In the news

Blue Diamond Growers (Sacramento, CA) recalled approximately 350,000 pounds of almonds due to possible salmonella contamination. The company’s internal samples identified a positive result for Salmonella on many of the products involved. The recalled products were distributed in California, Colorado, and Illinois. It has also been distributed internationally in Germany, Morocco, and Canada.

Blue Diamond Growers remember almonds after testing found salmonella

The CDC reported that while a specific food has not yet been confirmed as the source of this outbreak, most sick people reported eating sandwiches with romaine lettuce at Wendy’s restaurants in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania before getting sick. Based on this information, Wendy’s is taking the precautionary measure of removing the romaine lettuce used in sandwiches from restaurants in that region. Wendy’s uses a different type of romaine lettuce for salads. Investigators are working to confirm whether romaine lettuce is the source of this outbreak and whether romaine lettuce used in Wendy’s sandwiches was served or sold at other businesses. The outbreak caused 37 illnesses, with 10 hospitalizations. @ https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2022/o157h7-08-22/index.html

FDA published its proposal for the new traceability rules. The new traceability rule will become effective on November 7, 2022. It includes a list of high-impact foods such as Cheeses other than hard cheese, Crustaceans, Cucumbers, Fresh herbs, Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, Leafy greens, Melons, Mollusks, nut butter, Peppers, Ready-to-eat deli salads, Shell eggs from domesticated hens, Sprouts, Tomatoes, and Tropical tree fruits. The rule requires a detailed account of food origins and movements throughout production, processing, and shipping. Key data Elements (KDEs) are monitored. The production stages monitored are growing, receiving, transformation, creation, and shipping. There might be multiple receivers. A first receiver is the first person (other than a farm) who purchases and takes physical possession of a listed food. Only foods that are originated (i.e., grown, raised, caught, or, in the case of a non-produce commodity such as eggs, harvested) can have a first receiver. Transformation is an event that involves changing food on the Food Traceability List, its package, and/or its label, such as by combining ingredients or processing a food (e.g., by cutting, cooking, commingling, repacking, or repackaging). Creating is the making or producing food on the Food Traceability List through manufacturing or processing. Shipping is an event in a food supply chain in which a food is arranged for transport (e.g., by truck or ship) from a defined location to another at a different farm, a first receiver, or a subsequent receiver.@ https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/which-key-data-elements-would-apply-me

The USDA/FSIS issued a health alert because ground beef products may be adulterated with E. coli O157:H7. A recall was not requested because the products are no longer available. The “Hawaii Big Island Beef” ground beef products were produced on August 8, 2022. These items were shipped to retail and restaurant locations in Hawaii. FSIS discovered the problem during an assessment of the establishment’s production records associated with a sample that tested positive for E. coli O157:H7. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to the consumption of these products. @ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ground-beef-products-due-possible-e–coli-o157h7