Sunday, October 31, 2010

Outbreaks and Alerts: October 31, 2010

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.


For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.



Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Guangxi, China. October 31st: Regional health authorities have confirmed recent outbreaks of paratyphoid fever, mainly among students attending Middle School and High School in the region. As of October 29th, authorities were reporting 107 cases of paratyphoid fever – 84 of them among students. Eighty of the infected individuals have been treated in hospital, including 50 students from the High School. The youngest victim is a 5-year old girl, and the oldest is 73 years old. The source of the outbreaks has not been determined.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. October 28th: Eleven students were taken to hospital when they began to vomit after eating their school breakfast. The students have since been released from hospital. This is the fourth case of food poisoning related to the consumption of school breakfasts so far this year.
  • Port-au-Prince, Haiti. October 31st: With 337 Haitians dead from cholera, and more than 4,764 confirmed infected with Vibrio cholerae, Haiti's public health authorities are investigating whether the disease was introduced into the country by Nepalese soldiers who are part of the United Nations response to Haiti's earthquake. The Nepalese contingent arrived in Haiti on October 9th, days before the outbreak began. According to the UN, however, tests carried out in the peacekeeping camp have not revealed the presence of the pathogen.



Recall Roundup: October 31, 2010

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 click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.


United States
  • Public Health Alert: USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a Public Health Alert for an undetermined amount of various meat and poultry products produced without the benefit of Federal inspection by N.Y. Gourmet Salads Inc. (Brooklyn, NY). Federal inspection services at N.Y. Gourmet Salads were suspended in November 2009. Evidence collected during an ongoing FSIS investigation shows that the establishment has been producing meat and poultry products and distributing them into commerce. The implicated products were produced between March 11, 2010 and October 29, 2010 and distributed to retail establishments in New York.


Europe
  • OTC Pharmaceutical Safety Recall (France): Laboratoire Leurquin-Mediolanum recalls Dimetane Sans Sucre Sirop contre la Toux Sèche (Dimetane sugar-free syrup for dry coughs), Lot C48 because of an excessive amount of active ingredient in the syrop.
  • Medical Device Safety Recall (France): Johnson and Johnson Vision Care recalls 1 Day Acuvue TruEye™ disposable contact lenses. This is an expansion of an earlier recall, which was announced in August 2010. The affected lenses can be identified by lot numbers in the ranges of 492273-492498 and 502080-502269.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Food Safety Recall (Israel): Maadanei Miki recalls Matjas herring (200g; Bar code 7290002014133; Expiration date November 25, 2010), due to contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.



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.



Saturday, October 30, 2010

Recall Roundup: October 30, 2010

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 click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.


United States


Canada
  • OTC Topical Pharmaceutical Safety Recall: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) recalls Emo-Cort 2.5% Lotion (Lot #SR6), due to the presence of mold contamination. This contamination exposes Canadians who use the product and who have weakened immune systems to developing a local or more widespread fungal infection. GSK recently recalled a similar product, Emo-Cort 1% (Lot #12R7) due to mold contamination. The company has put on hold all of its Emo-Cort products at the manufacturing facility pending their investigation.


Europe
  • Food Safety Alert (Ireland): Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has been notified that a sample of Beechvale Natural Still Water (500ml plastic bottle; Batch code: end September 2011) was found to contain E. coli. Although E. coli may be non-pathogenic, it is an indicator of faecal contamination and renders the water unsafe and in breach of microbiological criteria for bottled water. FSAI is investigating.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Inco recalls fresh and iced mackerel fillets (invoice item #65044), sold to restaurants, institutions and individual retail outlets on Zealand, after receiving reports of histamine poisoning in people who consumed the fish.
  • Food Safety Recall (Denmark): Magnihill Danmark recalls ScanAgra brand frozen raspberries (bags of 2500g; production date 12.08.2010; best before 12.08.2012; lot #03021208), due to contamination with norovirus. The recalled berries were sold wholesale through a particular Credin bakery partner.


Australia and New Zealand
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Recall (Australia): Dateline Imports Pty Ltd recalls all batches of Keratin Complex Smoothing Therapy, Smoothing Therapy for Blond Hair and Express Blow Out, because the products contain excessive formaldehyde. The recalled hair smoothing treatment products were sold nationally for salon use only.


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.



Friday, October 29, 2010

Outbreaks and Alerts: October 29, 2010

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.


For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.


