Baby Food Recalled Due to Choking Hazard

Plum Organics is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of two varieties of its World Baby line of pouch products due to intermittent damage to the plastic spouts during manufacturing.

There is a possibility that small fragments could loosen, detach and present a choking hazard if the product is consumed. These products should not be given to children. Plum has received approximately 14 consumer complaints about damaged spouts. No injuries have been reported to date. Out of an abundance of caution, Plum is removing all affected pouches from the marketplace.

The recalled products include World Baby Italy and World Baby Thailand varieties and can be identified by the following “Best By” dates on the package:

• World Baby Italy–Zucchini & Spinach with Pasta Marinara with “Best By” date of 09Sep14 (Sept. 9, 2014).
• World Baby Thailand–Roasted Pumpkin & Coconut Rice with “Best By” date of 10Sep14 (Sept. 10, 2014).

Approximately 12,000 cases of the recalled products were shipped nationwide to grocery, mass and online retailers in the United States. No other Plum products are affected by this recall.

The company announced the recall after discovering damage to the top rim of the spout in some pouches. The damage should be plainly visible as a depression in the rim, possibly with a fragment of plastic attached to the damaged area.

Consumers who have purchased affected products can contact the Plum Organics Consumer Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 866-535-3774 or send an email to info@plumorganics.com to request reimbursement. For more information visit:www.plumorganics.com/March2014Recall  .

Italy Leading the Way to find Safer Alternative for BPA in Food Packaging

Finding alternatives and safer to replace endocrine disruptors, potentially hazardous substances and used in many areas including the food packaging: Endocrine disruptors are substances such as bisphenol A, (BPA),phthalates and parabens, technologically useful in the production of plastic but equally worrying for their ability to disrupt the endocrine system, putting consumers at risk.

European researchers are working to identify alternatives to the three groups of substances that are safer for the protection of human health and equally valid for industrial uses. There is already a list of potentially substitute, but often lack of data and studies on their possible toxicity.

Precisely for this reason, the first step of the project will be  to evaluate the actual endocrine disrupting activity of candidates for substitution.

The goal is to  identify three to five for each of the three groups of substances under consideration, and to assess the possible impact on product safety in the specific sectors considered (materials in contact with foodstuffs, cosmetics, plastics used in medical devices). The next step will be the evaluation of actual products and prototypes that will be compared with similar products currently in use.

source italy www.ilfattoalimentare.it/

Italy: Drug Resistance Bacteria Found in 84% of Chicken.

A survey conducted by Altroconsumo on the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in poultry, found antibiotic resistance E Coli in 84% of samples tested. This is over Twice the antibiotic resistance found in Sweden which has a 40% rate.  

Antibiotic resistance is a serious and widespread problem, because it threatens to render ineffective important therapies against bacterial infections. It also affects the food chain, since antibiotics used by farms also spread into the environment. Thus was born the idea of making a European test to clarify the real extent of the phenomenon. They analyzed 250 samples of chicken breasts.. With the result that caused a sensation: 84% of 45 samples bought in Italy, in Milan and Rome, were found E Coli with bacteria resistant to antibiotics.

There is therefore no immediate danger, as long as the meat is well cooked and consumed ensure compliance with the normal rules of hygiene: wash your hands when handling raw meat, carefully wash cutlery and utensils used for meat and keep separate foods in the refrigerator raw and cooked.The problem is that these bacteria can pass on their mechanism of resistance to other bacteria in our bodies, "That antibiotic resistance is a serious and widespread problem: in animal husbandry is used about 50% of all antibiotics sold,in Italy for the rest of the problem is caused by the indiscriminate use of antibiotics in human medicine.

As we found out in the United States, with 278 people sick from drug resistant E Coli, everyone does not follow the correct sanitary practices. Because drug resistant bacteria is harder to cure it means longer time in the hospital  with more extensive medical care.

Drug resistance is spreading to the beneficial bacteria in our gut. The beneficial bacteria can spread the resistance to harmful bacteria making the problem worse.

