The article lists several ways in which outbreaks from novel foods differ from outbreaks associated with others. The study covers the years 2007-2016.
Outbreaks associated with novel food vehicles differed from other outbreaks (i.e., those not associated with a novel food vehicle) in several ways (Table 2). First, 61.1% of outbreaks associated with a novel food vehicle involved exposure in multiple states, compared with 5.7% of other outbreaks (p<0.001). Second, 48.6% of outbreaks associated with a novel food vehicle resulted in a food recall, compared with 5.2% of other outbreaks (p<0.001). Third, the mean numbers of reported primary cases, hospitalizations, and deaths were greater among outbreaks linked to novel food vehicles than among other outbreaks (p = 0.04, p<0.001, and p<0.001, respectively). Fourth, the percentage of cases that resulted in hospitalization and the percentage of cases that resulted in death were significantly greater among outbreaks linked to novel food vehicles than among other outbreaks. Last, outbreaks associated with a novel food vehicle were more likely than other outbreaks to be caused by Salmonella contamination (p<0.001). Two potential confounding effects were a disproportionate number of Salmonella outbreaks linked to novel foods and potential effects of contamination from ill food workers (sensitivity analyses in Table 2).While these foods may be novel, none are surprising. For those that are a type of meat or fish (Bison, Carp, frog, lionfish, swai), they have the same issues associated with similar protein types. Most of the other items are items grown in nature and eaten with minimal to no processing. Thus Salmonella tends to be a leading cause of illness associated with these products, as well as other hazards often associated wtih field contamination (STEC, Cyclopora), or basic handling (Listeria, Hepatitis A).
The importance of this is that when conducting the Hazard Analysis, one can't simply see if a food had been involved in past outbreaks. One must consider where the product comes from and how it had been handled in relation to how it will be further processed (if any) and then consumed.