News and Resources Roundup
July 2023
31st July | Food Safety News and Free Resources1 |
💀⚠ 3 dead from Listeria in unknown food (USA), and 3 dead with listeriosis possibly linked to smoked salmon (Sweden)⚠💀
Five people have been hospitalised and three have died from listeriosis in Washington State. The food source has not been identified.
In Sweden, three people have died as part of a listeriosis outbreak that may be linked to gravid or cold-smoked salmon. Ten people in total were infected with the same strain of Listeria monocytogenes in 2023 and four in 2022.
https://www.tpchd.org/Home/Components/News/News/366/286?backlist=%2f
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/07/fish-suspected-in-deadly-swedish-listeria-outbreak/
⚠🥔 Botulism from tortilla de patata (potato omlette) (Spain) 🥔⚠
Seven probable and four confirmed botulism cases have occurred in Spain and in Italians who travelled to Spain, with serious symptoms and hospitalisations in intensive care. Patients consumed packaged supermarket Spanish potato omlette (tortilla de patata).
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/07/seven-botulism-cases-linked-to-spanish-dish/
⚠ Cookies recalled because they contain rocks (USA) ⚠
Almond cookies and dark chocolate chunk almond cookies have been recalled by a retailer after being alerted to the presence of rocks in the products.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/07/trader-joes-recalls-cookies-because-of-rocks-in-product/
⚠ 🐟 PFOS found at concerning levels in freshwater fish, authorities warn not to eat (USA) 🐟 ⚠
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), a type of PFAS, has been found in freshwater fish in the Cape Fear River and officials are warning residents not to eat too much to limit exposure to the chemicals.
For the highest-risk fish species, women of childbearing age and children should not eat any of the fish ever, and other adults have been told to eat only one meal of such fish each year. Lower-risk fish species can safely be consumed once per year by women and children, and seven times each year by men.
📖 New guidance for Environmental Monitoring, Food Defense, Transport Tank Cleaning and more 📖
Guidance documents from FSSC are good, even if you operate to a different standard. They have been updated by FSSC for version 6 of the standard. Get them from the link below.
https://www.fssc.com/schemes/fssc-22000/documents/fssc-22000-version-6/#guidance-documents
🤮 Insights into online surveys and social media for foodborne illness investigations 🤮
Discussions and presentation(s) at a recent food safety conference in North America included the risks and benefits of consumer reporting of illnesses and the use of online surveys in epidemiological investigations. Examples included the Lucky Charms mystery outbreak in 2022, Salmonella newport in red onions in 2018 and Salmonella enteritidis in frozen profiteroles in 2019. The write-up in Food Safety News is worth a read:
📖 New rules for food contact plastics (Europe) 📖
The European Commission has amended Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
There are changes to which substances are authorised for use in/as food contact materials, including plasticisers, and technical support agents in polyolefins (plastics).
A transition period is in place with May 2024 and February 2025 being the major in-force milestones.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32023R1442&qid=1689336413823
🎓 Free Webinar - Creating a Food Safety Culture that Thrives, 16th August 🎓
In this one-hour webinar hosted by Eurofins Food Assurance, you will learn the key components of an effective Food Safety Culture and the critical role it plays in safeguarding public health, maintaining regulatory compliance, and building consumer trust.
Register here:
🎓 Free Webinar - Pesticide Residues - A global food safety and Food Security Challenge, 11th August 🎓
Hosted by IFSQN, this webinar will discuss the presence of Pesticide Residues in food items as a challenge to Food Safety and Food Security. Also included in the discussion is the variation in MRLs of different countries/ISSBs which has become a challenge to the trade.
Register here:
https://event.webinarjam.com/register/329/007wgc3q
🎓 Free Webinar - Rodents 101: A Food Processor’s Crash Course on Rodents, 22nd August 🎓
IFSQN will be hosting a free webinar about different types of rodents, the threats they pose, and the proactive steps to help reduce and prevent rodents in your facility.
