The central kitchen that supplied food to eleven daycare centers in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was in violation of several fundamental safe food-handling practices, according to a report released by Alberta Health Services (AHS).
The kitchen was ordered closed on September 4, 2023, and was inspected by the AHS the following day.
Eleven of the hospitalized victims have been released. Twenty-five individuals remain in hospital, and 22 of those patients are suffering from haemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS. Six patients are receiving peritoneal dialysis.
The Fueling Minds kitchen supplied food to eleven daycare centers in the Calgary area. All of the centers were ordered closed pending cleaning, sanitation and inspection. All of them have now been allowed to reopen.
September 5, 2023 inspection results
AHS inspectors documented five violations of safe food handling practices during the course of the September 5th inspection. Three of the violations were identified as “critical.”
Pest control
Two live adult cockroaches were observed on the sides of stainless steel equipment around the dishwashing area. The tin cat traps by the two separate two-compartment sinks had at least 20 cockroaches on the sticky pads each.
The inspection report also noted that the three most recent pest control treatments (for June, July, and August 2023) were not properly documented.
Sanitizer
The manual sanitizer dispenser was defective, resulting in no effective sanitizer (0 ppm) being present in the final sanitizing solution.
The defective dispenser was replaced during the course of the inspection.
Temperature control
The central kitchen did not have equipment available to keep perishable food cold during transportation to the individual daycare centers. As a result, food was exposed to ambient temperature for as long as 90 minutes or more while en route to these locations.
Non-critical violations
Inspectors also recorded two non-critical violations.
Smell of sewer gas near a sink in the food preparation area.
Insanitary storage of a probe used to test the temperature of cooked food.
Pattern of violations
A review of past inspection reports revealed a pattern of poor food-handling and sanitation practices extending back to July 2021, when the facility was inspected for the first time.
These violations included:
Inadequate cleaning/sanitizing of both a small KitchenAid mixer and a large commercial mixer.
Poor maintenance of critical equipment (eg., dishwasher).
Lack of test strips to monitor sanitizer concentration in cleaning/sanitizing solution.
Improper storage of dishes and utensils.
Operating without a valid Food Handling Permit.
Several of these violations were documented on multiple occasions.
What parents need to know
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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
FOOD SAFETY ALERT: The FDA advises consumers not to eat, and restaurants and food retailers not to sell, and to dispose of oysters harvested from Groton Approved area in Connecticut from 8/28/2023 through 8/30/2023 from dealers CT-393-SS, AQ, CT-004-SS, AQ, and CT-020-SS, AQ with lots, L-30 and L-26B1 due to sample results showing potential contamination. The nature of the potential contamination has not been specified.
Food Safety Recall: AJC International, Inc. recalls Frozen Pork Front Hock (15-kg/33.07-lb. cases; Case code 18019; Cert. No. 251497; Best before July 14-27, 2025, inclusive; Product of Canada) due to lack of import reinspection.
Food Safety Recall: OBC GROUP CORP recalls NUT DIET MAX Nuez de la India Seeds and Capsules because FDA analysis has determined that the products appear to be Thevetia peruviana, or yellow oleander, a highly toxic plant.
Food Safety Recall: Life Raft Treats recalls three ice cream products due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.
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Canada
OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION (Calgary, AB): An outbreak of E. coli that sickened at least 50 children and resulted in 12 hospitalizations has been linked to a Calgary daycare operator. Seventeen of the cases have been lab-confirmed. Eleven daycare locations, all of which are served by a common kitchen, have been closed until the issues surrounding the outbreak have been resolved. Please refer to the Alberta Health Services notice for a list of affected locations and for information on what to do if you believe your child is infected.
Allergy Alert (Germany): Intersnack Deutschland SE recalls funny-frisch Chipsfrisch ungarisch / Hungarian crisps (150g; Lot LHB 32 B; Best before 01.01.24) due to undeclared milk.
