UK - E. coli Outbreak with 256 Cases Linked to Pre-Packaged Sandwiches

An outbreak of E. coli O145 has been linked to pre-packaged sandwiches.  It is believed that the lettuce leaves used on the sandwiches is the source of E. coli.  There have been 256 cases with 86 of those resulting in hospitalization.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedd0947e73o
E. coli outbreak put at least 86 people in hospital
June 20, 2024
By Michelle Roberts,
Digital health editor, BBC News

At least 86 people were admitted to hospital for E. coli symptoms linked to an outbreak thought to be caused by some pre-packed sandwiches containing lettuce, health officials have confirmed.

The UK Health Security Agency says cases have slowed but a further 45 infections have been recorded, taking the total to 256.

Award Winning Microbe Collector!

Some people collect rocks.  Some people collect stamps.  But a true micro nerd collects....microbes.  Recently, one of our own won a huge award for collecting microbes....more specifically E. coli...those bacteria  mostly associated with being 'of fecal origin'.  Edward Dudley, Professor of Food Science and Director of the E. coli Reference Center in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State, has been awarded some fancy award by the United States Culture Collection Network.

Congratulations to him and his team that do such great work!


PSU Professor Honored by National Microbial Research Network
Edward Dudley recognized for his stewardship of Penn State’s E. coli Reference Center

PUBLISHED ON JUNE 4, 2024

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Edward Dudley, professor of food science and director of the E. coli Reference Center in the College of Agricultural Sciences at Penn State, has been awarded the 2023 J. Roger Porter Award by the United States Culture Collection Network in recognition of his outstanding leadership to support novel life science discoveries.

Ohio Firm Recalls Salad Bowls For Undeclared Pecans

Heinen’s of Warrensville Heights, OH is voluntarily recalling Heinen’s Tuscan Salad Bowls, due to the possibility that it may contain undeclared Pecans.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product containing Pecans was distributed in Tuscan Salad Bowls that did not reveal the presence of additional allergens. Subsequent investigation indicates that this was isolated to a single distributed Sell By Date of 6/2/2024

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/heinens-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-pecans-heinens-tuscan-salad-bowls
Heinen’s Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Pecans in Heinen’s Tuscan Salad Bowls

Summary

Company Announcement Date:  May 30, 2024

FDA Publish Date:  June 14, 2024

Product Type:  Food & Beverages

Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Pecans

Company Name:  Heinen’s Inc.

Brand Name:  Heinen’s

Product Description:  Tuscan Salad Bowl

Florida Firm Recalls Corn Cakes Due to Undeclared Milk

Villa Nueva Interservices LLC. in Lake Worth, FL is recalling "Arepas LA Mejor" 25 oz bags of Arepa de Choclo /Chocolo because it contains undeclared milk.  The recall was initiated after it was discovered that the Arepa de Chocolo contained milk and was distributed in packaging that did not reveal the milk as an ingredient. The firm has made corrections to the label.

Arepas de Choclo are griddled sweet corn cakes. 

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/villa-nueva-interservices-llc-issues-allergy-alert-undeclared-milk-arepas-la-mejor-25-oz-bags-arepa
Villa Nueva Interservices LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk in "Arepas LA Mejor" 25 oz Bags of Arepa de Choclo /Chocolo
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  June 11, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  June 13, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared milk
Company Name:  Villa Nueva Interservices LLC
Brand Name:  Arepas La Mejor
Product Description:  Corn cake

NY Firm Recalls Apricot Rolls Due to Undeclared Sulfites

AAHU BARAH USA INC. of Hicksville, NY is recalling 19 Boxes of Aahu Barah Apricot Roll 14OZ because it contains Sulfites which was not declared on the label.  The undeclared sulfites was discovered after sampling by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors and subsequent analysis by Food Laboratory personnel revealed the presence of Sulfites in the Apricot Roll.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/aahu-barah-usa-inc-recalls-product-due-undeclared-sulfites
AAHU Barah USA Inc. Recalls Product Due to Undeclared Sulfites
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  May 10, 2024
FDA Publish Date: June 13, 2024
Product Type:  Food & Beverages
Reason for Announcement:  Undeclared Sulfites
Company Name:  AAHU BARAH USA INC.
Brand Name:  Aahu Barah
Product Description:  Apricot roll

NIH Clarify Position on CWD Risk to Humans - Never Said No Risk

A recent study presented evidence that CWD prions were unlikely to move from animals [deer] to people. Experts have come out to clarify this and to say that there is low risk, but not to assume no risk.