Register here:
https://www.ifsqn.com/webinar-registration
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
This week’s food fraud news includes:
A $1.1 million settlement over un-supported health claims on supplements;
Deadly apple cider;
Fake cranberry sauce;
Suspicions of “maxi fraud” in organic rice after authorities find large quantities of pesticides and artificial fertilisers at ‘organic’ farms.
Become a paid subscriber to access The Rotten Apple’s food fraud news.
24th July | Food Safety News and Free Resources |
⚠ Possibly delusional?! Confit with C. botulinum risk (Canada) ⚠
Chilli Garlic Confit made by Delusional Sauce Co. has been recalled in Canada because it may support the growth of Clostridium botulinum. No illnesses have been reported.
🍏 See Clostridium botulinum, the Putin of Pathogens in Issue #79 to learn more about this deadly foodborne bacterium 🍏
📋 BRCGS, FSSC 22000, SQF align with USA FSMS 📋
The FDA evaluated four GFSI-endorsed food safety management system standards to see if they aligned with the USA FSMA rules for Preventive Controls, including applicable modules and addendums where available. BRCGS Issue 9, FSSC 22000 v5.1, SQF Edition 9 all aligned with rules for preventive controls for human foods. GLOBAL G.A.P. Integrated Farm Assurance + FMSA module aligns with the USA Product Safety Rule.
No surprises here. The FDA concluded that companies using these standards can have confidence that complying with these standards will also provide adequate compliance with USA regulatory requirements.
⚠ 🦠 Macadamia nuts recalled for Salmonella (Canada) 🦠⚠
Government tests found Salmonella in certain packs of raw macadamia nuts, which have been recalled.
🍎⚠ Patulin again – this time in cider (USA) ⚠🍎
Patulin, a mycotoxin found in rotting apples, which causes nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal disturbances has been found at “high levels” in three brands of apple cider, which have been recalled. Thousands of cases of applesauce were recalled for the same reason earlier this month.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/07/apple-cider-recalled-over-high-levels-of-patulin/
🎓 United Nations Food System Summit – watch online (free), 24 – 26 July 🎓
The UN Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment will be attended by more than 1,100 participants from 161 countries, including heads of state and high-level officials.
The summit aims to review progress on food systems transformation since the UN Food Systems Summit of 2021.
You can watch different sessions through a virtual campus, but you must register here.
More details: https://nfs.cmail20.com/t/d-e-vwlkld-ijljileut-yd/
🎓 Free webinar: Nutritional Labeling and Test Methods for Nutrition Claims, 27 July 🎓
This webinar, hosted by FoodSafety Magazine will explain:
How to understand the impact of method selection
How to choose methods for specific fibre ingredients
Vitamin ingredient claims
How the FDA chooses methods for verifying claims.
🎓 Free webinar: Root Cause Analysis Part 1, 7th September 🎓
This webinar, for the produce safety industry, government and academic personnel and hosted by Virginia Tech as part of its CONTACT food safety series, will provide a “crash course” in root cause analysis, with an emphasis on practical application for industry.
https://virginiatech.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hl13nUTTQn2qXnkPT6q2Hw
17th July | Food Safety News and Free Resources |
⚠ 💀 Potentially fatal levels of caffeine in protein powder (UK) 💀 ⚠
Protein powder that contains extremely high levels of caffeine has been subject to a recall in the United Kingdom. The levels of caffeine could be fatal. 13/07/2023
https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/consumers-urged-to-avoid-potentially-lethal-protein-powder
⚠ Truffles seized for (way) too much cadmium ⚠
Authorities in Taiwan seized a shipment of fresh summer truffles imported from Italy last month, after the truffles were found to contain levels of cadmium more than twice the allowable limit. Taiwanese media reported that the shipment will be returned to the country of origin or destroyed.
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202307110012
⚠🐟 Food Poisoning from Fish Fraud 🐟⚠
Read how fraud in yellowfin tuna caused histamine poisoning and sickened dozens of people in Italy in 2021 in this week’s food fraud news for paying subscribers.
🎓 Free webinar: HACCP, is it really that easy?, 18th July 🎓
This free event hosted by Highfield (UK), will include knowledge and expertise shared by Teri Gardiner, Director of Food Safety Consulting Ltd, including risk assessing, records, planning, implementation and maintenance. Incldues a live Q and A.