Allergy Alert (UK): Marks and Spencer recalls Plant Kitchen No Chicken and Chorizo Sandwich (Use by 06 September 2023) due to undeclared egg.
Food Safety Recall (France): COOPERATIVE ISIGNY-SAINTE MERE recalls Isigny Sainte-Mère brand Trésor d’Isigny cheese (150g; Lot C1911; Best before 03/09/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): COOPERATIVE ISIGNY-SAINTE MERE recalls Isigny Sainte-Mère brand Le Petit Vey cheese (130g & 150g; Lot C1911; Best before 03/09/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): COOPERATIVE U recalls U brand Cordon bleu de dinde / Turkey Cordon bleu (2 x 100g/pkg; Lot Q230; Use by 13/09/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): LDC SABLE recalls Le Gaulois brand Cuisses de poulet / Chicken legs (500g; Lot 3013018241; Use by 20/08/2023 & 21/08/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): CARREFOUR FRANCE recalls SIMPL brand CUISSES DE POULET BLANC AVEC PORTION DE DOS / White chicken legs with back portions (6-pack; Lot 3013018251; Use by 19/08/2023 & 20/08/2023) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): ACHATS MARCHANDISES CASINO FRANPRIX recalls Pilons de poulet blanc / White chicken drumsticks (1 kg; Lot 3013018133; Use by 19/08/2023, 20/08/2023, 21/08/2023, 22/08/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): SUPERMARCHES MATCH recalls PPNP brand Cuisse de poulet dessossée marinée / Boneless, marinated chicken legs (Sold from 25/08/2023 to 31/08/2023) due to Salmonella contamination.
Food Safety Recall (France): NORMA SARLrecalls Mini gâches pur beurre / Pure butter mini rolls (6/pack; Lot L0223193 023 D0030; Best by 10/09/2023) due to mold contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Luxembourg): Auchan recalls Isigny Sainte-MèrebrandLe Petit Veycheese (130g & 150g; Lot C1911; Best before 03/09/2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Netherlands): Lidl recalls McEnnedy Corn Dogs (530g; Best before 28 April 2024, 10 June 2024 and 10 August 2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Norway): Troll Salmon AS recalls Troll Salmon brand Røkt laks i skiver / Sliced smoked salmon (120g, 250g, 500g; Batch 235; Use by 03.10.23) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Ingelsta Kalkon recalls Skinnfri kalkongrillkorv / Skinless turkey barbecue sausage (400g; Best before 05-09-2023, 15-09-2023, 19-09-2023, 21-09-2023, 26-09-2023, 29-09-2023) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Coop recalls Coop brand kyckling grillkorv / Chicken barbecue sausage (400g; Best before dates on or after 2023-09-04), Coop brand kyckling tjock grillkorv / Chicken thick barbecue sausage (360g; Best before dates on or after 2023-09-05), and Xtra brand kyckling grillkorv / Chicken barbecue sausage (400g; Best before dates on or after 2023-09-06) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (Sweden): Axfood recalls Eldorado kycklinggrillkorv / Chicken barbecue sausage (400g; All Best before dates) and Eldorado kycklingchorizo / Chicken chorizo (400g; All Best before dates) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Food Safety Recall (UK): Lidl recalls McEnnedy Corn Dogs (530g; Best before 28 April 2024, 10 June 2024 and 10 August 2024) due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination.
Australia and New Zealand
Food Safety Alert (New Zealand): New Zealand Food Safety is advising people not to consume a seaweed tonic being sold in a glass bottle labelled ‘NZ Focuidan’ or an unlabelled bottle, as the product was not registered under the Food Act and has not been through the required checks and balances to make sure it is safe to consume.
“Reads like a true crime novel” – Food Safety News
Interested in learning more about food safety and the history of foodborne disease outbreaks and investigations?
Click on the link to listen to a short excerpt, then follow the buy links to add a digital, print or audio copy to your personal library.
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