Update on Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Honey Smack Cereal

CDC and FDA issued an update on Salmonella Outbreak Associated with Kellogg's Honey Smacks Cereal.  There are now 130 cases reported, but from 100 cases the July update.

A few items to note.

• Ill people range in age from less than one year to 95, with a median age of 57.  One would have thought that the median age would have been much lower with the thought that this cereal would have been eaten primarily by children, however, with a median of 57, clearly half are older adults.
• Illnesses started on dates from March 3, 2018, to August 7, 2018 with a recall posted on June 14th.  There was an issue getting the product off the store shelves, but probably more difficult in getting people to remove it from their own pantries.  "People who recently became ill report eating Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal that they had in their homes."  

https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/Mbandaka-06-18/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Mbandaka Infections Linked to Kellogg’s Honey Smacks Cereal
Posted September 4, 2018 4:00 PM ET

FDA and CDC Conclude Investigation into Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pasta Salad

FDA and CDC concluded an investigation into a Salmonella outbreak linked to Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salad, sold primarily in the Midwest.  There have been 101 illnesses with 25 hospitalizations.  Product was recalled in mid-July.  The announcement did not list any explanation to how Salmonella got into the product.

https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm613806.htm
FDA Investigated Multistate Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Hy-Vee Spring Pasta Salad

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners, investigated a multi-state outbreak of Salmonella illnesses linked to Spring Pasta Salad sold at Hy-Vee locations in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Cooked Chicken Product Recalled Due to Metal Pieces

Wayne Farms, LLC, a Decatur, Ala. establishment, is recalling approximately 438,960 pounds of frozen, fully cooked chicken products (produced on various dates from July 4 through July 17, 2018) that may be contaminated with metal pieces.  "The problem was discovered after the firm received a customer complaint on July 27, 2018. The firm investigated to determine the nature of the foreign material complaint and notified FSIS of the findings on Sept. 4, 2018."  The product was packed for foodservice and further processing applications.

Hard to think this product had not been passed through a metal detector, which if so, that would mean the unit was not working correctly.

USDA Recall Notice
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-076-2018-release
Wayne Farms, LLC Recalls Fully Cooked Chicken Products due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination 
Class I Recall 
076-2018 
Health Risk: High 
Sep 5, 2018 

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