NOTE that bookings are required for this free training.
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
This week’s food fraud news includes:
Illegally grown shipments of proprietary fruit varieties are being smuggled across international borders;
A secret ‘cutting room’ contained animal by-products allegedly diverted from pet food to be sold for human food;
Fruit illegally ripened with dangerous gas;
Chilli powder adulterated with unauthorised dyes;
Stakeholder feedback sought over possible new search and entry permissions for the UK food crime unit.
Become a paid subscriber to access The Rotten Apple’s food fraud news.
10th July | Food Safety News and Free Resources |
⚠ Jelly Cups Recalled Due to Risk of Choking ⚠
Mini jelly cups have been recalled around the world because they pose a risk of choking for children.
⚠ 🥬 Lettuce recalled due to deer faeces contamination (USA) 🥬⚠
This wouldn’t have happened a few years ago; awareness of pre-harvest contamination risks in US leafy greens has definitely improved. Lettuce that was potentially contaminated with deer faeces, and fresh salads containing the lettuce has been recalled in the USA over fears it contains food-borne pathogens such as pathogenic E. coli.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/07/11000-pounds-of-romaine-lettuce-recalled-over-deer-feces/
⚠ Vegan: Contamination with animal products and allergen risks found in a high proportion of vegan foods ⚠
Food inspectors in the United Kingdom surveyed vegan products and found that 39% contained traces of egg or dairy foods (n = 61). The products surveyed included dairy alternatives and meat alternatives. In addition to containing traces of milk and eggs, the products also had inaccuracies on their labels or nutrition information at a rate of 90%. There are no legal thresholds for the amount of animal-derived ingredients in ‘vegan’ foods in the UK or the European Union.
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/jul/07/one-in-three-uk-vegan-products-found-contain-milk-egg
💀 🦠 Salmonella outbreak continues, 130 people are sick, one death (UK + Finland) 🦠💀
Chicken products imported from Ukraine and contaminated with Salmonella mbandaka have sickened 130 people in the UK, with 4 patients hospitalised and one person dead. The products were partly-cooked and also caused 89 cases in Finland.
Heavy Metal Contamination Experts Needed
The WHO has invited experts to apply to assist with collecting data for estimating disease burden from heavy metals. More information here:
https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/foodborne-diseases/ferg/ferg-cttf-002-tor.pdf
🎓 AI Applications for Food and Beverage – Free Webinar, 20th July 🎓
This webinar, hosted by Food Safety Magazine and sponsored by a software provider, will showcase AI solutions for food and beverage businesses.
💥 Recalled food back on the shelves and re-recalled (Australia) 💥
Poppy seeds that were recalled in 2022 and that contain the toxic chemical thebaine were found in a supermarket last month after someone put them back into commerce.
🦠 Cronobacter infections are now reportable (USA) 🦠
Illnesses in infants from Cronobacter are now included in the nationally notifiable list in the USA. It’s estimated that around 40 percent of babies who develop a Cronobacter infection will die.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/06/cronobacter-infections-in-babies-now-a-reportable-disease/
🦠 Ferrero factory finds Salmonella again 🦠
The chocolate factory at the centre of a major Salmonella recall in 2022 recently informed authorities is has found Salmonella in the facility again. No products have tested positive.
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/07/ferrero-finds-salmonella-again-at-belgian-factory/
🌽 Maize from Uganda destroyed after aflatoxin contamination was confirmed 🌽
Shipments of maize from Uganda have been seized and destroyed by authorities in South Sudan due to being contaminated with aflatoxin.
https://thetowerpost.com/2023/07/01/south-sudan-set-to-destroy-120-tons-of-ugandan-maize/
🎓 Meat supply chains and the BRCGS Meat Module, Free Webinar 18th July 🎓
This free webinar, provided by BRCGS explains
- What does the meat supply chain look like?
- What is the BRCGS Additional Module 11?
- What are the control points in Module 11?
