Multistate US Outbreak of Hepatitis a Infections

Monitoring of Emerging Food Safety IssuesNewsletterMay 2013

Hot Issues

This section includes the most recent developing issues and those most widely reported during the month of May.

June 4, 2013.

Multistate US outbreak of Hepatitis A infections

49 people have been reported ill with acute hepatitis A which has been associated with frozen berry and pomegranate mix purchased from Costco in seven US states. Costco is notifying its members who purchased this product since late February 2013, and has removed this product from its shelves. Preliminary laboratory studies of specimens from two cases suggest the outbreak strain of hepatitis A virus (HAV) is genotype 1B. This strain is rarely seen in the Americas but circulates in the North Africa and Middle East regions.

Microbiological Outbreaks

Salmonella

Salmonella outbreak sickens 294 in Las Vegas

Las Vegas’s Firefly restaurant has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak which has sickened at least 294 people. The outbreak strain of Salmonella had been found in a sample of cooked chorizo collected from the tapas-style restaurant. The bacteria sickened 290 patrons of the restaurant and 4 workers. 73 have been confirmed as part of the outbreak and 221 others are considered probable.

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140 person Salmonella outbreak linked to Canberra restaurant

More than 140 people have fallen ill and 15 admitted to hospital after eating at The Copa Brazilian Churrasco in Dickson. Testing has revealed salmonella bacteria in the mayonnaise prepared at the restaurant. The restaurant has since reopened after investigation from ACT Health.

Surveillance, Monitoring & Evaluation

EFSA finds flavouring substance safety concern

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has found that a flavouring compound used to give a burnt, nutty flavour to confectionery, baked goods and some savoury products is a safety concern for human health.

Emerging Science

US study examines inorganic arsenic levels in chicken

Arsenic based drugs are permitted in poultry production in the US, but the contribution of chicken consumption to inorganic arsenic intake is unknown. Researchers at John Hopkins University have published a study examining samples of conventionally raised chickens that were fed antibiotics, antibiotic-free chickens, and organically raised chickens. Meat from those chickens raised with antibiotics had more than twice the amount of inorganic arsenic (1.8 ppb) compared with the antibiotic-free (0.7 ppb) and organic.

New Publications

USDA and FDA release report to reduce Listeria in deli products

U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have released a detailed draft risk assessment aimed at reducing Listeria monocytogenes in deli products reaching consumers’ plates.

Labelling

Canadian tenderized beef to get new safe-cooking labels

Federally registered meat plants will be required to put new labels on mechanically tenderized beef in order to make it safer for consumers.

Australian & New Zealand Issues

Customers eat caustic soda instead of salt

Five children and six adults are recovering from burns to their mouths and throats after a salt shaker containing caustic soda was sprinkled over their food at a Western Australian fast food restaurant.

Hong Kong importer recalls tainted milk from Australia

A batch of Pura skim milk from Australia has been found to contain high levels of bacteria and is being recalled by its sole importer in Hong Kong.

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Food Recalls

USA – Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Tahini recalled due to potential Salmonella contamination

Krinos Foods, LLC. has voluntarily recalled its tahini sesame paste because it may be contaminated with Salmonella(see also Microbiological Outbreaks above).

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Pizza recalled for possible contamination with foreign matter

Nestlé USA’s Pizza Division have recalled select pizza products which may contain fragments of clear plastic.

Ice cream recalled for incorrect packaging

Dairy Fresh is voluntarily recalling vanilla and chocolate ice cream because it incorrectly contains heavenly hash ice cream, which contains almonds, coconut, and soy not declared on the label.

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Chocolate covered bananas recalled due to undeclared milk and walnuts

Tropical Valley Foods Inc. has recalled their dark chocolate bananas due to undeclared milk and walnuts.
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Corn recalled due to possible aflatoxin contamination

Rural King Distributing has recalled 205 tons of deer corn because it has the potential to be contaminated with aflatoxin.

Shrimp recalled due to contamination with foreign material

Galveston Shrimp Company has issued a voluntary recall of its pre-packaged Texas gulf shrimp due to foreign material found in a bag.

