In the news

On May 2, 2024, the FDA published a final rule on agricultural water, representing an important step toward enhancing produce safety. The revised requirements are intended to enhance public health by improving the safety of water used in produce cultivation. The revisions are also designed to be practical across various agricultural water systems, uses, and practices while remaining adaptable to future agricultural water quality science advancements. The new rule establishes requirements for agricultural water assessments that evaluate various key determinants of contamination risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. Including an evaluation of the water system, water use practices, crop characteristics, environmental conditions, potential impacts on water from adjacent and nearby land, and other relevant factors. The new rule requires farms to implement effective mitigation measures within specific timeframes based on findings from their assessments. Hazards related to certain activities associated with adjacent and nearby land uses are subject to expedited mitigation. The new rule adds new options for mitigation measures, providing farms additional flexibility in responding to findings from pre-harvest agricultural water assessments. Farms must conduct assessments of their pre-harvest agricultural water annually and identify any conditions likely to introduce known or reasonably foreseeable hazards into or onto covered produce or food contact surfaces whenever a significant change occurs. The revisions will more comprehensively address a known route of microbial contamination that can lead to preventable foodborne illness.@ https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-publishes-landmark-final-rule-enhance-safety-agricultural-water?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The USDA/FSIS announced on May 01, 2024, that Cargill Meat Solutions (Hazleton, PA) recalled approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The raw ground beef items were produced on April 26-27, 2024. The items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/cargill-meat-solutions-recalls-ground-beef-products-due-possible-e–coli-o157h7

CORE update of May 01, 2024: the CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events includes two activities. A new outbreak advisory was issued for the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 (ref #1221) linked to recalled organic bulk walnuts. The FDA’s investigation is ongoing. The other activity relates to Salmonella Typhimurium in organic fresh Basil. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The FDA and CDC, state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections linked to organic walnuts from Gibson Farms, Inc. of Hollister, California that were distributed to multiple natural food and co-op stores in AK, AR, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, KS, LA, MT, NE, NM, NV, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, and WY. Ten people were interviewed about the foods they ate the week before becoming ill. Of the ten interviewed, all 10 (100%) reported eating walnuts, and almost all reported buying organic walnuts from bulk bins in food co-ops or natural food stores. On April 27, 2024, Gibson Farms, Inc. initiated a voluntary recall and contacted their distributing customers. Distributors and retailers that may have received recalled bulk organic walnuts should follow the recommendations above and contact their customers. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-e-coli-o157h7-bulk-organic-walnuts-april-2024?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery