7 October | Food Safety News and Free Resources1 |
Peanut-mustard Allergen Recalls Continue (United Kingdom) |
Trending Food Safety Hazards (Global) |
Caffeine Overdose and Supplement Misuse (UK) |
Shroom Edibles Update – Another Death (USA) |
Deadly Listeria Outbreak Traced to Contaminated Bakers’ Yeast (Switzerland) |
Mystery Cyclospora Outbreak (USA) |
Rare Salmonella Serovar Causes More Than 100 Illnesses (Europe) |
Deadly Salmonella Outbreak from Pet Geckos (Canada) |
Annual Food Survey Results (United Kingdom) |
Shigella Outbreak Linked to Restaurant (USA) |
Webinar - Compressed Air Quality Testing - What you need to know, 11th October |
⚠️ Peanut-mustard allergens recalls continue (United Kingdom)
The official recall webpage for the presence of undeclared peanut proteins in mustard powder and mustard-containing products has been updated 9 times as extra products are added to the list of recalled products which includes products as diverse as sandwiches, beef jerky, mayonnaise and sauces.
https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-aa-42-2024-update-9
📉 Trending food safety hazards (Global)
The good people at Agroknow, who operate the food fraud and food safety risk prediction and monitoring tool FoodAkai have said that the biggest two hazards for September were mustard allergens and sesame seed allergens with 199 and 192 incidents respectively.
💀 Caffeine overdose death from supplement (UK)
Authorities have issued guidance on the safe use of caffeine-containing food supplements after a man died after miscalculating how much caffeine powder and consuming the equivalent of 200 cups of coffee. Fewer than half of consumers check dosage instructions on supplement labels.
🍄 Shroom Edibles Update – another death (USA)
On the 1st July, we reported that there had been 23 illnesses from confectionary containing psychoactive substances, with the brand owner initially refusing to recall products. On the 29th July, we reported the illnesses had increased to 74 with 2 deaths saying a recall had commenced but the products were still available in some stores. Now, more than two months later, another person has died. There are now 198 reports of exposure and 108 people who experienced more severe illnesses.
Intriguingly, Food Safety News reports that the New Jersey Poison Center says that the products contain a blend of mushrooms that do not include hallucinogenic mushrooms such as magic mushrooms (psilocybin) and uses the phrase “[such products] might contain potentially harmful contaminants”.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/10/third-death-reported-in-outbreak-associated-with-diamond-shrumz-edibles/ (New Jersey Poison Center source could not be located)
🍞 Deadly Listeria outbreak traced to contaminated bakers’ yeast (Switzerland)
A multi-year outbreak of Listeria, which affected 34 people and caused 7 deaths, has been linked to contaminated baker’s yeast. This is an unusual outbreak because baker’s yeast is not a ready-to-eat food, and is usually cooked before eating. A common food could not be found when victims were interviewed.
The outbreak was solved using whole genome sequencing. Listeria monocytogenes was found in bakers’ yeast by a laboratory and was found to match clinical isolates from affected patients. The same strain was later discovered at the yeast manufacturing site. The yeast was sold to retail customers and to industry. The outbreak strain was also detected in food items in several restaurants and institutional catering establishments suggesting cross-contamination between the yeast and ready-to-eat food.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/11/24-0764_article
🦠 Mystery Cyclospora Outbreak (USA)
The number of people sickened in an outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis infections in the USA has climbed since the first report by the FDA on 7th August, reaching 60 patients. The source of the illnesses has not been reported, but a traceback process has been initiated.
https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks
🥬 Rare Salmonella serovar causes more than 100 illnesses (Europe)
Salmonella umbilo, a rarely recorded serovar, has sickened more than 100 people in Germany, Denmark and Austria. The food source is thought to be rocket (arugula) grown in Italy.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/10/germany-hit-hardest-in-multi-country-salmonella-outbreak/
💀 Deadly Salmonella outbreak from pet geckos (Canada)
One person has died and three people have been hospitalised in a Salmonella outbreak linked to pet geckos. Authorities have warned people not to touch their face, eyes or mouth before washing their hands after handling pet geckos, and to never kiss pet reptiles.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/10/salmonella-outbreak-traced-to-pet-geckos/
📗 Annual food survey results (United Kingdom)
In the fourth annual survey by the United Kingdom’s Food Standards Agency of retail foods for safety and authenticity, food samples (1,025) from retail outlets, including online outlets were tested for undeclared allergens, contaminants, adulteration, inaccurate composition and incorrect labelling. The overall compliance rate was high. Notable food safety issues include soya pieces of which 43% (n = 30) contained high levels of ochratoxin A; potato snacks of which 27% contained acrylamide above benchmark levels. There were notable food fraud results for frozen raw chicken and frozen beef burgers, as described in this week’s food fraud news.
https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/fsa-publishes-its-fourth-retail-surveillance-survey-as-targeted-approach-to-food-testing-continues and https://science.food.gov.uk/article/123490-surveillance-sampling-programme-2023-24
🧫Shigella outbreak (USA)
Fourteen people have been sickened in an outbreak of shigellosis linked to a restaurant in Illinois, with six requiring hospitalisation. All patients attended the restaurant on one of two days. The food source has not been identified. To learn more about Shigella, see this week’s newsletter.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/10/shigella-outbreak-traced-to-steakhouse/
🎓Webinar - Compressed Air Quality Testing - What you need to know, 11th October
Hosted by IFSQN, the webinar will lead a discussion covering all the basics of what you need to know about compressed air testing. From what contaminants to look for, to which standards to reference, to setting up a monitoring plan and choosing an air quality testing lab, viewers will leave the presentation armed with the knowledge to build and execute an effective compressed air monitoring plan in their facility.
Register here: Compressed Air Quality Testing - What You Need to Know (webinarjam.com)
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
This week’s food fraud news includes:
📌 Updates from the Codex Food Fraud Working Group;
📌 Mineral water scandal update;
📌 Warning for seafood;
📌 Incidents involving mushrooms, bologna, turmeric, chocolate, vegetables, abalone, dairy foods and more.
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