In the news

The FDA reported on December 31, 2023, alerting parents, caregivers, and health care providers that Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition has voluntarily recalled Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula powder due to possible Cronobacter sakazakii contamination. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall. Likely, most of the products distributed in the U.S. have already been consumed. The Israeli Ministry of Health notified the FDA on December 14 that Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Powdered Infant Formula, produced at the Mead Johnson Nutrition Zeeland, Michigan, facility and exported from the U.S., had initially tested positive for Cronobacter species. The product was tested at the Israeli border during routine sampling. The FDA immediately took investigative steps. They initiated WGS on the sample obtained from the infant formula to confirm the initial findings of Cronobacter species. The FDA started inspection at Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition’s Zeeland facility on December 18. All testing conducted by the FDA and Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition has been negative for Cronobacter. On December 28, the FDA received the WGS results from Israeli health officials, which confirmed a finding of Cronobacter sakazakii. The FDA immediately contacted Mead Johnson Nutrition and recommended a recall. On December 29, Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition agreed to initiate a voluntary recall of 675,030 cans of Nutramigen powdered infant formula distributed to the United States. @ https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/reckittmead-johnson-nutrition-voluntarily-recalls-certain-nutramigen-hypoallergenic-powdered-infant?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The FSA reported that Chiltern Artisan has taken the precautionary step of recalling Chiltern Artisan Chilli Sticks because E. coli has been found in some products. The use-by date is also not displayed on the product packaging, making the product unsafe to eat. The Chiltern Artisan chilli sticks are sometimes sold in 100g portions at markets and are also part of Christmas hampers. The Shiga toxin-producing E. coli bacteria have been discovered in some of them, and this can cause severe diarrhea and abdominal pain and, in extreme cases, can lead to kidney failure and death. @ https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-52-2023

The Guardian reported that the Health Security Agency confirms that the E. coli O145 outbreak caused 30 cases across England and Scotland. A person has died in Scotland after getting ill with E coli, in what appears to be the first death linked to an outbreak. The Shiga toxin-producing E coli (STEC), which first emerged in July, is the cause of the outbreak. Most cases had occurred in December. The FSA announced a precautionary recall of four cheeses Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese made on Christmas Eve. A spokesperson for Public Health Scotland (PHS) said: “PHS can confirm there has been one death associated with E coli O145 in Scotland. @ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/29/e-coli-outbreak-uk-person-dies-scotland-say-health-officials#:~:text=The%20Food%20Standards%20Agency%20(FSA,recall%20list%20on%2027%20December.

The FDA reported that Nam & Son (Jessup, MD) recalled one-pound bags of soybean sprouts, with a sell-by date of December 14, 2023, because the product could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The products were distributed to retail stores in VA from December 6-7, 2023. The product was packaged in a 1lb plastic bag (retail), labeled under the Nam & Son of MD DBA Sam Sung S & M Food, and has a “Sell By” date of December 14, 2023. NO illness has been reported to date. The recall was initiated after a random sample was collected and analyzed by the state of Virginia, which confirmed the presence of Listeria Monocytogenes in the product. The company has actively started investigating the root cause of the problem. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/nam-son-md-recalls-soybean-sprouts-because-possible-health-risk#:~:text=1%20lb%20bags-,Company%20Announcement,be%20contaminated%20with%20Listeria%20monocytogenes