Pre-packaged mixes recalled for potential Salmonella contamination

Eco-Cuisine has recalled all lots of basic brownie mix, Betty brownie mix with vanilla, ground beef style quick mix, sausage style quick mix, chocolate cookie mix, lemon muffin mix, English scone mix, basic cookie mix, basic muffin mix and basic scone mix because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmon recalled due to potential Listeria contamination

Salmolux has recalled certain of its cold smoked salmon productsbecause of the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Veggie burgers recalled for undeclared milk

Lightlife Foods has recalled a limited number of packages of its Lightlife Farmer’s Market Veggie Burgers that may contain milk not declared on the label.

USA – Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

Pasta products recalled due to mislabelling and lack of inspection

Real Pasta Inc. has recalled approximately 25,000 pounds of assorted pasta products that were processed without benefit of inspection. Some of the products were also misbranded after being repackaged and may contain soy.

Cheese recalled due to undeclared soy

Formaggio Italian Cheese Specialties has recalled approximately 234 pounds of fresh mozzarella with chorizo and cilantro products because of undeclared soy.

Frozen pizza recalled due to contamination with foreign matter

Nestlé Pizza Company has recalled their frozen pizzas which may be contaminated with extraneous materials.

Meatballs recalled due to possible Listeria contamination

P.E. & F. Inc. has recalled approximately 123 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat meatballs due to possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

Stew products recalled due to undeclared whey and soy

Acadian Fine Foods, LLC, has recalled approximately 17,037 pounds of pork stew and chicken stew products because of undeclared whey and soy on the product label.

Pie products recalled due to unlabelled milk

Jolly Good Meat Products has recalled approximately 1,471 pounds of pork meat pie products because of undeclared milk.

Grilled chicken recalled due to unlabelled wheat and soy

Foster Farms has recalled approximately 6,165 pounds of ready-to-eat grilled chicken breast strips that contain undeclared wheat and soy.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CIFA)

Pizza recalled due to contamination with foreign matter

Nestlé Canada Inc. have recalled their Delissio brand thin crispy crust grilled chicken, tomato and spinach pizza as it may contain pieces of plastic.

Raisins recalled for undeclared sulphites

Mitchell Agencies and Concord National have recalled their Golden Sun brand seedless raisins which may contain sulphites not declared on the label.

Pizza recalled for unlabeled mustard

RFG Canada Inc. has recalled select pizza products which may contain mustard not declared on the label.

Cereal recalled for undeclared sesame

Hapi Foods Group Inc. have recalled their breakfast cereal which may contain sesame seeds not declared on the label.

Nut butter recalled for possible Salmonella contamination

Tootsi Impex Inc.has recalled select almond butter, peanut butter and tahini products which may be contaminated with Salmonella or other harmful bacteria.

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Confection recalled for unlabelled egg

Chocolat Jean-Talon Chocolate Inc. hasrecalled their hollow milk flavoured confection products that contain egg which is not properly declared on the label.

Hazelnuts recalled for possible Salmonella contamination

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a recall for shell hazelnuts or mixed nuts in shell because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella.

Grape juice recalled for undeclared sulphites

Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) have recalled President’s Choice brand white grape juice because the product contains sulphites which are not declared on the label.

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Protein bar recalled for undeclared milk

Sequel Naturals Ltd. have recalled Vega Sport brand protein bar because the product contains milk which is not declared on the label.

Australia – Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)

Biscuits recalled for undeclared egg

SH Global Trading has recalled Korean biscuits (Walnut and Peanut Orion Cracker and Haitai Biscuit) from Asian grocery stores in NSW and WA due to the presence of undeclared egg.

New Zealand - The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)

Cheese slices recalled for faulty packaging

Fonterra have issued a recall for their Mainland tasty cheese slices after discovering a fault with the product packaging. The plastic wrapping of individual slices may split into thin strips causing a potential hazard if consumed.

FSANZ makes the material in this newsletter available on the understanding that users exercise their own skill, care and judgement with respect to its use.Before relying on the material, users should carefully evaluate the accuracy, completeness and relevance of the information for their purposes, and should obtain appropriate expert advice relevant to their particular circumstances.

Links to external web sites are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute endorsement of any information, product or services at those sites. FSANZ makes no representations or warranties regarding, the source, quality, accuracy or completeness of the materials on any website to which a hyperlink is provided above.

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