Category: Salmonella

Insanitary Conditions In India Behind Sushi Salmonella Outbreak

The contaminated raw tuna that is responsible – as of May 2, 2012 – for at least 258 Salmonella illnesses in 24 states and the District of Columbia was produced under filthy conditions in a substandard food manufacturing plant in Kerala, India.

FDA inspected the Kerala facility where Moon Fishery (India) Pvt. Ltd. produced the contaminated “Tuna Scrape” that was exported to the USA and sold to restaurants and grocery stores through distributors in Illinois, New Jersey, New York Massachusetts, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Maryland. The inspection took several days (April 19th – 24th, 2012).

Earlier today, Marler Blog released the initial Inspectional Observations Report (known as the 483) from that FDA inspection. It doesn’t take an advanced degree in microbiology or a great deal of imagination to deduce the probable source of the Salmonella contamination after reading the following observation, reproduced in full from the report:

You are not monitoring the sanitation conditions and practices with sufficient frequency to assure conformance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices including safety of water that comes into contact with food or food contact surfaces, including water used to manufacture ice, condition and cleanliness of food contact surfaces, maintenance of hand washing, hand sanitizing, and toilet facilities, and protection of food, food packaging material, and food contact surfaces from adulteration.

A- You are not monitoring the safety of water as evidenced by:

1- Tanks used for storage of process waters have apparent visible debris, filth, and microbiological contamination. Sand and activated carbon filter units used in manufacturing of water are not sanitized, and ventilation for tanks is not filtered to protect against contamination. There is no laboratory analysis for water used in ice manufacturing at the … facility to show the water used to make ice is potable. Ice manufacturing lacks sanitary controls: ice manufacturing equipment at the Moon Fishery facility is located outside and is susceptible to adulteration from pests and the environment. Apparent bird feces were observed on the ice manufacturing equipment at Moon Fishery; insects and filth were observed in and on the equipment. Ice manufacturing equipment at your … facility is rusty and situated so that the ice can not be protected against adulteration, as the ice manufacturing process is constructed into the flooring of the ice facility. Tuna processed at your facility, which is consumed raw or cooked, comes in direct contact with water and ice.

B- You are not monitoring the condition or cleanliness of food contact surfaces as evidenced by:

1-Some of the floor and wall tiles in the tuna processing area are broken and cracked, not allowing for proper cleaning.

2- After cleaning, the ceiling directly above the in-process tuna line was observed to have visible product residue.

3-After cleaning, product residues and rust were observed on knives and utensil storage boxes. These knives are used to cut raw tuna.

C-You are not monitoring protection from adulterants as evidenced by:

1-Peeling paint was observed directly above the in-process tuna line.

D-You are not monitoring hand washing, hand sanitizing and toilet facilities as evidenced by:

1-There were no hand drying devices available in the employee rest rooms on the first floor.

In short, the place was a mess!

There has been a tremendous amount of focus over the years on China as a source of hazardous foods and food ingredients. There has been very little media attention paid to India, even though that densely populated country struggles with a chronic shortage of sewage treatment facilities, a limited supply of potable water, and frequent food poisoning outbreaks.

Last month (April 2012), FDA refused 223 shipments of foodstuffs and other products from China, and 222 shipments from India. Reasons for rejecting food products from India included Salmonella, pesticides and process adulteration.

FDA physically examines less than 2% of all imported food shipments under its jurisdiction. The agency can’t be expected to check every shipment – it hasn’t the money, the staff or the lab facilities to do so.

It’s time to put the burden of demonstrating the safety of imported foodstuffs onto the shoulders of the producers and importers.

Recalls and Alerts: May 10, 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

  • Allergy Alert: Euro Foods, Inc., d.b.a. Citterio USA Corp (Freeland, PA) recalls Citterio Rustico Chorizo Spanish Style (7-oz pkg, containing 24 pieces; Lot 659; Expiration date 8/12/12 or 8/12/12; Est 4010) and Citterio Rustico Chorizo Spanish Style (7-oz pkg, containing 24 pieces; Lot 135; Expiration date 11/30/12; Est 4010), due to the presence of undeclared soy protein. The recalled product was distributed to retail establishments and wholesale distributors in Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Tennessee and Texas.
  • Food Safety Recall (from Weekly Enforcement Report): Fresca Foods, Inc. (Louisville, CO) recalls Boulder Ice Cream Organic Chocolate Pudding Ice Cream (3.6-oz; Lot 35587; Best by 03/15/13), Boulder Ice Cream Organic Vanilla (1 pt; Lot 35585; Best by 03/06/13), Boulder Ice Cream Organic Italian Espresso (3.6 oz; Lot 35909; Best by 03/08/13) and Boulder Ice Cream Organic Green Tea (1 pt; Lot 35712; Best by 03/12/13) because the organic raw milk may not be exposed to the full pasteurization controls before being made into ice cream products. The recalled ice cream product were distributed in Colorado and California.
  • Consumer Product Recall: Unilever recalls Suave Professionals® New Keratin Infusion 30 Day Smoothing Kit (3-piece kit; UPC 0-79400-19562; All lots) because of potential consumer misunderstanding of the product’s suitability for certain hair conditions.
  • Food Safety Recall/Outbreak Alert: The California Department of Food and Agriculture announces a statewide recall and quarantine order for raw milk, raw skim milk (non-fat), raw cream and raw butter produced by Organic Pastures Dairy (Fresno County, CA) after the state confirmed detection of Campylobacter bacteria in raw cream from the dairy. The California Department of Public Health reports at least 10people with Campylobacter infection were identified throughout California and reported consuming Organic Pastures raw milk prior to illness onset. Outbreak patients are residents of Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Luis Obispo and Santa Clara counties.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: The Buncombe County Department of Health reports that tests conducted by the North Carolina Department of Public Health confirm the unopened bag of culture that was added to tempeh tested positive for the outbreak strain of Salmonella Paratyphi B. There have been 63 cases of Salmonella Paratyphi B infections reported to the state public health officials; 58 of those cases are from Buncombe County.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Vanderburgh County Health Department and the Indiana State Department of Health are investigating a case of Hepatitis A in a food worker at the Lone Star Restaurant located in the Eastland Place Shopping Center in Evansville, IN. Persons who were exposed between April 27, 2012 to May 3, 2012 and unvaccinated can receive a dose of Hepatitis A vaccine. People who ate or drank at the Lone Star from April 20-26, 2012 may also have been exposed, but should not receive the vaccine as it is not effective for exposure past 14 days.
  • Outbreak Alert Update: Small turtles infected with Salmonella Sandiego, Salmonella Pomona and Salmonella Poona are responsible for five separate multistate outbreaks of salmonellosis. A total of 124 people from 27 states have been affected. Nineteen people were hospitalized; two-thirds of the victims are children 10 years of age or younger.

