In the news

The CDFA (California Department of Food and Agriculture) reported that  Burrata cheese produced and packaged by Gioia Cheese Company of Los Angeles County is the subject of a statewide recall and quarantine order announced by California State Veterinarian Dr. Annette Jones. The quarantine order came following the confirmed detection of Salmonella in the firm’s Burrata cheese, sampled and tested by the CDFA. The order applies to “Gioia Cheese Co. Burrata” sold in four-ounce (4 oz) and one-pound (16 oz) plastic tubs available for purchase at retail on or before August 1, 2025. CDFA found the Salmonella bacteria in a routine sample collected on 7/29/25 at the Gioia Cheese Company’s manufacturing and packaging facility. No illnesses have been reported. @ https://pressreleases.cdfa.ca.gov/Home/PressRelease/65849373

The CORE update list of outbreaks and adverse events includes six postings. Two outbreaks closed without identifying the source. The outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis (ref #1313) linked to an unidentified product, the case count has been adjusted from 58 to 61. The FDA has initiated sample collection. The outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis (ref # 1301) linked to an unidentified product has ended, and the FDA’s investigation is closed. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The Journal of Food Protection, 5 August 2025, published “Persistence of foodborne bacterial pathogens on microgreens and soil irrigated with contaminated water”. The study aimed to investigate the potential transfer of enteric pathogens to microgreens irrigated with contaminated water. Municipal water (MW) and rainwater (RW) inoculated with low and high concentrations of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, or Listeria monocytogenes were used to irrigate daikon, red cabbage, broccoli, and mustard microgreens cultivated on soil beds. The results of this study provided valuable insight into the persistence of foodborne pathogens (S. enterica, E. coli O157:H7, and L. monocytogenes) in microgreens when irrigated with varying contamination levels of MW and rainwater RW. Significant variations in pathogen recovery were observed across days 7 and 14, irrespective of microgreen variety or water source. When irrigated with water at a 5 Log CFU/mL contamination level, all pathogens were significantly reduced by ∼2.5 -4.7 Log CFU/g on the 14th day, irrespective of microgreens or source of irrigation water. At low and high levels of inoculums, L. monocytogenes persisted in lower numbers (2-2.5 Log MPN/g and 3.9-4.1 Log CFU/g)on microgreens compared to Salmonella (3.2-3.8 Log MPN/g and 4.2-4.5 Log CFU/g) and E. coli O157:H7 (2.8-3.4 Log MPN/g and 4.5-4.7 Log CFU/g) respectively, throughout the sampling period.  @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X25001462?via%3Dihub

The FSAI has issued a recall alert for nine potted coriander products by O’Hanlon Herbs due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes. The recall products were provided by O’Hanlon Herbs to a range of major supermarkets, including Aldi, Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Lidl, Marks & Spencer, and Supervalu. @ https://www.fsai.ie/news-and-alerts/food-alerts/recall-of-o-hanlon-herbs-potted-coriander