News Headlines: 30 January - 5 February 2010


Home \| Text Size \| Tell a Friend \| Search \| MEMBER LOGIN

News

Feature Articles

Useful Links

Food Safety Matters

Fact-Sheet Index

Microbial Hazards

Parasites

Biological Toxins

Contaminants

Food allergens

Legislation & HACCP

About Membership

Member Login

About this Site

Who are we?

Help

home | News | News Headlines: 30 January - 5 Febru . . .

News Headlines: 30 January - 5 February 2010

Annual zoonoses and foodborne outbreak report published; Tests confirm black pepper as source of Salmonella outbreak; EFSA to consult experts on BPA safety; Baby food recalled over possible choking risk; E. coli contamination prompts US beef recall; Fatal Listeria outbreak reported; Swedish retailer recalls salmon over Listeria contamination

Annual zoonoses and foodborne outbreak report published

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have published their Annual Report on Zoonoses and Food-borne Outbreaks for 2008. Numbers of human cases of the two most common zoonotic infections fell from those reported in 2007.

Zoonoses are infections that can be transmitted from animals to humans, either directly or through vehicles such as contaminated foods. The two main zoonotic infections reported in the EU are campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis. The number of recorded Campylobacter infections in 2008 was 190,566, down from just over 200,000 the previous year. The number of Salmonella infections recorded in 2008 was 131,468, a 13.5% reduction on 2007. Numbers of cases of Listeria infection were also down, by 11% at 1,381, but there was a 9% increase in infections with verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC), with 3,159 human cases being recorded.

The report also includes data on foodborne disease outbreaks for 2008. A total of 5,332 outbreaks were recorded and more than 45,000 people were affected, with 32 deaths being reported. Most of these outbreaks were caused by Salmonella and were linked to eggs (23%) and pig meat products (10%), but viruses and bacterial toxins were also important causes.

The full report and the data for each EU member state can be found on the EFSA and ECDC web sites via the following link.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/scdocs/scdoc/1496.htm

Tests confirm black pepper as source of Salmonella outbreak

An outbreak of Salmonella Montevideo infection associated with salami products in the USA has now affected at least 207 people in 42 states since July 2009. Tests carried out by the Rhode Island Department of Health have confirmed that the outbreak strain is present in black pepper used as an ingredient in the implicated salami.

The outbreak was first linked by epidemiological evidence to a sliced salami variety pack produced by Daniele International Inc. of Rhode Island. Microbiological investigation of the outbreak confirmed the link. Daniele initiated a voluntary recall of approximately 1,240,000 pounds of ready-to-eat Italian sausage products, including salamis, 0n 23 January. The original recall covered at least 18 different products and included all salamis containing black pepper, but it has since been expanded to include an further 17,000 pounds of ready-to-eat Italian sausage products following the isolation of Salmonella in an unopened pack by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The discovery of the outbreak strain of Salmonella Montevideo by the Rhode Island health authorities came from an opened container of black pepper used in the manufacture of at least some of the recalled products at Daniele Inc. The FDA is now investigating the supply chain for the pepper and is collecting samples for analysis.

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/montevideo/index.html
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_006_2010_Expanded/index.asp
http://www.ri.gov/press/view/10647

EFSA to consult experts on BPA safety

Following the recent change of policy by the US authorities on the question of the safety of the industrial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in foods, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is to invite national experts from EU member states to a meeting in April to discuss the latest scientific evidence.

The meeting will discuss a draft opinion on BPA, currently in preparation by the scientific panel on food contact materials. The opinion is expected to be adopted in May and the meeting will be an opportunity for member states to contribute any new data to support it. The updated opinion is being prepared in response to a Commission request to assess the significance of a recent study on possible neurodevelopmental effects of BPA and to update the tolerable daily intake (TDI) if necessary.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/cef100202.htm

Baby food recalled over possible choking risk

The UK Food Standards Agency has announced that Heinz is recalling part of a batch of Heinz Fruity Custard Fruit Medley baby food because it might contain small pieces of plastic from the inside of the pot, which could cause choking.

The affected product is packed in plastic pots in 4x100g packs and is batch coded 9307 with a best before date of 03/11/10. The same product is also being recalled in the Irish Republic.

http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2010/feb/heinz

E. coli contamination prompts US beef recall

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced that West Missouri Beef is recalling approximately 14,000 pounds of fresh boneless beef products because of possible contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

The recall affects five products supplied in 'combo bins' to wholesalers in the Chicago area. The problem was identified during an FSIS 'verification review', but no associated cases of illness have been reported as yet.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_008_2010_Release/index.asp

Fatal Listeria outbreak reported

The Austrian and German health authorities have published a report of an outbreak of listeriosis affecting at least 14 people in the two countries and known to have caused four deaths.

The outbreak was caused by a previously unknown strain of Listeria monocytogenes serotype 1/2a first isolated and typed in Austria last August. This strain has subsequently been linked to 12 cases of listeriosis in Austria and a further two, both fatal, in Germany.

Epidemiological investigation suggested that the outbreak was linked to a type of acid curd cheese called Quargel, produced by an Austrian manufacturer and exported to Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This link was subsequently confirmed when the outbreak strain was isolated from environmental and product samples at the manufacturing site. The cheese was voluntarily withdrawn from sale on 23 January and investigations into the source of contamination are ongoing.

http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19477

Swedish retailer recalls salmon over Listeria contamination

News reports from Sweden state that the supermarket chain Coop is recalling around four tons of smoked and spiced salmon products after health authority testing suggested possible contamination with Listeria.

The recall was initiated after tests conducted as part of a monitoring programme by the Swedish National Food Administration, which is focusing on ready-to-eat foods that are not heated before consumption. The reports say that a significant increase in cases of listeriosis was reported in Sweden in 2009, prompting the expanded testing programme.

http://www.sr.se/cgi-bin/International/nyhetssidor/artikel.asp?ProgramID=2054&format=1&artikel=3417840