United States
  • Tallahassee, FL. October 28th: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that two tomato vendors (Chavita's Produce and Parra Produce) at a private Immokalee farmers market have been served with misdemeanor violation notices for failing to comply with food safety rules involving the sanitizing and packing of tomatoes. In addition, seven Stop Sale Orders were issued for violation of F.S.S. 500.04, Selling of Misbranded Food.
  • St. Paul, MN. October 28th: Minnesota state health officials report that routine disease surveillance has detected seven additional illnesses linked to consumption of raw dairy products from the Hartmann dairy farm in Sibley County. Three of the individuals were infected with Campylobacter jejuni and four with Cryptosporidium. The microbes recovered from the infected individuals were genetic matches to microbes found in animal and environmental samples taken on the Hartmann farm this past summer. In addition, the state has identified 47 other people since Jan. 1, 2010 who became ill after drinking raw milk from a variety of sources throughout the state; none of these 47 cases was part of an identified outbreak (no two cases reported the same source). Most of the individual cases have been in children or young adults.



Canada
  • London, ON. October 29th: At least 25 people were taken ill with suspected norovirus after a Thanksgiving buffet at the Hunt and Country Club in London on October 11th. At least four more people became ill after attending an event for medical residents that was held at the same location on October 13th.


Europe
  • UK. October 28th: The Health Protection Agency's Centre for Infections (CFI) has identified 190 confirmed cases of Salmonella Bareilly in England (183), Wales (5) and Northern Ireland (2) since the beginning of August. Health Protection Scotland has identified 21 cases, bring the outbreak total to 211 confirmed cases so far. In an earlier update, CFI reported having recovered from a sample of bean sprouts a strain of Salmonella Bareilly identical to that found in the outbreak victims.
  • Kharkov, Ukraine. October 28th: Thirty-one people were hospitalized in Kharkov with salmonellosis after eating at the Café Angelica. Three of the 31 hospitalized victims have been released.
  • Ekibastuz, Russia. October 29th: Fifteen cases of hepatitis A have been reported among students attending Secondary School No. 11.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Hong Kong. October 28th: The Centre for Health Protection is investigating an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis involving 25 students aged six to 11 and one staff member at a Kwun Tong primary school.
  • Hong Kong. October 29th: The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) reports that the test results of 115 samples of hairy crabs recently collected at import, wholesale and retail levels for chemical and microbiological tests in a seasonal food surveillance project were all found to be satisfactory.


Australia and New Zealand
  • New South Wales, Australia. October 29th: Authorities are broadening investigations into a range of additional products such as imported slimming tea, coffee and chocolates which have been previously implicated internationally as containing undeclared pharmaceuticals including sibutramine.

Recall Roundup: October 29, 2010

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 click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.



Canada
  • Food Safety Recall: Aux Purs Délices (Verdun, QC) recalls its Sauce à la viande (meat sauce) and Sauce à la viande épicée (spicy meat sauce), because the product labels do not display the instruction "Garder réfrigéré" (Keep refrigerated). The products were sold from a refrigerated display case in 500mL and 1,000mL glass jars. The public is warned to discard the meat sauces if they have not been stored in the refrigerator at all times.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall: Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. recalls GlucaGen Hypokit (lot #YW60462) after a quality issue was identified that may affect a small number of kits. This recall is in addition to the recall of two lots of the same product announced in August. In the recalled lot, some of the glass vials containing the active ingredient glucagon have been found to be cracked or broken. Use of a cracked vial may result in glucagon fluid leakage and may make the product unusable, which could result in treatment delays if no back-up kit is readily available, and potential health risks.


Europe
  • Allergy Alert (Sweden and Denmark): Lantmännen Cerealia withdraws nine Golden Eagle brand cake mixtures after some Danish customers experience an allergic reaction. The source of the allergic reactions was determined to be the presence in the mixes of undeclared hydrolyzed wheat protein.
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Denmark and Sweden): Denmark's Food Administration warns consumers against buying Elsinore pills, sold from the Sweden-based website helsingorpille.dk. Elsinore pills contain both synefrin and caffeine. These two ingredients, when taken in combination, can cause very serious central nervous system and cardiovascular side effects.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1471): Escherichia coli in frozen spinach from Belgium; distributed to Finland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1472): Bacillus cereus and Salmonella spp. in ground cumin from India; distributed to the United Kingdom.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1473): Methomyl in pomegranates from Egypt, via Latvia; distributed to Lithuania.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1474): Histamine in marinated herring with cherry from Poland; distributed to Poland and the United Kingdom.
  • Consumer Product Safety Notification (EU #2010.1475): Migration of cadmium and of lead from rim of decorated glasses from Turkey; distributed to Poland.