- Non-conformance data from the meat supply chain
Register here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/5916837292175/WN_uR6DTNb5QtyWsK-D9S_j3w#/registration
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
This week’s food fraud news includes
A food fraud academic paper that contains five massive errors;
Protein sports bars with dodgy nutrition information;
Fake spices;
Alert! Weight loss pills with illegal steroids.
Become a paid subscriber to access The Rotten Apple’s food fraud news.
3rd July | Food Safety News and Free Resources |
⚠🍓 Frozen Fruit Recalls – Canada and USA 🍓 ⚠
Frozen blackberries were recalled over Listeria concerns (Canada)
Frozen pineapple recalled over Listeria contamination concerns (USA)
https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2023/06/more-frozen-fruit-recalled-over-listeria-concerns/
Further products were recalled because they contain the potentially contaminated pineapple (USA)
⚠ 🍎 Applesauce mycotoxin recall (patulin) – USA 🍎 ⚠
Patulin, a mycotoxin found in rotting apples, which causes nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal disturbances has been found in a famous brand of applesauce. 9,593 cases of the product have been recalled in the USA.
⚠ Fanta recalled over mislabelling (USA) ⚠
More than 14,000 12-pack cases of Orange Fanta drink have been recalled in the USA because they are labelled as zero sugar but contain the full sugar product variant.
🦠 A new foodborne pathogen? Aeromonas species warning 🦠
Patients suffering from gastroenteritis, which is traditionally thought to be most commonly caused by Campylobacter and Salmonella, are very commonly found to have Aeromonas species in their gastrointestinal tracts.
Researchers who analysed faecal samples from more than 340,000 patients with gastroenteritis in Australia discovered Aeromonas species were the second most prevalent enteric bacterial pathogens in patients, and the most common enteric bacterial pathogens in children younger than 18 months.
There are at least five pathogenic species of Aeromonas with different virulence levels. Aeromonas species are not routinely included in diagnostic tests but are being recognised as an emerging enteric pathogen globally.
🎉 Allergen-related recalls are down in Australia 🎉
Recalls related to allergen concerns were 24% lower in 2022 compared to 2021 and 43% lower than in 2020, following initiatives by food regulators including regulatory changes and a consumer information portal.
🐷 A shortage of livestock veterinarians could have serious impacts on food safety – USA 🐷
Food animal veterinarians are important in the food supply chains of the USA. The number of these professionals has decreased dramatically and this has led to the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, with the problem predicted to worsen in coming years
https://clf.jhsph.edu/sites/default/files/2023-06/the-livestock-veterinarian-shortage.pdf
🥛 New milk powder safety standard - China 🥛
According to the USDA: “The [new] draft standard applies to milk powder, including whole milk powder, semi-skimmed milk powder, skimmed milk powder, and modified milk powder. Compared with the previous notification, this draft standard modified the name of the standard, adjusted the definition for modified milk powder, revised physical and chemical indexes under fat contents and impurity, and added labeling requirements for modified milk powder.”
📋 US FDA Has Been Directed to Restructure by a Government Committee 📋
The USA’s House Appropriations Committee has told the US FDA to restructure to increase the attention and resources for the Human Foods Program. Five different structures have been proposed. However, US citizens fear the direction will be ignored. Don’t expect anything to happen any time soon, if at all.
https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP00/20230614/115870/HMKP-118-AP00-20230614-SD003.pdf
🧪 Undeclared pharmaceuticals in coffee and tea 🧪
Coffee and tea products in Germany were recalled after they were found to contain undeclared and unauthorised drug sibutramine, an appetite depressant – Germany 30/06/2023
https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/620258
📖 New Resources for the USA Food Traceability Rule 📖
The FDA has posted new frequently asked questions and additional tools related to the FSMA Food Traceability Rule(compliance date January 2026), to help clarify how the rule applies to specific situations and commodities.
📌 Food Fraud News 📌
This week’s food fraud news includes
Truffle industry scandal;
Elderberry extract frauds;
Alert! Undeclared pharmaceuticals in tea products.
Become a paid subscriber to access The Rotten Apple’s food fraud news.