Canada

  • Allergy Alert: Perestroika Products Ltd. (Burnaby, BC) recalls Real Deal Energy Cookie Oatmeal, Flax & Raisin (650g; Code 01021.12 and 02020.12; UPC 7 75461 76104 2) and POWERflax Energy Cookie High Fiber (650g; Code 32220.11, 32520.11, 01020.12 and 06820.12; UPC 7 76461 76107 3), because the products contain undeclared milk. The recalled products were distributed through London Drugs stores in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
  • Outbreak Alert: The Public Health Agency of Canada alerts Canadians that several people in the United States and one person in Canada have become ill with a Salmonella infection as a result of contact with pets or pet food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. A manufacturer in the United States, Diamond Pet Foods, has recalled several batches of its dry pet food due to possible contamination with Salmonella, including pet food that was shipped to Canada. The affected pet food was distributed to British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick and may have been distributed to other provinces and territories. The single Canadian case of illness is from Quebec. Please see the Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 tab for details of the recalled products.
  • Consumer Product Safety Recall: Church & Dwight Canada recalls Spinbrush Pro Clean SONIC Recharge Toothbrushes (Lot codes DD9355 to 9365 and DD0002 to 0122; distributed between February 2010 and October 2011) due to the risks, including fire, shock or burns, posed by the charging base overheating.

Europe

Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands

  • Outbreak Alert (Hong Kong): The Centre for Health Protection is investigating a confirmed case of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection in an 80-year old man who was hospitalized with bloody diarrhea. The patient had no travel history and his home contacts are asymptomatic.
  • Contaminated Water Alert (China): China’s Ministry of Land and Resources reported today that “dirty” underground water continues to be a serious problem for Chinese cities, as a majority of monitored sites reported “bad or extremely bad” water quality in 2011.

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.

Pet Food Salmonella Outbreak Spreads To Canada

Add one resident of Canada’s province of Quebec to the list of 14 US residents who became infected with Salmonella Infantis courtesy of contaminated dry pet food from Diamond Pet Foods.

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) issued a Public Health Notice this evening, with the following statement:

Several people in the United States and one person in Canada have become ill with a Salmonella infection as a result of contact with pets or pet food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. A manufacturer in the United States, Diamond Pet Foods, has recalled several batches of its dry pet food due to possible contamination with Salmonella, including pet food that was shipped to Canada.

The affected pet food was distributed to British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick and may have been distributed to other provinces and territories.

The single Canadian case of illness is from Quebec.

The Notice refers consumers to Diamond Pet Foods’ recall notices and information posted by the US FDA. The PHAC notice does not indicate whether the Canadian outbreak victim reported direct contact with one of the recalled pet foods. Nor is there any indication as to which retailers sold the recalled products in Canada.

Here are some things consumers in Canada, the USA and elsewhere can do to protect themselves, their families, and their pets from becoming statistics in this outbreak:

  • Check your supply of pet food to see whether it is affected by the recall. If it is on the recall list, either throw it away or return the unused portion to the retailer.
  • If you have handled one of the recalled products and you develop symptoms of Salmonella (stomach ache, diarrhea, etc), seek immediate medical attention and mention the possible link to pet food.
  • If your dog or cat was fed one of the recalled products and develops symptoms of gastrointestinal illness (vomiting or diarrhea), seek immediate veterinary attention. Ask your veterinarian to test your pet for Salmonella. If the test is positive, you or your veterinarian should contact FDA immediately to have the unused portion of the pet food tested.
  • Review the FDA Tips for Preventing Foodborne Illness Associated with Pet Food and Pet Treats, and follow its recommendations to keep your family and your pets safe.
  • Monitor eFoodAlert’s Diamond Pet Foods, Etc. Recalls – 2012 page. It will be updated as more information becomes available.

Above all, be aware that dogs may be infected with Salmonella – and may shed the bacteria in their stool – without showing any outward symptoms of illness. If your pet has consumed a Diamond Pet Foods dry dog food, be especially careful to wash your hands after handling the animal, and supervise closely any interaction between children and your pet.