Australia and New Zealand
  • Medical Device Safety Recall (Australia and New Zealand): Johnson & Johnson Pacific Pty Ltd recalls selected lots of 1-Day ACUVUE TruEye Contact Lenses (lot numbers beginning with one of the following sequences: 492405, 492439, 492441, 492443, 492445, 492452, 492453, 492460, 502111, 502167). The recall is due to the failure in one of the manufacturing line's rinsing procedure that could leave a small amount of residue on the contact lens. The residue has the potential to cause irritation on insertion of the contact lens.



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.



Thursday, October 28, 2010

Estrella Cheese Raid: It's NOT About The Raw Milk

FDA details sanitary violations at Estrella Family Creamery

  • Cheese wheels stored on rough-cut lumber.
  • Sampling devices wiped with unwashed, unsanitized rag.
  • Inadequate hand-washing.
  • Improper storage of cleaned and sanitized utensils.

These are just some of the observations recorded by FDA investigator Scott W. Fox, who visited Estrella Family Creamery last month. And just in case anyone thinks that this is an exaggeration, let me quote the complete list of observations:

Observation 1. Failure to manufacture and store foods under conditions and controls necessary to minimize the potential for growth of microorganisms and contamination.
Specifically, on 9/1/10 cheese wheels were observed being stored in cheese storage Cave 1, in direct contact with rough-cut, undressed lumber shelving that showed a buildup of product residue. On 9/1/10 a leaking cooler water line in Cave 1 was observed dripping onto the top wood shelf within several inches of exposed cheese product

Observation 2. Failure to take necessary precautions to protect against contamination of food and food contact surfaces with microorganisms and foreign substances.
Specifically, the owner was observed on 9/1/10 removing a core of cheese from a wheel with a trier, placed a portion of cheese into her mouth, and replaced the cheese plug in the wheel, before loading it for transport to market. The trier was wiped with a rag after each use without apparent washing or sanitizing and no hand washing was observed before a repeat of this process.

Observation 3. Employees did not wash hands thoroughly in an adequate hand-washing facility after each absence from the work station and at any time their hands may have become soiled or contaminated.
Specifically, the owner was observed on 9/1/10 making multiple trips to transfer unwrapped ready-to-eat cheese from the processing area to the retail area and transport vehicle without washing her hands before handling other ready-to-eat cheeses.

Observation 4. Suitable outer garments are not worn that protect against contamination of food and food packaging materials.
Specifically, the owner was observed on 9/1/10 carrying cheese wheels held against her street clothing from the storage and processing area to the retail packaging room.

Observation 5. Failure to take effective measures to protect against the inclusion of metal and extraneous material in food.
Specifically, on 9/1/10 cheese wheels were observed stored directly on rough-cut wood shelving in Cave 1 that showed extensive splintering and loose wood particles. Loose nuts, bolts, tacks, and other metal parts were observed on several shelves next to product. A hand wrench was observed lying on one shelf in direct contact with a wheel of cheese.

Observation 6. The materials and workmanship of equipment does not allow proper cleaning.
Specifically, on 9/1/10 several of the cheese press pipes were observed with peeling paint and all had taped handles. The weights used to hang on the press handles were observed with a heavy buildup of rust on either end. Two employees were observed to alternately handle the pipes and weights and cheese molds and cloth containing curds. On 9/1/10 rough-cut, undressed lumber shelving and support structures used to store and age exposed cheese were observed in Cave 1.

Observation 7. Failure to maintain buildings, fixtures, or other physical facilities in a sanitary condition.
Specifically, on 9/1/10 the following areas were observed to be soiled with hand prints, dark smudges, or splash residue:
  1. The exterior of the plastic drawer/storage cabinet, next to a clean utensil storage rack, in the processing room.
  2. The exterior and interior surfaces of the entrance door to cheese storage Cave 1.
  3. The exterior and interior surfaces of the entrance door to cheese storage Cave 2.
  4. The exterior and interior surfaces of the entrance door to cheese storage Cave 3.
  5. The exterior and interior surfaces of the door between the main processing room and the hallway leading storage Caves 2 and 3.
  6. The bare plywood panel above the window air conditioner unit in the main processing room.

Observation 8. Failure to store cleaned and sanitized portable equipment in a manner which protects food-contact surfaces from contamination.
Specifically, on 9/1/10 several ounces of water were observed in each of four cleaned stainless steel milk buckets stored upright and lidded on a utensil drying/storage rack.

Observation 9. Effective measures are not being taken to exclude pests from the processing areas and protect against the contamination of food on the premises by pests.
Specifically, on 9/1/10 ten or more live, small flying insects were observed on the ceiling and walls of the milk room vestibule. At three of these insects were observed on the outside of the cheese cloth and molds of cheese draining on a work table in the processing room.