Italy Uses Twitter To announce Bread Recall.

In Milan three tourists fell ill immediately after eating a bread called German Bretzel contaminated with caustic soda and purchased by Princi, a bakery in the city center. After a few hours the government issued a recall and informed the public using twitter they urging consumers not to consume that kind of bread sold in two other bakeries in the chain. The recall was also carried in newspaper.Only 5 people became ill but none were severe. The government  continued to update the situation with other tweets in real time.

The use of twitter proved to be a very effective way to get the news of the recall out quickly and helped to keep the illness associated with the bread to a minimum.

Italy: Salmonella in Sausage Possibly Due to Improper Fermentation

Recall of Salumificio Val d'Ongina of Monticelli Sausage by the Local Health Service of Piacenza. All lots on the market may be contaminated with salmonella, and the manufacturer has withdrawn the sausage from all stores shelves.The supermarkets should have displayed a sign to warn customers of the recall. .

The lot number ist H05-28  The analysis conducted by the AUSL have verified the presence of salmonella in batches packaged in May, June and July.So earlier batches should not be consume.

In the past sausage has been a major cause of salmonellosis.In the cafeterias of schools of Piacenza in 2010 there were 30 cases of salmonellosis caused by salami. In the Easter of 2004 in the Lazio a type of sausage called "The Reef" caused 63 cases of salmonellosis

The recall was triggered by the increase of reported salmonellosis cases in the province of Piacenza (100 in 2012 and 154 in the first nine months of 2013). This year, in 61 cases it was possible to ascertain how the same cause salmonella highlighted in testing done on corpses Val d'Ongina. Tests have identified with certainty the cause of the infection in salami Salumificio Val d'Ongina.  The reasons for this contamination is probably linked to a problem during fermentation.

The pork is often contaminated with salmonella, and in spite of the controls is to be expected that some batch arrivals in the sausage. If theSausaget is cooked to the proper temperature it will kill the salmonella.Other times they are the spices added to the sausage that may be contaminated. To eliminate the salmonella lactic acid bacteria are used in the dough that develop during fermentation and aging. That make life impossible for salmonella. At the end of fermentation acidity levels and humidity the salmonella are damaged so they are unable to reproduce or they die.

However, if the fermentation is not well controlled, or is too short, Salmonella can survive and sicken people. To avoid problems often have to do checks on the farm and carefully assess the production process. Of course the incident is rare but if the production process is not able to kill the salmonella, sooner or later the people will get sick..

Irish Encouraged to Boil Frozen Berries

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today reiterated its advice to consumers to boil all imported frozen berries for at least one minute prior to consumption as it continues its investigation into a food poisoning outbreak of hepatitis A virus. The outbreak is being associated with the consumption of imported frozen berries and to-date, 15 primary cases in Ireland have been identified.

According to Prof. Alan Reilly, Chief Executive, FSAI, boiling imported frozen berries for at least one minute before eating them, is a precautionary measure as it will destroy the virus if it is present.

Cases of hepatitis A in Ireland were identified to have the same strain of the virus that caused the outbreak in Italy. Sense the Italian authorities had detected the virus in samples of frozen mixed berry products imported from a number of different countries, the Irish investigation has focused on imported frozen berries. Since the outbreak was identified, a small number of new cases have been reported and it would be prudent for consumers to boil these berries until further notice. Investigations suggest it is unlikely that fresh Irish or fresh imported berries are a cause of the outbreak. However, we suggest that - as with all other fruit and vegetables - fresh berries should be washed thoroughly if they are being eaten uncooked.”

“Frozen imported berries are widely used in the food industry and distributed into the food service sector for use in cooked and ready-to-eat dishes.  The food sector also needs to take particular care to boil imported frozen berries for at least one minute prior to serving food to customers.“

Hepatitis A is a disease that can be relatively mild, lasting 1-2 weeks, or more, severe lasting months.  Severity of symptoms tends to increase with age. The most common symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, nausea, fatigue and abdominal pain, followed within a few days by jaundice. The incubation period (time from exposure to onset of illness) ranges from 15 to 50 days, the average being 28 days.

