In the news

CORE update of August 07, 2024: the CORE list of outbreaks and adverse events includes eight activities. A new outbreak of Cyclospora cayetanensis illnesses (ref #1245) with an unidentified product has been added to the table. FDA has initiated traceback. Another new outbreak of Salmonella Newport (ref #1248), also without an identified product, has been added to the table. The outbreak of 

 Salmonella Irumu (ref #1235) in an identified product, the FDA has initiated sampling. In the outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium (ref #1234), which also did not have an identified product, the case count increased from 87 to 88. The investigation of illnesses (ref #1233) linked to Diamond Shruumz-brand Chocolate Bars, Cones, and Gummies, the advisory has been updated to include additional illnesses. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/investigations-foodborne-illness-outbreaks?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The CFIA reported that Nestlé Canada Inc. (North York, Ontario) recalled batch/lots of Gerber branded Oat Banana & Mango Baby Cereal products from the Canadian marketplace due to suspected Cronobacter spp. contamination. The product recalled is Gerber-branded Oat Banana & Mango Baby Cereal, which sold 227 gram boxes with a best-by date code of 2025 MA 30, a batch/lot of 3334007809. The product was sold in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Online. @ https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/gerberr-brand-oat-banana-mango-baby-cereal-recalled-due-cronobacter-spp

The FDA advises restaurants and food retailers not to serve, or sell, of oysters. Consumers not to eat recalled oysters harvested between 7/1/2024 and 7/18/2024 from two lease sites in the SC28, Lewis Bay, MA harvest area and shipped to retailers in CA, CT, FL, IL, MA, MN, MO, NJ, NH, NY, and PA because they may be contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni. Oysters may have been distributed to other states, as well. Oysters contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni can cause illness if eaten raw and potentially life-threatening illness in people with compromised immune systems. On 7/19/2024, the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) closed SC28, Lewis Bay, MA harvest area because of an outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni illnesses in MA associated with the consumption of oysters harvested from two lease sites in the harvest area SC28, Lewis Bay, MA on 7/1/2024 and 7/3/2024. Two MA Certified dealers, Chatham Shellfish Co. (MA 3121 SS, AQ) and Island Creek Oysters (MA 185438 SP), recalled the oysters. On 7/31/2024, the MA Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced the voluntary recall (updated on 8/2/2024) of oysters harvested between 7/1/2024 and 7/18/2024 from the two lease sites in the SC28 Lewis Bay, MA harvest area. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/alerts-advisories-safety-information/fda-advises-restaurants-and-retailers-not-serve-or-sell-and-consumers-not-eat-certain-oysters-lewis?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Dr. Peter Rentzepis, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, invented a low-cost cell phone-based Raman spectrometer system to identify unknown biological molecules within minutes. The invention combines the technology of a cell phone camera and a Raman spectrometer. This new Raman spectrometer system integrates lenses, a diode laser, and a diffraction grating — a small, thin, square-shaped surface that scatters light for analysis — combined with a cell phone camera to record the Raman spectrum. Peaks in the spectrum provide detailed data about a substance’s chemical composition and molecular structure, depending on its intensities and positions. To use the device, a cell phone is placed behind the transmission grating with the camera facing the grating, ready to record the Raman spectrum. A laser shoots a beam into a sample of unknown material, such as a bacterium, on a slide. The camera records the spectrum, and when paired with an appropriate cell phone application/database, this handheld instrument can enable rapid materials identification on site. While traditional Raman spectrometers cost up to thousands of dollars, Rentzepis’ invention can be made at a significantly lower cost and can identify materials at a significantly quicker speed. @ https://engineering.tamu.edu/news/2024/06/pocket-sized-invention-revolutionizes-ability-to-detect-harmful-materials.html