Fw: [BITES-L] bites Oct. 8/10

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Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2010 13:07:28 -0500

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Subject: [BITES-L] bites Oct. 8/10

bites Oct. 8/10

FLORIDA food safety inspections shift again

Working with animals at petting zoo and then working in café in same clothes is bad idea

NYCs Cake Man Raven closed again

MICHIGAN: Illnesses spark food poisoning investigation at Shelby Twp. banquet hall

US: Egg inspections: The view from the F.D.A.

BRITISH COLUMBIA: Listeria-tainted fish supplier failed past inspections

TEXAS: Restaurant violations

Bactericidal effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on Salmonella enterica during storage

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FLORIDA food safety inspections shift again
08.oct.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/144443/10/10/08/florida-food-safety-inspections-shift-again
Tampa Bay Online reports that changes in state laws on food safety inspections has led to mass confusion about jurisdiction, so much that health departments are now regaining powers to conduct kitchen hygiene inspections at child care facilities, at least for an interim period.
Marc Yacht, the retired former director of the Pasco County Health Department said he remains concerned about the "most vulnerable population" at nursing homes not having a regular food and hygiene inspection program.
Unintended consequences seem to have plagued the new law from the start, Yacht and other critics say.
Most Department of Children and Family inspectors have bachelor's degrees in social sciences, but they lack the training and experience for food inspections. The Department of Health inspectors have degrees in science or health and training in food safety.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/oct/08/pa-food-safety-inspections-shift-again/

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Working with animals at petting zoo and then working in café in same clothes is bad idea
08.oct.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/144444/10/10/08/working-animals-petting-zoo-and-then-working-caf%C3%A9-same-clothes-bad-idea
The owners of a U.K. petting zoo accused of animal welfare offences and bad food safety have withdrawn their application for a zoo licence.
Northern Echo reports that Tweddle Children's Animal Farm, in Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, has also removed some of its more exotic animals.
Earlier this year, the council's environmental health officers and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs visited the farm following an undercover investigation by the Captive Animals Protection Society. The charity said it had found traces of E coli and dead animals decomposing near a children's play area.
It also said the bodies of dead animals, including a meerkat and tortoise, had been stored in a freezer on top of food for animals, while staff working with animals were working in the cafe wearing the same clothes.
Tweedle also did not have the required licence for a zoo.
The council said no traces of E coli were reported but head teachers who may have been planning school visits were warned about its investigation.
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/8440558.Owners_of_petting_farm_withdraw_zoo_licence_bid/

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NYCs Cake Man Raven closed again
08.oct.10
barfblog
Doug Powell
http://www.barfblog.com/blog/144467/10/10/08/nycs-cake-man-raven-closed-again
Some New York City eateries suck at this food safety thing. GrubStreet reports that Cake Man Raven was closed by the Health Department a couple of years ago for using an unpermitted commercial kitchen for some of its cakes (mice droppings were also found), and on Wednesday, it was closed again.
This time, the inspection report cites "food from unapproved or unknown source or home canned" and/or "ROP foods prepared on premises transported to another site," which indicates that proprietor Raven Patrick De'Sean Dennis III is likely once again in trouble for transporting slices from off site (no one is picking up at the store). Add to that, the Cake Man apparently couldn't produce a food protection certificate or an operating permit.
Meanwhile in Manhattan, Market Table and BLT Steak recently racked up even more demerits than the Cake Man's 78 (they scored a whopping 94 and 91, respectively), but both remain open for business, with grades still pending. Everyone's favorite wedding-proposal spot, One if by Land, also rang up a surprising 64 demerits.
GrubStreet has a full list of the food safety infractions from the reports. Fine dining.
http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/health-department-shuts-cake-man-raven/?partner=rss&emc=rss
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2010/10/cake_man_raven_is_shuttered_by.html

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MICHIGAN: Illnesses spark food poisoning investigation at Shelby Twp. banquet hall
07.oct.10
The Detroit News
Maureen Feighan
http://www.detnews.com/article/20101007/METRO03/10070447/1361/Illnesses-spark-food-poisoning-investigation-at-Shelby-Twp.-banquet-hall
Shelby Township -- The Macomb County Health Department is investigating a possible food poisoning outbreak connected to a Shelby Township banquet hall after several patrons complained of vomiting and diarrhea.
Health Department Director Steven Gold said the department was contacted Tuesday by people who attended functions at Club Monte Carlo on Van Dyke Saturday and Sunday and later got sick with gastrointestinal symptoms.
Gold said roughly 100 people have been interviewed, with as many as 200 more to go before the agency wraps up its investigation. The health department tracked down patrons through wedding guest lists.
"We have no conclusions so far," Gold said.

