In the news

Huer Foods Inc.  (Langley, BC) recalled Western Family Pretzels covered with yogurt and chocolate due to the potential of being contaminated with Salmonella. A recall in the US triggered this recall. There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products. According to the CFIA, the recalled products were distributed in British Columbia. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/western-family-brand-yogurt-covered-pretzels-and-milk-chocolate-covered-pretzels?utm_source=gc-notify&utm_medium=email&utm_content=en&utm_campaign=hc-sc-rsa-22-23

Palmer Candy Company (Sioux City, Iowa) recalls its “White Coated Confectionary Items because they can potentially be contaminated with Salmonella. The recalled Confectionary Items were distributed nationwide in retail stores and wholesale. The recalled confectionary items were distributed nationwide in Walmart, HyVee, Target, and Dollar General and to distributors in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The product comes in various retail packaging like bags, pouches, and tubs. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem. Palmer Candy was notified by its liquid coating supplier that there was potential contamination with Salmonella from an ingredient that was potentially contaminated by one of their suppliers. Production of the product has been suspended while the FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/palmer-candy-company-recalls-white-confectionary-products-because-possible-health-risk

A study by North Carolina State University studied the persistence of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) Salmonella in residential broiler production systems and made comparisons with commercial systems. Ten backyard and 10 commercial farms were sampled at three time points across bird production. Both fecal (n = 10) and environmental (soil, n = 5, litter/compost, n = 5, feeder and waterer swabs, n = 6) samples were collected at each visit on days 10, 31, and 52 of production for backyard farms and days 10, 24, and 38 of production for commercial farms. Salmonella was more prevalent in commercial farm samples (52.31%) over backyard farms (19.10%). Kentucky was the most common serotype found in both backyard and commercial farms. Multidrug-resistant (MDR, resistance to ≥3 or more antimicrobial classes) isolates were found in both production systems. In contrast, ciprofloxacin- and nalidixic acid-resistant intermediate isolates were more prevalent in commercial (33%) than backyard samples (1%). Plasmids associated with MDR were found in Kentucky and Infantis isolates, particularly IncFIB(K)_1_Kpn3 megaplasmid (Infantis). Our study emphasizes the need to understand the selection pressures in disseminating megaplasmids in MDR Salmonella in distinct broiler production systems. @ https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/fpd.2023.0181

 Schnucks (St. Louis) recalled three types of cream cheeses (Schnucks Whip Cream Spread and Schnucks Cream Cheese Spread due to possible Salmonella contamination. The products were sold at the chain stores. No illnesses were reported. @ https://schnucks.com/news-releases/schnucks-recalls-three-cheese-spreads