Because of the long incubation period of hepatitis A, where illness can arise up to 50 days after exposure to the virus, the food histories obtained for patients over that long period do not have sufficient detail to enable the authorities to identify specific batches of imported frozen berries and this coupled with the complexity of the global frozen fruit distribution chain has hindered identification of the source of the outbreak.

Italy: Over 400 Cases of Hepatitis A caused by Berries

During the Summer  there were over 400 cases of Hepatitis A in Italy caused by mixed frozen berries The Ministry of health reported the hypothesis that the berries causing the outbreak are the red currants. They are working with health authorities in Europe to support this possibility..  ,  

Even though they had hundreds of people sick with hepatitis A  they did not make a recall until the German Government complained about their citizens getting sick with Hepatitis A while visiting Italy

" BoscoBuono "produced by the firm Green Ice , already involved in the recall of two months ago. added batch number 13136 , 13129 and 13004 .

To identify the causes of the epidemic the Ministry has alerted the northern regions where it has been found a greater number of cases, and has carried out analytical studies of case-control study. The research showing a strong correlation between the consumption of frozen berries raw or used as an ingredient in desserts, cakes, fruit salads, etc., and pathology.A few months ago Ireland also reported cases of hepatitis A caused by the same virus isolated in Italy and present in packages of frozen berries.

The Ministry of Health can not be ruled out that this product is contaminated packaging are still on the market or are kept in the freezer of citizens, recommended to use the fruits only after they have been boiled for at least 2 minutes. These berries may be in brands that have not been recalled.

Three companies that were named in the original recall (Asiago Foods, Green Ice and Erica), have put  warnings to alert consumers their websites Equally alarming is the attitude of various supermarket chains that despite the legal obligations do not have adequate signs posted to inform customers despite having sold the contaminated batches in their stores.Note: Laws in Italy must be much different than in the United States. In the United States there would be numerous lawsuits against the grocery Stores  and there suppliers

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red  currant

    

Italy: Recall Lunch Meats Due to Listeria

Auchan announced the recall of ISLA DELIGHT, cold cuts Squeegee.

The size was 200 g with a lot No. 1337 and a best buy date of 1337. There was  Evidence of the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Please: Destroy this product or get a refund.

The Isla Delight website they tell about their food safety program, "  Isla Delice has three production sites that were each approved by HACCP (control risk points) study. An approach that delivers maximum security throughout the product development. Isla Delice conducts stringent quality checks with a quality laboratory to determine whether the products and ingredients meet European standards.  "

HACCP is an inspection where the inspectors look for the points where food is most likely to be contaminated and make corrections. Even when you do the right things contamination can happen. there is no perfect system.

Canada: Three more Brands of Gorgonzola Cheese Recalled

Berchicci Importing Ltd. are warning the public not to consume the Igor brand Gorgonzola Cheese described below because the products may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

Also affected by this alert are the above products which may have been sold in smaller packages, cut and wrapped by some retailers. Consumers are advised to contact the retailer to determine if they have the affected products.

These products have been distributed in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. However, they may have been distributed in other provinces.

All lot codes and Best Before dates of the following Igor brand Gorgonzola cheese, product of Italy, are affected by this alert.

Igor	“Gorgonzola Dolce”	1.5 kg	2443880 014541
Igor	“Gorgonzola Piccante”	1.5 kg	N/A
Igor	“Gorgonzola Dolce DOP”	200 g	8 021398 256802

Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled. Consumption of food contaminated with this bacteria may cause listeriosis, a foodborne illness. Listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are particularly at risk. Infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness, however, infections during pregnancy can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.

Igor - Gorgonzola Dolce DOP, 200 gram

Igor - Gorgonzola Dolce DOP, 200 gram - label