating a contaminated food. A healthy adult may develop very mild symptoms – muscle aches, nausea, diarrhea – within 48 hours of having become infected, or may not experience any symptoms at all.

The elderly, the very young, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems are susceptible to a more invasive form of Listeria monocytogenes infection, which can spread through the body and cause a fatal illness.

Some pregnant women who become infected with Listeria monocytogenes may miscarry; others give birth to infected babies. Historically, approximately one-half (50%) of babies infected in the womb or during delivery are stillborn or die as a result of the disease – usually from meningitis.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people at elevated risk for Listeria monocytogenes infections should avoid eating lunch meats, cold cuts, or other deli meats unless they are heated to 165ºF (steaming hot) just before serving.

Recalls and Alerts: June 5 – 7, 2019

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.

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United States

Public Health Alert: New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets warns the public in Tioga County and the surrounding area not to consume raw (unpasteurized) raw goat milk from Side Hill Acres due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Allergy Alert: Whole Foods Market stores in the North Atlantic region recall specialty made-in-house basil pesto and specialty made-in-house sundried tomato pesto (Sell-by dates from June 7, 2019 – June 26, 2019) due to undeclared milk, walnuts and pine nuts. The recalled products were 41 Whole Foods Market stores in Connecticut (Whole Foods Market Bishops Corner, Whole Foods Market Glastonbury and Whole Foods Market West Hartford), Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Food Safety Recall: Table 87 Frozen, LLC recalls approximately 649 pounds of frozen pizza products that contain pork that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection. Please refer to the recall notice for complete details on the affected products.

Canada

Public Health Alert: Health Canada reminds Canadians of the risks associated with consuming unprocessed human donor breast milk.

Allergy Alert: Lemond Food Corp. recalls Daesang Seafood Rice Sprinkles seasoning (24g; All batch codes; UPC 8 801052 724874) and Daesang Vegetable Rice Sprinkles seasoning (24g; All batch codes; UPC 8 801052 724867) due to undeclared egg, milk, oyster, soy and wheat.

Allergy Alert: T-Brothers Food And Trading Ltd. recalls several Daesang brand rice seasoning mixes due to undeclared egg, milk and oyster. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Allergy Alert: Seoul Trading Corp. recalls certain Daesang brand rice seasoning mixes due to undeclared egg, milk, oyster, soy, and wheat. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Industry recalls certain products containing raw, frozen raspberries due to potential Norovirus contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for complete information on the recalled products.

Food Safety Recall: Several establishments recall certain products containing raw, frozen raspberries due to potential Norovirus contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for complete information on the recalled products.

Food Safety Recall: Eight enterprises recall certain products containing raw, frozen raspberries due to potential Norovirus contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for complete information on the recalled products.

Food Safety Recall: Rouge Viande inc. recalls certain prepared foods due to improper storage temperature. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Europe

OUTBREAK ALERT (UK): Public Health England (PHE), The Food Standards Agency (FSA), Public Health Wales (PHW), Food Standards Scotland (FSS), Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and a number of local authorities are currently investigating the source of listeria infections linked to pre-packed sandwiches. Six cases of Listeria monocytogenes have been confirmed in seriously ill hospital patients in England. Three people have died.

Allergy Alert (Denmark): Dagrofa recalls Gestus Pasta with Chicken (380g; Best before 15/06/2019) due to undeclared eggs.

Allergy Alert (Denmark): Aldi recalls Schweizer Bio-Alpen Milk Chocolate 37% (100g; Best before 09.03.2020) due to undeclared milk.

Allergy Alert (France): Auchan recalls Bolino Inde – Nouilles au curry doux / noodles with mild curry (All batches and Best before dates) due to undeclared mustard.

Allergy Alert (France): LUSTUCRU FRAIS recalls Lustucru brand Gnocchi à poêler (Lot #C1490 L12; Best before 28/06/2019) due to undeclared cheese.

Allergy Alert (UK): Tesco recalls Tesco Turkish Inspired Tomato Seasoning (25g; Best before December 2019 & January 2020) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall (Belgium): GOUMANISTO S.A. recalls several products containing chicken, as Listeria monocytogenes was detected in an ingredient in these products. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Cora recalls DELI MELO CHICKIES MEXICANA (130g; Lots #17/114, 19/128, 20/135, 21/142, 22/148; Best before 23/05/2019, 06/06/2019, 13/06/2019, 20/06/2019, 26/06/2019; Product of Belgium) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Food Safety Recall (UK – England specific): Milarex UK Limited recalls Oishi-mi Sushi Salmon Teriyaki and Oishi-mi Sushi Salmon Nori (85g; Use by 21 June 2019) due to incorrect date labeling.

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): Importers recall all batches and all dates of Daesang brand Boc Rice, Seafood Rice Sprinkles and Vegetable Rice Sprinkles (24g; All batches and dates) due to undeclared milk and egg.

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Pak’n Save Dunedin recalls Prime Beef Mince Bulk (Best Before: 5.6.19) due to foreign matter (clear plastic) contamination.

Two viral gastroenteritis outbreaks in Québec linked to Chilean IQF raspberries

The Québec Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS) has confirmed 95 cases of viral gastroenteritis in two separate outbreak clusters linked to consumption of raspberry cake.

According to MAPAQ, the raspberries used in the cakes were imported from Chile.

The outbreak details were provided to eFoodAlert by MSSS in response to an email request.

Although the MSSS refers to the outbreak cases as gastroenteritis of possible viral origin, related recall notices refer specifically to Norovirus.

The first cluster comprised 65 victims, with an attack rate of 62%. The second cluster consisted of 30 individuals with an attack rate of 60%.

Symptoms appeared within 24 hours and consisted of diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. None of the outbreak victims were hospitalized, and none consulted a doctor.

Neither outbreak cluster involved hospitals, seniors’ residences, or nursing homes.

MSSS has alerted its provincial and federal counterparts, and is not aware of any related case reports from regions of Québec or other parts of Canada.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has not replied to eFoodAlert’s request for information.

Both the Ministère d’Agriculture, Pêcheries et Alimentation de Québec (MAPAC) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have posted recall notices for raw, frozen raspberries and for other food items made from the implicated raspberries.

Consumers and food service workers should discard or return any items that appear on the recalled products lists.