Author: Kit Redwine
Vietnam HANOI -Two Dead, Fifteen Hospitalized After Food Poisoning Incident A suspected case of food poisoning at a conference center in Hanoi has resulted in two fatalities and fifteen hospitalizations, health officials confirmed Friday. The incident occurred during a corporate seminar hosted by NBC Pacific Co., Ltd., which was attended by 80 participants. Food safety officials reported that the affected individuals ate both lunch and snacks at the event. Fourteen patients were admitted to medical facilities in Hanoi, split between Bach Mai Hospital’s Poison Control Center and Duc Giang General Hospital, while one patient sought treatment in Nghe An Province.…
A major operation by European law enforcement agencies has resulted in the seizure of 30 tons of contaminated mollusks and six tons of glass eels, with a market value of approximately USD 10,000,000. The operation, coordinated across France, Portugal, and Spain, led to the arrest of 62 people connected to organized criminal groups. The criminal enterprise primarily focused on harvesting Japanese clams, a seasonal delicacy popular during Christmas celebrations in Spain and Portugal. The operation uncovered a scheme where the groups falsified documentation to present contaminated seafood as safe for human consumption. The investigation revealed exploitation of Asian workers who…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced that Impero Foods & Meats, Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland is recalling 7,485 pounds of raw pork sausage products. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the products were manufactured without required federal inspection oversight. The affected products include “Old World Italian Sausage” in both rope and link varieties, packaged in 10-pound white cardboard boxes containing plastic bags. The items, produced between October 3 and December 19, 2024, bear the establishment number “EST. 10827” within the USDA inspection mark. Distribution of these sausage products extended to restaurants…
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Aux Terroirs, based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, have issued a voluntary recall for Fromagerie des Grondines brand Festin Soft Cheese due to contamination with generic E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, both pathogens that can cause serious, and sometimes severe, foodborne illness in certain populations. Background The recall notice did not specify how the presence of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus were discovered in the impacted product. This is classified as a Class II recall, which means the affected products may pose a moderate health risk, but the probability of serious health consequences is…
A series of Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) contamination incidents has led to numerous recalls of enoki mushrooms across North America over the past year. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to investigate why these long, thin white mushrooms, commonly used in East Asian cuisine, appear particularly susceptible to Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to a recent article on eatingwell.com. The sequence of recalls began in October 2023 when Qilu Enterprises issued a recall spanning six states after their enoki mushrooms tested positive for Listeria. In December 2023, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced a recall of Good brand enoki mushrooms…
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the conclusion of a significant E. coli outbreak linked to contaminated carrots. The impacted carrots are past their shelf life and no longer available for retail or commercial sale. Background – December 18, 2024 update A nationwide investigation by federal and state health authorities to examine an outbreak of E. coli O121:H9 infections connected to organic carrots from Grimmway Farms has ended. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) led the investigation and worked closely with state and local health partners…
SACRAMENTO – California health officials have issued a warning about raw oysters from British Columbia, Canada, following a norovirus outbreak that has affected multiple counties across the state. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reported 57 confirmed and probable cases of norovirus infection between December 1 and December 9, 2024, all connected to the consumption of raw oysters at California restaurants. The investigation conducted by CDPH and local health authorities has traced the source to oysters harvested from specific areas in British Columbia during late November and early December 2024. While no official recalls have been announced, several distributors…
A recall by Tipp Distributors, Inc., dba Novamex, based in El Paso, Texas, first initiated on November 4, 2024 for Jarritos Coconut Water due to a potential compromised seal on the lid of the product remains ongoing. A compromised seal could lead to microbial contamination with pathogens like Clostridium botulinum that could potentially cause foodborne illness. Background No press release was issued for this recall. The company has not said how the potential issue was discovered. This recall is classified as a Class II recall, meaning that the recalled product has a lower chance of causing significant injuries or death,…
A voluntary recall first issued by Ocean Group, Inc., based in Los Angeles, California, on November 1, 2024 for multiple salmon products due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) remains ongoing. Listeria is a bacterium that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Background The potential for Listeria contamination was discovered after environmental sampling of a cutting board and floor drain by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tested positive for the pathogen. This recall is classified as a Class…
Fiji SIGATOKA – Seven Hospitalized in Fiji Resort Cocktail Investigation Seven tourists, including four Australian women, were hospitalized after consuming pina coladas at The Warwick resort in Fiji last Saturday night. The incident has prompted a major investigation by Fijian authorities and raised concerns about drink safety in popular tourist destinations. The sickened guests experienced severe symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and neurological complications after drinking at one of the five-star resort’s bars. Among those critically affected were a 56-year-old woman now under close medical supervision and a 19-year-old woman in serious condition. Two other Australian women, aged 18 and 49,…