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US: Egg inspections: The view from the F.D.A.
07.oct.10
New York Times
Michael Taylor
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/opinion/lweb08eggs.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss
Michael Taylor, Deputy Commissioner for Foods, Food and Drug Administration writes regarding, "Oops! F.D.A. Error Is Talk of Henhouse" (Business Day, Sept. 30) to say that contrary to your article, Food and Drug Administration inspections of the egg industry are on track. In response to the salmonella outbreak that led to a recall of more than 500 million eggs, the agency will inspect all 600 of the nation's largest egg producers by the end of 2011. These inspections have already begun, starting with facilities considered at highest risk because of past problems.
We are learning already; the F.D.A. revised its training procedure to account for issues that emerged during an early training session and the August inspection of the Iowa facilities at the center of the recent outbreak. The agency is committed to ensuring the safety of the nation's egg supply, and passage of the pending food safety legislation would provide the agency with additional tools to accomplish this goal.

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BRITISH COLUMBIA: Listeria-tainted fish supplier failed past inspections
07.oct.10
CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/10/07/bc-fish-processor-listeria-violations.html
The Maple Ridge, B.C., fish processor that supplied salmon containing Listeria bacteria to a Granville Island retailer has been given a "high hazard" rating six times since 2004, according to the Fraser Health Authority.
Bruce's Country Market — which also operates under the name Sea Fresh Fish Limited, a separate company run out of the same location by the same owner — was shut down for one month in September 2009 after a health inspection.
"Health officers went in at that time and actually did issue a closure notice," Fraser Health spokesman Roy Thorpe-Doward said Thursday.
"[The company] did some renovations and cleaned the site and also reviewed and revamped their food safety and sanitation practices and were inspected and re-opened."
The company was cited for a high hazard rating in November 2004, January 2006, April 2008, September 2009 and twice in October 2009.
The rating is given to a restaurant or food processor when, "significant problems were observed related to food handling and/or operating practices," according to the health authority's website.
The September 2009 violation was for, "food contaminated or unfit for human consumption," the website said.
Most other violations involved utensils, equipment or food contact surfaces that were not properly washed and sanitized.

