FDA and CDC Announce Veggie Tray-Linked Cyclospora Outbreak Over

The FDA and CDC announced that the Cyclospora outbreak associated with Del Monte vegetable trays is over. There were a total of 250 hospitalizations with the last illness starting on 6/14/18.  The announcement of the outbreak was in early June.

https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm610982.htm
FDA Investigation of Multistate Outbreak of Cyclospora Illnesses Linked to Del Monte Vegetable Trays Ends

The FDA, CDC, along with state and local officials investigated a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis illnesses associated with Del Monte vegetable trays recalled from Kwik Trip/Kwik Star locations in the United States.

Case Counts
Total Illnesses: 250
Hospitalizations: 8
Deaths: 0
Last illness onset: 6/14/2018
States with Cases: IA, MN, WI, MI

September is National Food Safety Education Month

September is National Food Safety Education Month.

If we get these basics down, we will go a long way to preventing foodborne illness.....

1. Wash your hands....well, with soap.

2. Handle your raw meat. poultry and seafood as though it may be contaminated...because it probably is.

3. Follow directions for cooking.....including using a thermometer.  Remember...cookie dough must be baked first, hamburgers must reach 160F (155 for professionals), etc.

4. Clean your counters and other food surfaces....with detergent and clean moistened towel, not just that nasty cloth that was lying on counter or the floor.

5. Prevent raw food from contaminating ready-to-eat foods - cover, separate, wrap

6. Refrigerate...40F or less...don't let food sit around, get it in the refrigerator.  And check to see if your refrigerator is at the right temperature.

USDA Website - National Food Safety Education Month
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2018/09/04/kick-national-food-safety-education-month-great-hand-washing-methods-use-all

PRWeb
https://www.prweb.com/releases/how_to_get_a_safe_meal_on_the_table_five_often_forgotten_food_safety_basics_from_the_partnership_for_food_safety_education/prweb15729014.htm
How to Get A Safe Meal on the Table: Five Often-Forgotten Food Safety Basics from the Partnership for Food Safety Education
During National Food Safety Education Month, Integrate Food Safety into the Delight of Family Dinner

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Week Ending Sept 4, 2018

H&C Food Inc of Brooklyn, NY is recalling the Frozen Fuzhou Fish Balls and the Fish Balls,because they may contain undeclared wheat, pork, egg, and crustacean. The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing wheat, pork, egg and crustacean were distributed in packaging that did not reveal the presence of egg and crustacean. Subsequent investigation indicates the problem was caused by a temporary breakdown in the company's production and packaging processes.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today alerted consumers that the “Lily Bulb” product (photo attached) distributed by Allied Imports Inc. of 267 52nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11220 was found to contain sulfites, which are not declared on the product label.  Routine sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets food inspectors and subsequent analysis of the product by staff at the New York State Food Laboratory revealed the product contained high levels of sulfites, which were not declared on the label. The consumption of 10 milligrams of sulfites per serving has been reported to elicit severe reactions in some asthmatics.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm619231.htm
H&C Food Inc. Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Wheat, Pork, Egg, and Crustacean in Frozen Fish Balls
For Immediate Release
September 4, 2018

Ohio Establishment Recalls Cooked Ground Beef Patties After Product Tests Positive For Listeria

A Harrison, Ohio establishment, is recalling approximately 960 pounds of cooked ground beef patty products that may be adulterated with Listeria monocytogenes, FSIS inspection program personnel discovered the problem on August 31, 2018 during routine inspection duties. The product was tested by the establishment and found to be positive for L. monocytogenes under their sampling program.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-073-2018-release
J.T.M. Provisions Company Recalls Cooked Ground Beef Products Due To Possible Listeria Contamination
Class I Recall

073-2018
Health Risk: High 

 Aug 31, 2018

Cyclospora Cases Continue to Increase in Number, FDA Sampling Finds Cyclospora in Imported and Domestic Cilantro

In Texas, there continues to be an increase in the number of Cyclospora infections.  No specific source has been identified.  Last week, CDC issued an update for the number of cases of Cyclospora related to Frehs Express Salads distributed through McDonalds.  That number had risen to 507 cases in 16 states.

FDA released results of its produce sampling that revealed that samples of cilantro were positive for cyclospora.  Two samples of imported cilantro as well as some domestic product.   "The results of this increased surveillance sampling so far this summer have been that two samples of cilantro offered for import from two producers in Mexico were positive for Cyclospora. In response to the finding, FDA refused entry for these shipments, and will take action to prevent contaminated cilantro from those firms from entering the U.S. "  "Domestically, a cilantro sample collected at a distributor in July tested positive for Cyclospora. Following that finding, FDA initiated an investigation and another sample was collected on the farm that also tested positive for Cyclospora."  This positive finding in domestic cilantro was not linked to ongoing cases in the US.