Observation 10. Failure to wear hair restraints where appropriate.
Specifically, the owner was observed on 9/1/10 not wearing hair restraint while carrying cheese wheels from the three storage caves and staging them on a work table in the main processing room.

These conditions would not be acceptable at a large cheese production facility, and they should not be acceptable at a "boutique" operation.

After failing to obtain Estrella's cooperation in recalling cheese that FDA believed to present a risk to public health, the agency sought – and was granted on October 21st – a warrant to seize all cheeses held on the premises of the Estrella Family Creamery. The warrant was issued based on the observations of insanitary conditions recorded during the September 1st inspection, together with a pattern of Listeria monocytogenes contamination that was documented over several months.

I am not opposed categorically to the consumption of raw milk or of dairy products made using raw milk. On the contrary. When I visit France, I enjoy sampling a variety of raw milk cheeses.

What I object to is the implicit assumption on the part of some defenders of those who supply raw dairy products that these producers are somehow exempt from the fundamental obligation of all food producers to operate under safe, sanitary conditions.

Whether Estrella Family Creamery makes their artisan cheeses using raw milk or pasteurized milk is irrelevant. The condition under which they handle and store their cheeses is entirely relevant.

I would not accept these unsanitary conditions from Kraft, Cabot, or Land 'O Lakes. And I will not accept them from artisan producers like Estrella Family Creamery.


If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

Recall Roundup: October 28, 2010

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 click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.

For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.

For information on the Abbott infant formula powder recall, please click here.


United States
  • Food Safety Recall: Autentico Foods (Hawaiian Gardens, CA) recalls approximately 54,000 pounds of ready-to-eat fried pork products and pickled pork skins that it did not produce in accordance with its food safety plan, failing to take the steps it had determined were necessary to produce safe products. The problem was discovered through a review of company records by FSIS in-plant inspection personnel. The review uncovered evidence to show that the establishment’s food safety records cannot be relied upon to document compliance with its Listeria prerequisite program. The fried pork products were distributed to retail establishments in California. The pickled pork skin products were distributed to retail establishments in California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.


Canada
  • Homeopathic Product Safety Recall: Hyland's Homeopathic Canada (Hyland's), a division of Standard Homeopathic Company, recalls its Hyland's Teething Tablets from the Canadian market because they may pose a risk to children. Hyland's Teething Tablets are manufactured to contain a small amount of belladonna, a substance that can cause serious harm at larger doses. The US FDA has received reports of serious adverse events in children taking this product that are consistent with belladonna toxicity but conclusive links have not been formally determined.


Europe
  • Food Safety Recall Update (UK): The UK Food Standards Agency has issued a Food Alert for Action, asking local authorities to make sure that all batches of Sokolów's Home Black Pudding Sausages and Sokolów's Grill Black Pudding Sausages have been withdrawn from sale and recalled from consumers. The recall was initiated after the products were found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
  • Food Safety Recall: Pentik Ltd. recalls jouluglögi (Christmas mulled wine), imported from Sweden (best before 28/02/2012), because of an excessive level of benzoic acid and errors in the product labeling.
  • Pharmaceutical Product Safety Recall (UK): Novo Nordisk A/S recalls GlucaGen® HypoKit, 1mg (Batch #YW60411 and YW60452) due to a defect in a small number of vials. In some vials, the glass of the powder vial is cracked close to the base so that when the solvent is added, the vial leaks.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1458): Undeclared sulphite in dried figs from the United States, packaged in the United Kingdom; distributed to Greece.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1459): Salmonella in chilled pork meat from Germany; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1460): Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mineral water from Lithuania; distributed to Ireland.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1461): Salmonella spp. in raw poultry sausages from Latvia; distributed to Estonia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1462): Stones in frozen forest fruits from Belgium; distributed to Denmark.
  • Allergy Alert Notification (EU #2010.1463): Undeclared soya in meatloaf from Poland; distributed to Slovakia.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1464): Metal fragments in poultry meat sausage from Germany; distributed to Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1465): Listeria monocytogenes in ham from Germany; distributed to Slovenia.
  • Consumer Product Safety Notification (EU #2010.1466): Migration of primary aromatic amines from black nylon spoons from China; distributed to France.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1467): Listeria monocytogenes in smoked salmon from Lithuania, via Germany; distributed to Austria.
  • Animal Feed Safety Notification (EU #2010.1468): Salmonella group C in extracted soya bean meal from Argentina; distributed to the Czech Republic and Germany.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1469): Presence of poisonous mushrooms - Amanita phalloides in fresh mushrooms from Bulgaria; distributed to Italy.
  • Food Safety Notification (EU #2010.1470): Ochratoxin A in ground corn for tortillas from the United States; distributed to the United Kingdom.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Dietary Supplement Safety Alert (Hong Kong): The Department of Health warns members of the public not to buy or consume a slimming product named “Crystal Pills” as it was found to contain undeclared sibutramine, a western drug ingredient that may be dangerous to health.
  • Proprietary Medicine Recall (Hong Kong and Macao): Hong Kong Medicine Manufactory recalls Wintex Tong Hang Wan Pills (Batch #PN0702W1) after the Macao Health Bureau detects excessive amounts of yeast and mold in the product.
  • Contact Lens Safety Recall (Hong Kong): Johnson & Johnson (HK) Limited extends its August 19th recall of 1 Day Acuvue TruEye contact lenses to include additional lot numbers. The product recall now encompasses lot numbers falling between 492237 and 492498 and between 502080 and 502269. According to Johnson & Johnson, detailed investigation into the incident in August revealed that the lens rinsing process on two production lines did not meet the internal production standards of the company, leading to a residual trace amount of diluent in the lenses.


