Why Is the UK Afraid of Importing US Chicken Meat?

There has been much scuttlebutt regarding the UK not wanting to allow importation of US chickens. While EU has banned US chickens since 1997, the issue has been raised as the UK plans to exit the EU.  Will the UK now allow the importation of US chickens?  Well, it seems that they have issue with the fact that the US uses a chlorine disinfection step to get rid of the pathogenic microbes.  But it is not the fact of chlorine that bothers our friends across the ocean, but it is the fact that we have to use chlorine in order to compensate for what they consider our less than clean birds.

According to UK food safety expert, Simon Dawson - there is no issue with chlorine, and that chlorine can be a useful tool in reducing harmful pathogens, such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, that are naturally associated with the birds.  And there is no real evidence that our birds are not as clean, but rather is more precautionary...based on "no poultry welfare standards" in the US and "also been reports, including undercover video evidence by the Humane Society of the United States, of both inhumane and unsanitary practices being carried out".

So it has nothing to do with the fact we have awesome, inexpensive chicken that UK consumers would definitely prefer.  Hmm....I am going to Chick-fil-A for lunch.

The Conversation
http://theconversation.com/chlorine-washed-chicken-qanda-food-safety-expert-explains-why-us-poultry-is-banned-in-the-eu-81921

Chlorine-washed chicken Q&A: food safety expert explains why US poultry is banned in the EU
August 2, 2017 7.03am EDT

NC Establishment Recalls Ground Beef Due to Foreign Material Complaints of Styrofoam Pieces

JBS of North Carolina is recalling 5,000 lbs of ground beef after receiving complaints of foreign material in the form of styrofoam pieces.

USDA Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2017/rc-086-2017
JBS USA Inc. Recalls Beef Products Due To Possible Foreign Matter Contamination 
Class III Recall  086-2017
 Aug 1, 2017

Papaya's Recalled After Linked to Salmonella Outbreak.

A Maryland distributor, Grande Produce, is recalling Cariberia brand of papaya maradol after it was linked to a Salmonella outbreak where there were 47 cases.   The impacted product was shipped July 10 to July 19, so it is unlikely that any of this perishable produce is still around.

While much of the product was pulled back from the distributors, the company should have issued a public recall.  This recall comes a week after Maryland Dept of Ag first issued a warning.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm568780.htm
Grande Produce Issues Voluntary Recall of Limited Quantity of Papaya “Caribeña” Due to Potential Health Risk
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2017

Rogue Employee Posting Photos of Moldy Equipment Goes Viral - Gains International Media Attention

 A new reality for food operations, especially large foodservice chains - a reported issue at one store within a chain that impacts the entire corporation.  This was recently the case for Chipotle where an outbreak at one store gained international attention dropping the company's stock price.  Now a case at a McDonalds store, where a rouge employee posted pictures online of a piece of ice cream equipment that had mold. [Yeah, he could have cleaned it, but instead decided to post pictures online..nice].   Unfortunately, this has gained international attention, being reported in major news media outlets around the world.

Clearly this was not an issue you want to see, but the overall cost of an issue like this can be huge, rippling back in the food chain to the ingredient manufacturers, transporters, etc.  Maintaining a tight system across hundreds or thousands of outlets can be tough.  So it is not only important to have systems in place for running a clean operation, but having systems that encourage employees to report issues, or even handle issues.  Good hiring practices also help.

HuffPost UK LIFESTYLE
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/former-mcdonalds-employee-claims-he-unearthed-dirty-tray-within-mcflurry-machine_uk_5979a01de4b02a4ebb72f709
Former McDonald’s Employee Unearths Gross Find Hidden Within McFlurry Machine
Natasha Hinde Lifestyle writer at HuffPost UK
2/27/17

Failure to Enforce Employee Sick Policy May Be Root to Chipotle Outbreak

In a CNBC news article, investigators found what could be a systemic issue in the under-enforcement of the employee sick policy that keeps ill workers home rather than working.  It is reported that managers from various stores were not executing the policies and forcing workers while ill.