The parasite is a difficult organism for the produce industry to deal with - it is difficult to wash from produce and is more resistant to sanitizers.  Another issue is that when people have the illness, the Cyclospora infects the small intestine and causes watery diarrhea, with frequent, sometimes
explosive, stools. This can last from a few days to months.  During this time, they shed the oocyte, which can make its way to source water where it takes time for it to transition to its infectious state. So this is why we may see this organism becoming a bigger and bigger problem over time.

https://www.centexproud.com/news/local/cyclospora-continues-to-show-up/1404470770
Cyclospora continues to show up
By: Roland Richter 
Posted: Aug 29, 2018 11:50 AM CDT
Updated: Aug 29, 2018 09:52 PM CDT

Finding the Truth in the Consumer Reports / USDA Controversy on Drug Residues in Meat

USDA issued a response to the Consumer Reports article,  "Are Banned Drugs in Your Meat?" (links to both below).   The short of it is that Consumer Reports wrote a report on results that USDA prematurely/accidently released.  USDA said that the results were "unconfirmed, preliminary test results for samples taken from poultry."

In a statement issued by the USDA Undersecreatary,

"You may have seen a Consumer Reports story claiming that the poultry and meat you purchase in the grocery store and feed your families could contain harmful drug residues. That is not true. This story is sensational and fear-based infotainment aimed at confusing shoppers with pseudoscience and scare tactics.  Consumer Reports admits in their closing paragraph that the real agenda behind this piece is to convince Americans to eat less meat. 

"On March 3, 2017, in our haste to be transparent and responsive, we mistakenly released in response to a FOIA request, unconfirmed, preliminary test results for samples taken from poultry. We corrected our mistake with the requestor. However, the unconfirmed sampling results continue to be passed around as accurate, truthful information – they are not."

In these times where it is hard to determine what is truth, shame on both groups.  How does a Federal Agency release data that is unconfirmed?   Is Consumer Reports as biased in their reports on other items (vacuum cleaners, etc) as they appear here?

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/newsroom/news-releases-statements-and-transcripts/news-release-archives-by-year/archive/2018/nr-082918-01
Food Safety Professionals Ensure that “What’s in Your Meat” is Safe and Wholesome 
By Carmen Rottenberg, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Kosher Chicken Responsible for 17 Cases Including 1 Death

Further information was provided by CDC for the Health Alert that was posted last week regarding Salmonella infections linked to kosher raw chicken sold by a PA kosher poultry facility.   CDC reports that there are 17 cases with 8 hospitalizations and 1 death.

CDC Investigation Notice
https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/chicken-08-18/index.html
Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Chicken
Posted August 29, 2018 at 11:30 AM ET

Florida Retailer Recalls Ground Beef After Linked to E. coli Illnesses

Publix Super Markets Inc., a Florida based retail grocery store chain is recalling an undetermined amount of ground beef products made from chuck (purchased by consumers from June 25, 2018, through July 31, 2018) that may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O26.   FSIS was notified of an investigation of E. coli O26 illnesses with 18 case-patients predominantly from Florida and having onset dates ranging from July 5 to July 25, 2018.  "Traceback information indicated that case-patients consumed ground chuck products purchased at various Publix Super Markets that was supplied by a yet-to-be determined source."

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-072-2018-release
Publix Super Markets Inc. Recalls Ground Chuck Products Due To Possible E. coli O26 Contamination
Class I Recall 

072-2018
Health Risk: High 

Aug 30, 2018

Europe - Nearly Half of Listeria Cases Go Undetected as Part of Outbreak Clusters

According to a recent release by European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the current surveillance systems may not be picking up the fact that Listeria cases may be part of larger outbreak clusters.  Because of this, large multi-country outbreaks may not be detected as fast as they should (or possibly at all).

Researchers "analysed 2 726 human Listeria monocytogenes isolates from 27 countries between 2010 and 2015.  It found that slightly under 50% of the cases are isolated whereas the remaining half of cases is clustered together. Around one third of the cases that were identified as part of a cluster affected more than one country, often lasting for several years. However, only two listeriosis outbreaks were reported in the EU in 2016 and five in 2015, which suggests that many of them have gone undetected."

The US continues to develop a strong system to track and identify outbreaks.  Now using whole genome sequencing (WGS) allows distant cases to be clustered, making tracking more efficient.  This is not yet the state of testing in the EU at this time.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/listeria-surveillance-new-eu-wide-study-reveals-most-outbreaks-remain-undetected
Listeria surveillance: new EU-wide study reveals that most outbreaks remain undetected 
20 Aug 2018