Australia and New Zealand
  • Food Safety Recall (Australia): Moti Group Australia recalls Moti Angel Coffee weight loss beverage, 50g and 100g cardboard boxes containing 10 x 5g and 20 x 5g packets, respectively (all expiry dates up to and including 25/09/2010), because the product contains sibutramine, a non-compliant prescription medicine. The recalled product was imported from Hong Kong and distributed only in New South Wales.
  • Cosmetic Product Safety Recall (Australia): Beauty Secrecy Corp Pty Ltd (T/A. Locks Lash) recalls all batches of Locks Lash - Jet Lash Adhesive (eyelash extension glue), due to the presence of excessive concentrations of formaldehyde. The recalled product was sold in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia through Sunstate Therapy Supplies, Budget Beauty Supplies, Capital Salon Supplies, and Casey College of Beauty.



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.



Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Outbreaks and Alerts: October 27, 2010

A daily digest of international outbreaks, alerts and food safety news

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please click here or submit your request using the sidebar link. Please include "subscribe eFoodAlert" in the subject line.


For information on the US Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak and egg recalls, please click here.


United States
  • Canton, KS. October 23rd: The boil water advisory for the City of Canton has been rescinded.
  • Lansing, MI. October 27th: The departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Environment remind hunters and retail food establishments to follow food safety processing guidelines when handling and preparing deer and other wild game.
  • Wilmington, NC. October 27th: There have been 32 confirmed cases of shigellosis in the Wilmington area since September 20th, according to a report in today's StarNews Online.


Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands
  • Mesra, Algeria. October 23rd: As many as 324 people have been stricken with food poisoning after consuming cakes purchased from a pâtisserie located in the commune of Mesra. A crisis center has been established to coordinate the outbreak response.
  • Assam, India. October 27th: At least 16 people have died of cholera in Assam and 150 others are suffering from the disease. Most of the illnesses are reported from the tea plantation areas, according to the Times of India.
  • Hong Kong. October 27th: The Centre for Food Safety has released the findings of its food safety report for September 2010. Of the 5,500 food samples tested, 22 were found to be unsatisfactory.
  • Abu Dhabi. October 27th: The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) has visited 27 food establishments in Madinat Zayed. The inspectors issued 13 warnings and ordered the destruction of 25 Kg of food items during the campaign. Of the 27 establishments visited by inspectors, only 14 were fully compliant with the ADFCA standards and specifications.
  • Beijing, China. October 27th: China has begun a nationwide campaign to evaluate the country's food safety system, according to an article in Food Safety News.
  • Sichuan, China. October 27th: China's food safety agency has ordered health authorities to investigate the food poisoning of almost 400 people at a wedding in Sichuan Province. The incident took place this past weekend. Lab tests carried out by the Chengdu disease control and prevention center determined that the source of the outbreak was undercooked soft-shelled turtles and crabs served at the wedding banquet. The pathogen responsible for the illnesses was not mentioned in the news report.
  • Uganda. October 27th: Ugandan health officials have confirmed that cholera was responsible for 5 deaths and 103 illnesses in the country's Nakapiripirit region last week.
  • Xiamen, China. October 27th: Some 70 college and university students were stricken with food poisoning on October 25th; 16 of them were hospitalized for treatment and observation. All of the ill students reported having eaten Peilesi sandwich bread. The Peilesi Food Co. denied any connection with the incident.


Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Arcahaie, Haiti. October 26th: The death toll in Haiti's cholera epidemic has reached 284, with 3,612 people hospitalized. Several countries have announced that they are sending aid shipments.