"They weren’t able to transmit chronic wasting disease to these human cerebral organoids, but that's not a human," he said. "And there are so many other factors that go into transmission outside of such experimental spaces. It is encouraging in that it emphasizes that at least with current CWD strains, there is a high species barrier, but it certainly doesn't mean that [spillover] isn't possible or that the threshold of the species barrier might not change in the future when CWD strains evolve."

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/chronic-wasting-disease/nih-researchers-never-said-there-no-risk-cwd-spillover-humans
NIH researchers never said there is no risk of CWD spillover to humans
Mary Van Beusekom, MS
June 6, 2024

Bloomberg Article Highlights Problems with Outsourced / Generic Medications

Generic medications and drugs are a common site in grocery and pharmacy stores.  Prices are normally dollars cheaper than branded items.  Are you willing to spend the extra money for the branded items?  This article provides insight into the issues of generic drugs when the retailer does not do adequate supplier verification.

Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-06-10/cvs-brand-drug-recalls-expose-link-to-tainted-factories
Dozens of CVS Generic Drug Recalls Expose Link to Tainted Factories

The chain’s branded drugs were recalled about two times more than those of its biggest rival, Walgreens
By Anna Edney and Peter Robison
June 10, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT

One factory making CVS-branded pain and fever medications for children used contaminated water. Another made drugs for kids that were too potent. And a third made nasal sprays for babies on the same machines it used to produce pesticides.

The drugs were among those sold by CVS Health Corp., the largest US pharmacy, under its store-brand label before being recalled.

Other chains have seen their share of recalls for their own store-branded medications. But over the past decade CVS’s have been recalled about two times more than those from Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. and three times more than those from Walmart Inc., a Bloomberg analysis of public records found. Both CVS and Walgreens say they offer more than 2,000 store-brand health and wellness products; Walmart declined to say how many it had for sale, but its website indicates it has many of the same drugs available as CVS and Walgreens do under its Equate store brand.

Louisiana Establishment Fails to Properly Label Allergens Associated with Worchester Powder

Bonneval Foods, LLC, a Gonzales, La. establishment, is recalling all barbecue pork skin product that is currently available in commerce due to misbranding and undeclared allergens.  The product contains wheat and soy, known allergens, that are not declared on the product label.  The problem was discovered during routine FSIS in-plant verification activities. FSIS personnel identified soy and wheat, known allergens, as ingredients in a Worcestershire powder that is an ingredient in a BBQ pork skin product.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/bonneval-foods-llc-recalls-barbecue-pork-skin-product-due-misbranding-and-undeclared
Bonneval Foods, LLC Recalls Barbecue Pork Skin Product Due To Misbranding And Undeclared Allergens

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2024 – Bonneval Foods, LLC, a Gonzales, La. establishment, is recalling all barbecue pork skin product that is currently available in commerce due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. The product contains wheat and soy, known allergens, that are not declared on the product label.

USDA FSIS Issues Warning for Excessive Nitrite Levels in Meat Products Produced by KY Establishment

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for not-ready-to-eat pork and beef bacon products produced by Farmstead Butcher Block LLC of  Central City, KY due to levels of sodium nitrite that exceed the regulatory limit.  The problem was discovered by FSIS while performing routine inspection activities. FSIS discovered that the establishment’s formulation of sodium nitrite, a restricted ingredient, exceeded the regulatory limit.  A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-not-ready-eat-pork-and-beef-bacon-products-due
FSIS Issues Public Health Alert For Not-Ready-To-Eat Pork And Beef Bacon Products Due to Sodium Nitrite Levels in Excess of Regulatory Limit
FSIS Announcement

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert for not-ready-to-eat pork and beef bacon products produced by Farmstead Butcher Block LLC of  Central City, KY due to levels of sodium nitrite that exceed the regulatory limit. FSIS is issuing this public health alert to ensure that consumers are aware that this product should not be consumed. A recall was not requested because the affected product is no longer available for purchase.