Many have stated that norovirus is also seen at other chains but we just don't hear about it.  And while there is validity to the point that the news media and the business investors are hyper-aware of issues at Chipotle, my point is that the restaurant managers and employees should have been hyper-aware of the need to adhere to policies including the employee health policies, especially in light of the past issues that the chain has suffered.

The US Food Code states that employees who have diarrhea, are vomiting, or have jaundice must be excluded from the workplace.  Company's employee health policies must adhere to this in order to prevent the spread of foodborne illness from organisms such as Hepatitis A, norovirus, Salmonella, STEC E. coli, and Shigella.  These organisms are highly infectious and can be easily passed to consumers via food, especially ready-to-eat food.

CNBC OnLine
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/25/chipotles-recent-norovirus-outbreak-could-be-the-result-of-lax-sick-policy-enforcement.html
Chipotle's recent norovirus outbreak was the result of lax sick-policy enforcement

• A self-identified Chipotle employee alleged in a Reddit post last month that a manager required them to work while sick.
• A Chipotle employee from a different state told CNBC that it was only after the norovirus outbreak last week that their manager began enforcing the sick policy.
• Chipotle's sick policy may not be the only one that managers are overlooking.

Sarah Whitten | @sarahwhit10 

7/27/16

Foodbank recalls 27,000 lbs of Food for Loss of Temperature Control

The Idaho Foodbank is recalling various products after it was discovered that the cooler temperatures were not maintained.  The issue was discovered after reviewing cooler temperature records.

These are the types of issues that should never occur if daily record reviews are completed.  This not only goes for manufacturing operations, but also for foodservice, retail, and volunteer organizations such as foodbanks.

FDA Recall Notice
https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm568089.htm
The Idaho Foodbank Recalls Coconut Beverage, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Eggs, and Cheese Product Because Of Possible Health Risk
For Immediate Release
July 21, 2017

Canned Beans Recalled Due to a Supplier-related Can Seam Issue

Bush Brothers and Company is recalling 28oz cans of Bush Bean products after a defective can side-seam was detected.  This is a can supplier issue in that wielding of the seam on the side of the can is done by the can supplier.  

A defective can seam may result in loss of container integrity, allowing bacteria into the can.

Bushbeans.com
http://www.bushbeans.com/sites/default/files/emergency/2017-07-22_voluntary_recall_notice.pdf
Baked Beans Voluntary Recall Notice
A Message For Our Customers
July 22, 2017

Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Papayas

FDA and CDC are reporting that 47 have become ill with a particular strain of Salmonella from Cariberia brand Maradol papaya.  According to the FDA report, "The FDA, CDC, MDH and other state and local officials are investigating Salmonella Kiambu and Salmonella Thompson illnesses linked to Caribeña brand Maradol papayas from Mexico distributed by Grande Produce disclaimer icon in San Juan, TX."

FDA Outbreak
https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm568097.htm
FDA Investigates Multiple Salmonella Outbreak Strains Linked to Papayas

Chipotle Rocked by News of Norovirus Outbreak and Rodent Video

There are now 60 cases of Norovirus that are being linked to a Chipotle restaruant in northern VA. The health department stated that one patron has tested positive, but it there is still insufficient evidence to identify the source.  The restaurant was closed for a day, but reopened on the 20th of July, after being closed for a day.

The outbreak was initially posted on a non-regulatory website on the 18th..  According to an article on CNBC, "So far eight cases between July 14 and July 17 were reported to iwaspoisoned.com, a website that allows users to report when they get sick after eating at a restaurant. Business Insider was alerted to the issues at the restaurant by the site, and then published a story."   Immediately, this news hit the major mass news media outlets including the Wall Street Journal and NY Times.  

With that, the stock price dropped by 5%.  Stock prices continued to slide, and with a release of a rat video (which was really mice) on the internet did not help.  The stock has dropped a whopping $40 per share in the last five days.

Just goes to show how hard it is to recover once a bad reputation is developed.

Loudoun County Health Dept.

https://www.loudoun.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=3974
Posted on: July 20, 2017
Health Department Updates Investigation of Reports of Illness at Chipotle Mexican Grill in Sterling