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News Headlines: 14 - 27 January 2012

Russian Salmonella outbreak linked to powdered milk from Belgium; Smoked salmon detained and destroyed following Listeria find; Contaminated cheese recalled in Ireland; Consumers concerned over restaurant hygiene; Frozen lamb recalled over Salmonella contamination; New study finds high levels of MRSA in retail pork; CDC investigates multistate Salmonella outbreak; Sprouts recalled over potential Salmonella contamination; Prevention beats cure for norovirus in oysters

Russian Salmonella outbreak linked to powdered milk from Belgium

An outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg infection in Northern Russia, which is reported to have affected 16 people since 2 November 2011, has been linked to a shipment of powdered milk formula imported from Belgium.

According to news reports, the contaminated formula was manufactured in Belgium by FASSKA S.A. and the Belgian food safety agency (FASFC) reports that 16 tons of the suspect batch were sent to Russia, while a further three tons were mixed with other batches and shipped to other countries.

Those affected by the outbreak in Russia are mainly infants, but two young adults have also been infected with the outbreak strain of S. Oranienburg. The remaining formula has been recalled by the distributor in Russia and the FASFC has begun an investigation in Belgium

http://www.favv.be/pressrelease/_documents/2012-01-23_salmonella-oranienburg_en.pdf

Smoked salmon detained and destroyed following Listeria find

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that a food processing and storage company in the state of Maine has destroyed stocks of a cold smoked salmon product after FDA inspectors found Listeria monocytogenes.

The company, Mill Stream Corp. agreed to destroy the product after the inspectors ordered it to be detained during the inspection in December 2011. Conditions at the plant led to the order and contamination was detected within the premises and on processing equipment.

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm289087.htm

Contaminated cheese recalled in Ireland

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has announced that Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese Ltd is recalling 150g packs of Wicklow Blue Irish Farmhouse Cheese because of high levels of Listeria monocytogenes.

The recalled cheese carries a batch number BATC11326B and a best before date of 31/01/2012. Investigations are now uder way at the manufacturing facility concerned.

http://www.fsai.ie/news_centre/food_alerts/Wicklow_Blue.html

Consumers concerned over restaurant hygiene

A new survey carried out on behalf of the UK Food Standards Agency has found that the food safety issue of most concern to consumers is food hygiene when eating out, closely followed by food poisoning and the use of food additives.

The research was the latest in a series of biannual public attitudes tracker surveys and was conducted in November 2011 by interviewing 2,076 people. Food hygiene in restaurants was of concern to 36% of respondents, while 30% were worried about food posioning and 26% about food additive use.

Overall the survey recorded a decrease in concern over food safety, but nearly 80% of those interviewed said that they paid attention to hygiene standards in premises while eating out and 21% had heard about the Agency's 'Food Hygiene Rating Scheme' for restaurants.

The full survey results can be found via the link below.

http://www.food.gov.uk/science/socsci/surveys/publictrackingsurvey

Frozen lamb recalled over Salmonella contamination

The UK Food Standards Agency has announced that Iceland is recalling its own-label Frozen Lamb Mince in 454g packs becuase a samples has tested positive for Salmonella.

The recalled lamb mince has a best before date of 11 October 2012 and consumers are advised not to eat it.

http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/alerts/2012/jan/icelandfrozenlambmince

New study finds high levels of MRSA in retail pork

A newly published study by researchers at the University of Iowa in the USA has found a significantly higher prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria than expected in samples of retail pork products.

The researchers examined 395 raw pork samples taken from 36 stores in three states for the presence of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They found that 26 samples (~7%) were positive. This is a higher level than previous studies have found.

Interestingly, the results showed no real difference between conventionally produced pork and that raised in the absence of antibiotics and growth promoters. The authors of the study suggest that this could indicate contamination during processing rather than at the primary production stage.

The study is published in the journal PLoS ONE and can be found in full at the link below.

http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0030092

CDC investigates multistate Salmonella outbreak

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis infection, which has been linked to an unnamed Mexican-style fast food restaurant chain.

To date, the outbreak has affected at least 68 people in 10 different states. Epidemiological investigation of the outbreak has indicated a link with consumption of food at branches of the restaurant chain, referred to only as 'Restaurant Chain A' in the statement. Since those affected ate at at least 18 different restaurant locations, it is thought likely that the food product responsible must have been contaminated before reaching the restaurants.

As yet, no single food item has been idnetifed as the source of the contamination, although many of those made ill reported eating lettuce, ground beef, cheese and tomatoes. Ground beef is thought unlikely to be the vehicle in view of how it is prepared in the restaurant.

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/restaurant-enteritidis/011912/index.html

Sprouts recalled over potential Salmonella contamination

The US Food and Drug Administration has announced that Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. is voluntarily realling all LEASA brand sprouts because of the possibility of contamination with Salmonella.

The recall includes LEASA Living Alfalfa Sprouts sold in 6 oz packs, plus Broccoli, Gourmet, Spicy and Onion sprouts sold in 6 or 4 oz packs. All the recalled sprouts were sold from 7 January to 18 January and have 'expiration dates' between 1 February and 15 March.

The recalled Alfalfa sprouts were identified as potentially being contaminated with Salmonella by the FDA, but the Company also decided to recall the other LEASA brand sprouts as an additional precaution. No related cases of illness have been reported.

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm288243.htm

Prevention beats cure for norovirus in oysters

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) BIOHAZ Panel has publishd a Scientific Opinion on methods to control norovirus contamination in oysters.

The Panel looked at methods of detection of quantification of the highly contagious viruses in oysters and also at techniques designed to remove them. They concluded that producing oysters for human consumption in clean waters, or prevention of contamination in shellfish growing areas was likely to be a much more effective control than current decontamination techniques, such as depuration.

The Opinion also recommends the establishment of 'acceptable limits' for the presence of norovirus in oysters sold in the EU and the carrying out of a baseline survey to determine the extent of consumer exposure to the viruses from oyster consumption.

The full Opinion can be found via the link below.

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2500.htm

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