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TEXAS: Restaurant violations
08.oct.10
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
http://lubbockonline.com/restaurants/2010-10-08/restaurant-violations
Restaurant reports for the week ending October 3:
No critical violations:
• Aramark Healthcare Support Services/UMC, 602 Indiana Ave.
• Achiever's Learning Center, 4539 34th St.
• All Saints School, 3222 103rd St.
• Amarillo German Roasted Nuts, 2023 S. Milam (Amarillo)
• Applebee's (Food Service), 4025 S, Loop 289
• Cancun Mexican Restaurant (Food Service), 7905 University Ave.
• Christ the King, 4011 54th St.
• CVS/Pharmacy No. 7272, 3402 Slide Road
• CVS/Pharmacy No. 7274, 3401 82nd St.
• CVS/Pharmacy No. 7811, 5805 82nd St.
• CVS/Pharmacy No. 7830, 5208 98th St.
• CVS/Pharmacy No. 8340, 6420 19th St.
• Domino's Pizza No. 6873, 5815 82nd St. No. 135
• Fast Stop No. 14, 7822 82nd St.
• Fox and Hound English Pub and Grill (Bar), 4210 82nd St. Ste. 240
• Jimmy John's, 2413 Broadway
• Krispy Kreme, 4301 S. Loop 289
• Lubbock Christian Concession, 2604 Dover Ave.
• Monterey High School, 3211 47th St.
• Nothin Butt Smokes, 1730 Parkway Drive
• Nothin Butt Smokes, 3712 Slide Road
• Nothin Butt Smokes, 5002 Ave. A
• Nothin Butt Smokes, 7402 82nd St.
• Nothin Butt Smokes No. 7, 2812 Fourth St. Ste. D
• Nothin Butt Smokes No. 14, 6702 19th St. Ste. A
• Sonic Drive In, 4401 Fourth St.
• Sonik Mart, 3908 Ave. Q
• South Plains Academy, 4008 Ave. R
• Texas Tech Early Parkway/Cherry Point, 515 N. Zenith Ave.
• VTS, 1802 E. 50th St.
• Walgreens Drug Store No. 4820, 1619 50th St.
• Walgreens Drug Store No. 4821, 3404 Indiana Ave.
• Walgreens Drug Store No. 5996, 2417 82nd St.
• Wheelock Elementary School, 3008 40th St.
One critical violation:
• Applebee's (Bar), 4025 S, Loop 289 — food contact surfaces found soiled. Corrected on site.
• Cancun Mexican Restaurant (Bar), 2905 University Ave. — food contact surfaces found soiled. Corrected on site.
• Chicken Express, 6720 82nd St. — food contact surfaces found soiled. Corrected on site.
• El Burrito Mariachi, 4250 Ave. A — thermometer in cooling unit not properly calibrated. Corrected on site.
• Kwik Stop No. 2, 5908 Ave. A — food contact surfaces found soiled. Corrected on site.
• Maracas, 1601 50th St. — inadequate dish-sanitation. Corrected on site.
• Nick's Sports Grill and Lounge (Bar), 9806 Quaker Ave. — food contact surfaces found soiled. Corrected on site.
• Nothin Butt Smokes, 904 Slide Road — inadequate handwashing facilities. Corrected on site.
• Elmbrook Smokes, 5301 66th St. — inadequate date-marking systems. Corrected on site.
• Slide Breakfast House, 2907 Slide Road — inadequate date-marking systems. Corrected on site.
• Walgreens Drug Store No. 4819, 5206 Fourth St. — observed numerous meat and dairy products past expiration. Corrected on site.
• Firehouse Subs, 411 University Ave. — cold hold food held at inadequate temperature. Corrected on site.
• Sonic, 1609 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. — cold hold food held at inadequate temperature. Corrected on site.
Two or more critical violations:
• Cattle Baron Restaurant (Food Service), 8201 Quaker Ave. — observed possible cross contamination. Food contact surfaces found soiled. Corrected on site.
• IHOP, 3911 S. Loop 289 — good hygiene practices not followed. Toxic items stored improperly. Corrected on site.
• Nick's Sports Grill and Lounge (Food Service), 9806 Quaker Ave. — improper employee handwashing. Observed no thermometer in cooling unit. Food contact surfaces found soiled. Corrected on site.
• Fox and Hound English Pub and Grill (Food Service), 4210 82nd St. Ste. 240 — good hygiene practices not followed. Toxic items stored improperly. Inadequate dish-sanitation. Food contact surfaces found soiled. Corrected on site.
Compiled from city of Lubbock
Environmental Inspection Services

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Bactericidal effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on Salmonella enterica during storage
07.oct.10
Food Control
Concepción Pintado, Alicia de Miguel, Olga Acevedo, Leonor Nozal, José Luis Novella and Rafael Rotger
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T6S-5161P8B-1&_user=10&_coverDate=10%2F07%2F2010&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_origin=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f2aff56314cc0b88919de7c83819c602&searchtype=a
Abstract
The presence of pathogenic bacteria in spices represents a public health risk as a possible cause of food contamination. Salmonella has been found in several spices and it has been involved in food-borne outbreaks, but this bacterium has not been reported as a contaminant of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). We examined a possible antibacterial effect of saffron using samples from Iran, Greece and Spain which were artificially contaminated with clinical isolates belonging to five different serovars of Salmonella. We detected a loss of viability during the room-temperature storage of the saffron samples, with bacteria being undetectable at day 16 except in the case of the DT104 strain of the Typhimurium serovar, in all of the samples, and of the Hadar serovar in the Iranian sample, both of which gave negative culture at day 32. The laboratory strain LT2 of the Typhimurium serovar was undetectable at day 4. To gain an insight into the basis for this bactericidal effect, we measured the inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of safranal and crocin, the main compounds responsible for the flavouring and colouring capabilities of saffron. They were in the order of 8–16 mg/mL and 64–128 mg/mL for safranal and crocin, respectively. These data suggest that these compounds, and probably their chemical relatives, are involved in the antibacterial activity of saffron, and that this effect can significantly reduce the risk of food contamination with Salmonella by this spice.

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