EU - Frozen Vegetables Linked to Listeria Outbreak with Nine Deaths

In Europe, frozen vegetables, primarily corn, from a Hungarian processing facility have been linked to a Listeria outbreak where 47 have become infected including 9 deaths.

It appears that the same strain of Listeria has persisted in this plant for at least the last three years.

While corn has been the primary food associated with illness, it can be likely that more products are contaminated especially when similar equipment is used to pack the product.  Perhaps there was more of a tendency to under-cook the corn before eating or using frozen corn in ready-to-eat applications, such as using it in a salad or fresh salsa.

https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/180703
Listeria monocytogenes: update on foodborne outbreak
3 July 2018

Frozen corn and possibly other frozen vegetables are the likely source of an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes that has been affecting Austria, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom since 2015.

CDC Update on Cyclospora Outbreak Associated with Trays of Cut Vegetables

CDC released an update of the cyclospora outbreak associated with cut vegetable trays.  There are  185 laboratory-confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis in persons who reportedly consumed pre-packaged Del Monte Fresh Produce vegetable trays containing broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and dill dip.  The outbreak has been centered in 4 states.   Seven people have been hospitalized,.

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/cyclosporiasis/outbreaks/2018/a-062018/index.html
Multistate Outbreak of Cyclosporiasis Linked to Del Monte Fresh Produce Vegetable Trays — United States, 2018

Low-tech food-safety training still best for some audiences

https://news.psu.edu/story/527080/2018/07/02/research/back-future-low-tech-food-safety-training-still-best-some-audiences
Back to the future: Low-tech food-safety training still best for some audiences

Jeff Mulhollem
July 2, 2018

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — While current training for food safety and sanitation usually incorporates high-technology presentations, such as videos and slide shows, there is still a need for low-tech approaches, according to Penn State researchers.

FDA Commissioner Discusses the Impact of New Technologies on Outbreak Detection

In light of a number of recent outbreaks making headlines, the FDA commissioner released a statement stating that it is not that the food is less safe, but the fact that our ability to identify outbreaks has improved dramatically thanks to new technology.  Now, we have the ability to link widely scattered cases from across the county.

 "The FDA, in concert with the CDC and other partners, are now able to link illness investigations to products in the marketplace more often than ever before, including discovering multistate outbreaks that couldn’t previously be detected."

"While there have been many advances over the past years, one of the most powerful of the new technologies we employ is whole genome sequencing (WGS). WGS is a technique that can sequence and determine the entire genetic blueprint of a foodborne pathogen."

"By using this technology, public health investigators can link illnesses in different people and locations to reveal outbreaks with a level of precision never previously available. Simply put, this means we’re better at identifying outbreaks and their source."

So our food is not less safe just because it appears there are more announced outbreaks.

Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on developments in the romaine outbreak investigation, recent outbreaks and the use of modern tools to advance food safety
For Immediate Release
June 28, 2018

NJ Firm Recalls Canned Product After Swollen Cans Detected

A NJ firm is recalling gravy product after bulging cans were noted during labeling.   Product was produced in April and recall was not made until June.

Underprocessing is likely the issue, which allowed the survival of a few a thermophilic sporeforming organisms.  (If a mesophile, cans would have likely exploded or swelling would have been noted sooner. Ambient temperatures would probably only allow minimal growth).  However, Clostridium botulinum is always a concern when can swells are noted.

In canning operations, labeling is not always immediate.  Cans are stored unlabeled (termed bright stack), and then labeled later.  This time allowed swelling to occur.


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-056-2018-release
Aunt Kitty's Foods Inc. Recalls Canned Chicken Products Due to Possible Processing Deviation 

Washington Processor Recalls Bottled Beverage Due to Complaints of Off-Flavor

Talking Rain®, a Washington state based company,  is voluntarily recalling lots of its Sparkling Ice® Cherry Limeade beverage in response to a small number of customer complaints.  The issue was off-taste and off-odor in the recalled product. The Company made the decision to recall the product out of an abundance of caution.

These types of issues are often controlled through an on-site sensory analysis to evaluate each batch of product.   This would represent a quality issue, unlikely to impact safety of the product.

https://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm612182.htm
Talking Rain® Voluntarily Recalls Sparkling Ice® Cherry Limeade in Response to Customer Complaints
For Immediate Release
June 28, 2018

This Week in Mislabeled Product - Week Ending 6/30/2018

Milk Not Added to Label - A Boston, Mass. establishment, is recalling approximately three pounds of chicken wrap products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens - the products contain milk which is not on the label.  The problem was discovered by FSIS personnel during routine in-plant verification activities. (Label design error).

Supplier Change in Formation Not Communicated - Whole Foods Market is voluntarily recalling Whole Foods Market brand oatmeal raisin cookies from stores in eight states because the products contained soy flour that was not listed on the product label. The problem was discovered when discovered when the supplier notified the company of an unannounced ingredient change. (Supplier error).

Mislabeled Salad Dressing - Pinnacle Foods Inc. is voluntarily recalling a limited quantity of Wish Bone House Italian Salad Dressing  after learning from a retail customer that a limited number of bottles were mislabeled. The product contains milk and egg, known allergens not declared on the bottle. (Production error in labeling).


https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/recalls-and-public-health-alerts/recall-case-archive/archive/2018/recall-057-2018-release
L&D Market, Inc. Recalls Chicken Wrap Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens
Class I Recall 057-2018
Health Risk: High Jun 29, 2018

USDA Study Demonstrates Most Consumers Do Not Practice Proper Food Safety Procedures

A study conducted by USDA, demonstrated that a vast majority of consumers do not follow proper practices in the kitchen.

• Most people do not properly wash hands  -  "the study revealed that consumers are not washing their hands correctly 97 percent of the time".
• Most people do not use thermometers, and those that do, only half know the proper cooking temperatures - "results reveal that only 34 percent of participants used a food thermometer to check that their burgers were cooked properly. Of those who did use the food thermometer, nearly half still did not cook the burgers to the safe minimum internal temperature."
• People tend to cross contaminate other surfaces / food. After handling raw poultry 
• 48 percent of the time are contaminating spice containers used while preparing burgers,
• 11 percent of the time are spreading bacteria to refrigerator handles, an
• 5 percent of the time are tainting salads due to cross-contamination.

This is not surprising, and shows the reason why even  raw meat processors need to control pathogenic organisms.

Changing behaviors is not easy.  It does not help that many high schools have moved away from subjects that cover this.

USDA
https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2018/06/28/study-shows-most-people-are-spreading-dangerous-bacteria-around
Study Shows Most People Are Spreading Dangerous Bacteria Around the Kitchen and Don’t Even Realize It 

Outbreak Strain of E. coli in Romaine Lettuce Found in Irrigation Canal

FDA and CDC released a report this week on the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak linked to romaine lettuce from the Yuma AZ growing region.  The report indicated that the outbreak strain was found in the irrigation water canal.  A single grower, harvester, processor or distributor  has not been identified.

As of June 27, the CDC reports that 210 people in 36 states have become ill with 96 hospitalizations and five deaths.

With the outbreak strain found in the canal system, it is easy to understand why one grower was not identified as well as the extent of the outbreak in terms of cases.

https://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm604254.htm
FDA Investigating Multistate Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Infections Linked to Romaine Lettuce from Yuma Growing Region

June 28, 2018